109
Janurary 27, 1999

THE BEGINNING OR THE END?

The last days of the millennium are counting down. To a large degree considerations are being made about where it will be the most interesting to await the new millennium. Space is already filled there where it is most to be expected. Uncertainty and threatening prophecies have inundated the marketplace, the media, and the bookstores. All opinions and speculations are "welcome". One of the themes that is not accidentally selected, but is carefully prepared, is speculation about the end of the world. It should be no surprise that such speculation and illusions about the end also become a theme among Christians. As though talk about the end best corresponds to people without a clear vision, whether they are Christians or non-Christians.

A large part of the Western world is awaiting the "end of the world" in spirit: let's eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. It should not be forgotten that this part of the world has long been called the Christian West. The Christian spirit stand in contrast to this, a spirit that is neither from the East nor the West, but does not allow itself to be deceived with talk about the end. For Christians the end is not a theme. For Christians the real theme is the new beginning and in general being disposed to beginning. The Christian choice is not an end on the horizon, but a beginning in the view.

Before the Church with the spirit of a new beginning there stands also Medjugorje. Those also who have once come into contact with this place and Our Lady's message of Peace, should not be deceived into thinking that Medjugorje stands as a sign of the end. That theme we have not yet heard here nor should one believe those who with their empty baggage want to hitch a ride on the Medjugorje train.

Dear pilgrims and readers, welcome to your Mother. Her nearness disperses the black clouds.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

RESEARCH ON THE VISIONARIES

INSTITUTE FOR THE FIELD LIMITS OF SCIENCE (IGW) - INNSBRUCK; CENTER FOR STUDY AND RESEARCH ON PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY OF STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS - MILANO; EUROPEAN SCHOOL OF HYPNOTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY AMISI OF MILAN; PARAPSYCHOLOGY CENTER OF BOLOGNA.

At the request of the Parish Office of Medjugorje psychophysiological and psychodiagnostic research was carried out on the subjects who since 1981 are known as the visionaries' group of Medjugorje. The research was carried out in four sessions:

The first research was carried out on April 22-23, 1998 at the Casa Incontri Cristiani [House of Christian Encounters ] in Capiago Intimiano (Como), which is operated by the Dehonian Fathers. On this occasion the examined were: Ivan Dragicevic, Marija Pavlovic Lunetti, and Vicka Ivankovic

The second research was carried out from on July 23-24, 1998 in Medjugorje. Examined were Mirjana Soldo-Dragicevic, Vicka Ivankovic and Ivanka Elez-Ivankovic.

The third research, only psychodiagnostic, was conducted by psychologist Lori Bradvica on Jakov Colo with the collaboration of Fr. Ivan Landeka.

The fourth psycho-physiological registration was conducted Dec. 11, 1998 in the same House of Christian Encounters in Capiago Intimiano (Como) with Marija Pavlovic.

The incompleteness of the psycho-physiological investigation was caused by the partial cooperation of some subjects who did not undergo what the working group had expected , due either to their family or social obligations or to their personal reluctance, even though Fr. Slavko Barbaric and Fr. Ivan Landeka encouraged them to do it, without any influences on the programs of the working group called "Medjugorje 3", because, apart from individual medical or psychological investigation, prior to this research two groups had operated: the first a group of French doctors in 1984, and the second a group of Italian doctors in 1985. In addition three European psychiatrists in 1986 carried out only psychiatro-diagnostic investigations.

The following collaborated in the "Medjugorje 3" work group:

-Fr. Andreas Resch, theologian and psychologist from Institute for the Field Limits of Science (IGW) - Innsbruck; General coordinator.

-Dr. Giorgio Gagliardi, medical psychophysiologist from the Center for Study and Research on Psychophysiology of States of Consciousness - Milano; member of board of European School of Hypnotic Psychotherapy AMISI, Milan and of the Parapsychology Center of Bologna.

-Dr. Marco Margnelli, medical psychophysiologist and neurophysiologist from the Center for Study and Research on States of Consciousness - Milano, member of the professors' board of the European School AMISI, Milan;

-Dr. Mario Cigada, psychotherapist and oculist, Milano, member of the professorial board of the European School AMISI, Milano;

-Dr. Luigi Ravagnati, neurologist; assistant for neurosurgery at the University of Milan,

member of the professors' board of the European School of Hypnotic Psychotherapy AMISI, Milan

-Dr. Marianna Bolko, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, instructor for specialization in psychotherapy at the University of Bologna.

-Dr. Virginio Nava, psychiatrist; head doctor at Como Psychiatric Hospital.

-Dr. Rosanna Constantini, psychologist, instructor at Auxilium University, Rome.

-Dr. Fabio Alberghina, medical internist.

-Dr. Giovanni Li Rosi, gynecologist at Varese Hospital and specialist for hypnotic psychotherapy, AMISI, Milan.

-Dr. Gaetano Perriconi, internist at FBF Hospital in Erbi/Como.

-Prof.. Massimo Pagani, medical internist, professor of internal medicine at the University of Milan.

-Dr. Gabriella Raffaelli, scientific secretary;

-Fiorella Gagliardi, secretary, community assistant.

The following tests were used on the subjects to investigate their actual psychophysical and psychological situation:

-complete case history,

-medical case history,

-MMPI, EPI, MHQ; Tree test, Person test, Raven Matrixes, Rorschach Test, Hand test, Valsecchi truth and lie detection test;

-neurological visit,

-computerized polygraph (skin electrical activity; peripheral cardiac capillary and heartbeat activities; skeletal and diaphragmatic pneumography) during the apparitional experience, during mediated hypnotic recall of the same apparitional experience.

-Holter's arterial pressure dynamic registration.

-Holter's electro-cardiographic /respiratory dynamic registration.

-pupillary reflexes (photomotor) and winking reflex

-video takes

-photographs

For all the tests performed the visionaries made their decision with full freedom, readiness and collaboration. The results from these psychological-diagnostic investigations show that:

During the period since age 17, from the beginning of their apparitional experiences, the subjects do not exhibit any kind of pathological symptoms like trance interference, disassociative interference and loss of reality interference.

All subjects investigated, however, exhibited symptoms that are related to justified stress that occurs through very high levels of exogenous and endogenous stimulation as a consequence of every day life.

From their personal testimonies it follows that the initial and subsequent altered state of consciousness occurs due to their unusual experiences which they themselves recognize and define and still continuously recognize as a vision/apparition of Our Lady.

The psycho-physical investigation was carried out on four states of consciousness:

-waking state;

-altered state of consciousness(hypnosis with investigation of the state of ecstasy);

-state of visualization of mental images;

-altered state of consciousness(defined as the ecstasy of apparition).

The aim was to investigate whether the ecstatic state of apparition, already registered in 1985 by the Italian doctors working group, still continues to be present or has undergone changes. In addition it was desired to investigate potential coincidence/divergence with other states off consciousness such as guided visualization or hypnosis.

Results of the investigation carried out demonstrate that the ecstatic phenomenology can be compared to the one from 1985 with somewhat less intensity.

The hypnotically induced state of ecstasy did not cause the phenomenology of spontaneous experiences and therefore it cannot be deduced that the ecstatic states of spontaneous apparitions were not states of hypnotic trance.

Capiago Intimiano, December 12, 1998

(Undersigned) Fr. Andreas Resch, Dr. Giorgio Gagliardi, Dr. Marco Margnelli, Dr. Marianna Bolko, Dr. Gabriella Raffaelli.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEPARTURE OF THE FRANCISCANS FROM MEDJUGORJE

In recent days a great number of pilgrims have referred to us for clarification on information about the alleged departure of the Franciscans from the parish of Medjugorje. The news is connected with recently published letter that was co-signed by Mostar Bishop Ratko Peric and the Minister General of the Franciscan Order, Fr. Giacomo Bini.

The news about departure of the Franciscans from the parish of Medjugorje and the taking over of the parish on the part of the Mostar Bishop, Ratko Peric, is not correct. Nor is it correct that some of the Franciscans currently present in the parish have to leave the parish of Medjugorje. The parish of Medjugorje is not at all mentioned in the decree Romanis Pontificibus as a parish that the Franciscans should have to give over to the local bishop.

Should there have been any change at all in this regard, our Information Center would have informed you about it.

With a hearty welcome to all pilgrims, I wish you God's blessing and peace!

Fr. Ivan Landeka

MISSIONARY TRAVEL OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC

From January 11-15, 1999 Fr. Slavko Barbaric with Neno Buric and Vincenzo Cazzanigo, wards of Sr. Elvira's community and former drug addicts, led Medjugorje prayer programs and various meetings on the theme of addiction. This was all carried out in connection with the publication in Slovenian of Fr. Slavko Barbaric's book Pearls of A Wounded Heart.

Both the prayer program and the problematic subject of addiction and of possible freedom from addiction drew a lot of people. The meetings were held in schools, churches, on radio and television. Even local newspapers showed great interest in the young men from the Cenacle community. Prayer meetings were arranged in Ljublana, Kranj, Jesenica, Maribor, Nova Gorica, Kopro, Portoroz and in Leskovec near Krsk. The young men were received for conversation also by Ljubljana Archbishop Franc Rode while Fr. Slavko had a meeting with a group of 30 Maribor priests and Bishop Franc Kramberger.

TRANSMITTER OF RADIO "MIR" MEDJUGORJE FOR CENTRAL BOSNIA

It is unnecessary to talk about how important the media of social communication are in today's world. Conscious of that fact, immediately after the fall of communism we went to work here in the Shrine of the Queen of Peace. I believe you know what we have done so far.

Our newest project is the installation of a transmitter for Central Bosnia. That is the region which in total most heavily destroyed in this past war. To help them in the healing of their wounds we want to enable them to hear our "Radio Station 'Mir' Medjugorje" which along with the rest of the program carries a daily live broadcast of the rosary and the holy mass from the church of St. James Church in Medjugorje.

If you are in a position to help us before the acquisition of this transmitter, we would be most grateful to you just as also all the people of central Bosnia. You can send your monetary contribution in one of our three customary ways:

1. When you come to Medjugorje you can make your contribution in our PARISH OFFICE either by cash or designated check. If you cannot personally come, you can send it through a reliable person. We will issue a confirmation of receipt for you. Indicate that it is for the Information Center "Mir" Medjugorje.

2. You can give your contribution to ONE OF THE PRIESTS THAT WORK IN THE SHRINE. He will also issue a confirmation of receipt. Indicate that it is for the Information Center "Mir" Medjugorje.

3. If you think that neither of these ways is appropriate for you, you can make your contribution also through our BANK ACCOUNT:

HRVATSKA BANKA D.D. MOSTAR
S.W.I.F.T CODE HBMO BA 2X 7100-840-02774-6
FOR INFORMATION CENTER 'MIR' MEDJUGORJE
We kindly request you to notify us of your contribution by means of e-mail (medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr) or by fax ++387-651-300

May the Queen of Peace bless your work and your families!

Published by: INFORMATIVNI CENTAR MIR - Svetiste Kraljice mira (Information Center MIR - Shrine of the Queen of Peace), 88266 Medjugorje, BiH, fax number: +387-88-651-444.
Director: fra Miljenko Stojic.
You can receive the latest issue of the Press Bulletin at any time on your own fax machine in the tone mode by dialing the
Robofax in our Information Center at +387 88 65 15 55.
E-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr; Internet: http://www.medjugorje.hr
Published every other Wednesday.

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Last Modified 01/27/99