Fr. Jozo

23 June 1999 07:45

As I earlier forwarded to this list a full, ‘authentic’, letter, supposedly from Fr. Jozo, calling for prayer for peace in the Balkans, I feel I should now forward this definitive response to this whole matter. This letter is definitely from Fr. Jozo!

“NINE NOVENAS OF PRAYER”

Fr. Jozo Zovko
Franciscan Monastery
Siroki Brijeg
Esteemed friends and lovers of the Queen of Peace!

I am writing this declaration due to a situation which arose in connection with a letter that appeared May 4, 1999. The letter calls for nine novenas of prayer for peace in the world and especially in the Balkans. The letter is based on the message of the Queen of Peace and the experience of the Church at Lepanto and in Croatia.

The letter is signed with my name without my personal signature. The letter is datelined at Siroki Brijeg, but under the title: Appeal for Medjugorje. Because of the artificial improvisation of texts that are most frequently catastrophic and full of fear and fatalistic threats, I feel the duty to protest against these letters and texts.

In truth these fatalistic and threatening texts are obviously contrary to the messages of the Queen of Peace who for eighteen years as a mother has been arousing, instructing and inspiring millions of pilgrims and followers toward an apostolate of prayer and fasting.

She always humbly and wholeheartedly thanks everyone that has already responded and is attempting to respond to her messages.

Yes, I do believe that it is possible to stop war by prayer and fasting, as the Queen of Peace teaches us.

Yes, I do believe that the prayer of the Church is changing the face of the earth and converting the hearts of people.

Our Lady is a Mother and she has never threatened with war or catastrophe. Her love awaits children, looks for children, loves her children.

Therefore I declare: The above mentioned letters were not written by me, nor signed by me nor did I in any way whatsoever participate in composing their content and message.

Fr. Jozo Zovko
Siroki Brijeg, May 31, 1999