Vassula in Slovenia

06 September 1998 08:40

PRAYER MEETING in SLOVENIA

From July 18 – 20, 1998, Vassula visited Slovenia for the first time.
She was accompanied by Fr. Theophil. On Saturday afternoon they landed at Ljubijana airport, where a group of dedicated TLIG readers awaited them with songs and flowers. Present also were two Slovene Catholic priests, Martin Mlakar, who is active among Slovene emigrants in Germany (Cologne), and Mlhael Valdhuber, the reviewer of Slovene translations.

From the airport our visitors were taken to Brezje, the most important sanctuary of St. Mary in Slovenia. There they were cordially greeted and received by Father Leopold (OFM), a beloved confessor and spiritual guide to many individuals.

In the evening, in the centre of Ljubljana after Holy Mass, both Fr. Theophil and Vassula testified. Present was Father Marijan Sef (DJ), doctor of medicine and retired professor of the theological faculty in Ljubijana, currently fully active in Sarajevo.

Both testimonies were translated by Bogdan Dolenc, professor at the Ljubljana theological faculty. Afterwards, Akathistos, the famous hymn to St. Mary from the times before the schism between East and West, was sung. There were about 500 people present.

Vassula and Fr. Theophil were accommodated overnight in the Pilgrims Home on Kurascak, the ‘Slovene Medjugorje’, near Ljubijana, where next morning they visited the little church of St. Mary – The Queen of Peace – which was, following a miraculous intervention of the Holy Mother, rebuilt some years ago. It was Her wish and promise that Kurescek should become a place of grace and prayer.

In the afternoon the main prayer meeting took place in Ljubljana, at Rakovnik where several hundred people were present and which was filmed by the local TV station. After Fr. Theophil’s enthusiastic introduction, Vassula concentrated on the Holy Spirit and that incessant prayer of the heart which is our way to salvation. After her talk, Vassula prayed over individuals with the cross containing relics of the True Cross of Christ. Fr. Theophile and Fr. Martin also prayed over many individuals, so that they were only able to return to Kurescek around midnight.

On Monday morning, after a Mass of thanks on Kurescek, Vassula and Fr. Theophil were brought to the airport. Unfortunately, on the way we were unable to visit the Kurescek seer, Fr. France Speiic, who was very ill.

All involved with organising this visit have been pleased by the absence of negative reactions from Catholic institutions, and indeed, the organisers were received by the Archbishop of Ljubijana, Dr. Franc Rode.