A few years back I recorded a tune titled "Adventus" based on my experiences of Medjugorje, an alleged site of apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Growing up, my mother used to tell me about the six visionaries that began to see the Virgin Mary in their teens and the phenomenon associated with the Apparitions: miraculous healings, monthly messages from Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the prophecies of the ten secrets associated with the fulfillment of the visions. As I grew into a young man, the memory of those stories were guarded in a remote cupboard of my mind. As a young adult, I rediscovered the apparitions through books in the local adoration chapel. It was then that I felt drawn, as if nudged by Our Lady herself, to go see the place I had been reading about. In June of 2015 I boarded a plane with a group of pilgrims of various ages. backgrounds, and life experiences and left the humid and bustling New Orleans Airport to journey to the peaceful town Medjugorje, which has a California-like climate. Little did I know of the miracles that awaited me.
Immediately upon arriving in the mountainous village, to my surprise, the place felt like home interiorly... It was akin to the small town of Waveland, where I grew up and now reside: the people were laid back and very friendly, and they enjoyed their glasses of wine, pizza, and cigarettes... For some reason it just resonated with my heart like a good-ole southern Mississippi or Louisiana town does.
Although I felt at home, and already believed something was truly happening in this place, what happened to me on day 3 of our trip was and incredible confirmation for the authenticity of the Apparitions for me. I witnessed four events that were most certainly miraculous and unexplainable:
1.) Upon visiting an orphanage in a small village on the outskirts of Medjugorje, while we were praying the rosary with one of the visionaries, a young woman (she was not from our group) began to yell, writhe, and scream on the ground... to me she sounded like a huge dog with rabies! This was no epileptic fit or spasm. The sound that came out of the young woman was nothing other than demonic. The visionary had warned us not to worry if someone started manifesting strange phenomenon because apparently this sort of thing happens often over there! Our priest and spiritual advisor later explained to us that sometimes in the presence of such holiness (Our Lady) if there are demonic oppressions or possessions, they can be agitated by the power of God and become manifest through screaming, writhing, unearthly sounds, etc... This experience shook me to the core, as I had never been in such close proximity to something so spiritually evil and frightening as this. One thing I should mention, is that during the experience of the screaming, a profound peace was felt by those of us who were continuing to pray the rosary.
2.) I experienced resting in the Spirit: Shortly after the episode I mentioned previously, our group had a prayer service in the Catholic church next door preceded by the Holy Mass. At the prayer service, the priest laid hands on us and prayed for us individually in the power of the Holy Spirit. I number of folks from our group went up to get prayed over before me, and many charismatic gifts were bestowed upon them in those moments such as laughing in the Spirit, and resting in the Spirit. I nervously headed up the aisle to get prayed over, and I remember praying to God in my heart a prayer like this: "Lord, if you want me to rest in Your presence, I am open to it, and I would love to experience that peace"." When the priest started to pray for me he asked for an intention, and I immediately replied "To be free". I had come to Medjugorje with several burdens on my heart, namely I wanted to be healed from my chronic anxiety problem which had already taken some of the best years of my life away from me. As soon as I said my petition, the priest looked at me in the eyes and simply said ,"Then be free", and I fell backwards like a big pine tree that had been cut through with a chainsaw! I laid on the ground in a profound sense of peace for about a minute! I remember it was so comfortable and lovely just to be in the present moment without the pain of chronic anxiety. When I felt it was time to get up, I tried to lift myself off the ground, but it was as if there were literally a huge magnet holding me down! I think the Holy Spirit was saying "Stay with Me a little longer, Cody". When I finally got up, I felt so refreshed... almost in a spiritual daze. I was astounded! I will always remember that moment of being touched by God and loved by Him in such an intimate and personal way.
3.) I witnessed "The Miracle of the Sun". Many pilgrims have reported that they have seen the sun spinning or dancing in the sky at times in Medjugorje. I was so blessed to see it for myself. Upon walking down what is commonly referred to as "Apparition Hill" at about six thirty PM me and the group of young adults I was with stopped in our tracks, and several people shouted "Look at the sky!" To my amazement our whole group witnessed the sun spinning and emanating different vivid colors for about thirty minutes! We could stare directly at the sun, which was a miracle itself considering that the sunset in Medjugorje in the summer isn't usually until nine-thirty or ten PM. After that event, I had no doubt that something supernatural truly was happening there in the small town of Medjugorje.
4.) Last but not least, I witnessed the ongoing miracle of the Risen Christ Statue: Behind the parish of St. James there is a metallic statue of the Risen Christ standing up with the cross laying on the ground. Thousands of pilgrims have witnessed the knee of the statue chronically "weeping". I felt the water appear with my fingers, and the guide assured us that multiple studies had been done on the statue by scientists to see if there was a natural explanation, yet nothing could be found: no underground pipes or condensation!
Even though the miraculous was witnessed, it didn't take away from the humble joys, laughter, and fellowship of our group throughout the trip. One of the funny highlights was singing a parody of "Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks that we wrote for the young priest who was journeying with us. We changed the title to "I've Got Friends in Holy Places"! We laughed along with the visionary Mirjana as she cracked up at our group of goofy Americans! I will never forget my trip to Medjugorje, and the healing that took place through it.
I encourage anyone who reads this to learn more about Medjugorje and its implications for the world. www.medjugorje.org . If the Apparitions are true ( Which I believe they are, but submit to whatever the Church rules ), in most of our lifetimes a great series of events will unfold upon the world: The 10 Secrets. The purpose of the Secrets is to wake humanity up to it's great sinfulness and help it to embrace the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ. Mother Angelica stated in an interview on EWTN that the state of the world is worse now than it was in the times of Noah and the great flood of the Old Testament. At the approved apparitions of Fatima, Mary told one of the seers that the sins that were causing the most people to separate themselves from God in that time were the sins of impurity of the flesh. If these sins were prevalent in 1917, how much more are they enslaving the world today! With the widespread acceptance of pornography, masturbation, fornication, and homosexuality (Yes, despite what some may have told you, these are all considered mortal sins if the three conditions for mortal sin are met: premeditation, knowledge that the sin is gravely wrong, and full consent of the will) dragging the world into the burning fires of Hell while still here on Earth, its no wonder the mother of God, who loves humanity so dearly and tenderly has been coming to earth for the last forty years in Medjugorje to urge us to pray, fast, and do penance. If you do not believe in God, I beg for you to come back to "The Way and the Truth and the Life." John 14:6 If you are reading this, and you consider yourself a OK Catholic, but you haven't been to confession in years, or perhaps you struggle with some or more of the sins above, that's OK; we all fall sometimes, but what makes us a true disciple, is getting back up and going to the sacrament of reconciliation, and then receiving Jesus in the Eucharist worthily. It is so sad to say that most "Catholics" receive the Maker of Heaven and Earth into themselves like He is just a ritz cracker, believing that He is just a nice symbol. Each Holy Mass we have the chance to consummate our mystical marriage between ourselves (The Church) and Jesus (The Bridegroom!). We must do so, having repented and wearing our "White wedding garment" Rev 3:4-5. So please, if you get nothing else from this lengthy post... Go to confession, and receive the love and mercy of Jesus! Ready your hearts!
Some may fear the thought of major world events to "wake humanity up", but through prayer and trust in Our Lady, I have learned to look forward to the days when Jesus (Through Our Lady's Apparitions) will crush the head of Satan and grant to the world a period of peace as promised at Fatima. Ready your hearts!
May our prayer forever be "Jesus I Trust in You."
Here are the lyrics for my song "Adventus".
Adventus – Cody Roth
The oceans are rising
The sun is dancing in the sky
The nations are shaken
By the sounds of gunfire
Fall on your knees
Ready your hearts
For the kingdom’s coming soon
A new day’s about to start
I see a woman clothed in white
I see a woman clothed in sunlight
She labors to give birth
To a royal child
Ready your hearts
To be reconciled
Ready your hearts
Ready your minds
Fall on your knees
Now is the time
For all creation is groaning
And labors to give birth
To a new beginning
To a reconciled earth