Vicka Ivankovic
Encyclopedia
Vicka Ivanković is one of six visionaries at Međugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina who claim to have seen the Blessed Virgin Mary on multiple occasions.
On 24 June 1981, at about 6 p.m., along with five other young parishioners from Međugorje Vicka claim that they saw an apparition on the hill Crnica (on the place called Podbrdo); the alleged apparition was a white form with a child in her arms. Surprised and scared, they did not approach. The next day at the same time four of the youths returned, and were later joined by the other two. Thereafter they claim to have had frequent apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, though some say that they have stopped having daily apparitions.
Vicka is the oldest of the six Međugorje visionaries; the others being Mirjana Dragičević-Soldo, Marija Pavlović, Ivanka Ivanković-Ele, Ivan Dragičević, and Jakov Čolo.
At the time of the first alleged apparition Vicka was sixteen years old. She claims to have prayed with Our Lady and talked to her; she also claims to have been given nine "secrets". Her alleged visions are related to the Italian writer and mystic Maria Valtorta
, in that Mary told Vicka: “If a person wants to know Jesus he should read Maria Valtorta
”.
Her "prayer mission", said to have been given by the Blessed Virgin Mary, is to pray for the sick. Vicka says that her daily apparitions have not yet stopped. The information that Vicka claims to have received from the Blessed Virgin Mary is contained in two hand written notebooks, which Vicka has said will be published when the Blessed Virgin Mary tells her to do so.
On January 26, 2002 Vicka married Mario Mijatović at St. James Church in Međugorje and later had two children. She currently lives in the small village of Gradac, a few kilometres north of Međugorje. She continues to meet with pilgrims to Međugorje, which she has done for over twenty one years. Vicka is often called "the smiling visionary" because she always has a smile filled with joy on her face; for those who believe in the seers this is a sign that the Holy Spirit
is working through her in Međugorje which adherents claim has been touched by Heaven.
Regarding her alleged visions, Vicka once stated:
A 2009 paper by Yale Divinity School
student Daniel Klimek details the intricate connection between the Medjugorje apparitions and the writings of Italian mystic Maria Valtorta
.
On 24 June 1981, at about 6 p.m., along with five other young parishioners from Međugorje Vicka claim that they saw an apparition on the hill Crnica (on the place called Podbrdo); the alleged apparition was a white form with a child in her arms. Surprised and scared, they did not approach. The next day at the same time four of the youths returned, and were later joined by the other two. Thereafter they claim to have had frequent apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, though some say that they have stopped having daily apparitions.
Vicka is the oldest of the six Međugorje visionaries; the others being Mirjana Dragičević-Soldo, Marija Pavlović, Ivanka Ivanković-Ele, Ivan Dragičević, and Jakov Čolo.
At the time of the first alleged apparition Vicka was sixteen years old. She claims to have prayed with Our Lady and talked to her; she also claims to have been given nine "secrets". Her alleged visions are related to the Italian writer and mystic Maria Valtorta
Maria Valtorta
Maria Valtorta was a Roman Catholic Italian writer and poet, considered by many to be a mystic. Her work centers on Catholic Christian themes...
, in that Mary told Vicka: “If a person wants to know Jesus he should read Maria Valtorta
Maria Valtorta
Maria Valtorta was a Roman Catholic Italian writer and poet, considered by many to be a mystic. Her work centers on Catholic Christian themes...
”.
Her "prayer mission", said to have been given by the Blessed Virgin Mary, is to pray for the sick. Vicka says that her daily apparitions have not yet stopped. The information that Vicka claims to have received from the Blessed Virgin Mary is contained in two hand written notebooks, which Vicka has said will be published when the Blessed Virgin Mary tells her to do so.
On January 26, 2002 Vicka married Mario Mijatović at St. James Church in Međugorje and later had two children. She currently lives in the small village of Gradac, a few kilometres north of Međugorje. She continues to meet with pilgrims to Međugorje, which she has done for over twenty one years. Vicka is often called "the smiling visionary" because she always has a smile filled with joy on her face; for those who believe in the seers this is a sign that the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
is working through her in Međugorje which adherents claim has been touched by Heaven.
Regarding her alleged visions, Vicka once stated:
- "Before, I prayed from pure habit. Now I've turned completely to prayer. I commit my life completely to God. I feel sorry for those who do not believe in God, because Our Lady wants no one to be lost. We can help each other find the right way to God. It's up to the people to obey the messages and be converted. Great things are happening here: Our Lady is among us. She wishes to attract everyone to Her Son. That's the reason She has been coming so long and so often. Here, everyone feels the nearness and the love of God. As role model and example, Gospa (Mary) began, in January 1983, to tell me Her life story, which took over two years."
A 2009 paper by Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
student Daniel Klimek details the intricate connection between the Medjugorje apparitions and the writings of Italian mystic Maria Valtorta
Maria Valtorta
Maria Valtorta was a Roman Catholic Italian writer and poet, considered by many to be a mystic. Her work centers on Catholic Christian themes...
.
External links
- Articles and interviews with Vicka Ivankovic
- Brief biography from marian-times.com
- http://www.MariaValtortaWebRing.com/Pages/014_1988.htmIvankovic Queen of Peace Newsletter Interview with Maria ValtortaMaria ValtortaMaria Valtorta was a Roman Catholic Italian writer and poet, considered by many to be a mystic. Her work centers on Catholic Christian themes...
reference] - Medjugorje website