Daniel del Castillo González y Ana Torres Fonseca
Following the recent desecration in Medjugorje, people all over the world have responded with prayer and fasting. Meanwhile all damage has been repaired.
In Medjugorje, dozens of people joined in Eucharistic adoration and the Rosary. Others helped clean up and restore the damaged areas as quickly as possible.
A Mass of Reparation was also celebrated at St. James Parish, which lies within the bounds of the Marian site.
The pentitential rite included praying the Creed and purifying the church with Holy Water.
The Holy sites have already reopened to welcome thousands of pilgrims arriving for Mladifest, the International Youth Festival which is held there every year.
PABLO RIOJA
Author of the 'Medjugorje Objective' book
The pilgrims and the people here responded with prayer. They grabbed their rosaries and started praying, placing everything in God's hands.
There's no need for people to be afraid. We should pray. We recognize that the devil exists and that he acts in both natural and supernatural ways. We should condemn what happened, but also pray for those who did it, because they have been deceived.
Police have identified and detained a suspect, a 31-year-old Polish man who fled after committing the attack on the shrine, but was captured near the Croatian border.
According to reports, the suspect had a prior connection to the Marian shrine.
Nine years ago, he walked over 1,000 miles to thank the Virgin for changing his life after a personal crisis. He recounted his conversion in a book, appeared in a film, and gave several public speeches about this experience.
He is currently being held in police custody awaiting further legal proceedings.
