Sacrilege in Medjugorje: We must try to understand the message

The summer has been marked by two disturbing acts of sacrilege, raising questions about religious fervor and its potential to turn destructive. In Medjugorje, a popular pilgrimage site, an outdoor altar at St. James' Church was set ablaze, and offensive graffiti was found scattered across Apparition Hill. Meanwhile, in Rijeka, a parish church's doors were defaced with green spray paint, featuring an inverted pentagram and the number 666.

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Forgive them, for they know not what they do.

A Polish national has been detained for a month in connection with the Medjugorje incidents. Media reports suggest he had previously undertaken a nine-day pilgrimage on foot to Medjugorje, authored a book about his journey, filmed it, and publicly testified to his faith as a Catholic missionary. Nine years later, he was filmed setting the altar on fire. His messages were not atheistic; he quoted biblical prophets and wrote "Only Jesus," placing the inscription "Devil in a skirt" on a statue of the Virgin Mary.

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What if they do know?

The article contrasts this with the Rijeka incident, where the perpetrator might have acted out of ignorance, using readily available symbols of youthful rebellion. The author poses the question: "What if they do know?" This probes whether the Medjugorje culprit, despite his previous devotion, acted from a place of profound spiritual crisis or a distorted form of faith. The text suggests that those who desecrate religious sites often still believe in their significance, indicating a wounded, rather than absent, faith.

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Devil in a skirt