21 June 25 message to Ivan: analysis

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1. Context and Structure

The text is a religious testimony, presented as an account of a supernatural event: the apparition of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje to the visionary Ivan. It is followed by a bishop’s personal declaration, reinforcing the event’s credibility.

Structure of the text:

• Introduction of the place and event
• Description of the apparition and the Virgin’s gestures
• Transcription of the message received
• Blessings and intercessory prayers
• Conclusion with gratitude and a call to perseverance
• Testimony of Bishop Jan Sobil

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2. Main Themes

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a. Peace and Prayer

“Pray more for peace, open your hearts to peace.”

Peace is the core of the message. It’s not just the absence of war, but a call to inner conversion. Prayer is the main tool to attain it.

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b. Spiritual Warfare

“Satan wants to use this time for himself, he desires to tear many hearts away from Jesus.”

The world is portrayed as going through a spiritual crisis. There’s a cosmic battle between good and evil, with the human heart as the battleground.

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c. Hope and Motherhood

“She smiled in the light of the Cross, a sign of hope and the victory of love.”

The Virgin’s smile and the reference to the Cross evoke Christian hope—the belief in God’s love triumphing even through suffering.

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3. Language and Style

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Emotive and Devotional Language

• “Profound, full of light and joy”
• “With great affection”
• “I tried to convey as faithfully as possible”

This is not neutral language—it’s meant to move the heart, evoke empathy, and inspire spiritual resonance.

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Oral/Testimonial Style

The text is not a theological treatise but a personal account, vivid with past-tense verbs and direct expressions: “Ivan shared,” “she said,” “she prayed.”

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4. Rhetoric and Persuasion

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a. Spiritual Authority

The presence of a well-known visionary (Ivan) and a bishop adds strong credibility. The bishop gives a personal, physical account of feeling the Virgin’s touch—this can’t easily be dismissed from an existential standpoint.

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b. Repetition

“Pray, pray, pray.”

The triple repetition is typical of biblical and liturgical language. It adds solemnity, reinforces the message, and aids memorability.

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5. Theological Elements

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Christ-Centered Message

“My Son sends me to you, He who is the King of Peace.”

The message is not centered on Mary as an end in herself, but points to Christ. Mary appears as a messenger, a bridge between God and humanity, which aligns with Catholic Mariology.

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Ecclesial Focus

Mary prays for the bishop, the priests, and the faithful, underlining the unity of the Church as a spiritual body.

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6. The Bishop’s Testimony

This part is striking for two reasons:

• Intense subjectivity: “I physically felt the Mother of God touching me.”
• Interior confirmation: He believes not only because Ivan said it, but because he felt it deeply.

This kind of statement carries existential and narrative power, though it may raise questions within the Church, which usually urges prudence with unapproved apparitions.

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Conclusion: Overall Meaning

This text serves as a testimony of faith, meant to:

• Console those going through hardship,
• Encourage prayer and conversion,
• Strengthen Christian hope.

1. It’s not a neutral or historical account, but a spiritual and pastoral message. For believers, it can be a source of deep inspiration. For those still seeking or skeptical, it can spark reflection on what it means to seek God in a wounded world.