The Catholic Defender: Medugorje a Fortress against Satan! “The heel of Mary.”

The phrase "Medjugorje is a fortress against Satan" is most famously attributed to

Father Gabriele Amorth, the late Chief Exorcist of Rome. He used this description to emphasize the spiritual protection he believed the site offers through prayer, fasting, and conversion.

Fr. Amorth believed that Medjugorje is a central battlefield in the struggle between good and evil. His reasoning included

A Place of Conversion: He argued that Satan "hates Medjugorje" because it is a place where lives are transformed and people return to God.

The "Five Stones" of Defense: According to the messages from the visionaries, there are five "weapons" or stones to defeat Satan: daily Rosary, fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, daily Bible reading, monthly confession, and the Holy Mass.

In the story of David and Goliath, David chooses five smooth stones from a stream to face the giant. In Christian tradition, these are often interpreted as symbols for spiritual virtues:

Faith

Trust

Courage

Obedience

Praise

Spiritual Fruits:

Fr. Amorth often cited the "exquisite" fruits of the site—such as numerous vocations to the priesthood and thousands of confessions—as evidence of its divine nature.

The visionaries, particularly

Mirjana Soldo , have reported messages stating that Satan is currently strong and seeking to destroy faith, peace, and families.

The Power of Fasting: The messages emphasize that "with prayer and fasting, even wars can be stopped" and Satan's plans can be thwarted.

In September 2024, the Vatican granted "nihil obstat" (no objection) to the spiritual experience of

Medjugorje, the highest level of approval currently available for such phenomena under new Church norms. While this does not officially declare the apparitions "supernatural," it marks the closest the Catholic Church has ever come to full endorsement.

Vatican Approval of Devotions: In August 2024, Pope Francis and the Holy See granted official approval for devotions and pilgrimages to Medjugorje, recognizing the "abundant spiritual fruits".

No Ruling on Supernaturality: This approval does not mean the Church has officially recognized the apparitions as supernatural; they are still under study.

Official Approval of Devotion: The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) issued a formal note, "The Queen of Peace," which authorizes public worship and allows the faithful to adhere to the spiritual experience.

Recognition of "Spiritual Fruits": The Vatican explicitly recognized "abundant spiritual fruits"—including conversions, vocations, and reconciliations—associated with the site.

Shift in Norms: Under new 2024 guidelines from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Church now focuses on the "pastoral goodness" of a site rather than definitively ruling on its supernatural origin.

The Church remains neutral on whether the Virgin Mary actually appeared to the visionaries. It stopped short of declaring the events as having a "supernatural character".

Innumerable Reasons the Chief Exorcist of Rome proclaims Medjugorje "A Fortress Against Satan"

Fr. Amorth was the Chief Exorcist of Rome for 20 years, casting out demons in the often unseen battle of Good vs. Evil.

In an interview with Radio Maria, Fr. Amorth spoke these words in light of a reported message of Our Lady given on August 25, 2011:

“Dear children! Today I call you to pray and fast for my intentions, because Satan wants to destroy my plan. Here I began with this parish and invited the entire world. Many have responded, but there is an enormous number of those who do not want to hear or accept my call. Therefore, you who have said ‘yes’, be strong and resolute. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Fr. Amorth commented:

“How bitter, how bitter was the last message of Our Lady of Medjugorje, on August 25: 'Many have responded, but there is an enormous number of those who do not want to hear or accept my call.' Now look here; it is very sour, this balance. After more than thirty years! More than thirty years! Now if it is the pagans who don’t listen to Our Lady’s words, then that I can understand. But be you a Christian, it is not forgivable. Be you a Christian! Even priests and bishops don’t even want to hear about it. It is not that they went there and then made their decision fairly after seeing things for themselves, no! They don’t even want to hear it being spoken about!”

Mary’s tells us in her message that “Satan wants to destroy my plan.”

We read in Ephesians 6:12 how real our struggle with Satan is:

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

We are in a deadly spiritual battle with Satan, who “comes only to steal, kill and destroy” (Jn 10:10).

Fr. Amorth’s wisdom and insight in fighting spiritual battles enables him to recognize and distinguish between the work of God and that of Satan.

His strong belief in the happenings in Medjugorje, therefore, helped many of the faithful to discern amid the lies Remember when reading these reports that:

Father Amorth proclaims how we are to know the truth regarding Medjugorje or other supposed apparitions:

“The Gospel is so clear, it tells us how to discern! By the fruits you will know the tree! It has been 30 years ... [and] Medjugorje has given us fruits that are ultimately exquisite! Confession, conversion, vocations, graces of every kind! For more than 30 years!”

Father Amorth’s experience at combatting the father of lies, makes his understanding of Medjugorje as “a great fortress against Satan” particularly compelling.

And perhaps consider more deeply the reports of graces God has given us for over 34 years! For Father says further:

“In the Old Testament God sent prophets to warn of the betrayals of the Jewish people. Now, here, to warn of the betrayal of the Christian people, also the priests, God sends us His Mother! It has been 30 years! Is it possible that people still do not hear? And as for those people who believe themselves to be intelligent by saying they wait until the Church approves? They are fools!”

Medjugorje known as “the heel of Mary.” This imagery reminds us of the great prophecy God spoke regarding the woman who would crush the head of Satan. Saying to Adam and Eve in the garden:

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Gen 3:15).

In our day and age, as attacks on the family increase daily and more and more people seem to be losing their faith. As world gets ever darker, we can become discouraged and overwhelmed. Yet, in the midst of this darkness, let us keep in mind that conversions and healings are being reported daily from people who have journeyed to Medjugorje! How incredible are these miracles! And how incredibly each of these accounts of conversion, vocation and healing attest to Mary’s power over Satan and her ability to crush his plans!

Look at Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, Jesus, and the Twelve Apostles... God seeks to transform each of us!

Do we take seriously Our Lady’s daily visitation to earth each day and her invitation to pray, pray, pray?

To be peace and love amid hatred and division?

To pray with our families and read Scripture daily?

To go to Confession often and live the Eucharist?

To live her messages, which lead us into ever deeper faith and closeness to God, so we will become her apostles?

How incredibly does each account of conversion, vocation and healing attest to Mary’s power over Satan and her ability to crush his plans! For we must remember that Satan truly exists and his sole desire is to destroy us... To destroy our souls, our marriages, our children, our families, our homes, our relationships, our country… even the entire world and universe!

Therefore, every testimony of conversion is a triumph over Satan’s snares!

Each time an addict is able to live free from drugs and alcohol, it is a tremendous victory of God!

Each marriage that is saved that was on the brink of divorce proclaims that God’s love triumphs!

Every time a person chooses to forgive, he proclaims the power of forgiveness over anger and hatred!

Each time a person chooses to go to confession, all of hell rages because a soul refuses to listen to the one “who accuses us night and day” Rev 12:10, but, instead, listens and trusts in God’s mercy!

Every time a mother and father chooses to cherish their unborn baby, all of heaven rejoices at the great triumph of life over the forces of death!

Each time a person rejects the lies of Satan and remains steadfast in faith, it is a victory!

Each time a person embraces God's plan regarding sexuality and marriage ...

Each suicide that is thwarted…

Each religious vocation…

Each eternal and ever-living priesthood that is embraced… is an annihilation of Satan’s plans!

And so often overlooked, each time a person prays, participates in Holy Mass or adores the Blessed Sacrament…

Each time someone choose to read Scripture…

Each time families pray together…

Each time someone fasts... God is changing the world one soul at a time...

by changing each one of us!

And all of heaven rejoices, while the demons rage!

Is it any wonder that so many lies have been perpetrated against Medjugorje? A place where the parish has a 3-hour program of prayer every day! Where more confessions take place than any other place in the world!

A place of untold numbers of conversions and healings!

As in all authentic and holy works of God, Satan works to discredit them.

We need only think about what took place regarding St. Faustina and the messages Jesus gave her on His Divine Mercy, (which were condemned for a time until Pope St. John Paul II rescued them) or the terrible lies people made up against St. Padre Pio

Satan will have a field day spinning these restrictions into condemnations, for he has been particularly adept at spreading falsehoods that undermine the acceptance of Medjugorje in our world. So much so, that many do not even wish to consider or pay any attention to the thousands of reports that attest to the good fruits coming from Medjugorje. This is what Father Amorth iThis is what Father Amorth was so strongly lamenting!

Because Our Lady's sole mission is to lead us to Jesus -- to lead us to union with Him, so that we become saints who reflect the presence of Christ in our daily lives. Saints not only after we die, but here and now in our present moment!

We know how real this battle is, Mary is God’s answer to our pleas for help! She is God’s answer to our cries to Him to save us! In His Mercy, He has sent our Blessed Mother to reveal His Presence, His Love for us and to reveal to us the battle plan that is winning the war against evil!

Mary, the most loving of Mothers, and the most powerful prayer warrior, leads us in this battle and gives us the strategies that will win this deadly spiritual war! The messages she gives are often likened to the five small stones of David – who was able to kill Goliath through his great faith in God, saying:

“All this multitude shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves. For the battle belongs to the LORD, who shall deliver you into our hands.” (1 Sam 17: 46-47).

May we take these great weapons Mary gives us in her messages to heart, striving to live them ever more fully each day:

1. Pray Scripture Daily. By praying and meditating on His Holy Word as a family, we grow closer to Christ. The Holy Word of God is not merely a book! The Divine Person Who brought the entire universe into existence still speaks, teaches, heals and guides us to all Truth if we listen to His Word: “When I found your words I devoured them; your words were my joy, the happiness of my heart!” (Jer. 15:16).

2. Pray the Rosary Daily. The Rosary is such a beautiful prayer! No other prayer is like it, for in it we daily meditate on Jesus' entire life (!) – from the Incarnation, life and death, Resurrection and Ascension, to the outpouring of His Spirit and the raising to heavenly glory of Mary, (who goes before us in glory). How deeply we fall in love with Christ when we are led to Him and see Him through the eyes and the heart of His Mother! She aids us with her prayers, so that we are able to: “treasure all these things and ponder them in our hearts” (see Lk 2: 19).

3. Live the Eucharist Fully. To fulfill His promise to be with us until the end of time, Jesus gave His very self in the Eucharist to feed and nourish us for the journey unto eternal life – “For My Body is true food and my Blood is true drink….anyone who eats this bread will live forever! (Jn 6:55, 51, 58).

Jesus died to give us this ability to be united to Him body and soul – and to remain with us always! How wonderful to live in union with so great a Gift?! May we unite ourselves deeply to the Eternal Sacrament of God’s Love.

4. Go to Confession at least Once a Month. Each time we repent and go to Confession, we become more humble, more aware of God's mercy! Through the priest in confession, Jesus, HIMSELF, speaks words of infinite power, healing and forgiveness. He strengthens and challenges us by His Mercy, saying: “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more!” (Jn. 8:11).

5. Fast Twice a Week. Beside our wills being strengthened through denial, (so that we are not tossed here and there by our bodily wants and emotions), Jesus told his disciples that “certain demons can only be cast out by prayer and fasting” (Mk 9:29; Mt. 17: 21).

Knowing firsthand the darkness of the times, let us be ever more vigilant in fulfilling the messages Mary brings us from heaven, because Satan never sleeps, but is always “prowling like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8) as he attempts to strip away our religious freedoms and our faith in God! How furious Satan must be at losing the battle in Medjugorje!

Confidently, therefore, let us hold fast to God’s Word with peace and joy, for He tells us:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but mine, says the Lord” (2 Chron. 20:15).