The Catholic Defender: Medugorje a Fortress against Satan!

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".