From Heiligenkreuz to Medjugorje: Weng's path to faith and peace

From Heiligenkreuz to Medjugorje: Weng's path to faith and peace

The pre-Christmas season not only brings the glitter of lights and a festive atmosphere, but also an opportunity for reflection and inner contemplation. One person who is particularly committed to this is Brigitte Weng. In recent years she has discovered her passion for pilgrimages and combines this with a deep theological debate.

Weng, who used to often explore the world by ship, has lost her heart to Medjugorje in the last two decades. This place in Bosnia-Herzegovina has been a destination for pilgrims seeking to trace the apparitions of the Mother of God since 1981. The mysteries of these apparitions and the messages of Our Lady deeply touched Weng and have since strengthened her faith. She and her family have been living in the same guesthouse for 20 years and have built up friendships that these trips have brought her even closer to.

Healing powers and inner strengthening

Weng also associates her visits to Medjugorje with hope for the health of her sick son, who was born in the year the apparitions were born. “Medjugorje is a place that you have to experience to understand,” she explains. The atmosphere of prayers, songs and contemplation offers her a retreat from hectic everyday life and allows her to recharge her batteries.

Weng is not the only one who is convinced of the spiritual significance of the place. According to the Reisewelt Neuhof website, Our Lady has been giving special messages every Thursday since 1984, particularly calling for peace and prayer. These messages are part of a larger plan for the salvation and blessing of humanity and have a central position during the pilgrimages, which are also organized by tour operators such as Pilger Reisen.

Common prayer and pilgrimage community

The trips to Medjugorje, which will be offered in June and August 2026, not only offer a comfortable journey, but also the opportunity to pray in a large pilgrim community - together with up to 5,000 people, which for many represents a significant part of the spiritual experience. The program also includes guided excursions that lead to magical places such as Križevac and Podbrdo, where believers are invited to pray the Stations of the Cross and the Rosary.

Weng also regularly visits the Heiligenkreuz monastery near Vienna, where she appreciates the priests' way of praying and has interesting conversations. Her interest in people's motivations has grown since she was a child. In Heiligenkreuz she met a young man who came to faith through a personal experience. Such encounters reinforce their desire to accept life as it is and not to focus on hypothetical alternatives.

In summary, it shows that pilgrimages are not only an opportunity to deepen one's faith, but also an opportunity to reflect on one's own life situation. Brigitte Weng is a wonderful example of how one can draw new courage to live from personal challenges through faith and community.