Married since 1984, she lived in a small 2-bedroom apartment in Ukraine. Igor, her husband, quickly showed himself to be mean. He often drank and mistreated her verbally and sometimes beat her. Ivona also realized one day that he had a mistress, a married woman and mother of 3 children. Although Igor was born a Catholic, he spoke badly of the priests and refused to go to church, except for feast days. But Ivona loved her husband dearly and she was praying for him. One day he became seriously ill and he had to stop working. He needed constant care. His lover abandoned him.
Seeing that Igor was going to die soon, Ivona worried about his eternal fate. Out of love, not only did she pray, but she would also fast a lot for him. In August 2009, she went to Medjugorje to obtain his reconciliation with God. Even though the heat was terrible, she went up and down Krizevac, barefoot on the burning stones. She was begging God: “May he not die without Confession!”
Since Igor was yelling at the children all the time, she was praying for the unity of the family. “Even if Igor should hate me”, she said to the Lord. “Give me the strength to bear it!” Indeed Igor insulted her despite her good caring for him day and night. Nevertheless, Ivona was always feeling peace in her heart because her prayer kept her in unity with God. One day Igor was hospitalized, and Ivona did not let him down. She spent hours at his bedside. Three times Igor refused to let the Catholic chaplain, who was a priest, see him and hear his Confession. Ivona kept silent and did not give in to discouragement. She prayed with all her heart near her husband, confident that God was listening to her. Rosaries and Chaplets of Divine Mercy alternated between medical treatments.
On January 6, the morning of his death, oh what a miracle took place! Igor stroked his wife’s hair saying, “Even when I am mean to you, you keep on loving me and taking care of me!” His legs were becoming black but he was still conscious. That day Ivona had to leave the hospital for a few hours to attend her daughter’s first Holy Communion. When she came back, she ran into the priest in the hall and suggested that he make another try at hearing Igor’s Confession. It was now a question of hours before his death!
But – 2nd miracle – the priest answered her that he was just coming back from Igor’s room and that Igor had made a good confession, after 20 years without any Sacrament! She was overwhelmed with joy! When she entered the room, she placed a picture of the Merciful Christ in Igor’s hands and, to her great surprise, he put it between his fingers, raised it up to his face and gazed at it with serenity.
Then he told his wife, “How shall I manage going up there?” She answered him, “you are going to your home, do not be afraid! Jesus is enlightening the way before you to go to Him, and you have the Three Kings to escort you!” When she saw that he was suffering, she told him, “Remember that Jesus also suffered before going to his Father.” She asked him to forgive her for the times she had made him suffer, and she expressed that, for her part, she had forgiven him EVERYTHING. Already Igor could no longer speak, but he shed tears as a response to her. She thanked him for the years they lived together, then with a big smile, she said to him, “Now you can leave in peace for the House of the Lord!” Upon these words, his eyes became motionless. He was dead.
Ivona had persevered in prayer and fasting, and everything she had asked God had come true! Igor had been to confession at the last moment, just 6 hours before dying, before losing his speech. After Igor’s death, during the following Lent, Ivona fasted on bread and water for 40 days in order to thank God for having converted her husband.
Ivona has not stopped working for her family’s salvation since Igor’s death. Her son Boris is very sick. She came back to Medjugorje for him in November (that’s when I met her) and she intends to bend the heart of God for his healing and especially for his conversion. He left the Church and put up with a very difficult person. So, Ivona made a deal with God, “Lord, you take care of my son Boris, and I will take care of Your sons, the priests!” On November 25, after climbing both mountains up and down (Krizevac and Podbrdo) barefoot on a freezing cold afternoon, she spent all night in St. James Church before the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar, praying for priests!
Our Lady told us last October, “Do not stop praying for the gift of love.” And this month she said, “You must have pure and humble hearts.” Ivona is such an inspiration for us! She is one of those “violent” ones who takes the Kingdom of Heaven by storm. She will not be disappointed!
Dearest Gospa, what is there in store for us during the year 2014? God knows, you know too, and you are our true leaders. How comforting! We totally abandon ourselves into your hands, as we want to realize your plans and find, in this way, that peace of the heart we yearn for.
Sister Emmanuel +
(Translated from French)
(Translated from French)