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Wednesday, February 18, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
Visions of the Virgin Mary attract many to Yugoslavia
By PAUL SCHRAG
Staff writer
Until five years ago, few people had any reason to visit the remote Yugoslavian village of Mediuorie.
Then the Virgin Mary appeared there and changed all that.
now, thousands of worshippers from around the world make pilgrimages to Medjugorje to be present when the holy apparition is said to appear.
Sandra Zimdars-Swartz, assistant professor of religious studies, was in a crowd of about 50,000 people in June who had gathered at Medjugorje on fifth anniversary of the first reported appearance of the mother of God.
"Some people were just curious, but most were very reverent," she said. "It's a very emotional religious experience for them."
Zimdars-Swartz made the trip to Medjugorje to conduct research for a book she plans to write about such apparitions. She is teaching a class, Mother as Religious Metaphor, which includes study of the plenomenon
Visions of Mary were first recorded in the Middle Ages, she said. More than 200 apparitions have been fought throughout the world in the 20th century.
Several apparitions are said to still
appear today in such diverse locations as Chile, Australia, Africa, Nicaragua and Bayside, N.Y.
The Roman Catholic Church has recognized only a few apparitions throughout history as authentic miracles, Zindards-Swartz said.
The phenomenon reveals a conservative worldview on the part of those who
"People who are interested in the apparitions perceive a breakdown in the moral order," she said. "They see Mary calling them back to traditional forms of religion as a way to re-establish the moral order."
Mary's message usually is interpreted apocalyptically, Zimdars Swartz said.
"People feel that Mary is coming to warn them of imminent punishment," she said. "Mary, as a mother, can pull her children back from danger and prevent the punishment."
Robert Minor, associate professor of religious studies, said researchers couldn't judge whether visions were real
"Visions have motivated lots of people throughout history," he said, "whether or not they see what they think they see."
Zimdars-Swartz said the appari-
tation at Medjugorji appears daily at 8.30 a.m.
"That's an argument that's given for the authenticity of the apparition," she said. "The Virgin keeps apparitions with her children every single night."
Although the crowds of pilgrims don't see the apparition, this doesn't detract from their reverence. Zimdzs Swartz said. Two children say they were taken away from a parish house, and just being present is satisfactory for everyone else.
But those who visit apparition sites often expect that miracles of healing will occur or that other visions will appear also, she said.
For example, near Zimdars-Swartz in the crowd were about 20 people who saw what are known as sun miracles. Some pilgrims expect to see visions of the sun dancing and singing, as well as their religious experience, she said.
The phenomenon of visions of Mary is one aspect of mother imagery that Zimdars-Swartz explores in her class.
In Christianity today, mother imagery survives most strongly in connection with Mary in Roman Catholicism, Zimdars-Swartz said. Among Protestants, the imagery is more frequently associated with such concepts as the church being the bride of Christ and the mother of sinners, she said.
Nursing home company asks for block on state Medicaid cuts
United Press International
TOPEKA — A company that owns and operates eight nursing homes in Kansas has asked a judge to block the state from reducing Medicaid reimbursement rates to the homes in an effort to cut state spending.
The hearing was expected to continue today.
Shawnee County District Judge Franklin Theis held a hearing yesterday on a motion by Americare Systems and Properties Inc., of Siketon, Mo., seeking a temporary injunction to prevent the state from making the rate reductions.
resenting Americare, told Theis that the nursing homes run by his client would lose more than $3 million, including federal matching funds, in the final six months of fiscal 1987 if he were to are cut. The fiscal year ends June 30.
William Enright, an attorney rep.
America has filed suit against the state Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, which plans to reduce the level of costs for which it will reimburse Kansas nursing homes that care for Medicaid patients.
SRRS's action was taken to help meet a $12 million cut in overall agency spending that it was ordered to make as part of Gov. Mike Hay-
den's 3.8 percent budget cut. The cuts were leveled upon all state agencies to save $600 million by the end of fiscal 1987, avoiding a general fund deficit.
The Kansas Health Care Association, the largest organization of nonprofit adult care homes in Kansas, supports America's suit.
SRS Secretary Robert Harder was responsible for deciding where to cut the $12 million from the agency's $550 million budget.
Enright told Theis that SRS officials have acknowledged that they did not conduct any studies to determine what effect the Medicaid rate reductions would have on Kansas nursing homes.
KU grad receives highest honor
By a Kansan reporter
A 1956 graduate of the University of Kansas has received the highest honor awarded by the Air Force enlisted corps.
Maj. Gen. Chen Divich was inducted into the Training Command Order of the Sword at a banquet Jan. 24, Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.
He was only the 11th person to receive the honor, which requires a unanimous vote by an 18-member committee of senior enlisted advisers, who represent the enlisted corps.
Chief Master Sgt James Hudson, Air Force Military Training Center senior enlisted advisor at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas, said the honor was given to commanders who had exceptional concern for enlisted people.
"It is given to people held in such high regard that we feel compelled to do this for them," Hudson said. "It is not taken lightly."
Divich entered the Air Force after graduating from KU. He has more than 8,000 flying hours in more than 20 types of aircraft. During the Vietnam War, he flew 168 combat missions while stationed at Takhlu Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.
Maj Gary Bundy, an executive officer under Divich, said Divich commanded all operations at Lackenbach Air Force Base in basic Air Force military training.
He returned to the United States in 1968 and was a pilot with the National Emergency Airborne Command Post at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. He commanded the 47th Flying Training Wing at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas from March 1979 to Sept. 1981.
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