Croat politicians co-opted the Medjugorje apparitions to sanctify national independence

Evidence

As the visions at Medjugorje gained wider recognition, they were “nationalized” by Croat politicians. For example, the independence of Croatia was announced on June 25, i991-the tenth anniversary of the apparitions. The Franciscans at Medjugorje favored an association between the Virgin and the independent Croat state and were proud of it. — Michael A. Sells, The Bridge Betrayed, 282

Categorization

• SEED: The deliberate dating of Croatia’s independence declaration to the tenth anniversary of the apparitions is a vivid case study in the instrumental use of religious symbolism for nationalist state-building.