Patronage in a Holy Place: Preliminary research notes on a ‘parallel structure’ in a Yugoslav pilgrimage centreFootnote*

This paper is based on literature, documents from the Franciscan archives in Duvno and Medjugorje, participant observation and interviewing (mainly in Croatian) at intervals between 1984 and 1989. In the last few years, many Yugoslav papers an'd magazines have been published about Medjugorje. Glas koncila, Vjesnik, Svcta Baština, Politika, Panorama, Subotan, Život, Problem!, Sociologija sela, Danas, Aktualnosti Kršćanske Sadašnjosti, Slobodna Dalmacija, Nedeljni Vjesnik, Večernji list, to mention but a few, have published on the pilgrimage centre, the visions and the tourist traffic. Their information is interesting though rather one‐sided. Moreover, none of them deals systematically with what may be called ‘back stage’ subjects. These seem to be left to other, detached‐and‐involved persons. Most of my lay informants in Medjugorje and a few priests prefer to remain anonymous. I have used fictitious names for all the persons in the case. I am grateful to my informants in Bosnia‐Hercegovina and in various Yugoslav communities abroad for their multifarious help. For constructive criticism I am indebted to F. G. Bailey, Vlado Borg, Jadranska Gvozdanovic, Petarjelećanin, F. Komarica, Leonard Oreć, Fred Spier, Ed Koster, Daan Meijers, M. Estellie Smith, Chris McKevitt and Kitty Verrips. Errors of interpretation are, of course, entirely mine. Sheila Gogol edited my English writing. I would like to emphasize here that I do not make any statement whatsoever as to the ‘truth’ or ‘authenticity’ of the apparitions. Nor do I in any way address the question of the integrity of the individuals involved. Problems of this nature do not lie within the framework of social science research. Finally, the reader must realize that the Croatian language in the area under study is full of Turkicisms.

References

• Auclair , R. 1968 . Kerizinen: Apparitions en Bretagne? , Paris : Nouvelles Editions Latines .
   Google Scholar
• Bailey , F. G. 1969 . Stratagems and Spoils. Anthropology of Politics , Oxford : Blackwell .
   Google Scholar
• Barth , F. 1989 . The Analysis of Culture in Complex Societies . Ethnos , 54 (3/4) : 120 – 142 .
   Google Scholar
• Bax , M. 1976 . Harpstrings and Confessions. Machine‐Style Politics in the Irish Republic , Amsterdam : Van Gorcum .
   Google Scholar
• _____ . 1990a . The Madonna of Medjugorje: Religious Rivalry and the Formation of a Devotional Movement in Yugoslavia . Anthropological Quarterly , April (forthcoming, issue)
   Google Scholar
• _____ . 1990b . The Seers of Medjugorje: Professionalization and Management Problems in a Yugoslav Pilgrimage Centre . Ethnotogia Europaea , 2 forthcoming).
   Google Scholar
• Beevers , J. 1953 . The Sun Her Mantle , Dublin : Mercier .
   Google Scholar
• Blais , Y. M. 1985 . 500 Messages à vivre , Montréal : Le Lion .
   Google Scholar
• Bloys , L. 1970 . “ Celle Qui Pleure ” . In Oeuvres , Edited by: Petit , J. Paris : OEIL .
   Google Scholar
• Boissevain , J. 1974 . Friends of Friends. Networks. Manipulators and Coalitions , Oxford : Blackwell .
   Google Scholar
• _____ . 1977 . “ When the Saints Go Marching Out: Reflections on the Decline of Patronage in Malta ” . In Patrons and Clients , Edited by: Gellner , E. , E. and Waterbury , J. London : Duckworth .
   Google Scholar
• Boniface , E. 1966 . Padre Pio de Pietrelcina , Paris : N. E. L. .
   Google Scholar
• Brown , P. 1982 . “ The Rise and Function of the Holy Man ” . In Society and the Holy in Late Antiquity , Edited by: Brown , P. Berkeley : University of California Press .
   Google Scholar
• Bubalo , J. 1985 . Vicka i Kraljica Mira , Samobar : Matoš .
   Google Scholar
• Christian , William A. Jr. 1972 . Person and God in a Spanish Valley , London : Seminar Press .
   Google Scholar
• Corish , B. 1985 . The Irish Catholic Experience , Dublin : Gill & MacMillan .
   Google Scholar
• Craig , M. 1988 . Spark from Heaven. The Mystery of the Madonna of Medjugorje , London : Hodder & Stoughton .
   Google Scholar
• Cviic , C. 1988 . Certitude and Doubt at Medjugorje . The Tablet , June 18 : 701
   Google Scholar
• Djilas , M. 1957 . The New Class , New York : East World .
   Google Scholar
• Dupront , A. 1967 . “ Tourisme et pèlerinage ” . In Communications , Paris : OEIL .
   Google Scholar
• ESTRADE , J. B. 1899 . Les apparitions de Lourdes , Paris : Nouvelles Editions Latines .
   Google Scholar
• Gabriel , J. 1968 . Présence de la très Sainte Vierge à San Damiago , Paris : Nouvelles Editions Latines .
   Google Scholar
• Gellner , E. and Waterbury , J. , eds. 1977 . Patrons and Clients , London : Duckworth .
   Google Scholar
• Guilhot , H. 1973 . La vraie Melanie de la Saletle , Auxerre : Neuvelle .
   Google Scholar
• Heidenheimer , A. J. , ed. 1970 . Political Corruption: Readings in Comparative Analysis , New York : Holt, Rinehart and Winston .
   Google Scholar
• Laurentin , R. 1984 . La Vierge, apparaît‐elle à Medjugorje? , Paris : OEIL .
   Google Scholar
• Macklin , B. J. and Crumrine , N. R. 1973 . Three North Mexican Folk Saint Movements . Comparative Studies in Society and History , 15 : 89 – 105 .
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mayer , A. C. 1966 . “ Quasi‐Groups in the Study of Complex Societies ” . In The Social Anthropology of Complex Societies , Edited by: Banton , M. London : Tavistock .
   Google Scholar
• McKevitt , C. 1988 . Suffering and Sanctity: An Anthropological Study of a Saint Cult in Southern Italy , London School of Economics . London (unpublished Ph.D. thesis,
   Google Scholar
• Orec , L. 1989 . 88266 Medjugorje , Duvno : Z. U. D .
   Google Scholar
• Paine , R. 1971 . “ A Theory of Patronage and Brokerage ” . In Patrons and Brokers in the Eastrctic , Toronto : University of Toronto Press .
   Google Scholar
• Quaestio . 1979 . Quaestio Hercegoviniensis , Duvno : Z.U.D .
   Google Scholar
• Ramet , P. , ed. 1985 . Yugoslavia in the 1980s , Boulder : University of Colorado Press .
   Google Scholar
• Rupčić , L. 1983 . Gospina ukazanja u Medjugorju , Samobar : Matoš .
   Google Scholar
• Sallnow , M. J. 1987 . Pilgrims of the Andes: Regional Cults in Cusoo , Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press .
   Google Scholar
• Satriani , L. and Meligrana , M. 1982 . Il Ponte di San Giacomo , Milano : Rizzoli .
   Google Scholar
• Scott , J. C. 1970 . “ Corruption, Machine Politics, and Political Change ” . Edited by: Heidenheimer . above.
   Google Scholar
• Schmidt , S. W. , eds. 1977 . Friends, Followers, and Factions. A Reader in Political Clientelism , Berkeley : University of California Press .
   Google Scholar
• Škaljič , A. 1957 . Turcizmi u narodum gororu i narodnoj književnosti Bosne i Hercegovine , Vol. II , Sarajevo : Bilten Instituta .
   Google Scholar
• Tanner , M. 1988 . Holy Visions Anger Bishop . The Independent , 22–11 ‐1988).
   Google Scholar
• Turner , V. and Turner , E. 1978 . Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture , New York : Columbia University Press .
   Google Scholar
• VLSSERS , S. 1989 . Tussen kerk en kapel. Over een heilige priester en zijn vereerders in hedendaags Portugal, Nijmegen , The Netherlands : Catholic University of Nijmegen . (unpublished M.A. thesis
   Google Scholar
• Watson , S. 1964 . The Cult of Our Lady of Guadalupe , CoUegeville : Souver Press .
   Google Scholar
• Wolf , E. R. 1966 . “ Kinship, Friendship, and Patron‐Client Relations in Complex Societies ” . In The Social Anthropology of Complex Societies , London : Tavistock .
   Google Scholar
• This paper is based on literature, documents from the Franciscan archives in Duvno and Medjugorje, participant observation and interviewing (mainly in Croatian) at intervals between 1984 and 1989. In the last few years, many Yugoslav papers an'd magazines have been published about Medjugorje. Glas koncila, Vjesnik, Svcta Baština, Politika, Panorama, Subotan, Život, Problem!, Sociologija sela, Danas, Aktualnosti Kršćanske Sadašnjosti, Slobodna Dalmacija, Nedeljni Vjesnik, Večernji list, to mention but a few, have published on the pilgrimage centre, the visions and the tourist traffic. Their information is interesting though rather one‐sided. Moreover, none of them deals systematically with what may be called ‘back stage’ subjects. These seem to be left to other, detached‐and‐involved persons. Most of my lay informants in Medjugorje and a few priests prefer to remain anonymous. I have used fictitious names for all the persons in the case. I am grateful to my informants in Bosnia‐Hercegovina and in various Yugoslav communities abroad for their multifarious help. For constructive criticism I am indebted to F. G. Bailey, Vlado Borg, Jadranska Gvozdanovic, Petarjelećanin, F. Komarica, Leonard Oreć, Fred Spier, Ed Koster, Daan Meijers, M. Estellie Smith, Chris McKevitt and Kitty Verrips. Errors of interpretation are, of course, entirely mine. Sheila Gogol edited my English writing. I would like to emphasize here that I do not make any statement whatsoever as to the ‘truth’ or ‘authenticity’ of the apparitions. Nor do I in any way address the question of the integrity of the individuals involved. Problems of this nature do not lie within the framework of social science research. Finally, the reader must realize that the Croatian language in the area under study is full of Turkicisms.
   Google Scholar