Benedict XVI to crack down on Alleged Apparitions

[didymus]

Translation of an article in Petrus:

**Benedict XVI to crack down on Alleged Apparitions **

**In a “Vademecum” the crackdown by Benedict XVI on Marian apparitions, with a ‘pool’ of theologians, psychiatrists and exorcists at the service of the bishops for exposing false visionaries **
VATICAN CITY [January 8, 2009] - Civitavecchia and Medjugorje represent the most recent and sensational cases: places where the alleged visionaries say they have had and continue to have apparitions of the Virgin, even if Our Lady would simply give them absolutely inconsistent messages from a theological and spiritual point of view . The result: the faithful are bewildered because of the display that the Church not only has not yet recognized them as truthful, but will hardly approve them in the future.
As we know, however, the caution of the Church is very great in the matter: there are hundreds of cases of apparitions rejected and branded as false in the past fifty years. Nevertheless, there are those who continue to swear to see Madonna, drawing to their places crowds of desperate faithful, many times in search of a miracle or a grace that, however, does not come. How then, to deal with this phenomenon? **How to prevent the spreading of untruthful messages of the Mother of Christ to mankind?

**The answers to these and other questions are contained in a ‘directory’ Benedict XVI has made to instruct the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and that will soon be made public and sent to the diocesan bishops of the whole world. With this document, which integrates the Instructions already issued in 1978 by the Vatican, the Pope calls for the greatest severity in the verifications related to the establishment of the truthfulness Marian apparitions.

Btw, what’s a vademecum? From what little Latin I know it sounds like “go with me”.

 

[TBolt1000T]

I went to a presentation by one of the visionaries from Medugorje back in 2002, and I was not impressed. I’m not judging the Medugorge apparitions as false, but there were some things that happened at the presentation that made me suspicious that the guy may have just been making it all up.

 

[puzzleannie]

Translation of an article in Petrus:

Btw, what’s a vademecum? From what little Latin I know it sounds like “go with me”.

it means literally a little book you can carry with you as opposed to a big tome like an encyclopedia, but has everything you need to know on a topic. think of a pocket sized language dictionary you would carry in a foreign country, or a precise used to prepare for an examination in a subject. Various apparitions and their validity are NOT the topic of this thread. The proposed publication by the Vatican is the topic so let’s stay on track.

 

[Jennifer123]

I went to a presentation by one of the visionaries from Medugorje back in 2002, and I was not impressed. I’m not judging the Medugorge apparitions as false, but there were some things that happened at the presentation that made me suspicious that the guy may have just been making it all up.

I am so hoping that Medugorie is settled once and for all. My fear however that IF it is found to be false, it will lead many, many Catholics astray from the faith.

 

[mattkubes]

I am so hoping that Medugorie is settled once and for all. My fear however that IF it is found to be false, it will lead many, many Catholics astray from the faith.

It’ll certainly be a test of obedience. Although for a final ruling we’ll have to wait for the alleged apparitions to end, right? Either way, I look forward to the issue being settled too.

 

[Shin]

No, there’s no reason to wait to put an end to it, not after all that has been said and done, and not generally in any case.

May they learn a lesson from this! Praised be the Lord God!

 

[Mijoy2]

I am so hoping that Medugorie is settled once and for all. My fear however that IF it is found to be false, it will lead many, many Catholics astray from the faith.

Might this have been Satan’s plan?

 

[masondoggy]

I am so hoping that Medugorie is settled once and for all. My fear however that IF it is found to be false, it will lead many, many Catholics astray from the faith.

Imo, that’s an unfair rush to judgement on fellow Catholics. I know a lot of Catholics who follow Medjugorje and none of them would abandon the Church over it. They are all faithful Catholics who are obedient to the Church.

There may be a small handful of people who would stray, but I think it’s really unfair to assume that just because a faithful Catholic follows unapproved apparations that they don’t understand their faith enough to know that when the Church speaks on the matter it’s over.

 

[Jennifer123]

Imo, that’s an unfair rush to judgement on fellow Catholics. I know a lot of Catholics who follow Medjugorje and none of them would abandon the Church over it. They are all faithful Catholics who are obedient to the Church.

There may be a small handful of people who would stray, but I think it’s really unfair to assume that just because a faithful Catholic follows unapproved apparations that they don’t understand their faith enough to know that when the Church speaks on the matter it’s over.

I didn’t say that all those who believe in it would leave the faith, but certainly many may indeed leave, and that is what I fear. Most Catholics I know who believe in it are the best people I know but there is an air of disobedience at worst, confusion at best, surrounding that particular apparition, IMHO.

My opinion is speculative. I may be wrong and will follow whatever definitive pronouncement the Vatican makes about it, eventually.

 

[Mijoy2]

I didn’t say that all those who believe in it would leave the faith, but certainly many may indeed leave, and that is what I fear. Most Catholics I know who believe in it are the best people I know but there is an air of disobedience at worst, confusion at best, surrounding that particular apparition, IMHO.

My opinion is speculative. I may be wrong and will follow whatever definitive pronouncement the Vatican makes about it, eventually.

I understand your point Jennifer, it is well taken. I too am concerned over the people who appear to put a great deal of stock in both Medjugorjie as well as Garabandal.

Speaking solely for myself, if these apparitions are indeed false, to me, it puts all apparitions present and past in doubt in my mind. If devout people of God can be decieved in this manner (and I do believe the seers in both these locations are well intentioned) then it can happen to anyone…and maybe has.

I fully understand that this is not part of the deposit of our faith that we are called to believe, but many Catholics want to believe and would be hurt to varying degrees if these proven false.

 

[stbruno]

Personally, anything that leads a person to prayer, to me is ok. Even seeing Mary in a grilled cheese sandwich, if that person comes back to church. God bless it.

But it’s when people only use the apparation as their form of prayer and do not go to the Eucharist, that’ s when I have a problem with it.

I think that’s what the Pope is going to resolve. Where has it led the followers…if it’s to Christ, then Mary is doing the job she always intended. It’s it to something less than God, then it’s probably not Mary’s work.`

 

[PatienceAndLove]

I understand your point Jennifer, it is well taken. I too am concerned over the people who appear to put a great deal of stock in both Medjugorjie as well as Garabandal

As unapproved apparitions are not allowed to be discussed, would someone mind PMing me about Garabandal? I remember it being mentioned in the book Pierced by a Sword, but I am rather… cautious about doing research on it. Too easy to fall into less-that-reputable sources. Even with Fatima, the same thing happens!

 

[Soutane]

It’ll certainly be a test of obedience. Although for a final ruling we’ll have to wait for the alleged apparitions to end, right? Either way, I look forward to the issue being settled too.

It’s about time something like this was done.All too often Catholics seem to get most of their info on alleged apparitions from the internet.I’m one of them and I can’t believe how much contradictory information there is out there.I want my Church to guide me and protect me against falsehoods and satanic deception.

 

[henderrob]

I think the media grabs hold of these stories and sensationalizes or scandalizes as it fits their purpose.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

It’s about time something like this was done.All too often Catholics seem to get most of their info on alleged apparitions from the internet.I’m one of them and I can’t believe how much contradictory information there is out there.I want my Church to guide me and protect me against falsehoods and satanic deception.

Yeah!

 

[ChristIsLord]

apparitions and other superstitious stuff drives more people from the church then brings them in. it seems like chasing superstition and looking for miracles in order to justify your faith. to me that seems to not be jesus or god’s style at all.

for someone like me i look at the rampant apparitions as a negative to the faith. it drives away people who desire a religion that uses reasons and appeals to people who simply aren’t superstitious or believe in peoples “visions”

i applaud the pope for cracking down on these, hopefully they go the way of the dinosaur.

 

[Soutane]

apparitions and other superstitious stuff drives more people from the church then brings them in. it seems like chasing superstition and looking for miracles in order to justify your faith. to me that seems to not be jesus or god’s style at all.

for someone like me i look at the rampant apparitions as a negative to the faith. it drives away people who desire a religion that uses reasons and appeals to people who simply aren’t superstitious or believe in peoples “visions”

i applaud the pope for cracking down on these, hopefully they go the way of the dinosaur.

I HOPE you are not referring to Church approved aparitions like Fatima,Beaurang,Guadaloupe,etc,etc,etc,You are not required to believe but it is preposterous to claim they are the result of superstion.

 

[ChristIsLord]

I HOPE you are not referring to Church approved aparitions like Fatima,Beaurang,Guadaloupe,etc,etc,etc,You are not required to believe but it is preposterous to claim they are the result of superstion.

i don’t believe in any of them, i believe they are 100% supersition and frankly they embarass me a little bit when this stuff is brought up and it makes catholics seem like superstitious fools. i’m a nominal catholic at best though.

 

[Shin]

Superstition is really the belief that there are no supernatural events in this life. It is an invention of a non-religious, secular culture that ignores a true history where these events are quite common.

St. Joan of Arc, Constantine, the life of Christ, miracles and the intervention of angels and saints have shaped the history of the world and the lives of individuals everywhere.

Anyone can find these things in their own lives and selves, can find God’s extraordinary influence through prayer and introspection…

 

[iamrefreshed]

i don’t believe in any of them, i believe they are 100% supersition and frankly they embarass me a little bit when this stuff is brought up and it makes catholics seem like superstitious fools. i’m a nominal catholic at best though.

As a nominal Catholic then at least you don’t have much to be embarrassed about!