Catholic who is unsure about Marian visions

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LadyofFaith1978

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Is it possible that Marian sightings/Fatima are the work of satan? I could be wrong in my research, but I’m not sure of Mary’s message in some of these reports. I learned it is to “believe in her” and tells children and some adults (saints that I’ve read) to do something…I suppose one girl was suppose to drink from a fountain and obtained healing. But is Christ mentioned in her message? I don’t believe I have found that. Why do the reports never talk about how Mary mentions Christ or the gospel? The reports seem to be about believing in “her.” I realize no ill will happened after these sightings, the message for peace seems to come about. But why not the message to follow Christ? Has that ever been reported?? Again I am aware I need to do research but I’m hoping someone who has more knowledge can shed some light to help me understand in my search/research and decision. I am aware that the information out there can be biased! But my fear is that satan might find a foothold among Catholics.

For the first time in over 30 years I’m questing my religious path. I will always believe in Christ (the trinity). I will always hold Mary and the saints in high regard. I’m one who often feels hurt when I hear Protestants not give her enough credit or reverence. But given what I know and what I don’t know, Marian apparitions have me in question these past two days.

If curious, yes, I have participated in prayer to Fatima in the past.

Thanks so much!
In Him,
Lady
 
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It is 100% possible that the Fatima apparitions and other Marian apparitions are the work of Satan. The Cathoilc church doesn’t require that anybody believes in these apparitions. It’s kind of a “if you want to, you can” type of thing.
 
At Fatima, Jesus and the Holy Trinity were mentioned very often. The Angel of Peace told the children to pray prayers of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Holy Trinity (“Father, Son and Holy Spirit”). Jesus was also seen there during the Miracle of the Sun.

Mary often refers to “my son” at her apparitions.
 
Actually (with respect), you are 100% incorrect.
There is no possibility that the Fatima apparitions or any other approved apparitions are the work of Satan, as the Church has pronounced them ‘worthy of belief’. The Church would never pronounce anything worthy of belief that had even the slightest possibility of being the work of anything but God.
Unapproved apparitions such as Garabandal, Bayside, and Medjugorje are another thing entirely. Some have been pronounced as definitely not of supernatural origin, some not worthy of belief, and some are still in the discerning process, therefore all are theoretically ‘possibly’ not the work of God.

But Fatima, Lourdes, etc. are emphatically not possibly the work of Satan. You don’t have to believe, but you may not imply that they are evil, because they are not.

You don’t have to use a rosary (100% voluntary) but you may not say that the rosary is possibly the work of Satan.

Same thing.
 
I’ve spent a week in Lourdes and a day in Fatima. You can feel God’s presence in both places, in my humble opinion.
 
Thank you for the information as I have been told otherwise before
 
Thank you for the info. I know our Pope is infallible, what they say…is so. I want to be incorrect in my fears. My goal was not to imply they are evil. I made certain to say the reports. But I would like to know what measure does the Church use to decide that these visions are truth. I’m not seeking to debate. Does anyone have any links of the reports or anything?
 
If this is true, I certainly feel better about staying Catholic.
 
Is the statement “worthy of belief” pronounced by the church made under the precept of infallibility? This would make the approved apparitions not just worthy of belief but would render them a necessary belief that all Catholics must adhere to.
 
LadyofFaith1978 said:
Is it possible that Marian sightings/Fatima are the work of satan?
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There have been hundreds of Marian sightings all over the world and not all of them have been approved by the local church authority and/or the Vatican, so it is possible that some of the unapproved ones are inauthentic or even from Satan.

However, Fatima is not from Satan. It has been personally endorsed by several Popes and two of the visionaries have been canonized as saints. The Church does a huge amount of investigation before the Pope puts his stamp of approval on an apparition and saints get canonized, especially here where the saints were unusual for being so young.

Nothing at all satanic about Fatima. Very, very much the opposite.
 
Apparitions make people uncomfortable. There’s definitely bogus or demonic ones but they break under scrutiny! At the end of the day you will know if it’s good by its fruits. Sometimes the Church might clamp down on a supposed apparition to test the visionaries. It’s very systematic and well thought out. No demonic ruse would withstand Vatican investigations. Most bogus apparitions wouldn’t even withstand intense internet searches! Nevertheless, you don’t need to follow them. They merely provide consolation to the faithful who are called to them. I stand with Fatima and Akita 100%.
 
TigerLily-1 said:
However, Catholics are NEVER EVER to disparage Our Lady in any way or question Church-approved private revelations and apparitions about Our Lord Jesus Christ or Our Lady and never say or believe them demonic! And we are to observe Our Lady’s Feast Days and believe what the Church teaches.
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I can agree with not disparaging them. I can agree with not suggesting they are demonic…

…but not questioning them?🤨

Honestly, despite Papal approval, I don’t really get into apparitions and I really dislike most private revelation. I do question its place in a church that is traced back to Jesus Christ and is supposed to have no public revelations. I think many of the private revelations are often handled as if they were public and I think this is very, very wrong. For instance, the propagation of the rosary over the Liturgy of the Hours (neither of which I pray) seems very strange…since Liturgy of the Hours is more key to our faith than the rosary.

It is NOT sinful in ANY way for me to think so.
 
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That’s because you’re not questioning what the Church says, you’re simply acknowledging that you are expressing your legitimate choice regarding a praiseworthy but voluntary devotion. There are many wonderful devotions out there. Some suit a person at one time, some another, some try many, some so far have tried none, but who’s to say ‘never’? I wasn’t even really aware beyond the ‘historical fact’ of the Liturgy of the Hours until I first started praying them, at first just the morning and evening, now the entire hours, and I started in 2003 when I was nearly 47. Up until then, I’d have been like, “People actually pray those still, outside of the religious life?” Now I’m, “Wow, people can actually pray these. . .Still!” practically the same words, different emphasis.
 
stpurl said:
That’s because you’re not questioning what the Church says, you’re simply acknowledging that you are expressing your legitimate choice regarding a praiseworthy but voluntary devotion. There are many wonderful devotions out there. Some suit a person at one time, some another, some try many, some so far have tried none, but who’s to say ‘never’? I wasn’t even really aware beyond the ‘historical fact’ of the Liturgy of the Hours until I first started praying them, at first just the morning and evening, now the entire hours, and I started in 2003 when I was nearly 47. Up until then, I’d have been like, “People actually pray those still, outside of the religious life?” Now I’m, “Wow, people can actually pray these. . .Still!” practically the same words, different emphasis.
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I don’t think that your nuance holds true. I DO question the wisdom of encouraging devotion to singular private revelations when the church has so much rich history and things that are ACTUALLY more pivotal and beneficial to the faith than what was revealed with private revelation. To me, this is very concerning. I do question why Mary would want to push the Rosary over things that could actually promote things that the Church recommended from the get-go of faith. To me, this is troubling.

I think perhaps the way that the Vatican has reacted to private revelation is the most concerning to me.

So I think that it is well within the rights of a faithful Catholic to express concern and question why they choose to treat some (but not all) private revelations with what could only be called “extreme favoritism”.
 
I didn’t disparage Our Lady. I asked about the reports. I’m glad we don’t HAVE to with certain devotions, yet at the same time we aren’t to suppose to question the church on it on it. Since we don’t HAVE to with certain devotions – what other reason do I have to not follow it, other than to question it? I suppose just being a busy or lazy Catholic.

And my questioning is to bring myself closer to the faith. These posts are helping me gage how the priest at our Catholic church might respond to me. I’ve had him over for dinner and he seems open to spiritual guidance. Once again, I’m seeking to get closer to the faith, slapping my hand won’t do it.
 
LadyofFaith1978 said:
Since we don’t HAVE to with certain devotions – what other reason do I have to not follow it, other than to question it? I suppose just being a busy or lazy Catholic.
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🤨

Yeahhhhhhh being busy or lazy is the only reasons that one might not like certain devotions.

Try the fact that devotions are INCREDIBLY personal. During one point in my life, the rosary was a very important devotion for me. I had really cool musical rosary and it was a vital part of my day. During one part of my life Daily Mass was key to my faith. Now? I find that Litany of the Saints holds incredible spiritual power and that is where I need to be.
 
LadyofFaith1978 said:
If this is true, I certainly feel better about staying Catholic.
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It is true. The Catholic Church goes to great pains to investigate these events and make certain that they are in line with the Revelation of Jesus Christ. None of these Marian Apparitions, nor even Apparitions of Christ nor any other Saint can reveal anything that was not revealed by Jesus Christ to the Apostles in the Deposit of Faith.

There are some Apparitions which have not received the Catholic Church’s seal of approval. Someone already mentioned Garabandal. Notice that even though Pope John Paul the II seemed to have no problem with this Apparition, he did not over ride the Church’s authority to investigate and ensure that it is truly a miraculous event in accordance with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There are others which are not approved. That does not mean they are condemned. There are also some that have been condemned. A Catholic is not free to participate in the devotions of those which are condemned.

I hope that helps.
 
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