Do any Catholics here not believe some Marian apparitions?

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Yes, I definitely believe in them now, especially after I went to Medugorje. My conversion (even though I was brought up Catholic) really began there. I experienced several prodigies (as in: miracles), and was eventually cured. No kidding. I probably wouldn’t have believed much in them (Marian apparitions) be4hand, however. I believe now. Prayer is a major thing (very hard to do at first!) if one wants to experience faith. Now at last I perceive that neither reading (the bible, even), thinking, discussing, or pious-mindedness, or superficial imitation of ‘holy’ behavior… ever led me to true faith or holiness. It’s awe-striking when all (or anyway most) of the bible sayings or parables suddenly begin to make sense. Grace unto you, too. Bye, now. – ‘Alen’
 
Alen said:
Yes, I definitely believe in them now, especially after I went to Medugorje. My conversion (even though I was brought up Catholic) really began there. I experienced several prodigies (as in: miracles), and was eventually cured. No kidding. I probably wouldn’t have believed much in them (Marian apparitions) be4hand, however. I believe now. Prayer is a major thing (very hard to do at first!) if one wants to experience faith. Now at last I perceive that neither reading (the bible, even), thinking, discussing, or pious-mindedness, or superficial imitation of ‘holy’ behavior… ever led me to true faith or holiness. It’s awe-striking when all (or anyway most) of the bible sayings or parables suddenly begin to make sense. Grace unto you, too. Bye, now. – ‘Alen’
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I believe in what the church has approved and Medjugorje is not one of them.
 
Actually, that’s not quite true that the Vatican, or church, on account of not yet approving of Medugorje (for political reasons), has therefore issued a tacit disproval of the Medugorje apparitions. Many Marian apparitions, such as Lourdes, took some time before they were finally approved. Yet when accompanied by various signs, like Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes’ incorrupt body, and the many Lourdes cures, they’re hard to deny. So, implications of Lourdes, such as the Immacutale Conception, are therefore also hard to deny (e.g. some still insist that the world isn’t round…). In the same way, Medugorje (overflowing with miracles and signs) should ultimately be approved. But these days, where faith has virtually dried up, things like signs and miracles are extremely important, as they are needed by the generally unfaithful human race. When I encountered my first miracle, I didn’t say Hallelujia! (whatever that means), but rather my mind was blown! I had to really sort it out, because I had hardly any faith… but I did have a kind-of-open mind. “An evil generation asks for a sign.” But, I wonder, what generation could be called non-evil? Probably none. So it’s a moot point: we need signs and miracles… but of course you might flip out when one of them hits you!
 
Alen said:
Actually, that’s not quite true that the Vatican, or church, on account of not yet approving of Medugorje (for political reasons), has therefore issued a tacit disproval of the Medugorje apparitions. Many Marian apparitions, such as Lourdes, took some time before they were finally approved. Yet when accompanied by various signs, like Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes’ incorrupt body, and the many Lourdes cures, they’re hard to deny. So, implications of Lourdes, such as the Immacutale Conception, are therefore also hard to deny (e.g. some still insist that the world isn’t round…). In the same way, Medugorje (overflowing with miracles and signs) should ultimately be approved. But these days, where faith has virtually dried up, things like signs and miracles are extremely important, as they are needed by the generally unfaithful human race. When I encountered my first miracle, I didn’t say Hallelujia! (whatever that means), but rather my mind was blown! I had to really sort it out, because I had hardly any faith… but I did have a kind-of-open mind. “An evil generation asks for a sign.” But, I wonder, what generation could be called non-evil? Probably none. So it’s a moot point: we need signs and miracles… but of course you might flip out when one of them hits you!
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I would be very surprised if it is deemed true. And I think it not fair of you to assert a political motive.
 
It wouldn’t be fair to assert a political motive, eh? I suppose you found a chink in my argument. But who wouldn’t it be fair to, I wonder? I mentioned it because I have read of several such motives… so I made the remark. Perhaps it’s prudence, perhaps it’s the process, but -alas- there are suspicious goings-on as well. Such as: 1) declaring the Fatima church mandates as having been exactly fulfilled (no), 2) saying that the third secret has been revealed (no - those quotes come from the dream manuscripts of Don Bosco < really, can no one else see that? > and are inconsistent with the preceding Fatima locution segment), 3) virtually buring the holy priest Father Gino Burresi alive < I met him in 1976, and know he’s innocent of charges against him > – why do they want to silence a holy man, I wonder? Not surprising that Jesus had to say ‘feed my sheep’ 3 times… 4) many more such things. That’s why I said what I did. And if these things (and more) are true, who isn’t being fair to whom? But enough said… Yes, the catholic doctrine shall be preserved, but… the medieval saying that ‘the water of life may still flow through the mouth of a dead dog’ was aptly said. That dog may be small; it may be large. But all human organizations -small or large- may be messed up by human activity, egos, agendas, etc. having said all that, we have to look on the better side, and have a good heart in an evil world (easier said than done). May heaven help us do so!
 
( Now I’ll have to research that one… about Mary appearing to Saint Nicholas, pre-Trent. )
 
As I post this response, am not a Catholic though I was a Catholic for 12 years.
I refer to Pablobe’s comment in one of the postings. He asks several questions that provokes deeper thinking.
I think the Church should do thorough investigations to authenticate any claim of apparitions.

However, I don’t believe in apparitions. The history of the Church immediately after Christ’s death, while Mary was still together with the apostles, they propagated the faith as Christ had commanded them in Mathew 28:19-20 (Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen).

The Church has the mandate uphold the teachings.
 
Croc said:
However, I don’t believe in apparitions…
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The Church does uphold the teachings tradition/scripture, isn’t it you who found this weight a burden?

Miracles occur daily. imho it is always best to admit when you do not know, than commit to “I don’t believe.” when in fact you do not know? Why transfer the doubt to another?

“Blessed are those who believe without seeing”

Whatever is of Mary is of the power of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit operates through Mary. “The power of the most high will overshadow you, behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to Thy word.”

God’s grace comes to us, from the Father, through the Son and by the Holy Spirit (who operates through Mary). The inversion proves itself. Miracles can and do occur and I would propose …daily.
 
It is misleading to say that one “doesn’t have to” believe in the apparitions.

Technically on paper this is true. HOWEVER, in reality, it puts you outside the mainstream of Latin piety and life.

How can one turn their nose up at these apparitions and discount them when they have Feast Days on the Universal Calendar, their virtues are persistently talked up, their statues adorn most churches, and you have Popes dedicating Cathedrals, days and even years to particular teachings or devotional practices that originate with these visions.

It is confused, to put it mildly.
 
I have to admit I am very skeptical of these types of things. In my lifetime Medjugorje has been the most prominent, and notable also in the caution that we, the faithful, are urged to take ( viz the recent letter if the apostolic nuncio to the USCCB) towards it.

I understand that the public revelation of the church is sufficient for salvation - it would be beyond my capacities to analyze and sort through all the private revelations.
 
I too am very skeptical on apparitions. Why Mary in apparitions? From time immemorial God has been using angels to deliver his messages to mankind. Adam and Eve were sent out of Eden by an angel (Cherubim).
Mary herself received the message of conception from an angel. The shepherds were informed of the birth of a King by angels. Jesus, at Gethsemane, was strengthened by an angel. Apostle Peter was delivered from prison by an angel. In Revelation, we read of angels doing many things.

The concept of Marian apparitions is a new teaching altogether knit up in Christianity where Christ is God in human form.
Pagan religions had male gods and female goddesses. When Mary appears in apparitions and delivers a message of veneration to her heart, it surmounts to begging for worship, as there is a very thin line between veneration and worship. When one venerates to Mary, he/she accords to her what should be accorded to God. She rightly takes a position of a goddess. I fear that its going too far to accept the apparitions.
 
I still have a very hard time believing in the Shroud of Turin (though not a Marian apparition). I’m glad to learn that one need not believe in its authenticity to be a Catholic!

The Marian apparitions I don’t have an informed opinion on at all. I know very little about them, and haven’t spent any time studying them to length that I have studied the Shroud.
 
Regarding veneration of Mary, I have a hard time believing BOTH the Catholic and Orthodox Churches got it wrong. I believe God can use humans as instruments of His will, and if the Mother of God appears to certain people throughout history, I don’t see how that’s automatically some sort of pagan goddess worship.

Angels were used to deliver messages, but some practiced worship of angels. That doesn’t mean angelic messages are somehow nefarious.

Mary was deemed worthy and immaculate to give birth to God Incarnate…what’s so great about apparitions in comparison? (That’s not to say the devil cannot imitate divine apparitions.)
 
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