False visionaries?

[PCalungsod]

Hello all! Not really sure if I have included this on the right part of the forum.

Anyway, do you guys know of any so-called visionaries (those who claim that they saw the Virgin Mary, saints or even Jesus Himself and claims to have received an alleged message from those I’ve mentioned) from the past and the present time that is already condemned by the Church ( through a bishop, an official document, etc)? I know there’s a lot of them, but I don’t really trust some of the websites (claiming to be “Catholic”, but are not connected with the official site of Vatican and stuff) refuting such visionaries and “miracles”.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Julia_Mae]

miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/unapproved_apparitions/index.html

 

[PCalungsod]

miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/unapproved_apparitions/index.html

Those were only about Mary.

 

[PCalungsod]

The reason why I asked this is because last year, I have bought a book which contains private revelations from different people. Doubtful if these “revelations” are really approved, I wanna ask, what is the position of the Church on these “visionaries” and their messages: Rev. Fr. Stefano Gobbi and his received messages (allegedly) from “Our Lady of Fatima” which started from 1973-1997 and was written in a book, Stanley Villavicencio who is having vision from “Jesus, the Divine Mercy”, Barbara Centelli, visionary of “God the Father” and Mother Eugenia Elizabetha Ravasio also allegedly receiving visions from “God the Father.” It’s just that I find their messages kinda alarming. Hope anyone can answer.

 

[Mintaka]

As for your particular questions, I know for sure that Gobbi has a bad rep, and it would seem that many of the others you name are also hinky; . I don’t know much about the Catholic Doors site, but their info on these folks seems fairly good in its criticisms. Catholic Planet has some criticisms of Villavicencio’s vision messages and circumstances, which are also worth considering. (Of course, sites not run by the Church may have criticism that isn’t entirely accurate, too, so read with a grain of salt.) Didn’t find anything in particular about Centelli, but it’s hinky that she’s had four volumes of her revelations published without getting a bishop’s approval. I wouldn’t touch any of these people with a ten foot pole, frankly.

More to the point, none of these folks’ private revelations seem to be approved. So why did the book writer put out a book about them?

First off, there’s absolutely nothing in any private revelation that you need to know. None of it is necessary to your salvation. I love Fatima and Lourdes and all the rest, but their place in the plan of salvation is much lower than Sunday Mass with the cruddiest celebration by the skankiest priest. (Albeit Fatima and Lourdes can be a lot more helpful in showing us the plan of salvation, in a way that we can openly understand.)

Second, you really should be spending your attention only on private revelations that have been approved by their local bishop. Most dioceses have websites that talk about any local visionaries that have been approved. The same thing is true of real religious orders with visionary members, etc. If you don’t see anything, be cautious. If a private revelation is still under investigation, that doesn’t mean it’s approved.

Third, private revelations don’t have to be disapproved to be not okay to spread around. In fact, unless private revelations have been approved in some way, they’re not really supposed to be spread around. Unless the message of the revelations has an imprimatur or at least a nihil obstat, you should be very very skeptical that the revelations are even orthodox in their theology, much less authentic.

Fourth, it’s okay to have some idle curiosity. I have plenty myself. Conversion stories and stories of signs and wonders are very nice. And sure, some private revelations will eventually be approved, and probably aren’t harmful now. But in these matters, the bishops are like our parents, and we should honor their decisions and authority over us.

Fifth, if you find yourself worrying about this stuff, you need to stop reading accounts of unapproved revelations and start doing something spiritually useful.

Be not afraid. Follow God’s ordinary commands to us, go to Mass, pray, fast sanely, give alms and help to those who need it. That’s all you need to know.

 

[Mintaka]

I notice that the Catholic Planet site is linking very happily to some extremely hinky private revelations, so please disregard anything other than that particular page.

Sigh. People are willing to swallow some amazingly bad info about this stuff, and then they get all passionate about it.

That’s why discussion of such unapproved revelations is normally forbidden on these threads. I’ve probably done something worthy of the ban-hammer already.

So I will shut up now!

 

[PCalungsod]

I was also wondering why the author of that book actually used unapproved revelations. And I know that private revelations can be just “put aside” by the faithful since they aren’t the center or the core of our beliefs. They just increase our devotion and stuff (by that, I only point to those approved by the Church). It’s just alarming that the book which contains those “revelations” are sold in a Catholic giftshop (I think I was the one who bought the last copy). I actually regret buying it. I felt somehow “contaminated”. Upon further thinking about it, it “dawned to me” that maybe I should burn the book. Dunno.
And about the link, well there are some points worth reading (I’ve known that site before), but not all. Thanks for the answer btw.

 

[Julia_Mae]

It’s just that I find their messages kinda alarming. .

Stop reading them.