C
cathjuche
Guest
Such as Lourdes, Fatima etc.
- Status
M
Mintaka
Guest
No, a Catholic does not have to believe in any particular Marian apparition, even if it is one fully approved by the Church.
A Catholic does have to believe in stuff like the Assumption and Mary being in heaven, and in the possibility of the saints and Jesus making appearances. (What Paul experienced on the road to Damascus, for example.)
A Catholic does have to believe in stuff like the Assumption and Mary being in heaven, and in the possibility of the saints and Jesus making appearances. (What Paul experienced on the road to Damascus, for example.)
Tis_Bearself
Patron
No, it’s not mandatory for Catholics to believe in Marian apparitions.
While the Church approves certain apparitions like Lourdes, Fatima etc and may even promote the apparition in some way (such as by having a special feast day like “Our Lady of Lourdes” feast day a few days ago, or the Pope going to pray at the apparition site), approved apparitions are not considered part of the Church’s deposit of faith, and Catholics are free to not believe in an approved apparition.
Obviously in the case of an unapproved apparition, Catholics should be careful about investing belief in it unless/ until the Church has either approved the apparition, or taken some other action like canonizing the visionary (which may not mean that the Church agrees necessarily with everything they saw in their purported vision, because saints can sometimes be wrong). And of course, even if the Church approves the apparition or canonizes the visionary, etc, Catholics are free to not believe in the apparition. In some cases the Church may explicitly condemn or discredit the apparition and in that case Catholics should NOT believe in it.
While the Church approves certain apparitions like Lourdes, Fatima etc and may even promote the apparition in some way (such as by having a special feast day like “Our Lady of Lourdes” feast day a few days ago, or the Pope going to pray at the apparition site), approved apparitions are not considered part of the Church’s deposit of faith, and Catholics are free to not believe in an approved apparition.
Obviously in the case of an unapproved apparition, Catholics should be careful about investing belief in it unless/ until the Church has either approved the apparition, or taken some other action like canonizing the visionary (which may not mean that the Church agrees necessarily with everything they saw in their purported vision, because saints can sometimes be wrong). And of course, even if the Church approves the apparition or canonizes the visionary, etc, Catholics are free to not believe in the apparition. In some cases the Church may explicitly condemn or discredit the apparition and in that case Catholics should NOT believe in it.
Last edited:
L
LateranBasilica
Guest
No, it is not.
C
commenter
Guest
What you have to believe is Public Revelation (deposit of Faith), as defined by the Church. Catholicism is based on Scripture, Tradition, as interpreted by the Magisterium.
Far less important, is Private Revelation. Approval means the content does not contradict Public Revelation.
Private Revelation is like music at Church. It’s not necessary. But for some, it helps bring home the message of the readings and sermon in a memorable way.
Even approved private Revelations can be taken out of context, take on a life of their own. (“I don’t obey my bishop, I only obey Our Lady of …”)
Sometimes you see posts “I know this is only private, not public revelation, BUT…”
Then they treat it as if it were public revelation.
Used properly, private revelation helps some live out the Gospel more fully. The evidence is in their actions and devotion to Mass.
Far less important, is Private Revelation. Approval means the content does not contradict Public Revelation.
Private Revelation is like music at Church. It’s not necessary. But for some, it helps bring home the message of the readings and sermon in a memorable way.
Even approved private Revelations can be taken out of context, take on a life of their own. (“I don’t obey my bishop, I only obey Our Lady of …”)
Sometimes you see posts “I know this is only private, not public revelation, BUT…”
Then they treat it as if it were public revelation.
Used properly, private revelation helps some live out the Gospel more fully. The evidence is in their actions and devotion to Mass.
F
Francis
Guest
No but ,these devotions bring us close to Jesus.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/why-the-devil-hates-mary-especially-during-exorcisms-93682
“In my experience – so far I have performed 2,300 rites of exorcism – I can say that the invocation of the Most Holy Virgin Mary often provokes significant reactions in the person being exorcized,” he told Mexican weekly Desde la Fe.
http://lordcalls.com/tag/devotion-to-our-lady-of-lourdes
Our Lady of Fatima Revealed Devotion on June 13
While Our Lady reminded the children about the necessity of the daily Rosary, she also introduced them to a vital, necessary devotion.
www.ncregister.com
Last edited:
G
godisgood77
Guest
100% no…
C
christofirst
Guest
They certainly can bring us close to Jesus, but if some aspect of a private revelation goes beyond what the Church officially teaches, it is not mandatory.
Last edited:
F
Francis
Guest
Lourdes, Fatima, are officially Church approved devotion ,but not mandatory . John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
she is our Mother in the order of grace
[967]) By her complete adherence to the Father’s will, to his Son’s redemptive work, and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary is the Church’s model of faith and charity. Thus she is a “preeminent and . . . wholly unique member of the Church”; indeed, she is the “exemplary realization” ( typus )510 of the Church.
** II. DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN**
[971] " All generations will call me blessed ": "The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship."515 The Church rightly honors "the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs. . . . This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration."516 The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.517
III. MARY - ESCHATOLOGICAL ICON OF THE CHURCH
[972] After speaking of the Church, her origin, mission, and destiny, we can find no better way to conclude than by looking to Mary. In her we contemplate what the Church already is in her mystery on her own “pilgrimage of faith,” and what she will be in the homeland at the end of her journey. There, “in the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity,” "in the communion of all the saints,"518 the Church is awaited by the one she venerates as Mother of her Lord and as her own mother.
In the meantime the Mother of Jesus, in the glory which she possesses in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise she shines forth on earth until the day of the Lord shall come, a sign of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim People of God.519
C
commenter
Guest
In the 1950s Fulton Sheen knew his listeners and readers had a good grasp of public revelation. So on occasion he would refer to a private revelation to illustrate a point he made from public revelation. He knew that private Revelations were seldom misused then. (You might say it was safer then to refer to private revelation).
Today, Catholics are much less familiar with public revelation, public revelation is far more under attack both from within and without, and private Revelations have been misused by some.
Given these new realities, I recommend the Church give almost all it’s attention to defending and promoting public revelation.
Today, Catholics are much less familiar with public revelation, public revelation is far more under attack both from within and without, and private Revelations have been misused by some.
Given these new realities, I recommend the Church give almost all it’s attention to defending and promoting public revelation.
C
christofirst
Guest
Let’s be clear, then. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 67, states:
“Throughout the ages, there have been so-called “private” revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history.”
So here’s a case in point. The third article you linked, the one about Fatima, expresses, “the necessity of the daily Rosary,” and calls devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, “a vital necessary devotion.” You then quoted a Catechism section extolling the virtues of Marian devotions like the Rosary and the Immaculate Heart. But nowhere in that or any other section of the Catechism is it indicated that praying the Rosary or adherence to any other particular devotion is an absolute necessity. There are any number of perfectly valid reasons why a Catholic can not or is not drawn to praying the Rosary, for example, and that’s fine. I myself have a devotion to the Rosary, and we can certainly encourage people to pray the Rosary, as does the Church, but when we start inserting words like “necessity” that go above and beyond what the Church actually requires, we create a potential stumbling block for some, a burden which the Church in her wisdom does not impose.
“Throughout the ages, there have been so-called “private” revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history.”
So here’s a case in point. The third article you linked, the one about Fatima, expresses, “the necessity of the daily Rosary,” and calls devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, “a vital necessary devotion.” You then quoted a Catechism section extolling the virtues of Marian devotions like the Rosary and the Immaculate Heart. But nowhere in that or any other section of the Catechism is it indicated that praying the Rosary or adherence to any other particular devotion is an absolute necessity. There are any number of perfectly valid reasons why a Catholic can not or is not drawn to praying the Rosary, for example, and that’s fine. I myself have a devotion to the Rosary, and we can certainly encourage people to pray the Rosary, as does the Church, but when we start inserting words like “necessity” that go above and beyond what the Church actually requires, we create a potential stumbling block for some, a burden which the Church in her wisdom does not impose.
F
Francis
Guest
am sorry you got me wrong,now where did i say its absolute necessity ? Now did i? see below what i posted
Last edited:
C
cathjuche
Guest
Thanks all of you for the response.
F
Francis
Guest
Continuation
There will be no further Revelation
[66] "The Christian economy, therefore, since it is the new and definitive Covenant, will never pass away; and no new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ."28 Yet even if Revelation is already complete, it has not been made completely explicit; it remains for Christian faith gradually to grasp its full significance over the course of the centuries.
[67] Throughout the ages, there have been so-called “private” revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church.
Christian faith cannot accept “revelations” that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such “revelations”.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a1.htm
There will be no further Revelation
[66] "The Christian economy, therefore, since it is the new and definitive Covenant, will never pass away; and no new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ."28 Yet even if Revelation is already complete, it has not been made completely explicit; it remains for Christian faith gradually to grasp its full significance over the course of the centuries.
[67] Throughout the ages, there have been so-called “private” revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church.
Christian faith cannot accept “revelations” that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such “revelations”.
D
Daniels123
Guest
It’s not mandatory.
A
Aulef
Guest
No, it isn’t
- Status