My problem with Medjugorje

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Xandria

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I hope I’m not going against the rules here because my question is regarding Medjugorje. The rules, however, seem to state that it is forbidden to promote Medjugorje and that is not my intent. If this thread does get shut down I would appreciate someone contacting me via pm because this problem is currently on my mind a lot. I could go to a Medjugorje forum but I won’t get an objective answer there.

Right from the beginning when I first became interested in the Catholic faith I was introduced to Medjugorje (about 3,5 years ago). You could say that Medjugorje has accompanied me the entire time. Even the parish I became Catholic at and the wonderful priest who helped me through the tough phases in my faith journey home all this time, are supporters of Medjugorje. For example he is leading pilgrimages there (called prayer journeys because official pilgrimages are not yet allowed, I think) and has a stack of prayer cards with the picture of Our Lady of Medjugorje on his desk. The other day I was attending Mass at another parish I’m sometimes going to and among others a Marian song from Medjugorje was sung, even in Croatian. And it was printed in the official song book that is used at every mass, I was surprised to see. My point is, Medjugorje was there all the time and is still present everywhere I go.

I haven’t relied on it that much though, the Divine Mercy devotion for example was more important to me. But I always felt I should. I kept myself loosely informed and always believed in Medjugorje and I still do. And that is my problem, because currently I wish I didn’t. Medjugorje somehow always makes me feel uncomfortable, so guilty because so much is asked to do by the believers and I still am happy if I do a daily 5 decades rosary, maybe squeeze in a Divine Mercy chaplet and the little private prayers to God throughout the day. Also, all this stuff about the secrets scares me. I’m currently reading a book about Medjugorje and am just getting this really uncomfortable feeling. I’m seriously thinking about just ignoring the whole phenomenon.

My probem is that I do still believe in it and am thinking that if the BVM is really appearing and asking us to do these things and I believe it, then I would do a bad thing by ignoring it. It also makes me feel guilty.

To be fair, I don’t feel good about Fatima either, even though I have no doubt about its authenticity. 🤷
 
Greetings.

I don’t like to criticize your priest, but he is doing something VERY wrong by promoting or leading any kind of prayer journey or “pilgrimage” to the site of an unproved apparition. The reason the Church has not given approval of this apparition, is that it does conflict with the Church’s teaching. Medjugorje is not a good, it is a serious danger that threatens to undermine truly miraculous appearances of Our Lady.

The apparition at Medjugorje was purposeless, aimless, and misleading. If we were to believe the apparition, we’d have to believe that Mary would ask God for forgiveness (she says the Our Father all the way through with the teens), that all religions are equal before God (as the apparition states).
 
Alexander_Smith said:
Greetings.

I don’t like to criticize your priest, but he is doing something VERY wrong by promoting or leading any kind of prayer journey or “pilgrimage” to the site of an unproved apparition. The reason the Church has not given approval of this apparition, is that it does conflict with the Church’s teaching. Medjugorje is not a good, it is a serious danger that threatens to undermine truly miraculous appearances of Our Lady.

The apparition at Medjugorje was purposeless, aimless, and misleading. If we were to believe the apparition, we’d have to believe that Mary would ask God for forgiveness (she says the Our Father all the way through with the teens), that all religions are equal before God (as the apparition states).
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This is news to me!:ehh: You just answered a few questions of mine, too! But, also the Church has not approved the apparitions because they have not stopped, that’s what I thought. Also, didnt our Holy Father pray the Holy Rosary before the image of Our Lady of Medjugorje? Or is that just gossip. Also, whene does she say that all religions are equal before God? I ask this out of genuine curiosity…🙂
 
Alexander_Smith said:
Greetings.

I don’t like to criticize your priest, but he is doing something VERY wrong by promoting or leading any kind of prayer journey or “pilgrimage” to the site of an unproved apparition. The reason the Church has not given approval of this apparition, is that it does conflict with the Church’s teaching. Medjugorje is not a good, it is a serious danger that threatens to undermine truly miraculous appearances of Our Lady.

The apparition at Medjugorje was purposeless, aimless, and misleading. If we were to believe the apparition, we’d have to believe that Mary would ask God for forgiveness (she says the Our Father all the way through with the teens), that all religions are equal before God (as the apparition states).
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And even if the Church does approve of these apparitions you do not have to believe in them, nor even Fatima if you don’t want to. The Bible is Divine Revelation, the others are private and subject to human interpretation.

I do believe in Fatima though, but Medjugorie bothers me a little bit because of the seers. Most of the children or people who saw apparitions saw them for either a little while, or were not announced until after their death.

These people though claim to get one every day, and that seems a little doubtful to me.
 
The Church can still issue its verdict on an apparition even while it is still going on. This past spring, the Vatican announced the formation of a new commission to look into the alleged apparitions in Medjugorje. So, it seems for the time being, the jury is still out. from the perspective of the Holy See.

Nonetheless, any private revelation (even those that have been approved) are not necessary for salvation. If it troubles you, forget about it. Focus on the sacramental life.
 
LoyalViews said:
This is news to me!:ehh: You just answered a few questions of mine, too! But, also the Church has not approved the apparitions because they have not stopped, that’s what I thought. Also, didnt our Holy Father pray the Holy Rosary before the image of Our Lady of Medjugorje? Or is that just gossip. Also, whene does she say that all religions are equal before God? I ask this out of genuine curiosity…🙂
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From the Medjugorje website:

*"One of the messages said that all faiths are equal. Isn’t this against the Catholic Church’s beliefs?

There was a question asked of Our Lady in October 1981 which was: Are all religions the same? Our Lady answered: “Members of all faiths are equal before God. God rules over each faith just like a sovereign over his kingdom. In the world, all religions are not the same because all people have not complied with the commandments of God. They reject and disparage them.”*

It’s rather shocking to see what is supposedly Our Lady, dodging around the question like this. God “rules” over other faiths? What does that even mean? Our Lady didn’t say “no”, she just said that many people of all faiths offend God, and that members of all faiths are equal. No mention of the Catholic Church at all, and the need to convert to Catholicism.

The most ridiculous aspect of these apparitions is the fact that they are STILL going on! It’s like “ho hum! Our Lady has been appearing every month since 1984. So what’s on the TV?”
utah_rose said:
And even if the Church does approve of these apparitions you do not have to believe in them, nor even Fatima if you don’t want to. The Bible is Divine Revelation, the others are private and subject to human interpretation.

I do believe in Fatima though, but Medjugorie bothers me a little bit because of the seers. Most of the children or people who saw apparitions saw them for either a little while, or were not announced until after their death.

These people though claim to get one every day, and that seems a little doubtful to me.
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Exactly.
 
Xandria said:
Medjugorje somehow always makes me feel uncomfortable, so guilty … all this stuff about the secrets scares me. … I would do a bad thing by ignoring it. It also makes me feel guilty.
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Isn’t this enough for you to make a decision?
 
Alexander_Smith said:
From the Medjugorje website:

*"One of the messages said that all faiths are equal. Isn’t this against the Catholic Church’s beliefs?

There was a question asked of Our Lady in October 1981 which was: Are all religions the same? Our Lady answered: “Members of all faiths are equal before God. God rules over each faith just like a sovereign over his kingdom. In the world, all religions are not the same because all people have not complied with the commandments of God. They reject and disparage them.”*

It’s rather shocking to see what is supposedly Our Lady, dodging around the question like this. God “rules” over other faiths? What does that even mean? Our Lady didn’t say “no”, she just said that many people of all faiths offend God, and that members of all faiths are equal. No mention of the Catholic Church at all, and the need to convert to Catholicism.
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I actually think this is a very thoughtful and balanced response. If she just said “no” that would perhaps motivate people to hate each other, or persecute people of other faiths.

She said members of every faith are equal before God. This is true! I think the pope said something to this effect as well. God loves us all equally, and desires salvation for every one of us.

God rules over each faith. Well, this is pretty much true. Islam, Christianity, and Judaism all worship the same God, therefore God rules over them. Other faiths might be trickier. Faiths that worship false gods are worshiping basically nothing…and God rules over them as well. God rules over everything. The lady is saying here that we are all God’s people, regardless of faith.

All religions are not the same though. Some please God more than others it seems. This doesn’t make different people more or less valuable to God (which was important to point out in the previous statements), but it does show that some grasp a more full truth, in my opinion.

I’m not saying I agree or disagree with these apparitions, but I don’t see how anyone can disagree with what was said in this particular statement if you think about it carefully.
 
Garyjohn2 said:
I actually think this is a very thoughtful and balanced response. If she just said “no” that would perhaps motivate people to hate each other, or persecute people of other faiths.

She said members of every faith are equal before God. This is true! I think the pope said something to this effect as well. God loves us all equally, and desires salvation for every one of us.

God rules over each faith. Well, this is pretty much true. Islam, Christianity, and Judaism all worship the same God, therefore God rules over them. Other faiths might be trickier. Faiths that worship false gods are worshiping basically nothing…and God rules over them as well. God rules over everything. The lady is saying here that we are all God’s people, regardless of faith.

All religions are not the same though. Some please God more than others it seems. This doesn’t make different people more or less valuable to God (which was important to point out in the previous statements), but it does show that some grasp a more full truth, in my opinion.

I’m not saying I agree or disagree with these apparitions, but I don’t see how anyone can disagree with what was said in this particular statement if you think about it carefully.
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No we don’t. What gave you that idea?

The only religion that pleases God is that which HE founded here on earth. The Catholic Church. It is the only faith that teaches the full truth of what God has given us. All other faiths and religions serve to pull people away from the one true faith.

Her simply saying “no” would be her stating the truth. Actually it’s weird the seers would even ask such a question considering it is a basic tenant of our faith.
 
LoyalViews said:
But, also the Church has not approved the apparitions because they have not stopped, that’s what I thought.
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Think about that for a minute in the light of simple common sense. Let’s say it’s true, the Church suspends judgment until a series of apparitions ceases. What if the series of apparitions goes on, and on, and on, with no end in sight?

Then think about this: who stands to gain from that?
LoyalViews said:
Also, didnt our Holy Father pray the Holy Rosary before the image of Our Lady of Medjugorje? Or is that just gossip.
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What do *you *think? Or, even better, what are people *supposed *to think about a comment like that? And from what camp - the pro camp or the con camp - did you hear it?

Then, who stands to gain from what appears to be the endorsement of the Holy Father himself?
 
Alexander_Smith said:
No we don’t. What gave you that idea?

The only religion that pleases God is that which HE founded here on earth. The Catholic Church. It is the only faith that teaches the full truth of what God has given us. All other faiths and religions serve to pull people away from the one true faith.

Her simply saying “no” would be her stating the truth. Actually it’s weird the seers would even ask such a question considering it is a basic tenant of our faith.
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The pope himself has stated that Muslims and Catholics worship the same God. I’m not sure who you think Jews worship, but I think it’s the same God too. We just all do it differently, and some of it is more pleasing to God than others.

Still, even if that statement is comepletey wrong, it doesn’t mean that our God doesn’t rule over them.
 
Garyjohn2 said:
The pope himself has stated that Muslims and Catholics worship the same God. I’m not sure who you think Jews worship, but I think it’s the same God too. We just all do it differently, and some of it is more pleasing to God than others.

Still, even if that statement is comepletey wrong, it doesn’t mean that our God doesn’t rule over them.
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Simple put, the Pope is wrong. Jews at and before the time of Christ worshiped God, but modern Jews worship a God that has never sent a son to save us, and has never founded a Church. Perhaps they think they worship the same God, but I believe that would be incorrect.

God rules over everything. But when you say he rules over all religions, you make it seem as if he controls them, or directs them. This is not the case. God has power over all religions yes, but he directs and leads the Catholic faith, not the Islamic, or Judaic faith.
 
Alexander_Smith said:
Simple put, the Pope is wrong. Jews at and before the time of Christ worshiped God, but modern Jews worship a God that has never sent a son to save us, and has never founded a Church. Perhaps they think they worship the same God, but I believe that would be incorrect.

God rules over everything. But when you say he rules over all religions, you make it seem as if he controls them, or directs them. This is not the case. God has power over all religions yes, but he directs and leads the Catholic faith, not the Islamic, or Judaic faith.
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Well, maybe we can agree to disagree on that 1st paragraph, and that’s ok. I think Jews do worship a God that sent His son, but they just didn’t recognize the son. That doesn’t mean that they all of a sudden switched gods that they worship than the one for the past 5,000 years, you know?

For the second point, I don’t think that saying God rules over these religions infers that he controls or directs them. He can rule over people that don’t listen to Him as well, but He rules just the same. Any illusion of Him not being in control is accounted for at the end.

I can see your point though, and I understand how your interpretation causes you to think the way you do. But I think that this particular saying from this “apparition” is not inaccurate. I think the purpose was to bring people together and show the universal “one-ness” as we are all God’s people, rather than emphasizing differences. Perhaps its harder to win conversions when people are told they’re different and wrong, rather than emphasizing God’s love for all people.
 
The above arguments are precisely why the Church is not inclined to give the apparitions the thumbs up just yet. The “apparition” statements cause dissent among the faithful.
 
It just feels like it’s one thing to not believe in an apparition but another to believe (and I can’t just press a button to not believe) and then to ignore. 🤷 Like I’m missing out on a big chance to help God in His work on earth or ignore a call to do so.
 
I so don’t believe in Medjugorje. I converted in 2008 and there are so many in my little town who have journeyed over to Medjugorie and they truly believe. What a shame. I hope the church does not approve of this so-called apparition. It is causing conflict among the members of the body. You cannot even talk about doubting to one of the true believers, they will get in your face.

There is one shrine I would love to visit and that is Our Lady of Guadalupe. It’s the only one which has a physical item which we can both see and touch. (If it were allowed that is)

There are other apparitions that don’t bother me but they don’t increase my faith either. I don’t need them. I do recite the Fatima prayer during the Rosary, I figure it can’t hurt. :angel1:
 
Xandria said:
I hope I’m not going against the rules here because my question is regarding Medjugorje. The rules, however, seem to state that it is forbidden to promote Medjugorje and that is not my intent. If this thread does get shut down I would appreciate someone contacting me via pm because this problem is currently on my mind a lot. I could go to a Medjugorje forum but I won’t get an objective answer there.

Right from the beginning when I first became interested in the Catholic faith I was introduced to Medjugorje (about 3,5 years ago). You could say that Medjugorje has accompanied me the entire time. Even the parish I became Catholic at and the wonderful priest who helped me through the tough phases in my faith journey home all this time, are supporters of Medjugorje. For example he is leading pilgrimages there (called prayer journeys because official pilgrimages are not yet allowed, I think) and has a stack of prayer cards with the picture of Our Lady of Medjugorje on his desk. The other day I was attending Mass at another parish I’m sometimes going to and among others a Marian song from Medjugorje was sung, even in Croatian. And it was printed in the official song book that is used at every mass, I was surprised to see. My point is, Medjugorje was there all the time and is still present everywhere I go.

I haven’t relied on it that much though, the Divine Mercy devotion for example was more important to me. But I always felt I should. I kept myself loosely informed and always believed in Medjugorje and I still do. And that is my problem, because currently I wish I didn’t. Medjugorje somehow always makes me feel uncomfortable, so guilty because so much is asked to do by the believers and I still am happy if I do a daily 5 decades rosary, maybe squeeze in a Divine Mercy chaplet and the little private prayers to God throughout the day. Also, all this stuff about the secrets scares me. I’m currently reading a book about Medjugorje and am just getting this really uncomfortable feeling. I’m seriously thinking about just ignoring the whole phenomenon.

My probem is that I do still believe in it and am thinking that if the BVM is really appearing and asking us to do these things and I believe it, then I would do a bad thing by ignoring it. It also makes me feel guilty.

To be fair, I don’t feel good about Fatima either, even though I have no doubt about its authenticity. 🤷
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My post from another thread:

It is against the forum rules to discuss apparitions, messages, revelations etc that are not approved and that applies to Medjugorie.

Any genuine revelation/messages would unite the faithful which is surely from God but Medjugorie has divided the faithful and that is what Satan is good at.
The reality is that 3 Bishops Commissions have officially declared that there is no supernatural happenings in Medjugorie, including that the seers are false.
Local Franciscan priests who are trying to perpetuate what is going on there have had their faculties to hear Confession and say Mass suspended.
Our current Pope while he was still Cardinal Ratzinger called Medjugorie a hoax.
Now the CDF (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) in Rome have taken over and their first act was to suspend a priest in Medjugorie who is at the centre of the alleged apparitions.
There is no doubt in my mind that at some stage the CDF will declare Medjugorie false. What will be interesting in such an an event is whether the faithful will obey the Church or follow Satan!
 
My problem with Medjugorje is the fact that all the bishops have given a negative appraisal(nothing supernatural) yet people continue to follow the cult.

Another disturbing revelation is the accusations that the one of the spiritual directors of the seers impregnated a nun.I don’t think that is the kind of fruit the Church is referring to when judging the validity of an apparition.

I am also slighlty concerned with its connection to and mention of another unapproved apparition in Garabandal,in which the visionaries were said to have retracted their claims.
 
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