One of the guys from Medjugorje is coming to my town.

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Eliza10 said:
If you ask about Medjugorje here you will hear from the diehard skeptics who have made their final immovable judgement on Medjugorje. If you read the skeptics and read the credible supporters (they are there) then you will find it not so easy to judge. I have read both and I know I will go with what the Pope says, when he says it (some, it seems are mind-readers and already know what he is going to say). Meanwhile this private revelation has born much good fruit that cannot be denied. Sure there is scandal with some insider but Jesus had scandal with one of His insiders too, and that didn’t make it not true.

Why not fast and pray for wisdom and truth and go with an open mind and make your own judgement on what you see. I don’t mean become a believer or a detractor based on jut this, but just get your own genuine impression. And share it with us here!
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Thank you for posting this. I always find it so hard to hear such negative responses to a apparition that has not even been disproved. I have personally seen the fruits of Medjugorje. If one does not want to believe in this they have every right to do so, but please do not start to put doubt in others minds, that is what creates division and that is what the father of lies likes to do.
 
The big problem is that everyone gets involved in the signs and wonders and validity of alleged apparitions. Long ago one of the popes suggested that we focus on the message, and, if it be licit, do it. True or false, doing right can’t hurt.

For example Fatima - Many worry about the Consecration and the Third Secret. How much better if they put that effort into saying the rosary and attending mass on Saturday.

In the case of Medjugorje, I think Pope John Paul suggested that people focus on repent, convert, fast, pray and do penance. Whatever the validity of the apparition, doing those will only accrue to your benefit.
 
Eliza10 said:
Thats not the only fruit of Medjugorje. Incidentally, its also the fruit of the gospel. :eek: **Division. Brother against brother. etc. **
So many of us personally know someone whose lives have been touched and permanently changed in some way by Medjugorje. People whose lives have made a forever change towards faithfulness in daily living. And whether it is a true apparition or not, its important to remember that pilgrims go there seeking the Lord. And Jesus says, “When two or more are gathered in my name, I am there among you.” So we know Our Lord is there, with His faithful.
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You are talking apples and oranges.
When Christ talked about division he was saying that division will arise because some will believe in him and some will not.
Medjugorie is not about who belives in Christ or not. Medjugorie is dividing those who already believe in him. That is what Satan wants.
 
st_lucy said:
Thank you for posting this. I always find it so hard to hear such negative responses to a apparition that has not even been disproved. I have personally seen the fruits of Medjugorje. If one does not want to believe in this they have every right to do so, but please do not start to put doubt in others minds, that is what creates division and that is what the father of lies likes to do.
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You mean you didn’t know that 3 separate local Bishops’ Commissions have declared there is no evidence of any supernatural happenings in Medjugorie?
You mean you didn’t know the Bishops have declared the alleged seers to be frauds?
You mean you didn’t know that local franciscan priests who have been perpetuating the apparitions had their faculties suspended so they cannot say Mass or hear Confession?
You mean you didn’t know that since this issue was taken up by the CDF in Rome that another priest at the centre of the alleged apparaitions has been suspended?
Do you really think the CDF will come out and approve this??

Of course whatever the final decision, as a faithful Catholic, I will accept it but I really wonder what will happen if the answer is negative. Will those who strongly maintain its true be obedient to the Church or will Satan win their souls?
 
Thistle is clearly on the “scathing detractor” side of Medjugorje. 🙂

But I don’t think its necessary to turn this into a defend/detract thread on Medjugorje because there already are several threads of this type in this forum. Detractors here have certainly already made their points on those threads.

The book I have read on the subject is Spark from Heaven: The Mystery of the Madonna of Medjugorje by Mary Craig. It was in my parish library. The author is a host and interviewer for BBC radio, and her book was very impartial reporting on Medjugorje. She was coming from an almost atheist stance, really writing as a researcher/reporter. Her book covers a whole lot of pre-history of the area - the backdrop - which is really fascinating (even though I am not a big history buff). The local-authority bishops and the Franciscans go way back and its interesting. So does the oppression of this people. That is shocking. One thing I learned is that there is a* lot* to this story.

Reading the reviews on Amazon is interersting too. When I typed in Medjugorje, 3 pages of books came up. Titles are like these: The Best of “The Spirit of Medjugorje”, Beyond My Wildest Dreams - A Medjugorje Odyssey, and Medjugorje (Where Heaven Meets Earth). I want to go back and read the reviews on several books. I see Father Michael Scanlon has written one or two on Medjugorje - he is a theologian at Franciscan Universtiy at Stubenville.

I particularly like this title because it says what I have witnessed: The Fruits of Medjugorje: Stories of True and Lasting Conversion. It is very interesting to see a book of this title because consistently I see those who are beleivers in Medjugorje who have had lasting conversions in their lives. I meet those whose faith-lives impress me, and then later I find they attribute Medjugorje to their lasting faith life. Sometimes I find that out in direct answer to my question: “What influenced your faith?”.

I ask this because I am a convert, and I have much in common with other converts from Evangelicalism. I find the least in common with cradle Catholics who don’t have and have never have had an active faith life. It seems “less” to me than what I saw among my Evangelical peers (even though we Catholics have more!) . But then I find also very faithful cradle Catholics, whose faith life I am drawn to, who I do relate to. So often find out they have had a personal conversion, too, and very genuine - and frequently they name Medjugorje!

So this has been my experience.

The above titles I am named at random, just looking at the list presented on Amazon. So the general tone on the books that came up is positve. But one read standout in contrast is: The Medjugorje Deception: Queen of Peace, Ethnic Cleansing, Ruined Lives by E. Michael Jones. I see that this Michael Jones is always cited by hardcore detractors. I am going to see what else there is on the web about him.
 
Eliza10 said:
Thistle is clearly on the “scathing detractor” side of Medjugorje. 🙂

But I don’t think its necessary to turn this into a defend/detract thread on Medjugorje because there already are several threads of this type in this forum. Detractors here have certainly already made their points on those threads.

The book I have read on the subject is Spark from Heaven: The Mystery of the Madonna of Medjugorje by Mary Craig. It was in my parish library. The author is a host and interviewer for BBC radio, and her book was very impartial reporting on Medjugorje. She was coming from an almost atheist stance, really writing as a researcher/reporter. Her book covers a whole lot of pre-history of the area - the backdrop - which is really fascinating (even though I am not a big history buff). The local-authority bishops and the Franciscans go way back and its interesting. So does the oppression of this people. That is shocking. One thing I learned is that there is a* lot* to this story.

Reading the reviews on Amazon is interersting too. When I typed in Medjugorje, 3 pages of books came up. Titles are like these: The Best of “The Spirit of Medjugorje”, Beyond My Wildest Dreams - A Medjugorje Odyssey, and Medjugorje (Where Heaven Meets Earth). I want to go back and read the reviews on several books. I see Father Michael Scanlon has written one or two on Medjugorje - he is a theologian at Franciscan Universtiy at Stubenville.

I particularly like this title because it says what I have witnessed: The Fruits of Medjugorje: Stories of True and Lasting Conversion. It is very interesting to see a book of this title because consistently I see those who are beleivers in Medjugorje who have had lasting conversions in their lives. I meet those whose faith-lives impress me, and then later I find they attribute Medjugorje to their lasting faith life. Sometimes I find that out in direct answer to my question: “What influenced your faith?”.

I ask this because I am a convert, and I have much in common with other converts from Evangelicalism. I find the least in common with cradle Catholics who don’t have and have never have had an active faith life. It seems “less” to me than what I saw among my Evangelical peers (even though we Catholics have more!) . But then I find also very faithful cradle Catholics, whose faith life I am drawn to, who I do relate to. So often find out they have had a personal conversion, too, and very genuine - and frequently they name Medjugorje!

So this has been my experience.

The above titles I am named at random, just looking at the list presented on Amazon. So the general tone on the books that came up is positve. But one read standout in contrast is: The Medjugorje Deception: Queen of Peace, Ethnic Cleansing, Ruined Lives by E. Michael Jones. I see that this Michael Jones is always cited by hardcore detractors. I am going to see what else there is on the web about him.
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You are right that this should not be turned into one of the usual debates about Medjugorie.
I was merely responding to your comment that the Church has not disproved this apparition and I pointed out the actions already taken by the competent Church authorities both locally and in Rome. All of the actions taken so far have been negative towards the “apparitions”.
All you seem to do is refer us to books that different people have written. Whether the books are in favour or against they are not the Church authorities. I have given you the actions taken by the Church authorities. That’s what counts, and not a variety of books.

By the way, I am not a cradle Catholic. I am a convert from the Methodist Church.
 
This thread was about whether or not someone should attend an event presented by a Medjugorje supporter, but it has turned into a thread about Medjugorje itself. Because of that, several posts have been deleted and this thread is now Closed. I assume the OP has received a good answer to his question.

Please remember that unapproved private revelation is a banned topic for discussion at CAF.

Out of respect for the Bishop of Mostar and his request to not further discuss or promote the alleged apparitions of Medjugorje, this board has included Medjugorje in the Banned Topics list since June, 2006.

Klara
 
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