For anyone interested in learning more about the blessed mother Mary, I would suggest you get the book “The mystical city of God”, written by saint Mary of Agreeda in the 1650,s. She was an incredible saint. Apparently the Blessed Mother appeared to her and gave her visions about Jesus’s life and her life. It has been approved by several popes. It is not a part of the catholic teaching but is a fascinating story of Mary and Jesus. Interesting to note that Mary said when the gospels were written, much information about Mary was intentionally left out because the doctrine’s of Jesus needed to be planted in men’s hearts.
The story of saint Mary of Agreeda is also an incredible one.
Robert Curtis
She is not a saint, sorry to say! Also, she was not approved by any Pope’s. Here is a link to the Catholic Encyclopedia for more information.
newadvent.org/cathen/01229a.htm
Personally I do not like her writings for much the same reasons as are stated there. Too much hype and inaccuracy, sometimes to the point of being, as they say, scandalous. I prefer approved writings by the saints, and stay away from ‘private revelations’ which tend to have their problems.
Some good advice here from Cardinal Arinze…
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 ** Cardinal Arinze Cautions on Private Revelations **
**There is typically much excitement about alleged apparitions and private revelations, especially concerning those that have not been approved by the Church. This excitement persists even when the bishops in whose dioceses the visions or messages are alleged to have occurred issue warnings to the faithful. **
**There is also, sadly, a tendency for believers of any particular “message” to be critical of other Catholics who express disinterest or disbelief. Cardinal Arinze explains:
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"The Church never imposes belief in a private revelation, even when such private revelation is approved by the Church as coming from heaven–like Lourdes and Fatima, these are certain that they come from heaven, but even then the Church does not impose them as objects of Catholic faith."
**Some Catholics are willing to go to great inconvenience and expense to follow an alleged “seer”; and their spiritual hunger is not likely to be left unfulfilled by our loving God who seeks closer union with all of us. This could be the reason for good fruits from unapproved apparitions, rather than a testimony to the truth of a particular alleged revelation. Since God turns everything to good for those who love Him and seek a closer relationship with Him, why would He not respond favorably to those desires? **
**Meanwhile, back at our home parishes, how often is Jesus left alone in the Most Blessed Sacrament? As Saint Jean Vianney once said,
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**“Everyone is ready to run after the latest novelty…but as for Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, he is deserted and forsaken.”
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**When asked about going on pilgrimage to an alleged unapproved “revelation” site, Cardinal Arinze said,
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"Oh yes, I go on pilgrimage, but you know where I go on pilgrimage?–the chapel where we have the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle–where we are not guessing–where we are SURE!–that’s my pilgrimage!
