What is the non-Catholic Response to Mary Apparitions?

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I don’t believe in apparitions of Mary. When someone sees Mary on a potato chip, a piece of toast, the side of a barn, etc., it makes me sad that they are so desperate to believe in something. Apparently God is not sufficient for them. God is real. Why do people need to conjure up an image to believe in?
 
I wonder why people say that they believe in Jesus in their lives but they can’t grasp the apparitions of Mary. I do believe in them myself if my first sentence doesn’t give away my opinion. I do not however like the stories if the Mary potato chip or Jesus waterspot (and so on), but in all honesty if your personal apparition takes you on a journey deeper into your faith than I can’t complain.
 
I generally tend to believe. Although if I knew the process by which the apparitions are approved (or denied) by that would add more weight to their case…
 
Priscilla_Ann said:
I don’t believe in apparitions of Mary. When someone sees Mary on a potato chip, a piece of toast, the side of a barn, etc., it makes me sad that they are so desperate to believe in something. Apparently God is not sufficient for them. God is real. Why do people need to conjure up an image to believe in?
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The actual apparitions that are approved by the Church have a bit more depth than the examples you claim.
 
Zatzat said:
‘What is the non-Catholic Response to Mary Apparitions?’

Delusion
Confusion
Coincidence ( grilled cheese sandwhiches that are held in high esteem due to the likeness of Christ appearing on the face)
Fraud or deception
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Zatzat,

Where is there an example of, “grilled cheese sandwhiches that are held in high esteem due to the likeness of Christ” (your words). And what do you mean by “high esteem”?

Do you honestly believe that your comments apply to all Catholics?

And, do your comments describing Catholics, using the words “Delusion, Confusion and Coincidence” apply to all Christian miracles?

Finally, what are your thoughts regarding Protestant, Television, Evangelical Christian ministers who miraculously heal people on TV? Do all non-Catholic Christians believe that all of the these so-called healings are actually occurring on TV, nightly? Or that if those same ministers who pray over money… that, all of their financial woes will also be “healed” as well?

Then again, there were non-Catholic Christians who followed Jim Jones, David Koresh and Marshall Applegate… weren’t there?

This is the problem that occurs when one overly generalizes any one group…they are generally wrong…

Right?

Just wondering???
 
Priscilla_Ann said:
God is real. Why do people need to conjure up an image to believe in?
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Maybe it’s because God is invisible and people like to believe that the creator of the universe shows up once in a while…even if on the face of a chip.
 
Zatzat said:
Maybe it’s because God is invisible and people like to believe that the creator of the universe shows up once in a while…even if on the face of a chip.
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Do you believe this story (below)?
A man named Ananias, however, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. He retained for himself, with his wife’s knowledge, some of the purchase price, took the remainder, and put it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the holy Spirit and retained part of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control? Why did you contrive this deed? You have lied not to human beings, but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. Peter said to her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount?” She answered, “Yes, for that amount.” Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen, the footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” At once, she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men entered they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Acts 5:1-11
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After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.

Matthew 17:1-3
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But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

Matthew 27:50-53
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Jimmy_B said:
Where is there an example of, “grilled cheese sandwhiches that are held in high esteem due to the likeness of Christ” (your words). And what do you mean by “high esteem”?
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To hold in high esteem, meaning ’ to prize.’

‘Virgin Mary grilled cheese’ sells for $28,000’

I stand corrected, it was an image of the Virgin Mary that was held in such high esteem. There are plenty of stories about Christ appearing in other food stuffs, such as pancakes;

The couple is selling the pancake on eBay with an opening bid of $500.
Do you honestly believe that your comments apply to all Catholics?
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I honestly believe my comments apply to reality.
And, do your comments describing Catholics, using the words “Delusion, Confusion and Coincidence” apply to all Christian miracles?
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Yes, if someone believes they are seeing the supernatural image / apparition of the Virgin Mary, they are either deluded, confused, seeing patterns / image ( coincidence) or are either being defrauded / or are defrauding us.
Finally, what are your thoughts regarding Protestant, Television, Evangelical Christian ministers who miraculously heal people on TV?
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It’s a public fraud and an absolute shame that vulnerable people are being taken advantage of.
Do all non-Catholic Christians believe that all of the these so-called healings are actually occurring on TV, nightly? Or that if those same ministers who pray over money… that, all of their financial woes will also be “healed” as well?
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Likely not.
Then again, there were non-Catholic Christians who followed Jim Jones, David Koresh and Marshall Applegate… weren’t there?
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Yes, it’s truly amazing what religion can do to people!
 
Zatzat said:
To hold in high esteem, meaning ’ to prize.’

‘Virgin Mary grilled cheese’ sells for $28,000’

I stand corrected, it was an image of the Virgin Mary that was held in such high esteem. There are plenty of stories about Christ appearing in other food stuffs, such as pancakes;

The couple is selling the pancake on eBay with an opening bid of $500.

I honestly believe my comments apply to reality.

Yes, if someone believes they are seeing the supernatural image / apparition of the Virgin Mary, they are either deluded, confused, seeing patterns / image ( coincidence) or are either being defrauded / or are defrauding us.

It’s a public fraud and an absolute shame that vulnerable people are being taken advantage of.

Likely not.

Yes, it’s truly amazing what religion can do to people!
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The problem with your entire argument is that you keep describing things, so-called “miracles” that have not been investigated or approved by the Catholic Church, therefore, they are not Catholic! You do know that the Catholic Church investigates and debunks many claims like the ones that your describing here…don’t you?
 
cheese_sdc said:
Fatima and Lourdes? You can keep 'em. The messages of the most reputable apparitions are always the same “Pray and Repent”, or “Repent and Pray”. I don’t need an apparition to hear that message, and any other message about signs or the end-times, I’m not going to believe.
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Do I detect something here? I can’t figure exactly what it is but there is something about that attitude … .

It is another thing if you do not believe in the apparition; you don’t have to, it’s a private revelation. That’s the Church’s stand on that.

However, to brush aside message of Biblical truth is quite another thing altogether. If someone comes up with a preaching or perhaps a prophecy to me and said, “Jesus loves you”, it will make me think. Yes I know that Jesus loves me but is it a coincidence that I am told of it now? What’s in it for me? Have I doubt this for the past few days, through my words, my thought or my action?

A humble man will ponder on the word of God; does not matter where it comes from.
 
gcnuss said:
I didn’t vote because I didn’t want to decide between “yes” and “no.”

I am skeptical of the Marian apparitions but I realize that there are people for whom they are very real. I respect those beliefs even though I am not able, at this time, to hold them myself.
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What a great response, Pastor. It is the approach that I take regarding invocation as well - not convinced she can hear us, but millions of the centuries have gained great comfort believing that Mary and the saints not only pray for us (they do), but they can hear what our individual requests for intercession are.

With God, all things are possible, including possible apparitions of His mother for the benefit of the faithful.

Jon
 
Reuben_J said:
Do I detect something here? I can’t figure exactly what it is but there is something about that attitude … .

It is another thing if you do not believe in the apparition; you don’t have to, it’s a private revelation. That’s the Church’s stand on that.

However, to brush aside message of Biblical truth is quite another thing altogether. If someone comes up with a preaching or perhaps a prophecy to me and said, “Jesus loves you”, it will make me think. Yes I know that Jesus loves me but is it a coincidence that I am told of it now? What’s in it for me? Have I doubt this for the past few days, through my words, my thought or my action?

A humble man will ponder on the word of God; does not matter where it comes from.
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All good points.

Don’t non-Catholic Christians, who believe in the protestant doctrine, which allows for personal interpretation of the bible, believe that they have a “prophet like” power, where they receive a response directly from God, when reading the bible that allows them to know how to accurately interpret a particular bible verse? The fact that none of them agree with each other is a different story.
 
JonNC said:
What a great response, Pastor. It is the approach that I take regarding invocation as well - not convinced she can hear us, but millions of the centuries have gained great comfort believing that Mary and the saints not only pray for us (they do), but they can hear what our individual requests for intercession are.

With God, all things are possible, including possible apparitions of His mother for the benefit of the faithful.

Jon
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Nice post Jon.
 
Jimmy_B said:
The problem with your entire argument is that you keep describing things, so-called “miracles” that have not been investigated or approved by the Catholic Church, therefore, they are not Catholic! You do know that the Catholic Church investigates and debunks many claims like the ones that your describing here…don’t you?
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Investigate all you want…if the Catholic Church needs a miracle, the Catholic Church is going to get a miracle.

Surely, you’re not suggesting that Catholics possess a monopoly on supernatural miracles?
 
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