What to do?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TwoNames
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

TwoNames

Guest
Today, a friend asked me - out of nowhere - if I am up for a road trip - a pilgrimage actually to Medjugorje over the weekend. Later I found out why - it is a really, REALLY bad health diagnosis for a very young member of his close family - very urgent indeed.

I know we are not really encouraged to go to Medjugorje, I guess I could still go on a pilgrimage there - it doesn’t mean I’m validating or accepting any of the messages or ‘revelations’ of Medjugorje. But I can still honor Our blessed Mother and offer up the effort right?
 
To the best of my knowledge, the Church has not forbidden the laity to go there and pray, and attend Mass.

I have two friends, the wife being a long term convert from the Presbytery church, who are going either late summer or early fall. I pray their faith may be strengthened, and if you go, yours too.

Best to pray, and stay out of the issue of whether or not there are any apparitions. God honors faith and prayer. The rest can simply be a distraction.
 
I actually have been there two times when I first converted (it’s where I made my first real confession actually). If I will go, I will go with a purpose to pray for the intention and not for any miracles or anything like that. Thanks.
 
As recently as 2013, we have been told that “no cleric or faithful may participate in any meetings, conferences, or public celebrations in which the authenticity of the apparitions are taken for granted.”

I sincerely wish that people would obey the local ordinaries when it comes to apparitions: people accept ones that are not approved, and they consistently treat approved ones as if they are utterly irrelevant since they’re “only” private revelation.

If the Bishop says yes, accept it. If he says no, then don’t.

Why should this be a dilemma? 🙂
 
Eichelbaum said:
As recently as 2013, we have been told that “no cleric or faithful may participate in any meetings, conferences, or public celebrations in which the authenticity of the apparitions are taken for granted.”

I sincerely wish that people would obey the local ordinaries when it comes to apparitions: people accept ones that are not approved, and they consistently treat approved ones as if they are utterly irrelevant since they’re “only” private revelation.

If the Bishop says yes, accept it. If he says no, then don’t.

Why should this be a dilemma? 🙂
Click to expand...
If we go (still not 100% sure), we are not going to any meetings or conference.
 
The faithful may attend mass at any lawfully operated parish, including parishes within the city of Medjugorje. The faithful are encouraged to pray for those who are ill.

The faithful may even accept that the alleged apparitions are plausible. The only thing not permitted is to insist others believe that apparitions are true, as the Catholic Church has not been able to verify them. Several members of the Catholic hierarchy have expressed grave doubts about their authenticity, and thus any religious pilgrimage should be done discreetly as a private devotion. Any advice given by the alleged Seers should be treated with religious skepticism.
 
TwoNames said:
Today, a friend asked me - out of nowhere - if I am up for a road trip - a pilgrimage actually to Medjugorje over the weekend. Later I found out why - it is a really, REALLY bad health diagnosis for a very young member of his close family - very urgent indeed.

I know we are not really encouraged to go to Medjugorje, I guess I could still go on a pilgrimage there - it doesn’t mean I’m validating or accepting any of the messages or ‘revelations’ of Medjugorje. But I can still honor Our blessed Mother and offer up the effort right?
Click to expand...
I’ve heard the opposite, that any devotions involving this hard-to-pronounce destination are discouraged by the church. I think this was announced in the last couple years by the local diocese. Save your money. Go to your local church.
 
Why not convince your friend to go to an approved apparition site like Lourdes or Fatima? Many people have been healed by the waters at Lourdes, and you can tell your friend that by going there, you are being faithful to the Church.
 
The Church does not forbid people to go there but there are things there the Church forbids Catholics from doing which is stated below.

"What the Church has forbidden.

"From the most recent statements of ecclesiastical authority it is clear that no Catholic may participate in events which presume the authenticity of Medjugorje. The older statements emphasized only the prohibition of those holding an office in the Church (bishop, pastor, rector, chaplain or other) who would, by virtue of that office, tend to lend official sanction to Medjugorje, and thus contradict the decisions of the competent local authorities. Those earlier statements proscribed pilgrimages organized under official auspices; however, common sense suggests that a conference or other activity sponsored by a diocese, parish or other Catholic institution was also prohibited.

Likewise, there could not be, then or now, public veneration (cultus) of the Blessed Virgin under the title of Our Lady of Medjugorje, since this would suggest the certainty of her appearing there. The title Queen of Peace, it should be noted, is already part of the patrimony of the Church.

The Yugoslavian statement spoke of liturgical-pastoral directives which may be developed. Catholics are obliged to obey whatever positive or negative directives a local bishop, or a Bishops’ Conference, issues regarding the celebration of the sacraments, pastoral activity generally, or the use of Church property. This remains the case."

ewtn.com/…/medjugorie.ht.
 
I would avoid going to Medjugorje entirely. If you can, going to Lourdes would be a much better choice. At least we know for sure that Our Lady visited Lourdes and there is a much more solid hope of achieving a miracle by doing a pilgrimage there.
 
QUOTE=Churchman25;13981966}

I wonder if you might help me? I remain on the subject of Medjugorje and about what is allowed and not allowed.

There is a priest in my parish that is doing a ‘mission’ with the adorers there. Me being one of them. His talks are based on Our Lady of Medjugorje and the 5 stones. He insists we must follow this spirituality if our prayers are to have any meaning/power etc…and that if we leave any of the stones out our prayers won’t be answered. This is our assistant priest. Am I correct in feeling uncomfortable about this teaching. Although the ‘5 stones’ in and of themselves can be ever useful in growing in our faith, I’m afraid that because it comes from apparitions there (Medjugorje), that I shouldn’t be doing this. Thanks.

If I have gone to far off topic I apologize…My advice also would be to Go to Fatima or Lourdes. I will be going to Lourdes in Sept.
 
You are certainly allowed to go to Medjugorje its just that you are not allowed to do anything that permits the authenticity of the Virgin Mary appearing in Medjugorje.

Does this help.
 
ElizabethPH said:
I wonder if you might help me? I remain on the subject of Medjugorje and about what is allowed and not allowed.

There is a priest in my parish that is doing a ‘mission’ with the adorers there. Me being one of them. His talks are based on Our Lady of Medjugorje and the 5 stones. He insists we must follow this spirituality if our prayers are to have any meaning/power etc…and that if we leave any of the stones out our prayers won’t be answered. This is our assistant priest. Am I correct in feeling uncomfortable about this teaching. Although the ‘5 stones’ in and of themselves can be ever useful in growing in our faith, I’m afraid that because it comes from apparitions there (Medjugorje), that I shouldn’t be doing this. Thanks.

If I have gone to far off topic I apologize…My advice also would be to Go to Fatima or Lourdes. I will be going to Lourdes in Sept.
Click to expand...
Anyone who says “If you don’t follow this [whatever - pattern, stones, novena] exactly, your prayers won’t be answered” sounds like someone who believes God can be bound.

And that stops me cold, right then and there. There is no magic in prayers; we cannot follow a formula to bind God, and are prayers are always answered.

Sometimes - and even many times, the answer is “No”, for reasons we don’t perceive. Other times, our prayers are answered, but in ways we may not perceive; or answered, but not when we expect.

I can’t say if your priest is over the line with what Rome has outlined for clergy, but my greater concern (assuming he may be over the line) is that if this is actually what he said, he sounds as if he needs a refresher in theology.
 
Excuse me for my ignorance but what are the 5 stones?, and second of all I dont know why a priest would say that if we dont use them all our prayers wont be answered. The other thing as far as prayers being answered a priest does not have control over that only God does.
 
Churchman25 said:
Excuse me for my ignorance but what are the 5 stones?, and second of all I dont know why a priest would say that if we dont use them all our prayers wont be answered. The other thing as far as prayers being answered a priest does not have control over that only God does.
Click to expand...
I do understand about prayer and that God answers our prayers.

Churchman I will talk with him and ask if I’m understanding what he said correctly. I do know he warned against leaving any of them out, that we would not change in our spiritual growth, or the stones would not work against evil. And that would be about what we are praying for. I hope that explains it better, find the 5 stones below.

Mary of Medjugorje has said,
“I give you the weapon against your Goliath.
Here are your little stones.”
PRAYER
(daily Rosary)
MASS
(as often as possible)
FASTING
(fast on bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays)
CONFESSION
(go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation monthly)
BIBLE
(read Holy Scripture often)

As you can see this comes from Mary of Medjugorje spirituality revealed to the children in apparitions.
 
otjm: Thanks for your reply and perspective. I think I’ll make an appointment to see this priest and get some things straight.
 
ElizabethPH said:
I do understand about prayer and that God answers our prayers.

Churchman I will talk with him and ask if I’m understanding what he said correctly. I do know he warned against leaving any of them out, that we would not change in our spiritual growth, or the stones would not work against evil. And that would be about what we are praying for. I hope that explains it better, find the 5 stones below.

Mary of Medjugorje has said,
“I give you the weapon against your Goliath.
Here are your little stones.”
PRAYER
(daily Rosary)
MASS
(as often as possible)
FASTING
(fast on bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays)
CONFESSION
(go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation monthly)
BIBLE
(read Holy Scripture often)

As you can see this comes from Mary of Medjugorje spirituality revealed to the children in apparitions.
Click to expand...
Sounds like superstition to me. Perhaps the Bishop should be apprised of this.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top