Fr. Amorth on Medjugorje: "After more than thirty years! More than thirty years! Now if it is the pagans who don’t listen to Our Lady’s words, then that I can understand. But be you a Christian, it is not forgivable. Be you a Christian!” - Read the full story here.
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I remain open to Medjugorje - awaiting what the Church says, in the meantime, I try to live a faithful Catholic life. I've chosen not to say anything good or bad about Medjugorje any longer, so as not to offend God in either instance. Nevertheless, I find it confusing when priests such as Fr. Amorth make statements like this. After all, Fr. Amorth is just a priest - he is some bishop's exorcist - but he's not pope nor head of the CDF.
Sorry, but Fr. Amorth is way off on this one. A Catholic is never obligated to follow any apparition, whether approved (like Lourdes and Fatima) or unapproved (like Medjugorje). The fact is that there are some serious questions regarding this apparition, and one should approach it with caution. Until the CDF rules definitively, one would be well advised to keep away from Medjugorje. There are many other apparitions that have approval through which we can learn from Our Lady.
ReplyDeleteI will believe it if the Holy See declares it to be valid, but the fact that the local bishop seems to discourage it is enough for me.
ReplyDeleteThat, and the fact that none of the seers have ended up living lives like, say, Bernadette or Lucia, and that the Blessed Mother is usually reticent with her words and does not go on and on and on for 30 years.
She said NOTHING at Knock or Zaytouna ...
At the wedding feast of Cana, Mary said to the servants "do whatever he tells you." We're the servants. "He" is our Bishops and Priests. If you recall, at Lourdes, when Bernadette told the apparition that she was told not to return to the spring, Mary counseled her to listen. At Medjugorje, the alleged apparition denounced the Bishop. That's never Mary.
ReplyDeleteFr. Amorth is in Rome. Bishop Ratko Peric is the Bishop of Mostar. He is the man on the ground so to speak, he lives and breathes Medjugorge every single day and knows far more than we ever will.
ReplyDeleteWhen he speaks and clearly and constantly repeats: "Non constat de supernaturalitate!" I trust him and keep him in my prayers.
Thanks much Fatnher and Merc and Nan and Priest'shousekeeper - We all agree on this one. Thanks be to God.
ReplyDeleteAw, no war this time? :)
ReplyDeleteFather Amorth I believe is still taking care of the young girl with a demon that mocked His Holiness Pope John Paul II.
ReplyDeleteFather Amorth is the chief Exorcist for Rome.
It would be wise to pray for Father Amorth.
He has a difficult job.
Exorcists usually do not speak out about such things; something might be amiss.
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I guess we all run the risk of behaving “inappropriately” at any age, even at 86, priest or not.
ReplyDeleteBut it’s good to be reminded in today’s gospel (Matthew 5 :1-2) that we all probably qualify in some way for a place and happiness in heaven.
Terry,
ReplyDeleteThis is off-topic, but I've been wanting to tell you forever now that the white font on black background is really, really hard on the eyes. (If you Google website/blog design recommendations, many will talk about the problem with the black/white thing.) I've just never said anything before because I, for one, love the black on white look from an aesthetic perspective and even considered it for my own blog when I started out. But I'm telling you, I can only read 5 or 6 of your blog posts at once or my eyes go batty. Anyone else want to back me up here?
Thanks Char - I did not know that. What should I do? I noticed Tancred changed his format too.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your input. Would it help if I changed the print color? I like the black because I'm kinda dark...
Black is an okay background for images but not for lots of text. I was always taught that good design should communicate, if it doesn’t it’s failed its purpose. I also struggle and am put off reading if there is too much “reversed” text. I guess that’s why most reading books are simply black text on white background. I like the clean look and layout of your blog but, like Charlotte, would prefer an easier reading experience. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Pilgrim. (I say that like John Wayne.)
ReplyDelete"...This is off-topic, but I've been wanting to tell you forever now that the white font on black background is really, really hard on the eyes...'
ReplyDeleteI think readers might have stumbled onto something here. Hmmmm.
"...“The mosaic pavement in an old symbol of the Order. It is met with in the earliest rituals of the last century. It is classed among the ornaments of the lodge along with the indented tessel and the blazing star. Its party-colored stones of black and white have been readily and appropriately interpreted as symbols of the evil and good of human life...”
Another movie idea for Nicolas Cage.
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Char and Pilgrim - I just don't like other colors or the lack there of - What if you simply highlight the text as you read - it is like closed captioning then - with blue text on white. In the meantime I'll experiment. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI love black and white - like I said, I wanted it for my own blog. There is something about the 2 together and I understand where you're coming from on an emotional/artistic/aesthetic level.
ReplyDeleteTry something with a shade of grey and use black text. That's my suggestion.
I'll try the white for awhile - I hope it is better. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBlack is better. I know what yo mean, Char, but the posts looks so much better black.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Terry has a built-in safeguard against people reading too much of his blog at once? :)
The black isn't the problem, it's the white text.
ReplyDeleteAgain, it's almost a "rule" of graphic design that for reading purposes you never do white on black - and I mean reading lots of text, not big headlines or anything.
I'm not asking Terry to change, I just want him to know. Artistically, I love it.
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ReplyDeleteMuch better, cleaner look! But I appreciate for some the change may take a while getting used to – like having a haircut. The absence of “colour” is nicely balanced by by the tone of the graphics in the sidebar.
ReplyDeleteOh, that is so much better.
ReplyDeleteI had to get reading glasses due to eye strain last year. I know this is because Terry's blog is my favorite. ;-)
ReplyDeleteBecause of all the 'weirdness' of Med. I just ignore it. I figure if or when the local Bishop declares it valid or worthy then I can pay attention.
ReplyDeleteThere are too many wonderful approved Marian Apparitions out there including one somewhat near you in Wisconsin. http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=39511
I just feel safer that way.
Women demand men change...
ReplyDeleteEver since the Garden of Eden.
Abbey Roads just became Abbey Cul-de-sac.
I now know what the Wicked Witch meant when she said while melting:
"What a World!!! What a World!!!"
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