But! But! But! Pope Francis! The Pope waved at someone from Medjugorje!
I can tell people love this story. (Maybe not the followers of Medj.) What it is in effect is a reiteration by the CDF of a declaration from 1991 that the Bishops of the former republic of Yugoslavia had it right the first time. The followers of Medj have added so many exceptions and loopholes to all that the ordinary authorities have said regarding pilgrimages and promoting the messages, that many Catholics are not only confused, but completely turned off to anything associated with private revelations.
This new directive is a clarification which forbids the travelling apparition sideshow 'experience' and gatherings where the apparitions are promoted as authentic and simply awaiting approval. Fr. Z posted the document here.
Medjugorje aside, I wish statements or directives were forthcoming from the CDF regarding the very strange visionaries who returned from Medjugorje with their own brand of apparitions and loco-locutions. Cristina Gallagher comes to mind, as does the Scottsdale phenomena, and other sites throughout the country. These things take on a life of their own and wind up on Catholic news portals, for your 'discernment' pages.
Every few months I think the CDF should issue directives about a host of matters. It wouldn't hurt to reissue Catholic teaching on homosexuality either. Just to keep up with the pop-psychology, and dubious secular research claiming it normal and natural and the Church is going to changer its teaching on sexuality.
No She isn't.
For your discernment? Many Catholics can't even discern their way to Sunday Mass.
There are many good people devoted to the Madonna whose lives have been changed at Medjugorje; many have dedicated their lives to following Christ. These are good people. Many will be confused by the news and perhaps discouraged. We need to keep praying together and be kind to one another. Our Lady always tells us, "Do whatever He tells you." She will prepare our hearts to accept God's will.
As I always say, I await the decision of the Church.
Seems like a normal step to me and a good one. What I don't get are all the dramatic headlines. I wonder what the papers said in Lourdes? "Bishop clamps down on alleged seer." "Why me?" Says Bernadette. I agree with you "await the decision of the Church." without the hysterics I've seen elsewhere. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteAgree...as far as the bombastic headlines go. I rolled my eyes when I read this on the NEW ADVENT website:
DeleteBOMBSHELL WARNING FROM THE VATICAN: "THE FAITHFUL ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE" IN MEDJUGORJE-RELATED GATHERINGS.....
Old news but one would think it was new after that eye opener. But I suppose since many are not listening and still attending these gatherings, that loud headline was needed.
I just hope that those who came to Jesus through Mary because of Medjugorje, will be cared for and looked after and encouraged to stand firm in the faith whatever may come...much like the many holy priests from the Legionaries of Christ. We have some solid L of C priests here close to home who run a great radio ministry, Hombre Nuevo and they have stood firm, with Christ and his Church and in the faith despite all the scandals. They have brought many Hispanics back to the faith as a result of their 30 something year old radio ministry.
I will be praying God's will be done with regards to Medjugorje.
Well, I think some of the opponents of some of the followers of Medj want to be justified for their criticism of the events and the appearances of 'promotion' of the site.
ReplyDeleteEveryone wants to be right.
we have a few priests in the Milwaukee area that are fond, shall we say, of this alleged apparition and constantly post the sayings for the month on their Parish boards. It will be interesting to see what they do now
ReplyDeleteI don’t see it should a problem for anyone. The pieces are being put back into place. No apparitions on Church property. Applies in Medjugorje – believe it or not :) So why not elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteIf Medjugorje is to be given shrine status – and it looks even more likely to be at national level – then apparitions and visionaries will also be put in its proper place until a final decision (if ever) is made.
A similar situation occurred a few years ago in Medjugorje. The seer Mirjana received her apparitions at the Cenacolo Community each month. Then news came that the local bishop had banned her having her apparitions at the Community and the whole world thought the bishop was at last clamping down on all the phoney stuff.
Big problem for Medjugorje critics was the bishop forgot to mention that the Cencolo Community was soon to receive Pontifical recognition and, quite rightly, no “private revelations” in Church approved communities to be allowed.
That’s always been the case, so the latest news isn’t news, just preparing the ground for shrine status to be given to Medjugorje. The visionaries and apparitions will be kept at a distance.
The truth of the apparitions will be revealed through any so-called secrets that may be revealed as promised. The Church has no need to approve the apparitions at this time, only to ascertain that they cannot be proved true or false. If false, then the Church will declare on this to “avoid scandal and confusion”.
Notice on the Nuncio’s letter there is no mention of any ban on pilgrimages or even promoting the messages. I wonder why?
And ironically, where only about 500 people could ever attend the apparitions at the Cenacolo Community, the attendance has risen to over 5,000 at the Blue Cross each month! God works in many mysterious ways. :)
Thanks bg - obviously I don't know those details - so that is helpful. God bless!
ReplyDeleteTerry, the next big new story (and I don’t mean shrine status) is if ever the beautiful stained-glass window depicting the six Medjugorje visionaries receiving an apparition of Our Lady is removed from St James church in the village. http//:crownofstars.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteLovely. I think Terry deserves to be depicted in a beautiful stained glass window in his local Minneapolis parish. I would pitch in the cover the costs. The image would have a halo, of course, and he would be crucified to a computer monitor.
DeleteIn the tradition of St. Sebastian, with a pained, pious expression on his face and the scent of Mystic Monk coffee on his breath.
DeleteThanks Scott - in the Church of Nice of course.
ReplyDeleteIt's the Church of Nice, you have to be resurexifixing I think.
Delete"Just to keep up with the pop-psychology, and dubious secular research claiming it normal and natural and the Church is going to changer its teaching on sexuality."
ReplyDeleteAh but Terry, the Church can stay in the Middle Ages and some of its SSA faithful can flagellate themselves over their "unnaturalness," but the rest of the world (including a lot of Catholics) is moving on...right here in Illinois being the latest, though the Church wasted money here too on fighting the civil marriage.
And other then that, Medjugorje is all kind's of creepy. Kind of like those kids in the mountains of Spain who would run backwards uphill (I love watching the videos on You Tube, scary fun!)
Moving on... but to where?
DeleteIf one has authentic Catholic faith, which is a supernatural gift, then one will submit to the Church in all that it teaches infallibly. Those who knowingly and willingly resist the implications of the faith, so the faith itself, put their souls in danger.
Is Archbishop Vigano prone to having his letters leaked?
ReplyDeletehttp://medjugorje1.blogspot.ca/2013/12/medjugorje-commission-informal-official.html
ReplyDelete.... :-)