Linggo, Hunyo 1, 2008
Unconfirmed: Vatican Allegedly Denounces Medjugorje Apparitions

I have not been a supporter of Medjugorje because some of the alleged messages of Medjugorje seem to contradict Catholic Tradition.

Some of the Alleged "Messages" from Medjugorje:


"All religions are equal before God," says the Virgin. (Chronological Corpus of Medjugorje, p. 317

"I do not dispose of all graces...Jesus prefers that you address your petitions directly to him, rather than through an intermediary." (Chronological Corpus of Medjugorje, p.181, 277-278)

"God directs all denominations as a king directs his subjects, through the medium of his ministers" ("The Apparitions at Medjugorje," by Fr. Svat Kraljevic, 1984, p.58)

"It is you who are divided on this earth. The Muslims and the Orthodox, like the Catholics, are equal before my Son and before me, for you are all my children." (Fr. Ljubic, p.71)

"The Madonna said that religious are separated in the earth, but the people of all religions are accepted by her Son." Ivanka Ivankovic (The Apparitions of Our Lady of Medjugorje, Francisco Herald Press, 1984)

Question: "Is the Blessed Mother calling all people to be Catholic?" Answer: "No. The Blessed Mother says all religions are dear to her and her Son." Vicka Ivankovic. (The Visions of the Blessed Mother at Medjugorje, St. Martin's Press, August, 1992)

The Teaching of the Church:

Pope Innocent III: "There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved." (Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)

Pope Boniface VIII: "We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff." (Unam Sanctam, 1302.)

Pope Eugene IV: "The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church." (Cantate Domino, 1441.)

News:

Emphasis is in bold and my comment are in red. Importantly, I am unable to verify any of this information from a trusted, well-known source.
The Vatican has denounced a group [interesting news. I would like to confirm this statement with more sources] who claim to have seen the Virgin Mary more than 40,000 times in the past 27 years.

The six Bosnian 'seers' attract five million pilgrims a year to their home town of Medjugorje, providing a lucrative trade for local businesses.

Hundreds of thousands travel there each year from Britain alone.

The Vatican has rejected claims made by the six Bosnian 'seers' that they have seen the Virgin Mary more than 40,000 times over the past 27 years

But now one of the most respected voices in the Roman Catholic church has accused the visionaries of perpetuating a 'diabolical deceit'.

Andrea Gemma, 77, a bishop and once the Vatican's top exorcist, told a magazine in Italy: 'In Medjugorje everything happens in function of money: Pilgrimages, lodging houses, sale of trinkets.

'This whole sham is the work of the Devil. It is a scandal.' He said the Vatican would soon crack down on the group.

The Medjugorje phenomenon began on June 25, 1981, when six children told a priest they had seen the Virgin on a hillside near their town.

A church investigation dismissed the vision, and the Vatican banned pilgrimages to the site in 1985. But many Catholics ignored the ban. [Confirmation is needed of these statements]

Today, the seers own smart houses with security gates and tennis courts and expensive cars. One is married to a former U.S. beauty queen.
Catholic officials in the U.S. have recently banned the group from speaking on church property during their world tours, on which they allegedly take the Virgin with them.

Source: Daily Mail

13 comment(s):

del_button Hunyo 2, 2008 nang 10:31 AM
Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

I can find no source to confirm this statement: "A church investigation dismissed the vision, and the Vatican banned pilgrimages to the site in 1985. But many Catholics ignored the ban."

An investigation was made in 1982 and 1991, both with doubtful results, but neither banned Catholics from making pilgrimages. Furthermore, the Vatican corrected a French bishop who announced that none of his Church could visit Medjudgorje in 1996.

My point is that this article is not correct on a multiple points and is also not from a reputible source. Its obvious goal is to tear down the Church in any way it can.

del_button Hunyo 2, 2008 nang 2:53 PM
Matthew ayon kay ...

Steve, I am afraid that you might be correct. I posted this news article for discussion purposes, but I can not find any proof attesting to its validity.

del_button Hunyo 4, 2008 nang 8:19 AM
Argent ayon kay ...

We must be cautious whenever a news report claims that "the Vatican" has done such-and-such. The Vatican did no such thing as denounce Medjugorje. That's not to say that there won't be an official determination and pronouncement in the future. But here, we have a bishop that was interivewed, but hardly does he equate "the Vatican".

Unfortunately, the media likes to be obstinately obtuse about attributing any pronouncement from a cleric in Rome as 'the Vatican'. Very dangerous for the faithful.

del_button Hunyo 4, 2008 nang 11:17 AM
Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

I can not find any valid reference to the Corpus of Medjugore pages. Where are these sources coming from? It is also my understanding that the apparitions were just turned over April 10 2008 - Discernment For Medjugorje Apparitions Now in Direct Hands of Vatican. I've see this headline in many reputable news sources.

del_button Hunyo 5, 2008 nang 9:31 AM
Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

I agree with you on the validity of Medjugorje. The news article you posted is interesting, but some things just don't line up. I do hope, though, that the Church investigates this further. I truly believe if they do, that the apparitions will be condemned.

God bless,
Jo March

del_button Hunyo 9, 2008 nang 7:41 AM
Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

I feel a big guilty in that I may have put the doubt about Medjugorje being authentic into Seminarian Matthew's mind some time ago.

The reason was that I had begun to doubt the reality after warnings from others on different sites. What half convinced me was one particular apparent statement of 'The Virgin': "People are mistaken when they pray to the saints for anything/(everything)..."

This struck me as contradictory to our Catholic belief, ie "I believe in God the Father Almighty... the Communion of Saints... etc."

If Satan was really trying to delude people - to encourage the faithful to cease praying to the saints for their intercession would be of benefit to him, as less souls may be saved.

Also, 'Our Lady of Medgugorje' gave the seers new prayers of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and indeed they sound beautiful. But in these particular newer versions I noted the Baptismal Vows (which include the renunciation of Sin and of the Devil have been omitted) plus the prayers are separate rather than being unified in one prayer.

For many years the Consecration of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary have been united, ie it is now the "Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary". Seems a retrograde step of 'Our Lady of Medjugorje'?

I am sounding very cynical I know, and it's been hard for me, because I had been a devotee of 'Our Lady of Medjugorje' for over 20 years - trying to convert others through this belief, and in retrospect how interesting that no one person was impressed...

I have so much literature from Medjugorje, the lovely messages, and they all sound so convincing - but we must be aware that Satan is very clever, and perhaps indeed His time is running out.

Over the past 20 years I've had several rosaries change colour (all strangely lost now), many prayers answered, a couple of miracles even, and definite spiritual experiences - but I now contemplate were these blessings through faith in God and prayer alone, rather than through the Medjugorje phenomenon? I'm still strongly devoted to Our Blessed Mother just the same, but I admit I'm confused about Medjugorje ...

del_button Hunyo 12, 2008 nang 12:30 PM
Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

What Pope Eugene IV states: -

"The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her;... etc.

- seems extremely harsh for a loving, merciful God...

(What about innocent little children, and those who don't have the opportunity of knowing about the Catholic faith?)

I'm now swaying to Our Lady of Medgugorje's messages again!

del_button Hunyo 12, 2008 nang 1:39 PM
Matthew ayon kay ...

His Holiness Eugene IV was not taking about children and those who are unable to know about Christ. He was not referring to those in invincible ignorance.

http://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2006/08/can-non-catholics-be-saved.html

del_button Hunyo 13, 2008 nang 8:36 AM
Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

Thank you Seminarian Matthew,

I feel comforted and reassured after looking at your reference!

del_button Hunyo 17, 2008 nang 2:55 PM
Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

I have visited Medjugorje several times.I have seen no miraculous signs.Yes I see the many shops,the beggars,the pleasant houses where some of the visionaries live.What I know for certain is I have never felt more at peace anywhere and my faith is stronger than before I experienced Medjugorje.I receive great comfort from the messages given by the visionaries and if there is evil at large here it is giving off the wrong vibes.Prayer,Conversion,Reconciliation,Fasting,Sacred Scripture.Stick to this advice from OUR lADY OF MEDJUGORJE and we will see you all in heaven. GOD BLESS
Michael

del_button Hunyo 21, 2008 nang 9:53 AM
Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

Michael,

I used to think that too, ie all the positive fruits, the calls for prayer, reconciliation, fasting, conversion etc..

I have not been to Medjugorje, but I've witnessed what seemed to be the 'Sun Miracle' in my backyard on 24th June one year! Think I nearly blinded myself because my eyes have deteriorated incredibly, plus I kept seeing blobs of yellow and blue for days later... I admit it did seem to move and spin and change colour, plus it did become very large and white, like a Host. But I'm very easily led, and I don't know if I sort of imagined it. Unsure, unsure...

But, have you noticed Michael, when viewing clips of the visionaries during apparitions, they hold their rosaries in their hands, yet don't actually pray the rosary? An interesting one that! Plus, the lady only requests them to say an Our Father, then she begins communicating with them apparently.

Just a few things don't equate with former approved apparitions of Our Lady.

There's nothing wrong with questioning or testing the authenticity of things - that doesn't mean we doubt God or Our Lady, we just don't want to be deceived.

I was absoluted devastated when the doubt was put in my mind about Medjugorje, and it's taken a long time to get over the possibility that I may have been deluded.

Cath

del_button Setyembre 17, 2008 nang 5:50 PM
jaimesald ayon kay ...

I don´t know that Benedict XVI or Jean Paul II, have discredited the Apparitions of Virgin Mary at Medjugorje. Have they?

del_button Abril 29, 2011 nang 6:54 PM
Ella ayon kay ...

Dear Matthew, I am native Italian from Rome. From 2000 to 2005 I was a volunteer for the Diocese of Rome directed by Don Mauro Parmiggiani, who was elected by John Paul II to lead the Youth World Day (2000) and subsequent activities. My aunt is an Executive Director in Radio Vatican (the official Holy See radio). I have been in Medjugorje more than 15 times and have witnessed what Medjugorje is about: the Eucharist. The program that the parish of Medjugorje follow and propose to the millions of pilgrims that arrive in Medjugorje to honor Our Lady is mainly focused on the Holy Mass (3 times per day in all languages), Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (every Thursday and every Saturday evening), Adoration of the Cross and Healing Service (twice a week), Confession (offered daily in every language from 4pm to dawn!), Holy Rosary and various catechesis depending on the liturgical season. Medjugorje cannot be described in words. It must be experienced. All of us who went there cannot but testify what our eyes have seen and what

The message you are “citing” does not have a clear reference. However, I am familiar with it and recall discussing it with a priest in the Vatican. This message needs to be read and quote in its integrity. You are acting like satan who used the Bible to test the Son of God. Have fear of the Lord. Be humble and submit to the Mother Church. Do not dare to diffuse false information in the name of our Holy Catholic Church. That is a serious deception. If the Church wanted to block Medjugorje it could have been done so 30 years ago but instead since year 2005 the Holy See’s main pilgrimage association, Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, organizes pilgrimages in Medjugorje. Medjugorje’s fruits? Thousands of religious vocations especially among young people. Millions of conversions. Many testified miracles. A renewed Love for the Sacraments. That’s a clear sign of the times that we can ignore only if we want to be blind. The Holy Church is following the usual procedures to give a final word on Medjugorje only when the event will finish. May the special and maternal blessing of Mary be upon you and heal your wounded heart.

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