The article Apparitions True and False by Fr Peter Joseph in our October 2004 issue provoked a number of comments and questions, the majority very positive. We print here some queries and Fr Joseph’s answers.Question:“Fr Joseph’s article failed to deal with Medjugorje, or the revelations of Fr Gobbi.”
Answer:My purpose was to give an exposé of the principles for judging all revelations; not to treat of any particular revelation in detail. The principles in my article make it clear that one cannot propagate the messages of Medjugorje. As to why, Bishop Peric’s talk in the same issue of Christian Order deals with that very fully.
On other occasions, I have told people (generally to no avail) to stop following it or promoting it. My reasons are basically:
1. The Bishop has said it is false.
2. No verified miracles.
3. Repetitive, banal messages, unworthy of the Mother of God. There are plenty of other reasons.
As to Fr Gobbi, I am not aware of any official judgement, positive or negative, but I think his messages are repetitive, prolix, and sometimes contradictory. The Antichrist did not appear in 1998, as prophesied; nor did the Second Coming occur, which the messages of the 1990’s were predicting for the end of the decade.
On Fr. Gobbi:
http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/unapprov/frgobbi/nuncio.html
It has been a few years, but IIRC, they are to be taken as his privite meditations. His position if that they come from Mary, but the Church has said they are only acceptable as his meditations.