Fatima has been approved. Medjugorje has not been approved, yet many say it is the most peaceful site to visit.
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.
Medjugorje is still under investigation, is it not?
Well, you get the credit for spelling Medge's hometown correctly. But he/she/it should not be misconstrued as the cause for the "peaceful" ambiance. Remember that there has been a lot of warfare in the surrounding hills nearby, and the fact that this conflict has not also infected this remote hamlet could not have had an effect otherwise than to make the locals appreciative of the absence of war on their own streets.
Besides, the lucrative Medge Market can afford to hire its own protection. They wouldn't want to lose the goose that lays the golden egg, now would they?