Posted on 05/08/2008 1:46:44 PM PDT by NYer
.- Salvatore M. Perrella, an expert in dogma and Mariology from the Mariunum Pontifical School in Rome, explained this week the criteria used by the Church to determine the legitimacy of Marian apparitions. His explanation comes in the wake of the Church’s approval of the apparitions of Our Lady of Laus in France.
In an article for L’Osservatore Romano, Perrella cited Jesuit Father Giandomenico Mucci to explain the difference between a vision and an apparition. The first is of a spiritual nature, while the second is of a physical one. That is, the seer has a real and sensible experience of the one in the apparition.
After explaining the Church’s process for verifying Marian apparitions was discussed at the Lateran Council and the Council of Trent, Perrella explained that currently “discernment about the veracity” of alleged apparitions “falls to the diocesan bishop or archbishop—and in recent times to the episcopal conference in question—and to the Pope.”
He also pointed out that the “Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith drafted an internal and secret document on February 25, 1978, after four years of study, signed by the prefect Cardinal Franjo Seper to be used by the competent authorities” in evaluating supernatural occurrences.
Perrella went on to point out that the CDF instructed that for an investigation to proceed, “precise information” should be gathered about the various aspects of the alleged apparitions such as testimonies of conversions, theological analysis of the message of the apparitions, a medical and psychological review of the seer or visionary, including his or her educational level, an examination of their spiritual life, their level of communion with the Church, miraculous healings and occurrences, and other factors.
After a detailed examination of the numerous events related to apparitions, Perrella said, the Church “has approved a total of 11 apparitions out of 295 that have been studied—including now the 12th, which are those of Our Lady of Laus, approved on May 4, 2008.”
“Once verified and authenticated by Church authorities, the extraordinary manifestations may be freely embraced, as faith is reserved only to the public Revelation of God which ended with the death of the last Apostle,” he said.
In any case, Perrella stressed, the apparitions approved by the Church only manifest the evangelical mission of Mary throughout the history of the Church, which has been to point the way to the Father’s house through faith in the Lord Jesus.
Such revelations, while they help to increase faith, “do not add to the Revelation given to the Church in Sacred Scripture, but rather they help to make it current during a specific period in history,” he said.
In any case, Perrella stressed, the apparitions approved by the Church only manifest the evangelical mission of Mary throughout the history of the Church, which has been to point the way to the Father’s house through faith in the Lord Jesus.
For the benefit of those still scratching their heads.
In any case, Perrella stressed, the apparitions approved by the Church only manifest the evangelical mission of Mary throughout the history of the Church, which has been to point the way to the Father’s house through faith in the Lord Jesus.
For the benefit of those still scratching their heads.
See how long that last. Do we need popcorn?
More reasons for we Catholics to continue to WORSHIP Mary.................:-)
Jn 2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
Well, I often ask Blessed Mary, Ever-Virgin, to pray for me.
All the approved apparitions stress the same things: repentence, prayer, and return to God.
I read an interesting analysis of some true visions and the “if, then” clause always appears somewhere.
There is also what I like to call the economy of heaven. The words are always to the point and without any chat. I think that is why I distrust Medugorjie so. Too much chatter. God’s messengers seem to be very much to the point when dealing with His creatures.
The Bible provides no physical description of Mary, so how can one be certain that the person in these apparitions is her?
What do you mean?
I do at least 53 times a day.
Because she says it's her
Ah, that would be one of the Mysteries....
Our Lady of Fatima is an example.
Yes, she referred to herself, to the children, as the “Immaculate Conception” iirc. They could not have known that title...didn’t that add to their credibility to the church leaders of the time?
You know, I don’t know. Interesting.
I read that in a biography of the children.
But of all the events surrounding these apparitions, the most striking involves the self-identification of “the Lady” to Bernadette during the apparition of March 25. It was during this apparition that the Lady told the teenage peasant girl in her native French dialect: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
I think I may have read about it, possibly during a retreat, many years ago. I won't say how many.
http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Faith/2000-12/menezes.html
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.