That wasn't the question I asked you, T minus four. I didn't ask about what the Catholic Church thought about the events at Fatima, or what evidence they used to confirm them as genuine (unlike other "Marian apparitions" that have occurred since that time; i.e., early 20th century).
I was asking about your view of the matter, which I suspect has been informed on grounds other than direct evidence, logic, or reason. And from "outside" the Catholic Church and its historical traditions. [Probably meaning that you would hold any evidence produced by the Church as "suspect," prima facie, a priori.]
You wrote: "Mary’s dead, friend. And if she trusted in Jesus Christ alone for her salvation, she is in heaven with him now."
That's a pretty drear and dread statement, my friend, though it is not false. But where is the Holy Spirit to help such a person, who could say such a spiritually attenuated, deadly thing? Mary doesn't "reduce" to a "select" doctrine. And neither do we; for like Mary, we are flesh and blood — and Spirit.
I told you my view of the matter - based on ZERO evidence that the apparation was who it claimed to be, I reject it.
Probably meaning that you would hold any evidence produced by the Church as "suspect,"
How do you know? Bring me some.
That's a pretty drear and dread statement
Are you KIDDING? That's the most wonderful news that ever got proclaimed since the fall of man - if we trust in the Lord Jesus, we will be with Him in heaven for ever and ever! Hallelujiah! I do believe!
The rest of your post doesn't make sense to me.
(((((Hugs)))))
As I’ve noted before . . .
Most of my life, I more or less accepted the Vatican perspective on Fatima without much thought or examination beyond a cursory amount out of mild curiosity.
When the books came out on the deep investigation into the Fatima thing . . . and I read summaries of them . . .
I was FORCED to reconsider.
The evidence was well researched; well documented, logical, scholarly, plentiful, stark, clear-cut, unambiguous, consistent etc. with what I already knew from reading so many 100’s of reports of other UFO cases and phenomena.
I reluctantly had to revise my perspective and understanding of the event.
In Lent, the adversary, being reminded that his time is short, is especially vicious. He clouds the minds of those who do not persistently take refuge in Jesus.
During such an assault appeals to reason will not meet with reasonable response.
Consider this: If someone says, "So and so is dead and in heaven," he is using not the language of the Faith, not the language of Christ and His Church, not even the language of the Bible. Those in heaven live with a life unknown to us on earth "for all live to Him." "Dead and in heaven," strictly speaking, is a meaningless and self-contradictory statement. Those who speak this way indicate that their hearts are still largely informed by the flesh.
In assailing the dogmata concerning our Blessed Mother, they denigrate the promises to the Faithful. Is her heart immaculate? So will be the hearts of the Saints in Heaven? Do they argue that she should be deprived of what is promised to all the faithful?
They complain at the teaching that she is queen. The Bible teaches that all the blessed are a royal (that is, kingly) priesthood. If they were to be taken at their word, on the last day she would be the only saint in heaven who was NOT king or queen.
But this is not the time of year to contend. This is the time to direct our minds and open our hearts to the light of Love which shines even in the darkness of betrayal and death.