Someone alerted me to a piece at the Italian site Corrispondenza Romana about something that Pope Francis said during a morning “fervorino” at Mass. Posted on 10/03/2013 6:24:01 AM PDT by mlizzy
Someone alerted me to a piece at the Italian site Corrispondenza Romana about something that Pope Francis said during a morning “fervorino” at Mass.
My translation:
Last Saturday 7 September during his morning meditation in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis, speaking on the theme “there is no Christian without Jesus” criticized Christian “revelationists” and expressed his strong reservations about the supposed apparitions at Medjugorje.
The official site of the Holy See and the L’Osservatore Romano, however, purged his words of the reference to Medjugorje, confining itself to refer to them in these terms: “There is another group of Christians without Christ: those who look things that are kind of rare, a bit special, who chase after some private revelations,” whereas instead revelation was concluded with the New Testament. The Holy Father warned about the desire of such Christians to go “to the spectacle of revelation, to hear some new things”. But – and this is the exhortation that Pope directed to them – “Pick up the Gospel!”
Here’s the deal.
There isn’t an attribution here, a source, the name of the person who heard the Holy Father speak specifically about Medjugorje.
That said, if you are interested in Medjugorje in a positive way, I suggest that you get used to the idea that there may be an official pronouncement about it that you are not going to like. My spies used to tell me that the former Pope was not a supporter either.
I’m just saying.
Finally, the Holy Father doesn’t seem to be against apparitions in general. The Holy Father is a huge supporter of Aparecida and he will be welcoming the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in St. Peter’s Square on 12 October.
With that news, I will keep the combox closed. I’ll allow pingbacks. If I get interesting comments by email, I may post something… and I may not.
Will you miss me while I’m gone:)Depart in peace, and take your time... :)
I would tend to be skeptical of Medjugorje but I’ve got a buddy and he’s absolutely sold on it and has been a number of times, he’s really into it.We do too, and as a group, they can be really defensive. I don't remember [personally] anyone reacting this way regarding Lourdes, Fatima...
I think they did but not sure.I think it was around the time of the World Series so the article was deeper in the paper.It was covered by the local papers.I spoke with Jacinta’s and Francesco’s brother John and his wife and also Lucia’s Mom’s Sister.They all saw it.
God’s miracles have not ceased - you have precisely backed up my point. By not necessary, I meant that they weren’t required as Christ’s death on the cross was enough for everyone’s faith.
...”wouldn’t mind going to Lourdes...”
My daughter who has a serious bone marrow disease (aplastic anemia) and I went to Lourdes in 2006 and it was absolutely amazing. I strongly recommend it. She took the baths twice (they are very cold and to have a 6 year old voluntarily request a second bath is quite amazing). I have no doubt that she is alive and stable today partly due to that pilgrimage. She still needs everyone prayers though - her blood counts have taken a hit lately.
We filled up a jug with water from the spring and still use it to this day. Despite not being refreigerated, it is as pure and cold as the day we collected it.
Funny, Steve... -lol-
I know what you mean! We have a perpetual adoration chapel attached to our Church. If a person wants to spend some time with our Lord, they can sit their behinds on a chair and pray. You don’t have to go to Bosnia for crying out loud! I dare to say that if a persons faith absolutely requires that an apparition of Our Blessed Mother be legit, than they need to pray for more faith!
Oh, of course she is called blessed. She’s in the bible that we read. We call her blessed in the same manner the 1st century church did (if all generations will, then they are included). Not according to 3rd century plus add ons.
It isn’t beyond a biblical pale for Jesus to bring forth appearances of saints. It happened at the Transfiguration. What would be beyond the pale would be when what is supposed to be a saint directs so much attention to himself or herself that the Lord is forgotten. That isn’t acting like a saint would act... they ARE cognizant of their audiences aren’t they and don’t just blindly stumble about working apparitions? I think that is what Francis is concerned about.
I’d think that a strong faith in the Lord would include being able to distinguish characteristics of a phony apparition from that of a real appearance. You are right, a faith that’s focused around saints rather than around God would be the proverbial tail attempting to wag the dog. And it’s nice to visit a place of spiritual significance if you have the option and you have good reason to believe that it is truly a holy site, but an omnipresent God can minister to you anywhere you are.
Thanks m’lizzy. She has a very clear memory of the baths and in fact remembers most of the entire experience. By the grace of God she had been accepted as a “malade” by the Knights of Malta and they sponsored our entire journey. At the line for the baths the Hail Mary is prayed, led over a loud speaker while the groups wait their turn. Regina (my daughter) was asked to lead a decade and she was able to - at 6 years old. (One of the Malta dames helped her, but she didn’t need too much help). The French ladies who help out at the Baths were impressed, because, alas, they were too used to American children being unruly brats, even the sick ones, and they were pleasantly surprised. Clearly I was very proud.
Many thanks for continued prayers. The candlelight procession where everyone sings is also spectacular - you can probably find a video of it somewhere.
The only way we know Christ is that he came to us through Mary. One could say Christ as God is too big to routinely be appearing in apparitions though those exist too such as in the Divine Mercy.
Know Jesus, Know Peace.
No Jesus, No Peace.
they were too used to American children being unruly brats, even the sick ones...You got a big laugh out of me on that one..
Clearly I was very proud...Even I'm proud of Regina, and I barely know her. :) What a sweetheart... great story...
I would take it the coldness is a subjective sensation, rather than being able to put a thermometer in it and see a physical temperature drop?
Be careful with your attitude in the spiritual. The Lord should get glory for any good work carried out using the reportedly blessed water. If it’s just Lourdes getting glory and attention, watch out for your spiritual point of view because that’s a sign of the enemy horning in, and God won’t brook that attitude (nor will it get blessing for you).
Be careful with your attitude in the spiritual. The Lord should get glory for any good work carried out using the reportedly blessed water.If a Catholic thought anything otherwise, they should probably go back and repeat CCD.
Except... Jesus seems to frequently show up to devoted evangelicals, who also tend to keep it private. I mean when you’ve met God, what does publicity mean (unless it’s a way to share the Lord, of course).
Well I do look at how it’s written about. It’s “Lourdes water” most of the time and not often “the water that God blessed at Lourdes.” Words tell what you are thinking.
When we, as Catholics, say “Lourdes water,” it’s well understood what we mean by those who understand the Catholic faith, and for the most part, those we are discussing “Lourdes water” with are Catholics. So quite frankly, it’s a shortcut, amongst common believers, but it means the same thing as “God’s blessed water at Lourdes,” or however one would like to see it phrased. I think if a Catholic was speaking to someone from another faith in person (and not on Free Republic where sacramentals have been hashed out for years and years), they would not refer to “Lourdes water” as such, but explain it in more detail.
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