Posted on 08/27/2015 11:20:24 AM PDT by NRx
MEDJUGORJE, Bosnia and Herzegovina — At exactly 6:40 p.m. one sultry day this month, the peal of church bells rang though the main square of this town, bringing countless pilgrims instantly to their knees.
The ringing marked the moment, 34 years ago, when a group of six youths say the Virgin Mary appeared to them. Three of them say she has continued to do so, usually at the same time, every day since.
Over that period, the scheduled apparitions have drawn millions of believers to this small town, and a good dose of suspicion from skeptics, including, perhaps, Pope Francis. In what was interpreted as a thinly veiled jab at the claims, he recently joked during a morning homily about “visionaries who can tell us exactly what message Our Lady will be sending at 4 o’clock this afternoon.”
Soon the Vatican is expected to make public the findings of its own investigation into the reported apparitions, which was concluded 18 months ago. Though the inquiry was started by Francis’ predecessor, Benedict, if the conclusions are doubtful, as some speculate, they could pit a populist pope against a popular shrine.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Those apparitions are viewed with suspicion by those in the know.
Yup, or as one of the supposed “visionaries” (Ivan) once admitted, “What I said did not exactly correspond to the truth.”
Visionaries don’t have to be saints, but if they are not reliable witnesses, they are useless.
The documents from the last two bishops of Mostar-Duvno (who have the authority here) lay the information out pretty clearly, and illuminate the “fruits” that we should know them by. To this day I am surprised that so many could be fooled. But He has a way of making lemonade out of lemons and hopefully those that have been moved somehow in conjunction with the site won’t fall away once the bishops are affirmed (as I fully expect they will be).
I thought this nonsense was debunked some years back.
This is the most ridiculous nonsense I’ve ever heard. These people aren’t visonaries they’re con men and women and the people going there are fools. Good hearted fools maybe, but fools none the less.
I’ve been there. Some of it I think is put-on. Some of it, I’m not so sure. Many people have gone there and experienced conversion, are renewed spiritually. I don’t think that is ever a waste of time. So, some people get a lot out of the experience even if the seers may be frauds.
Trying to stir up controversy where none exists. This is part of the Church’s job, and no one will be surprised at the outcome.
Very very few will be upset.
Non event.
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.