[BlackElk]

Bear in mind that even Fatima and Lourdes are no more than "private revelations" and that no Marian apparition is a required belief of Catholics. The Church regards some reported apparitions as permissible to be believed and some as not to be believed. None are required to be believed.

Few Protestants believe any of those apparitions and many see conflict with Scripture. Yet again, Catholics and Protestants disagree over Mary. I am not trying to change your mind but I do hope that you will note that no Catholic is required to believe in any of the apparitions of Mary.

That many of us DO believe in one or more approved apparitions (those which MAY be believed) is another question.

[old and tired]

I'm not disagreeing, but aren't we de facto required to believe the visions of Catherine Laboure "I am the Immaculate Conception"?

[PetroniusMaximus]

***I am not trying to change your mind but I do hope that you will note that no Catholic is required to believe in any of the apparitions of Mary.***

I fully understand and appreciate what you are saying.

My concern is that these events are, by nature, supernatural events. They must therefore be subject to the highest scrutiny. Paul warned us of supernatural messengers when he said...

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed."

And this is the heart of my concern. The Gospel is that we can come to God through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone.

This apparition is telling people that now God wants them to come another way - through her! She (or it!) says...

"My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the road that will conduct you to God."



But Jesus said HE was the way! And that no one could come to the Father except through him.

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."



To me this sounds like a different gospel and if it is then whatever or whoever is delivering it is accursed according to Paul. He did warn us that...

"Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."

I know that the Church does not officially sanction or require belief in this. But the fact that unofficially is is accepted and promoted is chilling.