[RGPII]

It's not my purpose at all to plant doubt, after all, here is an article that ran in the National Catholic Register: ; http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_12_38/ai_82803348/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1 . If a person is interested in a subject matter, that they have read numerous books on a topic, another book is called "Not made with hands" about not only the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe but also about the Shroud of Turin, I just find myself wondering about some other aspects of what one may read about. Karl Keating for example being involved in apologetics answers so many questions convincingly. His book "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" indeed strengthens my faith when he addresses say any Protestant questions on the Catholic faith, say for example, regarding the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession. And as repeated often anyway, Catholics in general are not required to believe in Apparitions though should be encouraged to accept recognized apparitions such as Lourdes.

Likewise I was tired last night to find references but the Holy Lance does indeed have an interesting history of it's own.

"The name of the soldier who pierced Christ's side is not given in the Bible, but in the oldest known references to the legend, the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus appended to late manuscripts of the 4th century Acts of Pilate, the soldier is identified with a centurion and called Logginus or Longinus (making the spear's "correct" Latin name Lancea Longini)." - Holy Lance article.

[BaBaStooey]

I wasn’t accusing you or anyone of planting doubt, however, if examples of such a thing are found, it doesn’t mean one should doubt. However, as you said, people aren’t required to believe in apparitions, however, they should accept the recognized ones. (Also, Ste. Marie Bernard Soubirous is one of my favorite saints, for the record).

What they can mean is that the apparition in question underwent a rigorous process before being declared as recognized, and therefore there should be even more reason to believe, and not just accepted on blind faith.

Karl Keating (and his organization Catholic Answers - www.catholic.org)...an outstanding resource, if I must say myself.

As to your comments on the spear of St. Longinus, I must say that I don’t have much knowledge in that area (other than the time in the 8th grade at St. Josaphat Elementary when I played the part in the Passion play).