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What is the base you use to determine if a tradition or an” apparition” was true and if it is from God? What is your measuring rod?

Well, up until the last few weeks on FR, I didn't think about it much. I don't think any are de fide and as a former pastor who still sort of cares, what matters to me is the change I see in people's lives. A couple I know went to Medjugorje and their marriage was way strengthened and in general things got a lot better for them. That kind of thing.

But I'm thinking of adopting a new rule of thumb. If it makes the antis foam at the mouth, it is, at least, worthy of my careful attention and consideration. If they get abusive in their language and bizarre in their theories, it's probably true.

Seriously, it's not a matter I worry about. If people come out of Fatima praying to Jesus for mercy for themselves and others, well, I can get behind that enthusiastically.

I'm distressed that you didn't comment on my rewrite of the headline.

I also thought I should add ... That without trying or even,in a way, wanting to, I am utterly convinced of the apparitions to St Catherine Laboure which led to the striking of the Miraculous Medal. My tag (now in Latin, but for the past few years in English) comes from the vision St Catherine had of the medal.

Medals, and especially the so-called "Miraculous Medal," were one of the aspects of Catholicism that struck me as icky -- trinkets, ju-jus, talismans, amulets -- not so much idolatry, as you all are fond of saying, as "superstition."

So, one day, the Saturday in the octave of Easter, I was at the Immaculate Conception in DC. I had been at a retreat/quiet day/ conference at the Dominican House of Studies and we were all going to gawk at this monstrous huge Basilica for a little while and also check out the bookstore.

I ended up resting my 6 week post op feets while sitting in the Miraculous Medal Chapel, which was designed with all the elegance and beauty of the old TWA terminal at Kennedy airport and which features a statue of our Lady designed and executed (or it should have been executed) by someone who hates women, beauty or both.

So I'm just sitting there with my feet hurting and my heart glad because it's Easter and the retreat was very good and kind of wincing at the atrocity of the chapel and going 'eew eew eeww!' at the idea of the whole Miraculous Medal shtick.

And St Catherine told me to go right down stairs to the money changers and sellers of doves and what not and buy a medal for myself and for my wife and to increase my devotion to our Lady.

Well, now, I daresay you don't believe any of this or think I had a small stroke or something worse (LSD flashback .... oh WOW!) but there it is. Suddenly, though my feet did NOT miraculously stop hurting or anything, I was on them and hobbling down the stairs and finding two nice medals (Mine has a cross sort of behind the oval of the medal) got Father Brian to "put the mojo" on them and I have mine on right now, with my Lay Dominican Scapular medal.

And I've been a perfect person ever since AND I don't wear out shoes because I'm always floating an inch above the floor.

Nope, my life hasn't changed except that now among my friends I count a cranky French farm girl who became a Vincentian sister and had some visions.

It doesn't make sense to me either. But I'm as likely to doubt the sun in the sky as I am to doubt St Catherine's kicking me in the butt (figuratively speaking.)

Okay. I'm ready. Bring it. I'll try to be good.

What is the base you use to determine if a tradition or an” apparition” was true and if it is from God? What is your measuring rod?

I don't have one. I will depend on the Holy Spirit, directing the Church of Jesus Christ to provide that decision.