Thousands of Americans trek to Alabama to witness woman who 'can see the Virgin Mary'

UK Daily Mail ^ | July 10, 2012 | Staff

[C19fan]

A visit from a Croatian woman who claims to see the Virgin Mary on a daily basis drew thousands of people to a small Alabama town this week. Many people travelled for days to be near the self-proclaimed visionary while one Washington woman even sold her home to take the trip. Despite skepticism of prominent Catholics, the faithful said they trekked to Sterrett with hopes of hearing a message from the mother of Jesus, witnessing miracles and receiving direction about how to follow their faith. The woman at the center of the gathering, Marija Pavlovic Lunetti, said she saw the apparition or appearance of Mary in 1981 at age 16 with a group of five other youth in Medjugorje, then part of Yugoslavia. Gina Hall, 49, of Washington, D.C., said she sold her condo and most of her possessions to drive to Birmingham and begin a life of discipleship.

[Mad Dawg]

[facepalm]

Yeah.

[nhoward14]

Reminds me of a local story where a woman saw Mary in a pane of glass of her window. They tried to remove the window and the glass broke. I had never seen such wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[brent13a]

and your views on scientology?

I'm an odd duck. I'm a follower of what The Catholic Church would call "Primitive Christianity" or "The Jerusalem Church", I don't adhere to the gentile mission. Therefore, my viewpoints are at odds with both christians and messianics (as most messianics are actually just christian-zionists). Probably the only viewpoints I agree with christians and messianics on are the viewpoints on flat-out pagan cults like scientology. I base my religious following off of both historical provenance and theological provenance because you just don't always get the truth from either. I'll leave it at that. This isn't really the venue for me to try to explain why I chose the "Primitive Christianity" of "The Jerusalem Church" over modern christianity.

[sr4402]

Yes, much worship of the made up Goddess Mary.

[stanne]

The Church says nothing more than that Mary said, at the first miracle, the Wedding a Cana, “Do whatever He tells you”.

The Churchalso says that appearances at Mejugorjie have NOT been verified as miraculous.

The Church also says of those apparitions which have been verified, that it is not compulsory for the faithful to believe them.

Facts and truth.

[Mr. K]

I can see her too (shhhh don’t tell anyone)

[stuartcr]

It’s interesting how so many people can believe in ouiji boards, but not something like this.

[BlatherNaut]

It’s interesting how so many people can believe in ouiji boards, but not something like this.

Particularly in light of the scientific studies associated with this woman and the others, which make it difficult to completely dismiss out of hand.

http://www.medjugorje.com/medjugorje/scientific-studies/627-specific-tests-administered-to-the-medjugorje-visionaries-and-their-results.html

[Mr. K]

"Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 "

One of my least favorite verses... "Blind Faith" is the most blessed? how convenient...

[Graing]

The bishop of Mostar-Duvno has made it clear on several occassions : Non constat de supernaturalitate!

You can go to the website for the diocese here and read the opinion for yourself (anyone who is interested). It's a pretty thorough job.

It is sad that we have those that are misled. Sadder still that those outside the faith will take opportunities like this to deride Catholicism.

Slightly off topic, look up the story of Gemma di Giorgi - fascinating. As is the story of the miracle of Lanciano.

[stuartcr]

I guess leaps of faith are different for different folks.

[stuartcr]

I understand leaps of faith, but doesn’t God already know who will have or already has taken the required leap of faith?

[stuartcr]

These articles generate a lot of revenue. It’s just business.

[throwback]

Yep, much of what He said was offensive then and now. We haven’t changed. He asks the impossible, but God...

[throwback]

I don’t know either. It seems like a contradiction. He asks us to have faith. As if we do it under our own power, but then other scripture indicates that even faith is a gift. I know I believe, but I don’t know why. I know one other thing. I can’t argue someone else into believing.

[PsyOps]

Your facts are a bit off....

The local bishop did in fact have negative things to say about the apparitions and tried to forbid folks from visiting. That was however overruled by the Vatican and the Church’s official stance is something like....at the moment the supernatural nature cannot be confirmed, however pilgrims ARE NOT forbidden to visit. As a general rule the Vatican doesn’t rule positively for these things until the apparitions are done. They do however rule quickly if there is obvious problems or they feel that it may lead the flock astray.

I have been to the original site back in 2000 and there were hundreds of priests accompanying pilgrims and con-celebrating Mass. Another metric that the Vatican uses to assess these situations is the “Fruit”. The good fruit from Medj. has been phenomenal.

As with any of these things, discernment is needed.

Cheers,

[Gator113]

Those folks could have saved a great deal of money.

For only $100, I would have been willing to send them a piece of toast.

[stuartcr]

I agree.

[crazydad]

I agree. If it is not hurting anyone and it is bringing people closer to Jesus then why be so critical. I believe Mary has come and spoke to people. Medegorgia and Lordes France and Caraballa Spain. I mean bringing people to JEsus through his mother is not a bad thing.

[Mercat]

I spoke with her this morning.