The Medjugorje inquiry commission has concluded its work
Posted on 01/20/2014 5:40:28 AM PST by NYer
The Medjugorje inquiry commission has concluded its work
The dossier on the alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Medjugorje has been passed on to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The verdict could be positive albeit partial but no concrete decision has yet been reached
Giacomo Galeazzi - ANDREA TORNIELLI
vatican city
A verdict on the Medjugorje apparitions is not far off. The Mejugorje inquiry commission which was set up in March 2010 and is chaired by Cardinal Camillo Ruini has concluded its work. Fr. Federico Lombardi confirmed that the commission held its last meeting on Friday and the results of the inquiry will now be examined by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith headed by the Prefect Gerhard Müller.
All the material gathered, the interviews with the seers and many other witnesses, the stories told by the various people involved, expert reports and theological reflections on the messages, has been summarised in one final report and passed on to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for a careful evaluation. The report will be studied alongside other documentation which the Congregation has gathered over the course of the years.
Vatican Insider has learnt that the Commission has focused mainly on the first phase of apparitions. There is apparently no proof of any tricks, hoaxes or abuse of popular credulity. However, it is proving difficult for the Church to form a definitive verdict on the supernatural nature of a phenomenon that is ongoing.
Of the six seers who reported apparitions in June 1981, when they were still children or in their teens, three claim that they still see daily apparitions of the “Queen of Peace” at the same time every afternoon, wherever they happen to be at the time. These seers are: Vicka (who lives in Medjugorje), Marija (who lives in Monza) and Ivan (who lives in the US but returns to his homeland often). A fourth seer, Mirjana, sees an apparition on the second day of each month.
The large volume of messages going round poses a problem for the Commission. As does the forecasting of supernatural signs and secrets which the seers have refused to share, even with Church authorities.
Some of the Commission’s members have highlighted the need for a change of pace in the provision of pastoral care to millions of faithful who come to Medjugorje from all over the world. The Commission and Cardinal Ruini himself thanks to visits by people close to him have noticed that people really are converting to the faith or returning to the sacraments – what the Church refers to as spiritual fruits – in a significant way.
But this alone does not a decision on the part of the Church with regard to the supernatural nature of the apparitions. In fact, over the past few months, Prefect Müller has cautioned bishops in the US to keep a close eye on meetings held by Medjugorje seers. These are often public meetings with lots of apparitions on the agenda. During last 14 November’s mass in St. Martha’s House, the Pope very eloquently said that Mary is a Mother "not a postmaster of the post office sending out messages every day." These words were addressed to those who continuously communicate messages and prophesies about the future.
The Bishop of Mostar, Ratko Peric, who also serves Medjugorje, is notoriously sceptical about the phenomenon, as was his predecessor. Then there is the age-long problem of the relations between the diocesan clergy and the Franciscan friars of Herzegovina at the time of the apparitions. A couple of solutions proposed in the recent past, have been to restore the old diocese of Trebinje so as to remove Medjugorje from the territory of the Mostar diocese or to create a Marian shrine that would be managed by a rector from another diocese.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
It is however sufficient to vindicate the googooheads. I will end up talking myself out of the caucus if Medj gets the green light.
I think some of the prejudice against the apparitions stems more from an historical perspective rather than the veracity of the seers. Many people point to the role the local Franciscans may have played in support of the Nazi puppet regime during WW II. This I believe clouds whether the apparitions are real or not. And of course, diocesans and religious orders have always had their pissing contests.
The process is interesting, though, as is the reportage. For example, this headline says "Commission claims apparitions are 'no hoax'," while the text says, "no proof it's a hoax." Big difference.
Not very ringing, but it’s the most ringing endorsement possible, however, since the Church will not judge it authentic as long as the messages persist. And provisioning for pilgrims is a reversal of Muller, while Ruini’s observance of spiritual fruits is an absolute slapdown to the scandal-mongerers.
Here is a blog which follows up to date and in depth info on the Commission.
Thanks, that’s informative.
I am thinking of walking away from Ministry if it gets a green light.
Have you ever been there?
I haven’t, but several friends, one a priest, have been there numerous times. Their stories are fascinating.
My wife just said if the Blessed Mother is that banal we have serious problems. I agree.
I haven’t been, but that’s like asking me if I’ve ever taken a voluntary trip to hell.
The writer for this article is very pro Medjugorje and has been slapped down before.
Well that's a relief, hopefully he got it wrong again.
It’s called spin.I think the main question for the Commission is-what to do with all the souls that go there.If the Pope speaks on this or it is leaked to the Press it will be a negative.
I think it's in fact impossible to do so.
Call me skeptical.
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Interesting!
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