Medjugorje still stirs the passions of the desperate

An American theologian whose name you would recognize told me years ago to avoid commenting on Medjugorje, calling it “a giant tar baby,” i.e., everyone who touches it gets covered in sticky tar. Continue reading....

Pope Is Annoyed by “Locutions” From Medjugorje -- New Interview Book by Brazilian Priest

In a new interview book, Pope Francis commented on the flood of messages of apparitions and for the first time also extensively on Medjugorje.

(Rome) "I am annoyed when they come with the messages." In a new interview book by Alexandre Awi Mello, Pope Francis speaks about his relationship with Mary and also says what he thinks of the apparitions in Medjugorje and elsewhere.

Medjugorje is inhabited by Catholic Croats in the Herzegovinian mountains. Catholics were harassed there by the Communists until 1989, today by the Muslims. Since June 1981 in the place of several seers, the Mother of God Maria appears. The competent local bishops made a negative judgment, most recently in the early 1990s. Since then, the followers of the apparitions hope for a positive judgment from Rome. There, however, one dissembles for various reasons. Partly because the phenomenon continues onto the 38th year, and because one seeks the wise way to lead the faithful, without offending them.

Medjugorje and the flood of messages that Pope Francis does not like

"It's my mother"

Repeatedly, Pope Francis took a negative stance on the flood of allocations, even concretely against Medjugorje for the first time in September 2013, which was, however, embezzled by the Vatican media, and therefore never really came to the public. At the same time he sent a special envoy to Medjugorje, the Polish Archbishop Henryk Hoser, who is very sympathetic to the phenomenon. What the Pope thinks exactly about Medjugorje can not be said with certainty.

A new interview book, which came into the bookstore yesterday, but provides interesting clues that fit into the previous picture. The conversation with Francis was not led by a journalist, but Alexandre Awi Mello, the secretary of the new Docastry for the Laity, the Family and Life. Awi Mello is a Brazilian priest of the Schoenstatt Movement who holds a Doctorate in Mariology. After teaching at various universities in Brazil, Francis called him to the Roman Curia in May 2017. Jorge Mario Bergoglio has known the priest since the Latin American Episcopal Council of Aparecida in 2007. The then Cardinal and Archbishop of Buenos Aires was responsible for the final document. Awi Mello was one of two editorial secretaries available to Bergoglio. The interview was thus conducted by a specialist theologian and can claim an official character due to the rank Awi Mello residing in the Vatican.

"He has the appointment book of the Blessed Mother? That’s why I said no "

The book is titled "She is my mother. Encounters with Mary” (Èmia madre, Incontri con Maria, Città Nuova 2018). 

In it Francis says:

"I'm annoyed when they come with the messages. The Virgin does not have a post office! "

Francis recalls the appearance of a Medjugorje seer in his Argentine episcopal city:

"When I was in Buenos Aires, I banned an assembly that still took place. They knew that I did not agree. "

The seer came to Buenos Aires to speak in a church. Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio resisted the event "without commenting on the authenticity of the apparition". 

He banned the event because, according to announcement:

"One of the seers would speak and explain everything a little, and at half past four the Virgin should appear. That means he had the appointment book of the Virgin. That's why I said, 'No, I do not want such kinds of things here'.  I said no, not in a church.”

"In the midst of human madness, God continues to work miracles"

In the book, Francis added to Medjugorje:

"It is necessary to distinguish, because God still works miracles in Medjugorje.”

Medjugorje

According to Francis, God works miracles "despite" the seers and "despite" the messages and the assertion of Marian apparitions in Medjugorje. It must therefore be distinguished between the work of God and the spectacle of the public rejected by the Pope.

"In the midst of human madness, God continues to work miracles."

The Pope expresses the assumption that among the alleged phenomena, Francis is mentioned as an example in addition to Medjugorje, the phenomenon in Salta, Argentina, "perhaps is more about personal phenomena.”

The Pope:

"I get letters, but you understand that these are mainly psychological things. It is necessary to make a clear distinction between things. I think there are graces in Medjugorje. You can not deny that. There are people who convert but there is a lack of distinction, and I do not want to say they sin, because these people never know it is sin, but there is at least a lack of distinction."

"And then they say, 'The Blessed Mother told me ...'"

Francis declares these rejected messages "theologically as inner speaking." “Inner locations are an outlet that comes from pure, implicit inspiration." This expresses more of a wishful thinking of the person concerned.

"The thing with the apparitions, so that's clear: Try to see it from the side of an internal locution. Then it's clear why I told you to go from one extreme to the other. Sometimes this Lokution almost materializes into a vision, and other times it can only be a simple inspiration. "

Concretely:

"For example, those who hear that the Blessed Mother tells them something. In prayer there is a locution, and then they say, 'The Blessed Mother told me ...'. Naturally. They express it in a way that seems like they really had an appearition. But from then until the seers become the main actors and organize programmed apparitions ... That is the sin that can accompany a great grace.”

Awi Mello writes:

"In short, to use the words of the Gospel, wheat and weeds grow together - even today.”

And Francis:

"Are there distinguishing criteria for appearances? One thing for me is the person's obedience to the church. "

Text: Giuseppe Nardi

Image: Nuova Città (Screenshots)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Cardinal Simoni: "Pope Francis, Has Changed His Opinion About Medjugorje"

(Rome) Pope Francis has apparently "changed" his opinion on the alleged appearances of Medjugorje and was about to announce "good news". This was addressed by Cardinal Ernest Simoni SJ, who was sent by Pope Francis to the 28th International Youth Festival in Medjugorje.

On Sunday, the English-speaking, Croatian news page titled Total Croatia News , cited the Croatian daily newspaper Vecernji List.

"Medjugorje apparitions close to official recognition."

Cardin Simoni in Medjugorje

The Albanian Jesuit Ernest Simoni was elevated to the rank of Cardinal by Pope Francis. Simoni had been detained by the communist regime for almost ten years in Albania until the early 1990s.

"In front of 50,000 young people from all over the world," the 88-year-old cardinal said at the Freilichtfestival in front of the parish church of Medjugorje. Before he embarked to the Herzegovinian town, he had asked the Pope for his blessing. According to the media reports, the Cardinal said that Francis had little information on Medjugorje, and that this had come from the "opponents" of the phenomenon. This is why the Pope could not have "a good opinion." But things would "change", according to the "personal ambassador of the pope".

In the past, Pope Francis was very critical of the phenomenon in which the Mother of God appeared as a kind of "postbot" or "head of a post office" to convey "messages" at a certain time. In the autumn of 2013, he mentions in a morning sermon in Santa Marta Medjugorje, in particular, as a negative example, as those present heard. The two summaries of Radio Vatican and Osservatore Romano did not mention Medjugorje.

According to Vecernji List, there is "no doubt" that Pope Francis "has now decided" to convey an "optimistic message". Cardinal Simoni preached "openly and without any reservations about the apparitions of Our Lady," according to the Croatian newspaper, which ended its report with the words:

"This ultimately signals that we are a small step from the final decision on the papal status of Medjugorje."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Total Croatia News / Vecernji List (Screenshots)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Press Conference by the Special Envoy Archbishop Hoser in Medjugorje: "On the Question of Truth I Can Not Say"

The Pontifical Special Envoy Archbishop Henryk Hoser at the press conference in Medjugorje.

(Medjugorje) The Pontifical Special Envoy for Medjugorje, Archbishop Henryk Hoser, Bishop of Warsaw-Praga, gave a press conference this afternoon in Medjugorje. Hoser indirectly confirmed a link between the Motu Proprio Sanctuarium in Ecclesia, published on April 1 by Pope Francis, who provided for the internationalization of prayer places by the transfer of jurisdiction to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. Archbishop Hoser said that "Medjugorje is already part of the new evangelization."

The Polish Archbishop was appointed Special Envoy for Medjugorje by Pope Francis. A direct connection with the aforementioned motu proprio is seen because it was signed by the Pope on the same day, although it was only published last Saturday. Archbishop Hoser has been in Medjugorje since last week and will probably stay there for a longer period. Before the end of the summer, according to his mission, he has to submit "pastoral solutions" to the Pope for Medjugorje.

The press conference, in which Hoser spoke French, "the language of diplomacy", was broadcast by MaryTV.

The archbishop found very well-meaning words for the place. "There is a special, spiritual climate here."

"I think that Medjugorje is already part of the new evangelization. The numbers speak for themselves. The dynamism of the increase of pilgrims shows that the needs are also growing."

Numbers were cited: 610 appeals in countries such as the USA, Italy, Germany, which were aroused in Medjugorje, and 2.5 million pilgrims visiting the Herzegovinian town every year.

"There are other important things, such as the retreat Domus Pacis. In recent years it has been used by more than 1000 groups with over 42,000 participants. These spiritual retreats transform men inwardly," the Archbishop said.

All this "shows the intensity of Christian life in Medjugorje, which can be compared with other places."

The "Apparitions"

Archbishop Hoser was asked whether he considered the alleged Marian publications in Medjugorje to be real or not. The Special Envoy, however, stayed with an opinion. He was not entitled to comment on it.

"It is not my task to discuss whether these phenomena are true or not, because the Church has not yet defined them. This is the work of the Commission of Cardinal Ruini."

This is the international investigation commission set up by Pope Francis in 2010 under the direction of Camillo Cardinal Ruini. This commission listened to all the "seers" with the task of commenting on the issue of authenticity, whether the Mother of God has appeared in Medjugorje since 1981 or not. The Commission ended its work by the end of 2012. With the resignation of Benedict XVI. and the election of Pope Francis, it is at a standstill. In 2014, Cardinal Ruini gave Francis the final report to the Commission and presented its conclusions.

Hoser also expressed the hope that "the ultimate decision of the Commission and of Pope Francis" would soon take place.

"Unfortunately, I can not speak about the material of this Commission, since it has not yet been published. I could speak with Cardinal Ruini, but I can not say anything about it."

The term "apparitions," which Hoser used at the press conference, he uses,"because they are so-described here." But it is not a matter of their inherent value, according to the Archbishop.

The archbishop confirmed that he had "met with the 'seers'" as part of my commission, "but" not to the matter itself, "because that is the task of the Commission of the Doctrine of the Faith by Cardinal Ruini."

According to the "seers", according to Hoser, "the phenomena still persist, which presents difficulties to making a final judgment."

The Archbishop still emphasized the need for clarification. He had climbed the Podbrdo, the so-called "Mount of the Marian Apparitions." He had met a group of Polish pilgrims at the Marian statue established there and talked with them about the piety of the Virgin Mary. "It is not true that I had led the pilgrims there, as some media have claimed."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Photo: MaryTV (Screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Pope Francis and Cardinal Caffara Embrace -- Are the Dubia off the Table? -- Things Are Not So Simple

(Rome) Pope Francis visited on Sunday the city of Carpi in Emilia. The diocese in the Po Valley was affected by a major earthquake in 2012. Media, and some Catholic circles were able to read a lot in the coffee grounds. Carlo Cardinal Caffara also took part in the pope's visit as emeritus Metropolitan of the adjoining Church Province of Bologna. Caffarra is one of the four notable Cardinals, who gave the Pope Dubia (doubts) on the controversial Apostolic Letter Amoris laetitia.

The five questions were not answered by the Pope until today and lie as a dark shadow over the pontificate.

Since December 2015 Matteo Maria Zuppi has been archbishop of Bologna. He belongs to the community of Sant'Egidio. As the Pope visited the episcopal church yesterday, just a few kilometers from Bologna, it was obvious that both Archbishop Zuppi and Cardinal Caffarra attended the meeting. "Both represent very different positions within the Church," said the Corriere della Sera  on April 1.

The fact that Cardinal Caffarra was present and greeted by the Pope caused some speculation. At lunch in the Carpi priestly eminary, the Cardinal, on account of his rank, sat even on the Pope's right, while on the left a 95-year-old priest, the oldest member of the adjoining clergy, was allowed to sit.

But whoever thinks, as many have done, that a salutation is enough, and all is well, are mistaken. The world is not as simple as it appears to some. Some examples:

Medjugorje and the Rosary "from the Pope"

The Vatican is prepared not to recognize the supernatural nature of the Medjugorje phenomenon. This has for a long time been fixed, but one has been looking for the right way for years to make it as easy as possible for the faithful.

In September 2015 Marija Pavlovic, a "seeress" of Medjugorje, by the way a very lovable person, was referred to media reports that Rome would not recognize the "apparitions" and "messages" of Medjugorje, for she had only received a rosary from Pope Francis in the previous week. A priest had brought it to her, who had participated in a meeting with the pope and received the Rosary from the Pope. He had asked the pope whether he could bring to Marija Pavlovic. The Pope had agreed.

Things can be so simple or at least appear so. The so very important question of the supernatural nature of the apparitions is "clarified" because the pope agrees that a rosary should be brought to a seeress.

The greeting for Bergoglio critic Archbishop Aguer

Greetings from Pope Francis to Archbishop Hector Aguer

A recent example took place only a month ago. Pope Francis,l sent Archbishop Hector Aguer of La Plata a congratulatory note on the 25th anniversary of his ordination. Such attentions are self-evident practices in the Church. They are independent of the person's public appearance. Archbishop Aguer was the opponent of Jorge Mario Bergoglio in the Argentine episcopate. Both were, at the same time, archbishops of Buenos Aires, but represented different positions, comparable to the relationship between Archbishop Zuppi and Cardinal Caffarra in Bologna. Both were metropolitans: Aguer of La Plata, Bergoglio of Buenos Aires and thus Primates of Argentina. Between the two archbishops, the sparks flew again and again in the Episcopal Conference. With the papal election of Francis, it was finally decided which of them would prevail. Francis then made a tabula rasa among his former Argentine opponents. Archbishop Aguer is still in office, but has become rather lonely in the Episcopal Conference.

A congratulation from the pope and all is good? An office of the Vatican prepares such congratulations, which are then signed by the Pope. It's a courtesy which ultimately tells nothing about the relationship between the Pope and the Archbishop.

The same applies to the embrace of Pope Francis and Cardinal Caffarra. This greeting is customary among cardinals and bishops. A polite greeting does not mean that "everything is good" and the Dubia are also off the table.

The world is not that simple.

However, the example shows how annoying the Dubia is and how great the burden is because Pope Francis does not want to answer the questions asked.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: SMM / MiL / NMM (Screenshots)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Cardinal Müller on Medjugorje: "Some Exaggerate the Importance of These Phenomena"

(Rome) "Some exaggerate the importance of these phenomena as if they were almost a dogma," said Cardinal Gerhard Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Congregation, who responded yesterday to the questions by the ANSA Press Agency on Medjugorje.

"Even if the Church has spoken out for events of this kind, no Catholic is obliged to go there or believe in it," Cardinal Müller continued.

Since 1981, The Mother of God, is said to appear for "six seers" in the Herzegovinian mountain village of Medjugorje. In the 1980s and 1990s, the bishops declared that they were unable to establish any "supernatural origin" of the phenomenon. Nevertheless, for more than 36 years, pilgrimages of pious and lukewarm Catholics, but also unbelievers and the curious  have been pilgrimaging  to the Balkan village. Recently, the Kinofilm Mary's Land by Juan Manuel Cotelo showed a cross-section of people who say that they have found faith or believed again in Medjugorje, and who have founded apostolic, missionary, or charitable works.

At the request of Pope Benedict XVI. 2010-2012 an international commission investigated the phenomenon. The final report was handed over to Pope Francis in 2014. In February, he appointed a special envoy for Medjugorje, who was to submit proposals for "pastoral solutions" to the Church. The mission of Bishop Henryk Hoser is to be completed in summer 2017.

On the question of whether a decision on Medjugorje should be expected soon, Cardinal Miiller said:

"It takes time. At this moment, it is more important to regulate pastoral care, confession ... "

And further:

"The future of the Church does not depend on either Medjugorje or the recognized pilgrimage places such as Fatima or Lourdes: they are helpful, they can help to convey the message of the repentance of today's world."

Faith, however, is the one "laid down in daily life, in the family, at work, in the parish."

Responding to the "seers" of Medjugorje, the prefect of faith said:

"As for the role of the seers, I must say as a Catholic that we should concentrate on Jesus Christ. There may be some private revelations, but they do not replace the only revelation of God through Jesus Christ. "

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: MiL
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Bishop Exorcist Says Medjugorje is Diabolical

Edit: anyone with a rudimentary catechism would know Medjugogoo is fake.

[UNAMsanctamcatholicam] We haven't heard much from Medjugorje lately - I was following the Ruini Commission for awhile, which was charged with investigated the alleged apparitions by the Holy Father and was supposed to come up with some sort of  definitive judgment. I still haven't heard anything from Cardinal Ruini, but this 2008 interview with Bishop Andrea Gemma, one of the Church's foremost exorcists, has recently come to light in which the bishop soundly condemns Medjugorje as a diabolical phenomenon.

Here's a background item on the Medjugorje case, a May 2008 interview with Bishop Andrea Gemma from Gianluca Barile's website Petrus. It was reported in the press at the time, and some quotations did appear, but I never came across the full text until recently. 

Medjugorje: the accusation of the bishop-exorcist Mons. Gemma: "The apparitions of the Madonna? Completely false: the seers lie under the inspiration of Satan to profit economically"

http://unamsanctamcatholicam.blogspot.com/2011/04/bishop-and-exorcist-andrea-gemma-on.html?m=1

AMDG

Schönborn: No Understanding Why There is Resistance Against Pope Francis

Cardinal in prayer for peace in the cathedral: People are grateful world that Francis "exemplifies the Gospel", within the church, there are hostile - Call for "patience" for Vatican ruling on Medjugorje

Vienna (kath.net/KAP) Cardinal Christoph Schönborn has expressed shock at the resistance from Church circles against Pope Francis: "It hurts me that he faces so much hostility - within the Church. What is this? He is the successor of Peter! He's the pope!" said the Archbishop of Vienna on Tuesday in his homily during the Medjugorje prayer of peace, "Message for you" in the cathedral. Many people in the world are grateful for the witness of Pope Francis. "For his kindness and his love for the poor and the fallen. It is the gospel that he teaches us," said Schönborn.  To learn that the Pope is receiving "so much resistance" from his own ranks, was completely incomprehensible to him. It is important to pray for the Pope.

Regarding the so far not carried out confirmation by the Vatican for the alleged [and heretical] Marian apparitions in Medjugorje, the Cardinal called on the faithful to be patient. You should "persevere and remain faithful in prayer and intercession," said Schönborn, and continued: "I think to myself, God knows why he is linked to Medjugorje, so patience requires of us thus our heart is willing.. " As one of the positive consequences of the events of Medjugorje, Schönborn described the emergence of numerous prayer groups around the world and also in Austria. It was particularly noteworthy that these groups since their inception in the 1980s - the Viennese Dominican Church was then a starting point - would largely continue to exist to this day, said the Archbishop of Vienna. 

The Medjugorje prayer groups were the focus of this year's Peace Prayer again with around  4,000 believers who had come to St. Stephen's Cathedral. Currently I am tempted to link the dozens existing groups in Austria with each other more, explained Christian Stelzer of the prayer community "Oasis of Peace", who had organized the prayer for peace.

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Only "Administrative Decision" on Medjugorje -- Cardinal Puljics Recommendation to the Pope

(Rome) Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Archbishop of Sarajevo and member of the Pontifical Commission of Inquiry, which is mandated to study the phenomenon of Medjugorje, said to have "recommended" to the pope to come to a decision on Medjugorje only on "administrative" aspects, but not on the "phenomena" and messages. [The messages are obviously heretical, if words can mean anything at all.]

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The Virgin Mary is alleged to have regularly appeared at a parish of Medjugorje for the past 35 years to six "seers", which is  under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Mostar. Bishop Ratko Peric, like his predecessor Pavao Zanic (to 1993), regarded the Medjugorje phenomenon with great skepticism.  Bishop Zanic declared as competent ecclesiastical authority that the alleged apparitions were "not supernatural" in character ( non constat de supernaturalitate ). This decision was supported and confirmed in 1991 by the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference  and still applies today.

People have "the right to go to Medjugorje to pray and do penance," explained Cardinal Puljic in December for the Turkish state news agency Anadolu Agency (AA). Medjugorje "is one of the largest confessional benches, not only the Balkans, but in all of Europe, and that has to be somehow taken into account when deciding which one will meet".

Cardinal Puljic therefore recommended to the Pope a decision to "solely" address the "administrative aspects", responding in  "no way to the question of appearances." "When it comes to visions and messages, which are still under consideration,  the Church does not move quickly.  The Church does not hurry, but always arrives at a conclusion. I'm not worried about the attitude of the Holy Father or those of the CDF. "

Medjugorje

Concerning  the pilgrims, the Cardinal, that which has already been said  applies: "It is important that the people who go to Medjugorje, pray for the strengthening of their faith and are comforted in returning home."

"Solomonic" or "Educational" solution?

Behind the scenes there has been a tug of war for years in the Vatican   around Medjugorje. The Vatican became increasingly cautious, while some Church officials, including the Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Schönborn, are convinced of the authenticity of the phenomenon. [Not exactly a vote of confidence.] Since the 80s, however, there has been a negative decision on  Medjugorje. Since then, it is argued by proponents that Rome had not yet decided. A decision of Rome, however, not canonically necessary to be  provided. Among the supporters  of Medjugorje, there is the claim that Pope John Paul II. and the then faith Prefect of the CDF, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger have commented positively about Medjugorje, which has been denied in writing by Cardinal Ratzinger 1998.

In 2009 the CDF confirmed the jurisdiction of the Bosnian bishops and thus the negative decision of 1991.

In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI. finally established a Vatican commission of inquiry to examine the phenomenon of Medjugorje and bring about the much-discussed decision in Rome. The signals emanating  from the Commission  were negative in the matter. At the turn of 2012, the final   report  was placed in front of the Pope.

Since then,  a decision has been delayed by some church circles, helped along by the unexpected resignation of Benedict XVI. The Commission of Inquiry had completed its work, yet remained  for another two years in office until 2014.

A postponement is argued for since it is concerned that a negative decision could unsettle many believers and shake in their faith. In fact, those in the know confirm that tension is very high among Medjugorje. The danger of divisions within the Bosnian Franciscans makes the regular rounds.  An argument  from experience- which is not taken lightly in Rome,  confirms the reluctance of Pope Francis. Francis has expressed himself repeatedly against "an addiction to apparitions and messages."

On 6 June 2015, the Pope had himself expressed the view of an early decision on the return flight from Sarajevo.  But nothing has happened since then. At the end of June, Andrea Tornielli, the  papal  household vaticanist said that a decision would wait until "after the summer break", perhaps would even be  given "at the Synod of Bishops".

An "administrative" solution has presented itself after months. A decree lays on the desk of the pope which has been formulated since the spring of 2015. Medjugorje is recognized as a place of prayer, entrusted to the pastoral care of the Franciscan Order, but is subordinated to the jurisdiction and supervision of Rome. There will be no light  construction because it interferes with the rights of the Mostar diocese. Public appearances of the "seers" are also suppressed or completely prevented. As far as  a non-decision on the "apparitions" and "messages"  it is argued that the phenomenon is still ongoing and therefore, to make a final judgment prematurely was indeed impossible.   There is talk in Rome  of a "Solomonic" or "educational" solution.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Picture: Cari Filii / Wikicommons

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches..

AMDG

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What Has Rome Decided About Medjuogorje? Commission Member Names a Third Way

(Rome) Ecclesiastical provisions provide  in  events connected with apparitions whether they are "supernatural" (supra naturaliter), or  they are "not supernatural" (non supra naturaliter). Will there be a third way for Medjugorje?

Pope Francis named the 17-member International Commission of Inquiry Medjugorje on the return flight from Sarajevo, which will replace one established in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI to investigate the phenomenon of alleged Marian apparitions in the Herzegovinian mountain village. The Commission was led by  Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the longtime chairman of the Italian Bishops' Conference (1991-2007) and close friend of Pope John Paul II. As  the Cardinal reported  Pope Francis gave the Commission's final report, referred to it several times on the plane to journalists as "significant work." Ruini blurted spontaneously: "Any way. That makes me happy. "

Preferably Rome a Gentle Solution?

Father Perrella, Mariologist and member of Medjugorje Commission of Inquiry

A statement that is obviously meant for the long duration of the decision. The Commission had concluded its work shortly before the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Since then, the final report is in Rome. The Argentine pontiff seems in no hurry. In Rome the main concern applies to the part of the faithful who are so convinced of the authenticity of Medjugorje that a negative judgment of the Church could shake or alienate even them from the Church and the faith.

For this reason they are  looking for "gentle" solution, which will satisfy  opponents, such as the bishop of Mostar, and proponents, such as the Archbishop of Vienna,  without them losing face, maintains the validity of the negative decision by the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference 1991 and guides the faithful. In the Church that sometimes means not to decide and "ride out" a question.

Interview with the Mariologist and Commissioner Salvatore Maria Perrella

On Tuesday, another member of the Commission of Inquiry, Father Salvatore Perrella Maria took a public position. The Servite is Rector of the Pontifical Theological Faculty of the Marianum in Rome and teaches Dogmatic Theology and Mariology.

"We have worked thoroughly and seriously," said Father Perrella, quoted for the daily newspaper Avvenire. The judgment of Rome will reflect the fact and point out that "appearances are always possible", and if they are recognized as genuine, "represent a gift from God," said the Mariologist.

"However, the Church has the duty to preserve the primacy of revelation, by understanding these special events only as supports of the gospel of Christ," said Father Perrella. "The Virgin Mary is radiant, but still a creature of God that never overshadows the encounter with Christ, but always encourages. Apply the words of Mary in the Gospel of John: do what he tells you to do.' As John Paul II taught,  the phenomena include the  maternal mediating role of Mary. "

Lifestyle of the "Seers" Important - Messages on "Doctrinal Ambiguities" Examined

The Mariologist pointed to the importance of the right way of life of the seer. "If they are real, they do not seek the visions. Rather, it is God who leads. It is also necessary that they keep a contemporary life in the Gospel; in addition, they may not seek the limelight."

The judgment of the Medjugorje phenomenon was carried out by the commission of inquiry, said Father Perrella, after the last of the criteria supplemented by  Pope Paul VI. There are "positive criteria": "Even the place of events has its importance, because it must have rich and lasting spiritual fruit. That is, looking for evidence of conversions, testimonies of charity and vocations."

But there were also "negative criteria" said the Mariologist: "There are clearly errors   associated with the event, such as lies or storytelling. In addition, any doctrinal ambiguities are analyzed in the messages or profit, i.e., whether,  the 'seer' or 'other' beneficiaries speculate with the events. Science also provides its contribution. For example, by determination of psychological diseases."

A third decision option?

Panorama article from August 2013

Due to its confidentiality, the Mariologist did not say what conclusion the commission of inquiry had come to. About this  he said amazing things about the judgment. Avvenire emphasized his words in bold type. Has the Servite thus anticipated the decision of the Vatican?

"You can say that  moral certainty exists with a supernatural character. Or that it is the result of fraud and therefore does not come from God. There is a third possibility, which is not included in the provisions of the Holy See, but it has been considered by the theologians: The Commission chooses neither a yes nor a no, but notes that at present there is not an obviously blatantly supernatural phenomenon."

Father Perrella referred to the non-decision as a "third way". As a member of the commission of inquiry it must be assumed that he has thus   not merely posed theoretical speculations.

Recognize as a place of worship, Report Directly to Rome and Not Definitely Confirm Phenomena

On August 14, 2013 Ignazio Ingrao published in the weekly magazine Panorama article: "Will Pope Francis Stop Medjugorje?" That was a month before the new pontiff took a position for the first time unofficially on Medjugorje. Ingrao wrote:

"After the disclaimer on Medjugorje that, during the pontificate of Benedict XVI were put forward [...] now many hope that Bergoglio's Marian devotion will cause him to officially recognize the apparitions.

According to the first indiscretions, surrounding the the visions, it seems on the contrary, that the solution to propose to the Pope, the Commission is recognize Medjugorje as a simple place of worship, but insinuate direct control of the Holy See.  This without definitely commenting on the phenomena. "

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Medjugorje.pro/Secretum meum mihi (screenshots)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

The Pope in Sarajevo -- Strengthen Brotherhood --- Inter-religious Dialogue

(Rome) "I come to Sarajevo to strengthen Catholics in their faith and to support inter-religious dialogue and peaceful coexistence." Pope Francis said this in a video message ahead of his pastoral visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will take place this coming June 6 .. As Vatican spokesman Father Lombardi said, the visit has no connection with the alleged Marian apparitions in Herzegovinian Medjugorje. The Pope will not take a position on the Medjugorje phenomenon in Sarajevo  so Lombardi.

Catholics ought to "be witnesses of faith and love of God". For this, the Catholic Church leader wants to support  inter-religious dialogue between Christians and Muslims and to "encourage"  peaceful coexistence.These are the goals that     Pope Francis has named for his Sarajevo visit. The video message was published in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The motto of the Pope's visit is "Peace be With You". The Pope called on Catholics to unite with him in prayer, so that the visit "will bring the expected fruits for the Church and society as a whole."

"For my part, I prepare to come to you as a brother, as a messenger of peace to all of you - all! - To express my appreciation and my friendship. I want every person, every family, every community to preach the mercy, the tenderness and the love of God."

Pope Francis is to visit the Bosnian city of Sarajevo on Saturday, June 6. It is the seat of government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country which is divided into two sub-states since 1995. The division is a result of ethnic-religious war between 1991 and 1995, which broke out with the collapse of communist Yugoslavia. Another consequence is that the Croat-Muslim Federation, founded in 1994 in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Orthodox Serb Republic (Republika Srpska) were forced by the international community against their will into a common state. The Catholic-Croat and the Muslim-Bosniak population were forced into an unloved federation.

Pope Francis is to visit this Catholic-Muslim defacto EU protectorate. The highest political authority and therefore the actual decision-makers is the "High Representative" of the UN. It was established and carried out by the EU, USA and Russia. Since 2009  an Austrian diplomat, a   Carinthian Slovene Valentin Inzko, has held this office.

The Catholic Croats have repeatedly initiated complaints that they have been treated less favorably than the Bosniaks (see The ignoring discrimination against Catholic Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina German). The ethnic-religious divide in the Federation is about 70 percent Bosniaks and 30 percent Croats with a tendential shift in favor of Bosniaks. Among these it is found, according to observers since the Civil War, a considerable re-Islamization instead. Both Turkey and Saudi Arabia are trying through the construction of mosques, to win the establishment of madrassas and assistance toward influence among these European Muslims (see Islamization of Bosnia - Turkey Tries to Establish pro-Turkish Lobbyists  German).

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: RotW
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Lombardi Confirms: No Decision on Medjugorje on Sarajevo Trip

(Rome) In connection with the announced pastoral visit by Pope Francis to Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, there was speculation that the Pope would visit Medjugorje on this occasion. In the Herzegovinian village, the Virgin Mary has  "appeared" since 1981.  The speculations have now been denied by   Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi.

When asked by the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) Lombardi made ​​it clear that there was "no connection" between the trip and the place of pilgrimage not recognized by the church. The Vatican spokesman is quoted as saying: "The Pope has said that he will travel to Sarajevo, not that he will travel to Medjugorje".

"I do not know if and when there will be an explanation of Medjugorje"

Father Lombardi also commented on further speculation  that Francis could occasion his visit to Sarajevo to make a final decision for the Church on the Medjugorje phenomenon. Such has been expected for a year (see Is Pope Francis in Sarajevo decision to Medjugorje? ). The Vatican spokesman said: "I have no idea if and when there will be an explanation of Medjugorje".

Translated it means that there will be no decision on Medjugorje in connection with the planned visit of Pope Francis to Sarajevo for June 6. Church law continues to defer to the decision of the competent local bishops that deny the supernatural aspects of the place.  The pilgrims in the Herzegovinian mountain village seem to do no harm. Inner Ecclesiastically it appears that Rome had not made a decision, are generally being  very tolerant in the handling of the phenomenon.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Wikicommons

Trans; Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Will Pope Francis Make a Decision on Medjugorje in Sarajevo?

(Rome) During the Angelus on Sunday   Pope Francis announced a  visit this coming June 6th in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Will the Catholic Church leader to announce a decision on the phenomenon of Medjugorje?

The Pope is quoted as saying, according to Vatican Radio : "On Saturday 6th June I will - God willing - to travel to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina. I ask you all for your prayers so that my visit will be there to encourage  Catholics, the leaven of good and a contribution to greater brotherhood and peace. And also for inter-religious dialogue, friendship."

Medjugorje was not mentioned by the Pope, but there is presently a tense expectation that the Pope could announce a final decision on the "apparitions". A decision is expected in a year.

Sarajevo and World History

Sarajevo went down in history as the scene of the assassination of the Austrian and Hungarian Crown Prince, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. An assassination which was the immediate cause of the First World War. Sarajevo is also the  scene of a civil war between Orthodox Serbs, Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats, begun in  1991, in the wake of World War I, the artificial   state of Yugoslavia broke apart. Sarajevo today is also the capital of Herzegovina, in a once nondescript, but today is a most well-known spot. Not far from Mostar, situated in the mountains is the Catholic village of Medjugorje, a synonym for unrecognized "apparitions" in the Church, which has led pilgrims now for three decades to a largely unknown part of Europe.

Church has Denied the Supernaturalism of the Medjugorje Phenomenon

The two  ecclesiastical judgments on the "apparitions" carried out once through the competent bishop, and then by the bishops of Yugoslavia  are still negative. The competent bishops according to canon law,  were in agreement to deny the  supernatural character of the phenomenon. A judgment is valid until revoked in the Church. Under Pope Benedict XVI. the matter of Rome was investigated in 2010 by a separate commission of inquiry headed by Camillo Cardinal Ruini, who interviewed numerous witnesses, including also examining the "seers" and all available documents.  Although the Commission completed its work in late 2012, so far no result has been announced. The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI., who expressed  a detached attitude to the phenomenon, intervened.

For a Year the Medjugorje File is on the Pope's Desk 

A year ago, Cardinal Ruini was received by Pope Francis and presented the new pope the final report of the Commission of Inquiry. Francis gave the still secret report to the CDF. A few days before Cardinal Ruini, the Pope interviewed the Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljic.

In the fall of 2013, the prefect of the CDF, then Cardinal Gerhard Müller, gave the US bishops statement not to tolerate any events within the Church, where the supernatural character of the Medjugorje phenomenon was claimed.  It was the reason the tour  of "seer" Ivan Dragicevic to the United States was subsequently canceled.

Unofficial Papal Distancing?

Pope Francis has not officially taken a position on Medjugorje. What unofficially became known indicates major restraint. On September 7, 2013, the Pope said in his morning sermon in Santa Marta, there could be "no Christians without Christ".   Here, the Catholic Church leader criticized Christians who cling to "apparitions" and would "look for something special." As far as the Pope's words were in the summaries of Vatican Radio and Osservatore Romano played.Has not been published, that the Pope called as a concrete example of what has been said, Medjugorje and added that the revelation was completed, however, with the New Testament.

Two months later, Francis said during his morning sermon on November 14: "The curiosity drives us to want to hear that the Lord is here or there; or allows us to say, 'But I know a seer, a prophetess, who has letters from the Mother of God, receives messages from the Mother of God'. But the Blessed Mother is a mother! She is not the leader of a post office to send daily messages. Remove these innovations of the gospel, of peace and of the wisdom of the glory of God, of the beauty of God."  The Pope's criticism of the addiction for publication was taken by observers in conjunction with Medjugorje,  and the previously-known and numerous" places of publication, "where" messages "are disseminated on an assembly line. But in Medjugorje  they now number into the tens of thousands.

Since then, Francis has made no more statements that may be directly or indirectly related to the Herzegovinian town.  What is in the final report and what it really means for the Medjugorje phenomenon, is unforeseeable, since there are conflicting signals.

Shortly before his election as Pope  Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio gave the faithful of his archdiocese Buenos Aires permission to participate in the 4th and 6th March 2013, performances by Ivan Dragicevic. More than 15,000 Argentines took advantage of this opportunity to see this "seer" and  whose performance, a year and a  half  later was warned about by the CDF warned

The consent of the then Archbishop of Buenos Aires was explained  because a Herzegovinian Franciscan, Father Berislav Ostojic, had been Bergoglio's confessor since 2010. Medjugorje is supervised by Herzegovinian Franciscans who from the beginning have been as  local priests and spiritual fathers of the "seers", in direct contact with the Medjugorje phenomenon.

That Francis may use his stop in the country in which the phenomenon has occurred for more than three decades, to announce a final decision of the Church, but is expected to be rather unlikely.  Rather, what prevails as seems currently to be the motto in Rome that no decision is the "best" decision.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image Secretum meum mihi

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches....

AMDG

Medjugorje 206 Tour Group Continues Intransigent Disobedience, Montanist Celebrity from Steubenville Ohio Endorses

Edit: never mind that there are Magisterial proclamations against this site, forbidding Catholics from attending pilgrimages.  Never mind that it's heartily endorsed by the Vienna Cardinal, no less, who ignored the local ordinary's admonitions to stay away.  There's money to be made!  We've been made aware of this that a famous EWTN celebrity convert who continues to endorse Medjugorje through the 206 Tour Group,  both of whom are  ignoring Church teaching.  This is a point by point description of the situation which we've not edited in the slightest from ME.

1.) In 1996, the secretary of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith(CDF) wrote: Official pilgrimages to Medjugorje, understood as a place of authentic Marian apparitions, are not permitted to be organized either on the parish or on the diocesan level, because that would be in contradiction to what the Bishops of former Yugoslavia affirmed in their fore mentioned Declaration.
So while pilgrimages to Medjugorje are permitted, they could not be organized by Church bodies (parishes, dioceses) with the understanding that Medjugorje is “a place of authentic Marian apparitions.”
2.) In late October 2014, Cardinal Muller of the CDF issued a letter stating that priests AND the lay faithful "are not permitted to participate in meetings, conferences or public celebrations during which the credibility of such 'apparitions' would be taken for granted." That obviously includes pilgrimages which encourage belief in the apparitions.
Source: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/14-things-to-know-and-share-about-the-new-letter-on-medjugorje#ixzz2wEv13pCW3.) A group called "206 Tours" specializes in providing Catholics with pilgrimages to Catholic holy sites. In a January 18th Facebook update, 206 Tours clearly stated that they will continue to promote Medjugorje pilgrimages despite the CDF letter.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151990018948392&set=a.173253568391.123395.139209248391&type=1&theater4. Enter Dr. Scott Hahn of EWTN/Franciscan University fame. Dr. Hahn is paid by 206 Tours to help lead pilgrimages. This is evident through a simple Google search or a perusal of the 206 Tours Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/206-Tours/1392092483915. My concern is that, because 206 Tours caters to so many Catholic customers and makes its money off of Catholic holy places, it is unethical for this group to defy the Church on this matter, and it is therefore also unethical for Dr. Hahn to help promote and lend an appearance of legitimacy to this group.

EWTN contact information:

5817 Old Leeds Rd. Irondale, AL 35210-2164
 Canada mail: EWTN PO Box 157 Station A Etobicoke, Ontario, M9C 4V2
Phone: 205-271-2900