Expert explains Church’s criteria for confirming Marian apparitions

News Resources Tools Columns Documents ACI Group

Contenidos del sub-menu

Comments: 3

Salvatore M. Perrella

Rome, Italy, May 8, 2008 / 03:33 pm (CNA).- Salvatore M. Perrella, an expert in dogma and Mariology from the Mariunum Pontifical School in Rome, explained this week the criteria used by the Church to determine the legitimacy of Marian apparitions. His explanation comes in the wake of the Church’s approval of the apparitions of Our Lady of Laus in France.

In an article for L’Osservatore Romano, Perrella cited Jesuit Father Giandomenico Mucci to explain the difference between a vision and an apparition. The first is of a spiritual nature, while the second is of a physical one. That is, the seer has a real and sensible experience of the one in the apparition.

After explaining the Church’s process for verifying Marian apparitions was discussed at the Lateran Council and the Council of Trent, Perrella explained that currently “discernment about the veracity” of alleged apparitions “falls to the diocesan bishop or archbishop—and in recent times to the episcopal conference in question—and to the Pope.”

He also pointed out that the “Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith drafted an internal and secret document on February 25, 1978, after four years of study, signed by the prefect Cardinal Franjo Seper to be used by the competent authorities” in evaluating supernatural occurrences.

Perrella went on to point out that the CDF instructed that for an investigation to proceed, “precise information” should be gathered about the various aspects of the alleged apparitions such as testimonies of conversions, theological analysis of the message of the apparitions, a medical and psychological review of the seer or visionary, including his or her educational level, an examination of their spiritual life, their level of communion with the Church, miraculous healings and occurrences, and other factors.

After a detailed examination of the numerous events related to apparitions, Perrella said, the Church “has approved a total of 11 apparitions out of 295 that have been studied—including now the 12th, which are those of Our Lady of Laus, approved on May 4, 2008.”

“Once verified and authenticated by Church authorities, the extraordinary manifestations may be freely embraced, as faith is reserved only to the public Revelation of God which ended with the death of the last Apostle,” he said.

In any case, Perrella stressed, the apparitions approved by the Church only manifest the evangelical mission of Mary throughout the history of the Church, which has been to point the way to the Father’s house through faith in the Lord Jesus.

Such revelations, while they help to increase faith, “do not add to the Revelation given to the Church in Sacred Scripture, but rather they help to make it current during a specific period in history,” he said.

Comments: 3

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Kevin Foyle
Ireland 10/29/2009 03:55 PM EST

Surely the nub of this issue concerns authentication. We cannot accept willy nilly private revelations on the say-so of those who claim that privilege. The creation of "comfort zones" is irrelevant to whether or not experiences deserve to be treated as objective phenomena. Any such treatment would lead to ultimate disarray.

Published by: Leslie R Easley
Stillwater, Ok USA 10/05/2009 10:43 PM EST

My comment seems to take on the form of questions that have been hovering close to the very surface for many years. I do not feel that anyone, including The Mostar Bishop can reject in total the messages that have emanated from the visionaries in Bosnia,Venzuella, or the other places like Ireland, Japan, or in the places worldwide where these seers might have appeared. To negate these apparitions which have brought great comfort and promise of a heavenly life after this trail of tears we are all on; is to say that GOD has not allowed Our Lady to appear to these seers. GOD is the Supreme Being and with his SON and THE HOLT SPIRIT by her side they have not just allowed these seers to see and hear messages of peace, comfort, relief from pain and strife to the masses. The Bishops do have the authority of Rome to allow them to decree what is right or wrong. I do not think that the Bishop of Mostar or Birmingham should prevent the visiting priests to conduct HOLY MASSES at sites where the Visionaries either live or visit. There has to be recognition by all Bishops that modern day Apostles with newly stated messages are for real and that the last Apostle could not have been the last one who prayed with CHRIST and who died as the last of The Twelve. To put it bluntly; I have personally "seen" certain things in the elevated host that I have not questioned as real images of CHRIST, MARY, JOSEPH, and some Saints which resulted from messages to seers.

Published by: peter
boston ma usa 03/28/2009 09:18 PM EST

Thank you so much.I'm very proud to be a Roman Catholic

ADD A COMMENT (Your e-mail will NOT be published):


NAME:
CITY/STATE/COUNTRY:
EMAIL:
COMMENT:

PLEASE ENTER THE SECURITY CODE DISPLAYED ABOVE:
Chars:

* Thanks for your comments. The number of messages that can be online is limited. Length should not exceed 1500 characters. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages.

ADVERTISING
CNA does not necessarily endorse these advertisers. Please proceed with discretion. If you feel that a website announced has inappropriate or offensive content, please send it by e-mail to catholicna@catholicna.com