Fort Worth, Texas, Aug 12, 2019 / 10:30 am
The Bishop of Fort Worth, Texas, has not authenticated alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary that are said to have taken place in the diocese, according to a statement released last week.
"Recent claims made on websites and in social media have indicated that alleged apparitions and messages of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under a title of 'Mystical Rose--Our Lady of Argyle,' have been authenticated by Bishop Michael Olson and the Diocese of Fort Worth. This is not true," the Aug. 8 statement said.
"These claims of apparitions and messages are not verified or endorsed by the Church, and in no way are claims true that the Mystical Rose is a ministry of the Diocese of Fort Worth or of St. Mark Parish."
According to a website launched last month, the Blessed Virgin Mary began appearing in May 2017 to a "visionary." The first such apparition was reportedly in Arkansas, and subsequent appearances allegedly took place at St. Mark Catholic Church in Argyle, Texas.