Vatican directs faithful not to host Medjugorje 'seers'
November 06, 2013
The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has instructed the Catholic faithful not to participate in events in which the "seers" of Medjugorje promise apparitions of the Virgin Mary.
For years, the group of people who have reported visions of the Blessed Mother at Medjugorje have made public appearances in churches, announcing in advance that "apparitions" will take place. Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the prefect of the CDF, has called for an end to church sponsorships of these events.
In an October letter to the US bishops, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the apostolic nuncio in Washington, conveyed a message from Archbishop Müller, "that clerics and the faithful are not permitted to participate in meetings, conferences or public celebrations during which the credibility of such 'apparitions' would be taken for granted.”
In his message—which was addressed to Msgr. Ronny Jenkins, the general secretary of the US bishops' conference, to be distributed promptly to American hierarchy—Archbishop Vigano reminded the bishops that the CDF is currently investigating the reported apparitions at Medjugorje. Until the Vatican renders a final judgment, the CDF has asked for acceptance of a statement issued in 1991 by the bishops of what was then Yugoslavia, who said: "On the basis of the research that has been done, it is not possible to state that there were apparitions or supernatural revelations."
Although Archbishop Vigano's letter to the US bishops was not made public, the message had an immediate impact. Ivan Dragicevic, one of the alleged Medjugorje seers, had been scheduled to appear at two New England parishes in late October; both events were cancelled.
The strong disapproval of public appearances by the "seers" may indicate that the CDF anticipates that the final Vatican judgment on the authenticity of the Medjugorje apparitions will be negative.
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Further information:
- Medjugorje Bombshell (National Catholic Register)
- Rome Bans Apparitions in U.S. Churches (Medjugorje Today)
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Posted by: nix898049 -
Nov. 07, 2013 12:03 PM ET USA
In an approved apparition, at Fatima, Our Lady warned that Russia would continue to spread its lies unless we prayed. These 'seers' lived with the lies of Communism from birth so perverting the Faith may be the unsurprising result. Queen of Heaven, OPN.
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Posted by: Bveritas2322 -
Nov. 06, 2013 6:19 PM ET USA
Maybe I need to discuss it with my confessor, but I find it hard to be charitable towards Medj enthusiasts. What kind of "devotion" can be so oblivious to the idiotic statements attributed to the Mother of God by the seers, which have long been public knowledge.
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Posted by: New Sister -
Nov. 06, 2013 5:23 PM ET USA
The more I learn about this phenomenon, the more it gives me the creeps.
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Posted by: koinonia -
Nov. 06, 2013 12:58 PM ET USA
There have been indications for some time that this course of action must take place for the good of souls. In the decades of turmoil there have been many souls desperate for something to hold on to. Deleterious personalities, organizations, apparitions, reformers et al have enjoyed an untoward vitality resultant from this vacuum. If Catholic restoration is going to gain traction it will take place concurrently with the elimination of these harmful distractions.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Nov. 06, 2013 12:46 PM ET USA
Finally! For those of us who have been convinced for years that Medjugorje was a hoax from its inception, this is wonderful news. I am very happy to see that the ''seers'' have already started to see their profits decline; they've already duped too many good people with their nonsense. There is a message here for all of us: When a bishop speaks about something in his own diocese, listen to him! Two local bishops from the diocese where Medjugorje is located discouraged this show years ago.
