Two remarkable books on the apparitions of Jesus and Mary

By Dr. Jeff Mirus ( bio - articles - email ) | Nov 17, 2025

I’m a stickler for spiritual caution, so let me begin with a caution here. If you are a person who is too easily sidetracked by the spiritual glitter of private revelations—that is, if you find yourself tempted to revel in what appears to be the immediacy of even legitimate private revelations at the expense of the daily and spiritually muscular work of conforming your life to Christ in accordance with the public Divine Revelation entrusted to the Church alone, then you should not read this review.

But if you find that some knowledge of reasonably well-attested private revelations strengthens your faith and commitment to the public and universal mission of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in and through the Church He founded, then this review of two “coffee table” books on the apparitions of Jesus and Mary down through the centuries might well fire your piety or the piety of someone you love. I am referring to two new large and glossy titles published this year by Sophia Institute Press:

• Wincenty Laszewski, The World of Jesus’ Apparitions. 425pp. Hardcover $34.99; eBook $9.99.
• Wincenty Laszewski, The World of Marian Apparitions. 416pp. Hardcover $39.95; eBook $9.99.

The English edition of The World of Jesus’ Apparitions is hot off the press, though The World of Marian Apparitions has been out in English for some months now. But perhaps it is best to begin by identifying the author, Wincenty Laszewski. According to his brief biography on Amazon:

Wincenty Laszewski is a Polish theologian, doctor of dogmatic theology, popular author of many books devoted to Our Lady, especially Marian apparitions. In his publications, he deals mainly with the history of Marian devotion in Europe and with apparitions taking place in various places around the world. He looks for connections between supernatural manifestations and contemporary history. For this reason, he is also interested in the phenomenon of Eucharistic miracles and their resonance in contemporary societies.

As demonstrated by the two pictures of pages provided here, one from each book, these two titles from Sophia are indeed large and glossy “coffee table books”, a pleasure for the reader to look through while delving into the background and details for each of the included private revelations—which I can only summarize here.

Jesus’ Apparitions

The World of Jesus’ Apparitions opens with nine revelations that are mostly Scriptural, beginning with the hinted revelation of the Incarnation to the angels which led to the great war in heaven between those who could accept the incarnation of God the Son and those who could not, and culminating in Christ’s descent into Hell and visible Resurrection from the dead. These are explored in the first 128 pages as an extended prelude to the purely private revelations which occupy the work as a whole. The (largely) Scriptural chapters cover the initial revelation to the angels; the announcement of the Nativity; the epiphany to the shepherds; the glimpses of Christ as more than a man throughout his life on earth; the (non-Scriptural) manifestations to Abgar V the Black and to Veronica while Our Lord was still alive; the dramatic revelation on Mt. Tabor to Peter, James and John; the sign of the Eucharist (which includes references not only to the apostles but to the Elder-Hermit in the 5th century and Marco Lopez in 1649); the “Christophany” in Sheol (descent into hell); and of course the immediate post-Resurrection appearances themselves.

After the Ascension there is a paucity of well-attested appearances of Christ which have been recorded and passed on to us, so Laszewski jumps forward to the apparitions to Margaret Mary Alacoque and Veronica Giuliani in the seventeenth century. The nineteen chapters in this second and larger section of the book cover:

1. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1673)
2. Veronica Giuliani (1663)
3. John Bosco (1824)
4. Wanda Malczewska (1828)
5. Mary of St. Peter (1844)
6. Maria Concepcion “Conchita” (1865)
7. Francesco Forgione (1875)
8. Gemma Galgani (1887)
9. Leopold Mandić (1887)
10. Maria Piernina de Micheli (1897)
11. Leonia Nastal (1903)
12. Rozalia Celak (1907)
13. Faustina Kowalska (1924)
14. Lucia de Jesus Rosa Dos Santos (1925)
15. Marthe Robin (1926)
16. Alexandrina da Costa (1933)
17. Maria Teresa Carlono (1952)
18. Alicia Lenczewska (1985)
19. Jesus in Dreams (Many People who Converted from Islam)

The book concludes with the final Scriptural revelation in “The Parousia” (appropriately subtitled as the appearance of Christ to “All Humanity, the Final Moment of History”).

Note that Wincenty Laszewski is very careful to document the degree of credibility each of the alleged (non-Scriptural) apparitions possesses. A series of iconic “stamps” at the beginning of each of the chapters indicates the types of apparent approbation each selected apparition possesses. In addition to the Scriptural or non-Scriptural classification, the following information is keyed as applicable to each one: Quoted by popes; viewed favorably by the bishop of the place; included in the Tradition of the Church; and/or accepted through the sensus fidelium. In addition it is noted whether the visionary was a diocesan priest; a consecrated person; a lay person; a visionary recognized as a saint, blessed, venerable or servant of God; also whether there is veneration at the place of the apparitions; or miracles and graces at the place of the apparitions; and whether we have writings from the visionary that can be examined.

Marian Apparitions

For The World of Marian Apparitions, the approbation key is a bit different. The chapter for each apparition is stamped with icons representing (as applicable) the following categories: An apparition recognized by the Vatican; a visionary recognized as a saint, blessed, venerable, or servant of God; an apparition site visited by or given special privileges by a pope; an apparition recognized by the local bishop; an imprimatur or nihil obstat granted to the texts of the revelations; the devotion officially recognized at the apparition site; miracles at the apparition site; an apparition recognized by the Coptic Church; an apparition accepted by the belief of pilgrims. In exploring claimed apparitions, it is always important to understand the sort of status they have in the mind of the Church and the ongoing veneration of the faithful over time.

It will be helpful to readers, I think, to present the entire list of Marian apparitions that are covered in this book. Again, there is a strong “recency bias” (based in part on the availability of accurate information). The included apparitions are those between 1884 and 2011 that are widely believed to be genuine. There are 48 of them, presented in chronological order:

1. Rome 1884: A Vision of the Church’s Future
2. San Giovanni Rotonda 1911: Padre Pio’s Laughing Madonna
3. Aljustrel 1913: Little Lucia’s Madonna
4. Fatima 1917: The Message of Fatima
5. Basel 1917: A Mystical Wound
6. Radzymin 1920: The Anti-Bolshevik Mother of God
7. Fatima 1921: Mother of Obedience
8. Fatima 1921: The Seventh Fatima Apparition
9. Pontevedra 1923: The Contemplative Mother of God
10. Tul Spain 1929: Patroness of Russia’s Conversion
11. Lagiewniki, Vilnius, and Plock 1930’s: Intercessor for Mercy
12. Beauraing 1932: Madonna with the Golden Heart
13. Banneux 1933: Our Lady of the Poor
14. Heede 1937: Queen of the Poor Souls in Purgatory
15. Siekierki 1943: Holy Mother, Teacher of Youth
16. Balazar 1944-1955: Mother of Light
17. Ghiaie di Bonate 1911: Queen of Families
18. Turza Slaska 1945: Sorrowful Mother of the Battlefield
19. L’Ile Bouchard 1947: The Mother of the Annunciation
20. Tre Fontane 1947: Virgin of Revelation
21. Montichiari 1947: Mystical Rose
22. Lipa 1948: Mediatrix of All Graces
23. Warsaw 1948: Dispenser of Divine Omnipotence
24. Ngome 1955: Mary, Tabernacle of the Most High
25. Rome City 1956-1959: Our Lady of America
26. Erd 1961-1981: Flame of the Immaculate Heart
27. Zeitoun 1968: Silent Lady
28. Fatima 1972: The Apocalyptic Heart of Mary
29. Akita 1973: Apocalyptic Madonna
30. Betania 1976: Mother of Peace and Unity
31. Deir El-Ahmar 1976: Our Lady of Lebanon
32. Cuapa 1980: Mother of Sinners
33. Medjugorje 1981: Queen of Peace
34. Kibeho 1981: Mother of the Word
35. San Nicolas 1983-1990: Our Lady of the Rosary
36. Asdee, Ireland 1985: Madonnas in Motion
37. Manila 1986: The Lady Who Commands Soldiers
38. Manila 1986: The Immaculate Heart of the Queen of Peace
39. Yagma and Louda 1986: Lady of Assumption, Mother of Peace
40. Hrushiv 1987: Madonna of Kiev
41. United States 1987: Harbinger of Change
42. Kurešček 1989-1999: Queen of Peace
43. Litmanova 1990-1995: The Immaculate Purity
44. Aokpe 1992: Mediatrix of All Graces
45. Ireland 2003: A Beacon for Our Times
46. Mexico City 2007: A Strange Light
47. Warraq 2009: Royal Virgin of Giza
48. Trevignano Romano 2014: Apocalyptic Protector

Conclusion

It is important to note that no Catholic is obliged to accept the veracity of any of these claimed apparitions of Our Lady, nor of the non-Biblical apparitions of Our Lord. At the same time, it seems reasonable to hold that at least a significant number of those included in these books are genuine, and their messages edifying. Clearly, in any case, Wincenty Laszewski has chosen, from a great many contenders, those that he himself believes are credible. Many will find both of these books to be not only fascinating but a help in strengthening their own trust in Our Lord and Our Lady’s constant desire to have each of us with them for all eternity in Heaven. In this light (and only in this light) either or both of these books could make a highly treasured gift.