Medjugorje's Impatient Detractors Help Create
Division. The Vatican patiently waits, but Medjugorje's
detractors have an itchy trigger finger.
"Private revelations require patience and discernment
before a complete assessment of them can occur. For example,
after the Blessed Virgin's appearance at Lourdes, there were
over 150 alleged Marian apparitions in the next five years
in Europe alone! None of these were ever authorized after
subsequent investigation and discernment. No one is bound
to accept anything contained in a private revelation."
(source).
Since the alleged apparitions began at Medjugorje in 1981,
there have been many critics. Extremely notably absent from
the critics list are some of the most important:
The Vatican
Specifically Pope John Paul II
The Scientific Community
THE VATICAN VIA JPII, CARDINAL RATZINGER & OTHER
CARDINALS
The Vatican position is, in a nutshell, "Let's wait
and see". This is actually a deliberate understatement
on my part as it is well-known that Pope John Paul II firmly
believes in the Medjugorje apparitions. In response to thanks
for what he did to free Poland from communism he has said,
"NO, NOT ME, BUT BY THE WORKS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN ACCORDING
TO HER AFFIRMATIONS AT FATIMA AND MEDJUGORJE." He also
said "MEDJUGORJE IS THE FULFILLMENT AND CONTINUATION
OF FATIMA." Pope John Paul II rarely made the effort
to restrain his enthusiasm for Medjugorje and his positive
views are clear for the whole world to see, such that no-one
can be mistaken. Click
here for a long list of sayings and actions from JPII,
Cardinal Ratzinger & other cardinals that clearly support
Medjugorje. No doubt, there are still some detractors who
will find something to say about them! But, we can be sure
that ANY detraction is purely mischief-making and it can be
firmly rejected as such.
I could end this essay right there. If it's good enough for
the Vatican to resist making an controversial premature comment,
let alone pass any firm judgment, it should be good enough
for every doubting Catholic to shut their mouth and wait.
In the meantime, the Vatican allows anybody to travel to Medjugorje
who wishes to, closely watching the fruits and making certain
that nothing goes against Church teachings.
For the 17th Anniversary of the apparitions, the Church just
gave a beautiful gift to Our Lady! The Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith sent the following letter to Bishop
Gilbert Aubry of Saint Denis clarifying its position on Medjugorje.
He received it on June 24th. On the 25th, he spread it to
the priests and communities of his diocese (circular # C003)
so that they can have the latest statement from Rome and,
if necessary, inform the faithful with full knowledge of the
facts.
CONGREGATIO
PRO DOCTRINA FIDEI
Pr. No 154/81-06419
Citta del Vaticano, Palazzo del S. Uffizio
May 26, 1998
To His Excellency Mons. Gilbert Aubry,
Bishop of Saint-Denis de la Reunion
Excellency:
In your letter of January 1, 1998, you submitted to this
Dicastery several questions about the position of the Holy
See and of the Bishop of Mostar in regard to the so called
apparitions of Medjugorje, private pilgrimages and the pastoral
care of the faithful who go there.
In regard to this matter, I think it is impossible to reply
to each of the questions posed by Your Excellency. The main
thing I would like to point out is that the Holy See does
not ordinarily take a position of its own regarding supposed
supernatural phenomena as a court of first instance. As for
the credibility of the "apparitions" in question,
this Dicastery respects what was decided by the bishops of
the former Yugoslavia in the Declaration of Zadar, April 10,
1991: "On the basis of the investigations so far, it
can not be affirmed that one is dealing with supernatural
apparitions and revelations." Since the division of Yugoslavia
into different independent nations it would now pertain to
the members of the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia-Hercegovina
to eventually reopen the examination of this case, and to
make any new pronouncements that might be called for.
What Bishop Peric said in his letter to the Secretary General
of "Famille Chretienne", declaring: "My conviction
and my position is not only 'non constat de supernaturalitate,'
but likewise, 'constat de non supernaturalitate' of the apparitions
or revelations in Medjugorje", should be considered the
expression of the personal conviction of the Bishop of Mostar
which he has the right to express as Ordinary of the place,
but which is and remains his personal opinion.
Finally, as regards pilgrimages to Medjugorje, which are
conducted privately, this Congregation points out that they
are permitted on condition that they are not regarded as an
authentification of events still taking place and which still
call for an examination by the Church.
I hope that I have replied satisfactorily at least to the
principal questions that you have presented to this Dicastery
and I beg Your Excellency to accept the expression of my devoted
sentiments.
Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone
(Secretary to the "Congregatio", presided over by
Cardinal Ratzinger)
The declarations of the Bishop of Mostar only reflect
his personal opinion. Consequently, they are not an official
and definitive judgement from the Church.
One is directed to the declaration of Zadar, which leaves
the door open to future investigations. In the meanwhile
private pilgrimages with pastoral accompaniment for the
faithful are permitted.
A new commission could eventually be named.
In the meanwhile, all Catholics may go as pilgrims to
Medjugorje.
QUOTE FROM THE COMMITTEE OF BISHOPS
"We bishops, after a three-year-long commission study
accept Medjugorje as a holy place, as a shrine. This means
that we have nothing against it if someone venerates the Mother
of God in a manner also in agreement with the teaching and
belief of the Church. . .Therefore, we are leaving that to
further study. The Church does not hurry." (Glas Koncila,
August 15, 1993).
SISTER LUCIA OF FATIMA ON MEDJUGORJE
Up until her death, Sr. Lucia continued to speak with Our
Lady and reported that the Blessed Mother often spoke to about
her work in Medjugorje. This was reported by Sr. Lucia's nephew,
Fr. Salinho, a Salesian priest. The source for this information
is the very trustworthy Sr. Emmanuel in her book, 'Medjugorje:
the 90's', Pub.1997, page 71.
THE FRANCISCANS
Detractors have tried to paint the local Franciscans as
the "bad guys", some correspondents insinuating
that co-ercion and brainwashing tactics have been used to
control the visionaries. The truth is that the parish pastor
and other priests at first doubted the authenticity of the
apparitions, leading one of the seers, Ivanka, to remark:
“The only ones who do not believe us, are the priests
and the police!”
DIABOLICAL OR "OF GOD"
The sticking point for Medjugorje's validation by the Church
is that there is a chance (small chance though it is) that
the apparitions could be diabolical. This is wise, as we know
from the Bible that these times are to be associated with,
among other things, false prophets. The sticking point does
not appear to be whether the apparitions themselves are a
hoax. The scientific community doesn't know what to do with
Medjugorje any more. They have studied the visionaries and
are, essentially, dumb-struck by what they have found. It
does not appear, from all scientific accounts, that the visionaries
are faking their apparitions. The question is "WHAT are
they seeing?" not "IF they are seeing". The
Catholic Church's arm's length stance on Medjugorje is nothing
strange. As well as Medjugorje, there are other apparitions
still under review with no firm pronouncement as yet. It can
be a long process. (Click
here for an overview of how the Catholic Church studies and
approves Marian apparitions)
PAVAO ZANIC, BISHOP OF MOSTAR
Chief antagonist had been the late Bishop of Mostar, Pavao
Zanic, and lately his successor Ratco Peric. Bishop Zanic
appeared to be on a crusade all of his own and speculation
is that his motives relate to a long-running battle with the
Franciscans over directorship of parishes in the region. Cardinal
Ratzinger discarded the conclusions of the Zanic Commission
and withdrew Bishop Zanic's right to pass official judgement
on Medjugorje's authenticity, a responsibility which Cardinal
Ratzinger then passed to the Bishops' Conference of Yugoslavia,
which was duly appointed to study the matter.
In 1987 the Vatican officially proclaimed Medjugorje a "shrine
of worship" and authorised the Medjugorje Franciscans
to minister to the spiritual needs of the pilgrims as well
as entrusting to spiritual directors accompanying pilgrims
the task of serving the sacramental obligations of the faithful
while away from their own home parishes. The Yugoslav Commission
of Bishops openly favored Medjugorje. On April 29, 1990 the
National Catholic Register quoted Pope John Paul II as having
told Bishop Murilo Krieger of Santa Caterina, Brazil: "Medjugorje
is a great center of spirituality."
Shortly therafter, the Catholic News Service published a
scathing article dramatising the report of the Yugoslavian
Bishops Conference which stated that they could not confirm
that the Medjugorje apparitions were of a supernatural nature
(supernatural meaning "of God"). Diocesan papers
across the country had headlines proclaiming: "Medjugorje
Apparitions Not Supernatural", negatively influencing
many Catholics and believers and helping to begin the completely
unnecessary gun-jumping wedge-driving process that has resulted
in the polarisation of Catholics who believe from those who
do not, evident today. Yet, on December 23, 1990 Cardinal
Kuharic, the highest prelate of the Yugoslav Commission, stated
implicitly that "the Bishops' Conference was taking a
positive stance towards the events in Medjugorje." The
President of the Yugoslav Bishops Commission, Archbishop Frane
Franic, in an interview in September 1991, cited Paul's words
of 1 Thessalonians 5: 19-22, i.e. that, following Paul's call,
"It is the duty of the Church Authority as St. Paul says
not to suffocate the spirit in the Church of Love but to discern
the spirits". Unfortunately, too often many bishops and
priests put it aside. They should examine it for whatever
is good and coming from the Holy Spirit, like Medjugorje."
In May 1987, the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference nominated Bishop
Frajo Comarica, Auxiliary Bishop of Banja Luka, ex-professor
of theology at Sarajevo University, and youngest bishop in
the Yugoslav episcopate, as President of the Medjugorje Inquiry
Commission. By mid-1988 the Commission was reported to have
terminated its work with a positive judgment on the apparitions.
However, not wishing to directly contradict Bishop Zanic,
the group continued its proceedings at a snail's pace, hoping
that the pilgrimages would diminish and disappear. After a
long and exhausting "tug-of-war" within the episcopate,
the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference, in the 1990 (November 27-28)
extraordinary assembly in Zagreb, approved the following Declaration:
From the very beginning, the Bishops have been following
events in Medjugorje through reports by the local Bishop,
the local diocesan Commission, and the Yugoslav Bishops'
Commission on Medjugorje. On the basis of research conducted
until now, we cannot affirm that there have been supernatural
apparitions or revelations.
Nonetheless, the continuing gatherings of faithful, inspired
by religious motives and arriving from various parts of
the world, necessitate the Bishops' constant attention and
concern. For that reason. our Bishops' Conference, in a
spirit of ecclesial communion, is willing to assist the
resident Bishop in organizing pastoral activities at Medjugorje,
in order to promote a correct liturgical and pastoral life
in the parish, and thus avoid events or teachings which
may not conform to the spirit of the Church.
To many, this Declaration appeared ambiguous. Although the
supernatural essence of the apparitions is not affirmed, there
is recognition of the resulting "cult," to be "managed"
by the resident Bishop. On this subject, ex-Archbishop of
Split Frane Franic stated in an interview with the Italian
daily {Corriere della Sera}, on January 15, 1991, that only
the ferocious opposition of Bishop Zanic, who refused to budge
from his own verdict, had impeded a positive decision on the
Medjugorje apparitions: "The bishops do not wish to humiliate
Monsignor, Zanic," Franic stated, "And when it was
brought to his attention that his opposition was unfounded,
he began to cry and shout, and the bishops finally stopped
arguing."
Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, Archbishop of Zagreb and President
of the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference, in an interview with
Croatian public television on December 23, 1990, said that
the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference, including himself, "has
a positive opinion of Medjugorje events."
How can we explain Bishop Zanic's behavior? Most conclusions
on the subject seem to focus on the long-standing conflicts
between the Franciscan and secular clergy in the Mostar region.
Bishop Zanic may have had another reason to change his stance
on the apparitions. The following quote from www.ourmedjugorje.com.
In the beginning, the Communist atheist state in Yugoslavia
noted that the Bishop’s positive approval of the apparitions
stood in contrast to the official state attitude toward
the events which they suspected were counter-revolutionary.
(This was at a time when it was dangerous to utter even
a word in favor of Medjugorje.) Consequently, they summoned
the Bishop to Sarajevo and threatened to imprison him unless
he stopped speaking in favor of the apparitions. They threatened
Father Jozo as well, but he continued to act according to
his convictions. Bishop Zanic called Father Jozo and said
to him, “I am not ready to go to prison for Medjugorje.”
The Communists arrested Father Jozo along with Father Ferdo
Vlasic and Father Jozo Krizic for their beliefs in the visionaries.
Because of his fears, Bishop Zanic said nothing at all publicly
at first after his meeting with the authorities. After that,
he began to speak against Medjugorje. Source
MIRACLES
Miracles in Medjugorje happen so frequently that it's tempting
to call them "mundane" and to lose our awe of them.
One of the most commonly experienced and talked-about miracles
is the miracle of the sun. Many thousands have witnessed the
sun spinning, gyrating, strobing, changing colours and being
viewable with the naked eye for long periods without harm.
My own mother has witnessed the sun miracle at Medjugorje.
One should ask the question: Does Satan have command over
nature and the elements that God created?
Satan, a defeated “cast away” angel, is super-human
but not Divine having no more power than God ultimately allows
(2 Thessalonians 2.6-11). If Satan could impact the weather,
it would only be by God's permission, though restrained.
God controls the weather (Exodus 9:29; Psalms 135:6-7;
Jeremiah 10:13).
God controls the skies (Psalms 77:16-19).
God controls the wind (Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25).
God sustains the universe (Jeremiah 51:15-16).
God is Light and controls the lesser light (Genesis 1.6,
Psalm 36.9).
God has power over the clouds (Exodus 20.21).
God has power over lightning and Satan (Luke 10:18).
The political machinations and cults of personality have
distracted people to a certain extent from what is really
the crux of the matter - whether the apparitions themselves
are a hoax. The following is a summary of the main findings
of science, concerning the visions themselves, to date.
The reported apparitions in Medjugorje are the first apparitions
in history to be throughly investigated by science. Professor
Henri Joyeaux headed a team from the University of Montpellier,
France. Dr. Frigerio and colleagues from Italy did further
investigation. The regularity of the apparitions has made
for consistent and extremely reliable findings:
1) Five alleged visionaries tested were found to simultaneously
look at precisely the same spot (even though no reference
point was visible) within one-fifth of a second of each other
when the Blessed Virgin Mary allegedly appears. Such synchronization
can only be explained by some external "object"
holding their gaze -- but one which those around them could
not see.
2) During the same one-fifth of a second, there are simultaneous
kneeling and the cessation of eye movements. There is no eye
movement during the entire apparition (from 3 to 45 minutes).
There is also the simultaneous raising of their heads and
gazing upwards while remaining fixated on a spot moving upwards
when the apparition is finishing.
3) Two of the alleged visionaries do not blink at all during
the apparition. The eyeball normally dries when there is no
regular blinking (15-20 times a minute) to moisten the cornea,
but lacrimal secretion does not seem necessary during the
apparition. The other alleged visionaries blink about half
the normal rate. None of them blinks in response to touching
the eye during the apparition (cornea sensitivity to varying
pressures is completely absent), although they blink normally
at other times.
4) There is no reaction to pain during the apparition. When
touched with an algometer, which causes a cutaneous lesion
or skin burn, there was complete absence of sensitivity. The
alleged visionaries react normally to pain at other times.
5) The interesting results of a hearing test before and during
an apparition showed normal hearing, but during the apparition,
an input of ninety decibels (equivalent to a loud explosion)
showed NO reaction. Auditory evoked potential measurement
(electrical activity of the ear) indicates normal ear activity
with no transmission to the inner ear during the apparition.
It is a measurable inhibition of hearing that is involuntary
and inexplicable physiologically.
6) Electroencephalographic (EEG) tests confirm that the alleged
visionaries' brain functioning is normal and healthy. EEG
tests rule out the possibility of epilepsy or psychotic hallucinations.
The alleged visionaries are not asleep or dreaming either.
Hysterical neurotic reaction or pathological ecstasy is also
ruled out by the EEG testing. What EEG testing showed was
that before the apparition, the brain waves are predominantly
beta rhythm interspersed by alpha rhythm (normal conscious
attentiveness). At the start of the apparition, the beta rhythm
remains for a short time and then is replaced by an almost
uninterrupted alpha rhythm. Alpha rhythm is most often observed
during relaxation, in a state of expectation, or engaged in
meditation. It also usually requires practice to achieve such
a diffuse response. Because most of the brain is devoted to
visual processing, it is noteworthy that the alpha rhythm
over the entire cranium was exhibited while the alleged visionaries
had their eyes wide open throughout the apparition. Closed
eyes would be expected with alph rhythm because visual stimulation
usually produces interference with alpha rhythm.
7) To test visual stimulation further, a 1000 watt light
bulb was placed in front of the eyes of the alleged visionaries
during the apparition. Not only is a 1000 watt light bulb
usually painful to the eye but also it would normally cause
increased blinking and influence alpha rhythm. There was no
blinking movement of the eyelids to the 1000 watt stimulus.
There was an interesting pupillary response. The pupil contracted
as one would expect in bright light but there was no change
in alpha rhythm to the 1000 watt light. This is scientifically
inexplicable and never seen before. FOR THE PUPIL TO RESPOND,
THE BRAIN MUST REGISTER THE LIGHT BUT NO BRAIN WAVE CHANGE
TOOK PLACE. Additionally, such intense stimulation normally
causes a significant cortical response, but none occurred
during the apparition period.
8) During the apparition period, another scientifically inexplicable
event takes place. The alleged visionaries voices stop during
the time that they are having the vision. Even though all
the muscles involved in speech continue (all mouth, jaw and
throat muscles), the larynx (voice box) shuts off. This is
physically impossible. The laryngeal function cannot be physically
isolated from the rest of the muscles of speech. The larynx
ceases to emit sound during the apparition -- except for one
exception. In unison, during the apparition the alleged visionaries
will be heard simultaneously praying, "Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name..." When asked, they report Mary
is leading them in the Lord's Prayer.
9) In summary, the unique aspects of the results of the scientific
investigations point to the conclusion that nothing in the
physical realm is allowed to interfere with the apparition
experience. Scientific experts have defined the phenomena
" as a state of active, intense prayer, partially disconnected
from the external world, a state of contemplation with a separate
person whom they alone can see, hear, and touch."
The current attitude of the church after fourteen years of
scrutiny is a kind of provisional approval. Both the Pope
and the former Bishops are treating and nurturing Medjugorje
as a legitimate place of pilgrimage. Our Holy Father, Pope
John Paul II strongly believes in the fruits of Medjugorje.
In response to thanks for what he did to free Poland from
communism he has said, "NO, NOT ME, BUT BY THE WORKS
OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN ACCORDING TO HER AFFIRMATIONS AT FATIMA
AND MEDJUGORJE." He also said "MEDJUGORJE IS THE
FULFILLMENT AND CONTINUATION OF FATIMA." American Church
leaders would do well to offer the same kind of provisional
approval and pastoral assistance to those experiencing conversion
through Medjugorje.
Detractors love to pick on Mary's purported statement: "Tell
the priests and everyone else that you have created division
on earth. The Muslims and the Orthodox and the Catholics are
all the same to me and my son. You are all my children."
What the detractors don't point out clearly enough is HOW
and WHERE this statement CLEARLY conflicts with Catholic belief.
Can it not be true that we are all God's children and equal
before Him, regardless of religion. Doesn't God have sufficient
justice and wisdom to realise that religion doesn't hide one
from sin and that if a religion-less person does good all
his life, should he not be rewarded in place of a Catholic
who does evil all his life? Look at how Jesus rejected the
beliefs of the time, with his main target being the Pharisees.
He rejected them, not because their religion, which was of
course directly from God Himself. He rejected them because
of their HEARTS. This is the point Mary was making, but it
became cannon fodder for detractors.
DISOBEDIENCE, LIES AND SEXUAL SCANDALS
Unfortunately, these have been a part of the very fabric
of the Catholic Church since the beginning. But this doesn't
mean that the Catholic Church should be abandoned or doubts
raised as to the divine origins of the Catholic Church, though
Satan would love this to be the result and certain scandal-loving
detractors are helping his cause.
Update: Please read Franciscans
Under Fire to see the almost criminal activity of certain
media organisations, in particular in relation to sexual allegations
against Medjugorje Franciscans.
Even if any of it is true regarding Medjugorje, these are
matters for the Church to deal with on a personal level, not
forgetting that final judgement belongs to God and certainly
none of us should have any judgement upon it. The visionaries
and priests are human like everybody else. And it shouldn't
surprise anyone that Satan would wish to specifically target
those at the front line with all manner of scandal and temptation.
But, notice that the visions and their fruits have gone on
and that these scandalous things have fallen by the wayside.
Nothing stops the truth marching on, at least nothing Satan
can come up with.
Detractors like to call this the bad fruit of Medjugorje
and symbolically attempt to blot out 100,000 square metres
of good fruit with one can of black paint that Satan managed
to come up with. Yes, Satan is very tricky indeed. But we
should not be deceived into tarring the validity of Medjugorje
with Satan's brush. If not by the grace and mercy of God,
it will be me or you who is charged with disobedience, lying
or involvment in some sexual scandal tomorrow. If anything
it shows how even the purest can be tempted and, as a result,
how very much we are in need of God's mercy. It also illustrates
that God does not show favouritism by granting instant sainthood
to these visionaries and priests.
THE FRUITS OF MEDJUGORJE
"BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM"
When we speak of the fruits Medjugorje bears for the Church,
even critics are silent. Today pilgrims - both Christian and
non-Christian - arrive at Medjugorje from every corner of
the world. With more than 16 million visitors, the site has
become the scene of an exceptional spiritual revival. More
confessions are heard in Medjugorje than in any other parish
of the entire world; more than 150 confessors work without
interruption here every day. In the year 1990 (before the
outbreak of civil war), 1,900,000 people took Communion (more
than at Fatima); 30,000 priests and bishops have visited the
site. Many conversions are reported, even among those who
come out of curiosity, or simply to accompany friends or relatives.
In the USA 600 Medjugorje prayer groups have been formed;
in Austria 500; and several hundred in Italy.
Source: http://www.queenofpeace.ca/Medjugorje_new_signs.htm
As one of the books, The Fruits of Medjugorje, by Elizabeth
Ficocelli, relates, "it is claimed that more confessions
are heard at St. James Church in Medjugorje than in any parish
in the world, keeping more than 150 confessors busy every
day. It is reported that more than 30,000 priests and bishops
have visited the Croatian village. In 1990, at the peak of
political unrest and just prior to the outbreak of civil war,
1.9 million people received Communion in Medjugorje, surpassing
even the popular shrine at Fatima."
SUMMARY
It is quite clear from scientific reports that a genuine
unexplained apparition is definitely occuring. The only question
in the minds of the people who matter is whether the apparitions
are of the Virgin Mary herself and, by inference, of God,
or whether these are diabolical apparitions.
A reasonable person could draw the conclusion that, far from
the apparitions themselves being diabolical, this cap fits
squarely on the heads of those who pass negative judgment
a tad too hastily and in a rather too fanatical and offensive
manner. I refer especially to correspondents of Unity Publishing
(please read hear for more
on Unity Publishing) and others like them. Unity Publishing
have many misleading inaccuracies on their website including
that Medjugorje has been condemned by the Church. They are
of course referring to the Bishop of Mostar's condemnation,
of which I have written extensively above. Why does Unity
Publishing, whose very name and mission statement indicate
a desire to unify Christians, choose to use half-truths and
innuendo to split Christians apart even more? It is a crying
shame. Good catholics with good hearts, who are not being
told anything whatsoever that is contrary to the Catholic
Canon at Medjugorje, and with hearts full of warmth and desire
towards God, praying the rosary daily, going to confession
and the sacraments more than ever before, fasting and praying
for their unbelieving neighbours. These good Christians are
being nothing less than tormented by the activities of organisations
such as Unity Publishing, an organisation that has arrogantly
believed it can pass judgement ahead of the vatican, with
poor research and sensationalist tactics to boot. Yet, their
mission statement says that they use these reports to "dispel
the darkness", "break the spells" and free
them from "baffling deceptions". These are the very
things they are NOT doing and are actually doing the opposite.
Why? Because they don't have the patience to wait as the Vatican
is doing. Their itchy trigger fingers and love for sensationalism
and media for the sake of it has driven them. Something is
very wrong there. When one reads the aggressive language on
their websites, one can easily think they have stumbled upon
an atheist website.
The fruits of Medjugorje have been outstanding for the Catholic
Church. The fruits of those who debunk Medjugorje and in such
a presumptuous manner that even the Vatican itself would never
adopt, has been confusion and division, resulting in disillusionment
and anger among lovers of the Catholic Church. And where there
is such negativity weighing on the minds and hearts of Catholics,
prayer and good works must suffer. Surely, these very things
are what Satan is trying to achieve.
Mary has promised through the visionaries that God will leave
a permanent sign on Cross mountain ("Krizevac")
so that everyone will know the visions are authentic, i.e.
from God. The detractors complain that it has been too long
already and that we should have received this sign by now.
The visionaries themselves have purportedly asked the Blessed
Mother why she has been here so long. Mary reportedly smiled
and said something like "Are you tired of me already?".
The Blessed Mother also told the visionaries that this is
the final time she will appear on earth in this way. She has
also told the visionaries that the prayers and conversions
are helping her and that, because of this, God's heart has
essentially softened to the extent that visionary Mirjana
says that one of the evils that threatened the world, the
one contained in the seventh secret, has been averted thanks
to prayer and fasting. That is why the Blessed Virgin continues
to encourage prayer and fasting: “You have forgotten
that through prayer and fasting you can avert war and suspend
the laws of nature.”
It is clear to the faithful that Mary is pleading before
God and eliciting the prayers, sacrifices and other voluntary
support of the faithful in order to accomplish her goal of
saving mankind from the just anger of God. In the eyes of
people who have pondered these things, it is a case of "the
longer the Blessed Mother stays, the better!" But certain
factions, whatever their agenda might be, simply can't wait
and their impatience is making life hell for the Catholic
church and for all believers in the meatime. Catholics are
fighting Catholics, sounding reminiscent of the end-times
prohecies of "Brother against brother..."
HYPOCRISY
Padre Pio once said "HYPOCRISY IS THE GREATEST EVIL
OF OUR TIME. It exists in all levels of our society, in high
places and in low places."
We are all familiar with hypocrisy in Politics - in Education
- in the Courts - in Medicine - in Advertising - in Religion.
We see it constantly in the Media. TV Newspapers - and Magazines
as well as Radio and Theatre - all find it good stock in trade.
Few of them will pass up the use of half truths - prejudices
- slanted reporting - calumny - detraction - mythical argument
- distortion of facts - falsifications - pretense of virtue
while supporting vice - glorification of violence....if they
add to the saleability of their stocks in trade. These hypocritical
forms are found constantly in the media. So common are they
that they have been acceptable methods of selling ideas. They
are the reason for so many ethics standards appearing in govemment
and business.
Catholic websites engaging in hypocrisy and causing
or supporting detraction, as opposed to maintaining cool heads
and waiting for the truth to be revealed:
Unity
Publishing
In response to an email of mine inviting him to reflect
on what he was actually doing to the Catholic faithful via
his quite incredible writings, Rick Salbato wrote to me
saying:
"Sorry that you have not read all the Medjugorje
articles, could have been educational, but time
will see truth." (emphasis mine)
Not for the first time, I nearly choked reading something
from Rick. Everybody IS ACTUALLY WAITING, EXCEPT
RICK! I have read and responded to his main marathon
article of pure speculation, innuendo and bottom dredging
on this page. Rick
does not and cannot wait.
We don't need Rick or Sean or anyone else flicking their
dirt and maggots of division against us. God's truth WILL
BE KNOWN IN TIME.
Article by Paul Baylis. Published April 4, 2006. Last updated
May 4, 2006.
This article borrows material from other websites and press
materials and in some cases directly quotes these sources.
