> While Rome remains clear that the Church never affirms Catholics must believe in supernatural apparitions, many want it to do just that and conversely would find it hard to accept any official denial.
I am glad that the new norms cover the perplexing situation that necessarily would exist when, hypothetically speaking, nothing supernatu…
> While Rome remains clear that the Church never affirms Catholics must believe in supernatural apparitions, many want it to do just that and conversely would find it hard to accept any official denial.
I am glad that the new norms cover the perplexing situation that necessarily would exist when, hypothetically speaking, nothing supernatural has originally occurred at a place *and yet* people descend upon that place asking our Blessed Mother for help and, like a good mother, she obtains for them supernatural graces (because that is what you *do* for someone who goes on a pilgrimage with the best of intentions... what are you going to do, tell them "Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle!"?), which is self-reinforcing because other prospective pilgrims see the graces received by these pilgrims. I think we could all ask our mama on behalf of ourselves (primarily) and the entire Church (secondarily) for an increase in humility, obedience, and detachment from our own preferences, but if these seem like unappealing things to ask for (they don't sound very fun to me ALTHOUGH THEY ARE), we could instead ask to be set on fire (figuratively) with an overwhelming love of God.
You make a very good point about Our Blessed Mother obtaining graces. A vision may be as phoney as a three dollar note, but God may bring good out of it. I refer to my two other comments here on Marpingen, which was once the Medjugorje of its day. The wall beside the small chapel is covered with devotional plaques and thanks for favours received. The prayers of the faithful are honest and the Divine Response may be genuine.
As I found on my visit, Marpingen has a long way to go before it justifies its ludicrous claim to be the "German Lourdes". So it is unlikely to lead many astray. In contrast, Medj is an out of control monster. It is obviously too big and making too much money to be suppressed, unless the Vatican is willing to risk massive dissent and perhaps another schism, as per the nuns in Spain on whom the Pillar recently reported.
> While Rome remains clear that the Church never affirms Catholics must believe in supernatural apparitions, many want it to do just that and conversely would find it hard to accept any official denial.
I am glad that the new norms cover the perplexing situation that necessarily would exist when, hypothetically speaking, nothing supernatural has originally occurred at a place *and yet* people descend upon that place asking our Blessed Mother for help and, like a good mother, she obtains for them supernatural graces (because that is what you *do* for someone who goes on a pilgrimage with the best of intentions... what are you going to do, tell them "Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle!"?), which is self-reinforcing because other prospective pilgrims see the graces received by these pilgrims. I think we could all ask our mama on behalf of ourselves (primarily) and the entire Church (secondarily) for an increase in humility, obedience, and detachment from our own preferences, but if these seem like unappealing things to ask for (they don't sound very fun to me ALTHOUGH THEY ARE), we could instead ask to be set on fire (figuratively) with an overwhelming love of God.
Bridget,
You make a very good point about Our Blessed Mother obtaining graces. A vision may be as phoney as a three dollar note, but God may bring good out of it. I refer to my two other comments here on Marpingen, which was once the Medjugorje of its day. The wall beside the small chapel is covered with devotional plaques and thanks for favours received. The prayers of the faithful are honest and the Divine Response may be genuine.
As I found on my visit, Marpingen has a long way to go before it justifies its ludicrous claim to be the "German Lourdes". So it is unlikely to lead many astray. In contrast, Medj is an out of control monster. It is obviously too big and making too much money to be suppressed, unless the Vatican is willing to risk massive dissent and perhaps another schism, as per the nuns in Spain on whom the Pillar recently reported.