The alleged Marian apparitions in Medjugorje, Bosnia, could be recognized by the Vatican as early as this year, Archbishop Henryk Hoser of Warszawa-Praga, Poland, told the Catholic news agency KAI. He cannot imagine that the six alleged seers have lied for the past 36 years.
Since the very beginning of the apparitions in the 1980s the local bishops have declared them to be false and contradictory.
In February Pope Francis put Hoser in charge in order to study the "pastoral situation" in Medjugorje. Hoser concluded that the pastoral ministry in Medjugorje is consistent with the teaching of the Church. He even compares Medjugorie to Fatima, Lourdes, Lisieux or Czestochowa.
Latest Medjugorje Message, September 2, 2017 - Apparitions to Mirjana "Dear children, who can best speak to me of my Son's love and sorrow? I lived with Him, I endured with Him, living earthly life, I felt pain because I was a mother. My Son loved the thoughts and works of the Heavenly Father, the true God, and as He told me, he came to redeem you. I have hidden my pain with love. You, my children, have many questions, do not understand the pain, do not understand that through the love of God you must accept the pain and bear it. All people will try it to a lesser or greater degree, but faced with peace in the heart and in the state of grace there is hope. This is my Son, GOD, born of GOD. His words are seed of eternal life and sown in good souls bring much fruit. My Son has brought the pain because he has taken away your sins. Therefore, my children, apostles of my love, you who bear, know that your sorrow will become light and glory. My children, as you bear the pain, while you suffer the Heaven enters you, and you, to all those around you give a little heaven and hope. Thank you." Demonic screams at the apparition: www.youtube.com/watch
Medjugorje Message, August 25, 2017: "Dear children! Today I am calling you to be people of prayer. Pray until prayer becomes a joy for you and a meeting with the Most High. He will transform your hearts and you will become people of love and peace. Do not forget, little children, that Satan is strong and wants to draw you away from prayer. You, do not forget that prayer is the secret key of meeting with God. That is why I am with you to lead you. Do not give up on prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call. " www.medjugorje.ws/en/messages/ + www.medjugorje.ws/en/messages/3 >>>The woman they saw "is not the mother of Jesus," the Pope said Saturday aboard the papal plane on his return from a trip to Portugal, where he canonized two young shepherds who had visions of the Virgin 100 years ago. The Pope said an investigation under way by the Church had thrown up doubts regarding the Medjugorje apparitions. He said he preferred "'the Mother Madonna' or 'our Mother,' and not the 'Madonna chief of service,' for sending daily messages." The remarks are likely to make waves in Bosnia, where Catholics make up about 10 percent of the population and the religious tourism at Medjugorje brings money into the poor Balkan country. "These supposed apparitions don't have much value -- I'm giving my personal opinion,"... news.abs-cbn.com/…/pope-casts-doub…
>>>Another rumour is that the intention of the Vatican is to exempt Medjugorje from the Diocese of Mostar and to proclaim it as some kind of prelature, which would be governed directly by the Vatican. That would also, in its own way, be a recognition of Medjugorje as a shrine, without solving the issue of whether the visionaries of Medjugorje are right or not, but would bring financial flows in Medjugorje under the control of the Vatican. Medjugorje is not only a place of prayer and confession, but a mass-visited pilgrimage destination which turns over large amounts of money, for which it is not yet clear where they eventually end up. The conclusion is that the authenticity of the apparition is not so important for now. More important is that pilgrims in Medjugorje have religious and pastoral care, while the money being made may be put under a certain level of Vatican control...<<< www.total-croatia-news.com/medjugorje-news/18450-pope-to-r…
@Kevin , we shall never ever be able to convince each other (I personally do not want to...) Nevertheless it hurts if your personal view re Medjugorje shows no love to those who accept it as a personal revelation. I do not give up further commenting, but stop from my end since parties will not come closer in this topic whenever. God bless you.
@Kevin It is not proven and very questionable that the correct translation was "religions" - but rather "ethnic groups". The Queen of Peace said approximately that ´all ethnics are equal before God, but not everyone of them observes God´s laws in the same manner.´ The following page I found about what you called "misquote scripture": >>>History of Apparition Approval Throughout Christian history, there is a similar acceptance of apparitions and miracles when they occur, together with the reservation that such phenomenona are not a substitute for absolute faith in God. The Church preserves the centrality and final revelation given in the person, acts, and words of Jesus Christ, while at the same time honoring the special insights of the saints many of whom received messages through apparitions. The Church takes the middle course between an empiricism which would a priori reject the miraculous and a credulity which accepts anything extraordinary as being miraculous. ... Scripture-based Discouragement for Seeking Miracles Many visions and miracles are recorded in the Scriptures. After the Resurrection, Christ appeared to "Peter and then to the Twelve" (I Cor. 15, 5). Paul spoke of "visions and revelations" from the Lord (II Cor. 12, 1-6), and the deacon Stephen saw the heavens open and Christ at the right hand of God the Father (Acts 7, 55-56). Christ worked many miracles of healing, but, at the same time, he did not appear to encourage the search for miracles. "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given therm except the sign of Jonah" (Mt. 16:4). In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, Christ announces that no messenger from the next world will be sent to the brothers of the rich man to have them repent. . "If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead" (Lk. 17.31). Finally, we have Christ's words to Thomas after the apostle placed his hand on the side of the risen Lord. "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed" (Jn. 20:29). ... Commentary from Pope Benedict XVI In an interview at Fatima, Pope Benedict XVI (then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) spoke about visions and apparitions: "To all curious people, I would say I am certain that the Virgin does not engage in sensationalism; she does not act in order to instigate fear. She does not present apocalyptic visions, but guides people to her Son. And this is what is essential." He continued, "The Madonna did not appear to children, to the small, to the simple, to those unknown in the world in order to create a sensation." Mary's purpose "is, through these simple ones, to call the world back to simplicity, that is, to the essentials: conversion, prayer, and the sacraments." According to Pope Benedict XVI in Verbum Domini, apparitions or "private" revelation is "judged by its orientation to Christ himself. If it leads us away from Him, then it certainly does not come from the Holy Spirit, Who guides us more deeply into the Gospel and not away from it… Ecclesiastical approval of a private revelation essentially means that its message contains nothing contrary to faith and morals, it is licit to make it public, and the faithful are authorized to give it adhesion… A private revelation can have a prophetic character and can be a valuable aid for better understanding and living the Gospel at a certain time. Consequently, it should not be treated lightly. It is a help which is offered but its use is not obligatory." <<< www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/discernment/
@Kevin , you have no right to call it false apparition as NO official Church statement has been issued. Although you may refer to the statement of the former Yugoslav bishop (in Mostar) who declared it illegitimate, pls note that this case was then transferred to the Conference of Yugoslav Bishops (as the next competent Church authority, also terminated a couple of years ago) but nothing happened again. Vatican had simply no other option than to transfer it again to Vatican control. A special committee was set up investigatiing the case for years, then submitting their report to Pope Francis. So far only one restriction is valid regarding Medjugorje apparitions, no church officials (like bishops, priests, etc.) are allowed to arrange and lead pilgrimage to Medugorje. Nevertheless they are allowed to accompany groups of laymen and provide pastoral services and lead for them while in Medugorje. A private apparition can be accepted by any other private person until there is no church statement (primarily given by the local bishop) on it. You cannot argue against this stating you regard it a false one. It is your opinion but nothing else. Regarding Medjugorje the relevant Church authority is the pope.
There is much to say about the authority of the Church - or the Church hierarchy, about false teachings, and about a disobedient mentality. ...But Peter and the other Apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" Acts 5,29 Jesus, who knew the heart of Simon Peter, was not saying that he, the movable and unstable stone, would be the immovable rock upon which the Church would be built. Rather, it would be built upon Jesus, and it was this truth that Peter had affirmed what he said to Jesus: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!" Matthew 16,16. This is consistent with scripture elsewhere where the term ´rock´ is sometimes used in reference to God, but never of a man, a human being. Therefore, the authority lies only on Jesus Christ and on those who obey Him, because He is the chief cornerstone. "And who is a rock, except our God!" Psalms 18,31 "Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other rock? I know of none." Isaiah 44,8 "Jesus said to them: "Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone! This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruits...!" Matthew 21,42-44 "Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens of the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord." Ephesians 2,19-21 "For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3,11
No one should trust such hypocritical statements as long as the Vatican controls the messages and embargoes the visionaries to experience apparitions in foreign countries... although the apparitions of the Queen of Peace were directed to the parish of the Franciscans in Medjugorje and to the six visionaries. This envoy was just send to the people to get them distracted from the occupation of the apparition site by the Vatican, to control it. It´s a fact that the "liberals" - the politicians and their supporters - have ultimately turned to Fascism. The Vatican, or the secular liberal ´human rights´ bishops, have also extinguished the last Catholic states in Europe and have sworn an oath to keep the state constitution and the United Nations ´human rights´ - but they declare that they don´t deviate from the succession and the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Apostles (!?) - but unfortunately they do it, because their interreligious teachings are not Christ-centered. The messages in Medjugorje are Christ-centered, and vocations and conversions in Medjugorje are based on the Gospel and a life according God´s Laws, but this is not welcomed in the Vatican and in the secular Vatican II Council seminaries.
@Dr Stuart Reiss from logical viewpoints you are right. But why to think that everything Francis does is against the teaching of the Church? Francis does have a lot of positive things - now including the probable approval of the Medjugorje (alleged) apparitions. The other point to highlight is that Polish bishops belong not to the liberal but to the (in the good meaning of) orthodox line of the Catholic Church. Pls also note that those great little ventures can be found on all shrines already approved for apparitions (Lourdes, Fatima, etc.)