Dear friends in Christ,

The other day when I was at the library I heard someone telling a catholic sister that the apparitions at Madjugorie was false and that the only true apparitions that are true are of Fatima and Lourdes ( which I believe to be true too ). Since I see so much publicity on so called miracles and so many who believe and pray, I really like to know the truth about Madjugorie.

Also if the following visionaries are true, i.e. John Leary, Lousie Tomkiel, Carol Ameche, Fr Stefano Gobbi, christina Gallagher, Sadie Jaramillo and Maria Esperanza. Can someone enlighten me please?

Thank You and God Bless, Ramanie.

-- Ramanie Weerasinghe (lilanw@yahoo.com), May 05, 2004

Answers

The Church does not classify reported apparitions as "true" or "false", as such. It designates some apparitions "approved", which is not a definitive statement that they are "true", but is at least an assurance that they involve nothing contrary to the faith, and Catholics thereby have official "permission" to accept them as genuine - or not to accept them - as they wish. Lourdes and Fatima are in this category, but they are not the only ones so designated. Medjugorge is not an approved apparition, which is not a definitive statement that it is false, but which should be taken as a sign that great care should be observed since the Church has definite reservations about giving its approval.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), May 05, 2004.

Dear Ramanie

That person in the libary had no right to say to the sister that the apparitions of Medjugorje are false becuase the church is still in the process on investigating the issue. It is ONLY for the church to decide whether these things come from God, not us. The only way to find out whether Medjugorje is true is to go there, like I did...

From what I know Maria Esperanza has the approval of her Bishop in Venezuela to pulish messages on the internet.

Regarding Christina Gallagher, the Archbishop of Tuam, Ireland concluded it is a matter of personal opinion whether one believes the revelations are true or not but her house of prayer has his approval to run. The same goes for the Bishop of Rochester, New York on his opinion on John Leary.

There is some controversy regarding Don Stefano Gobbi (date 2000) but the message was erronously interepreted by people who wished to pull him down. I think he is for real, but that's my opinion.

-- Andrew (andyhbk96@hotmail.com), May 06, 2004.

Andrew,

Do you know anything about the Garabandal visions and whether they are approved or not?

-- Andy S ("aszmere@earthlink.net"), May 06, 2004.

Andrew, what is this "John Leary" thing you're talking about?

-- Emily ('jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 06, 2004.

Medjugorie WAS condemned by its local bishop, and by his succesor. However, Church officials have said something equivalent to, 'not so fast'. It is currently under investigation. Until such time as the Church gives it an okay I am extremely reluctant to go with this one.

Going there is NOT the way to discover if it is true! Examine its claims and wait for the Church's opinion. (Though you can go if you like, just don't think that it is the way to determine if it is true.)

Garabandal is NOT TRUE. The evidence of this is enormous. It has set itself up for a fall anyway. It made a prediciton that there would only be four more Popes. JPII marks number 4. If there is a succesor to JPII, which of course is pretty certain, then we can know conclusively that Garabandal is utter hogwash (if you were still on the fence that is).

I don't know anything about the other ones mentioned.

The facts as I know them,

Dano

-- Dan Garon (boethius61@yahoo.com), May 06, 2004.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Thank you for all your views. Its much appreciated. Hope more information will be contributed.

God bless, Ramanie.

-- Ramanie Weerasinghe (lilanw@yahoo.com), May 06, 2004.

Somewhere in the Bible it says that 'you will know them by their fruits' and a lot of good stories (conversions, healings) come out of Medjugorie and I have even heard that the Pope said that he believes in Medjugorie -but I dont know where that's from.

If there is another pope after John Paul 2nd - Ive heard that he will be corrupt and then after some time or something there will be a good one again - In the end, We dont know these things though nor can we try to know. God can even change the course of events ! It all makes me think of the days of Noah - people were still getting married etc, Jesus says. We never know the hour nor the day etc.

There is a lot of talk that we are in the 'end times' now.

There are pictures of Father Gobbi and Pope John Paul 2 together and I think there is an Ok on Father Gobbi by the Church with the 'Marian movement of priests'.

May the good Lord Jesus and Our Lady help, deliver and protect us and our families !

The Holy Spirit helps us to discern - so we need to pray for discernment in these times and we need to pray for an increase in faith and trust in the Lord, who will save his people !! And lastly we have to pray for our Catholic Church, too

-- believing Anon. (dontsendanything@notarealaddress.com), May 07, 2004.

The official clairification on Garabandal can be found here:

International Garabandal website

-- Andrew (andyhbk96@hotmail.com), May 07, 2004.

There is nothing official about this website. It is maintained by a group who have decided they know better than the Church. It is a self-serving attempt to legitimize acts of defiance against the authority of the Church by reinterpreting the judgement of the Church to fit their own purposes.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), May 07, 2004.