I love my Catholic faith so much that the idea of
knowing inside information attracted my attention. Since the Church
approved messages of Fatima and Lourdes impacted my life in a positive way it
seemed that more would be better. But false apparitions are fool’s
gold—all the glitter of heaven but underneath they are not from God.
After enthusiastically following messages that
eventually unraveled, I’ve come to realize that the Church ultimately provides
all that I need.
eventually unraveled, I’ve come to realize that the Church ultimately provides
all that I need.
Years ago, I followed several reported
apparitions and messages from reported inner locutions. I traveled to
Conyers, GA with my Dad and to Kettle River, MN with my family. Both
places drew crowds of faithful Catholics who love the Church. Since these
gatherings incite crowds to pray the rosary together, I reasoned that was no
way the devil would want that and therefore, it had to be from God.
apparitions and messages from reported inner locutions. I traveled to
Conyers, GA with my Dad and to Kettle River, MN with my family. Both
places drew crowds of faithful Catholics who love the Church. Since these
gatherings incite crowds to pray the rosary together, I reasoned that was no
way the devil would want that and therefore, it had to be from God.
It takes awhile to digest a fraud or at least
that someone was misled. Initially, in spite of Church condemnation of
messages and sites, not everyone is ready to give up on such messages. And
there lies the power to do harm. Certainly the devil hates the rosary,
but an initial setback is merely an investment if he can get otherwise faithful
Catholics to turn against the Church. And turn they do.
that someone was misled. Initially, in spite of Church condemnation of
messages and sites, not everyone is ready to give up on such messages. And
there lies the power to do harm. Certainly the devil hates the rosary,
but an initial setback is merely an investment if he can get otherwise faithful
Catholics to turn against the Church. And turn they do.
Not so Holy Love
Consider the Holy
Love Ministries in Ohio site where messages and apparitions to a housewife have
been reported to be occurring for twenty years. They claim numerous
miracles and special blessings are bestowed on all who come. The shrine is on
one hundred-plus acres of land, adorned with beautiful statues of Mary, Jesus
and many of the saints.
Love Ministries in Ohio site where messages and apparitions to a housewife have
been reported to be occurring for twenty years. They claim numerous
miracles and special blessings are bestowed on all who come. The shrine is on
one hundred-plus acres of land, adorned with beautiful statues of Mary, Jesus
and many of the saints.
Even though the
messages, purportedly from Jesus and Mary, encourage Catholic devotions, they
have declared that this ministry is ecumenical and therefore, does not have to
answer to Catholic authority. That alone should stand as a warning.
John Paul II frequently appealed to Catholics to be ecumenical—to share their
faith—not to leave it.
messages, purportedly from Jesus and Mary, encourage Catholic devotions, they
have declared that this ministry is ecumenical and therefore, does not have to
answer to Catholic authority. That alone should stand as a warning.
John Paul II frequently appealed to Catholics to be ecumenical—to share their
faith—not to leave it.
Ultimately, Bishop
Richard Lennon, Ordinary of the Diocese of Cleveland, issued a Decree
to clergy and laity of the diocese regarding Holy Love Ministries of Lorain
County on Nov. 11, 2009:
Richard Lennon, Ordinary of the Diocese of Cleveland, issued a Decree
to clergy and laity of the diocese regarding Holy Love Ministries of Lorain
County on Nov. 11, 2009:
“Having been directed
by the Holy See (in Rome) to act definitively in the matter of the alleged
apparitions … and having reviewed the theological content of the alleged
apparitions to Maureen Sweeney-Kyle and having consulted an expert in this
matter, I … declare that the alleged apparitions and locations … are not
supernatural in origin.”
by the Holy See (in Rome) to act definitively in the matter of the alleged
apparitions … and having reviewed the theological content of the alleged
apparitions to Maureen Sweeney-Kyle and having consulted an expert in this
matter, I … declare that the alleged apparitions and locations … are not
supernatural in origin.”
Lennon’s decree
forbids members of the clergy of any ecclesiastical jurisdiction “to celebrate
the sacraments on the site of Holy Love Ministries.
forbids members of the clergy of any ecclesiastical jurisdiction “to celebrate
the sacraments on the site of Holy Love Ministries.
And yet, still many
Catholics continue to visit Holy Love and become cynical of Church authority,
thinking they know better. I wrote a couple articles about the site and
the Bishop’s condemnation and received quite a few angry responses.
Catholics continue to visit Holy Love and become cynical of Church authority,
thinking they know better. I wrote a couple articles about the site and
the Bishop’s condemnation and received quite a few angry responses.
People that continue
to follow Holy Love, fail to accept that in all approved Marian apparitions,
Mary never undermined Church authority and always told visionaries to
obey. If there was initial skepticism and resistance, God eventually
paved the way. Never was a true visionary told to ignore Catholic
authority
to follow Holy Love, fail to accept that in all approved Marian apparitions,
Mary never undermined Church authority and always told visionaries to
obey. If there was initial skepticism and resistance, God eventually
paved the way. Never was a true visionary told to ignore Catholic
authority
Not Bad People
In the end, the type
of people that go to apparition sites are motivated by their love of God and
their desire to experience Him to a greater degree in their lives. To think
that he or the Blessed Mother is sending messages enamors them with the notion
that they can get even closer by taking the messages to heart. It is really the
same motivation for those that visit approved Shrines.
of people that go to apparition sites are motivated by their love of God and
their desire to experience Him to a greater degree in their lives. To think
that he or the Blessed Mother is sending messages enamors them with the notion
that they can get even closer by taking the messages to heart. It is really the
same motivation for those that visit approved Shrines.
Being part of a sea
of people praying the rosary and loving God and his mother is uplifting.
These are people willing to travel great distances and do whatever else it
takes to bask in the love and graces from heaven. But there is a dark
side to participating in messages that the Church has not ruled on or
particularly those the Church has condemned. It can get the faithful off
course and Catholic priests and bishops are seen as the enemy for rejecting or
ignoring them. If the time comes when people realize the messages
are false, there is a risk that they will feel duped by religion and turn away
entirely.
of people praying the rosary and loving God and his mother is uplifting.
These are people willing to travel great distances and do whatever else it
takes to bask in the love and graces from heaven. But there is a dark
side to participating in messages that the Church has not ruled on or
particularly those the Church has condemned. It can get the faithful off
course and Catholic priests and bishops are seen as the enemy for rejecting or
ignoring them. If the time comes when people realize the messages
are false, there is a risk that they will feel duped by religion and turn away
entirely.
These days, purported
messengers are taking to the speaker’s circuit and starting blogs. I
cannot imagine the likes of St. Bernadette of Lourdes, the children at
Fatima or St. Faustina of the Divine Mercy messages engaging in such
activities. That is not to say speaking and blogging are not acceptable
activities for visionaries. However,
given it looks very different from Church approved messages from the past, one
must be very cautious.
messengers are taking to the speaker’s circuit and starting blogs. I
cannot imagine the likes of St. Bernadette of Lourdes, the children at
Fatima or St. Faustina of the Divine Mercy messages engaging in such
activities. That is not to say speaking and blogging are not acceptable
activities for visionaries. However,
given it looks very different from Church approved messages from the past, one
must be very cautious.
In the end, we have
all we need right at home. At Holy Love Ministries, it is reported that
Jesus sometimes comes with Mary during her apparitions. God is
physically present in the tabernacle at our Catholic church and can even
receive Him in Holy Communion.
all we need right at home. At Holy Love Ministries, it is reported that
Jesus sometimes comes with Mary during her apparitions. God is
physically present in the tabernacle at our Catholic church and can even
receive Him in Holy Communion.
Apparitions and
devotions have played a large part in my own faith development. I am
dedicated to the Fatima message and actively promote the Five First Saturdays. I’ve
also written on Divine Mercy for Our Times as containing a
remedy for our world.
devotions have played a large part in my own faith development. I am
dedicated to the Fatima message and actively promote the Five First Saturdays. I’ve
also written on Divine Mercy for Our Times as containing a
remedy for our world.
I realize now that the best
way to act radically for Christ is to receive him every day at Mass and then to
live the Gospel message.
way to act radically for Christ is to receive him every day at Mass and then to
live the Gospel message.
~~~~~~~~~
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