thoughts on Medjugorje

[colleen]

So I'm sure this topic has been addressed, but I was wondering what people think about the apparitions at Medjugoje. I just got done reading the Miracle Detective by Randall Sullivan. He was a (I'm assuming) lapsed Catholic who found is way to Medjugoje as a reporter, and tells the story of Medjugoje and other apparations while sharing his process of coming to God. Do you believe the apparitions happened? Do you think they are still happening?
Colleen

 

[InnerPhyre]

I visited Medj a couple of years ago. As far as the appartions go, I'm unconvinced either way. I listened to the messages and read the older ones and I see nothign wrong with them at all. I rarely put my faith in ANY appartion though, as I view them (even the valid ones) as little bonuses to the faithful, and not the foundation of our beliefs. Medj is a wonderful place to visit though. Pretty much everyone is Catholic and it's a very beautiful and quiet little place. I think most people who go there come back with a renewed spirit. Definitely worth the trip if anyone of you can make it.

 

[frettr00]

I think it's legit. Reading about Medjugorje actually played a part in me starting to pray the rosary.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

I do not think they are divine in origin- that doesn't mean people cannot have conversions from them, though.

I will wait on the Church to make Her judgement- and if she says they are approved, I will read more, etc. Whenever someone tells me how they were there, etc. so they must be true- I think only of Garibandal, which even Padre Pio was said to believe authentic- as well as Mother Angelica.....

You can PM me if you want to know why I feel this way-- it almost always turns ugly on this topic on this board...

 

[Seek Ye First]

I believe in Medjugorie. I know a lot of people who went there who all spoke of the overwhelming feeling of peace they had while they where there, one person said they had been cured of their depression. Im planning on going this year.

 

[RobNJ]

Pardon the semi-threadjack......
Anyone able to give me a phonetic spelling?










*"we now return you, to your regularly scheduled thread, already in progress"*

 

[Rilian]

Pronounce the j's like y's.

 

[colleen]

I'm not sure what I think, and will probably also wait for the church's ruling on it. The testing done on the visionaries as been incredible. I feel like the apparitions that occured early on seem more credible than the later ones. In the book the author talks to Fr. Groeshel who has problems with the whole ten secrets thing. That is also the part I have the most problem with. Scripture tells us we will not know the day or the hour, but these warnings give "clues" to the end of the world. I don't think the church will rule on it until they know the ten secrets and at least some of them have occured. Sometimes I wonder if the original apparitions were authentic, but when the visionaries no longer had them they produced pychological visions to deal with the loss. Just a thought.
Colleen

 

[InnerPhyre]

Pardon the semi-threadjack......
Anyone able to give me a phonetic spelling?










*"we now return you, to your regularly scheduled thread, already in progress"*

May-Jew-Gore-EE-yuh

 

[Joe D]

I have friends who went there and it changed their lives

 

[RobNJ]

Thanks!!

 

[krstlros]

Medjugorje is what lead me to a better understand of our Mother, Mary. Although I have been struggling of late, Medjugorje has always been a reminder to me that Jesus' Mother is working very hard an diligantly to lead God's people back to Her Son. It has also lead me to a better devotion and love for the Rosary that I have never had before in my life.

As for the Church recognition, it will not come until the apparitions and messages have stopped. This is standard procedure. And every message and miracle is being recorded for future reference to when the apparitions and messages do stop in order to investigate legitimacy of the events that have been occuring there for the past twenty some years.

I so do want to visit Medjugorje. It has been drawing me since the first day I heard about it, and I pray that I will able to go there soon.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

However, of course, no one is technically supposed to make pilgrimages there.... now going for a visit that's different....

 

[frettr00]

Whenever someone tells me how they were there, etc. so they must be true- I think only of Garibandal, which even Padre Pio was said to believe authentic- as well as Mother Angelica..

Garabandal isn't authentic? I heard it hasn't been approved or disapproved.

 

[Song of Songs]

Any movement that causes people to repent, fast and pray is a good one! Anytime people make a great pilgrimmage to find more of God, He is going to meet them.

But I have discussed one issue at length with a priest friend which bothers me a lot. These Medjugorge visionaries who had daily visitations with Mary were specifically asked by her not to marry, but to pursue a religious vocation. One (or more?) of the girls is now married, the boy attended seminary for a while and quit...

Why would authentic daily apparitions of the Blessed Mother not be enough incentive to answer a call to priesthood and religious life???? Wouldn't you be so in love with her that you could refuse her nothing? St. Bernadette was able to follow through... and Sr. Lucia (of Fatima). Why not the visionaries from Medjugorge?

 

[krstlros]

This question was asked of one of the visionaries, who is still single, and the Blessed Mother said it was still their decision to make by the gift of Free Will from God.

 

[MParedon]

I think it's very possible that they are true visions, (although I defer to the Vatican's future decision) but I think one thing that hurt this situation is how it was handled. There is alot of controversy about it, and I think that if the visionaries had all entered religious life that there would have been less controversial issues and it would have been handled better.

 

[krstlros]

In the early days, there was a power play between the Franciscan and Jesuit (I think) order as to who would be the spiritual/confessor to the visionaries. Eventually, the Franciscan order became in charge of what has been going on.

 

[Kepha]

I do not think they are divine in origin- that doesn't mean people cannot have conversions from them, though.

I will wait on the Church to make Her judgement- and if she says they are approved, I will read more, etc. Whenever someone tells me how they were there, etc. so they must be true- I think only of Garibandal, which even Padre Pio was said to believe authentic- as well as Mother Angelica.....

You can PM me if you want to know why I feel this way-- it almost always turns ugly on this topic on this board...

Yeah, that's how i feel.

I've also heard that these seers do not behave in a very pius manner with an expensive lifestyle and such.
Also, didn't one of the priests surprise one of the girls by poking his finger close to her eyes which in turn made her flinch? Doesn't sound like she was too deep in ectasy.

 

[Song of Songs]

In the early days, there was a power play between the Franciscan and Jesuit (I think) order as to who would be the spiritual/confessor to the visionaries. Eventually, the Franciscan order became in charge of what has been going on.

Another bothersome detail... the priest overseeing the Medjugorje visionaries was forbidden to celebrate mass at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. -- this happened in the past year.... because he does not have the blessing from his own Bishop for his activities.