Ethnologica Dalmatica, Vol. 19 , 2012.
Original scientific paper
Theological Message of Marian Apparitions in Medjugorje
Adalbert Rebić
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
The present paper is an analysis of the theological message of the Marian apparitions in Medjugorje. Under the phrase «Marian apparition», the author understands a mental or psychic experience or event, in which Mary is believed to have supernaturally appeared to one or more persons, in the present case to the children in Medjugorje. Very often such apparitions belong to mystic experiencing which is a specific gift of God’s Spirit. It is the fact that God is active in the history of mankind. Also, according to the Catholic religious belief, the Blessed Virgin Mary can be active in our visible world. Mary appeared to very different persons in the course of history (Lourdes, Fatima and so on) and spoke with them; she sent her special message to the people. The Church verifies the authenticity of such apparitions according to their spiritual effects. Such apparitions belong to the private sphere and they do not oblige the faithful to believe them. They are different from the public apparitions or public revelations, contained in the Holy Scripture. Recognizing them as authentic supernatural apparitions, the ecclesiastical magistery applies an established procedure which the author analyzes. Analyzing and verifying the phenomenon of Medjugorje, the Church authorities apply the same procedure as it is done in respect of such phenomena anywhere else in the world. The Croatian Bishops’ Conference and the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina organized a commission of theologians and entrusted them with a very difficult task to establish the supernatural character of the Marian apparitions to the children in Medjugorje. Their decision was - unanimous or only by a majority vote - that non constat de supernaturalitate apparitionum Beatae Mariae Virginis in Medjugorje. However, some bishops - such as Archbishop Franjo Cardinal Kuharić and Archbishop Frane Franić - spoke and wrote very positively about the phenomenon of Medjugorje and recommended to the faithful to practice devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Medjugorje, to go on pilgrimage to Medjugorje and to confess, celebrate the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and pray the Rosary there. Of course, the official Church does not propagate pilgrimages to Medjugorje, and yet it does not forbid them either. What prevails in the devotion to the Virgin in Medjugorje is confession (sacramental reconciliation of man with God and with the Church), celebrating the Eucharist, praying the Rosary and other kinds of Catholic devotion. All this, being done by the faithful in Medjugorje, can be nothing but a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
107572
URI
Publication date:
15.9.2012.
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