APPARITIONS OF OUR LADY

Only two cases officially approved -----in the past 20 years CLAIMS of apparitions of Our Lady were discussed by Bishop Castellani. chaplain general of Italian Catholic Action, at a meeting in Rome last week attended by Cardinal Aloisi-Masella and numerous Bishops and other prelates.
In the past 20 years, lie remarked, the competent ecclesiastical authorities have given a favourable decision in only two cases.
In recent times alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin have been far too frequent, said the Bishop.
The Church, while admitting the possibility of private revelations and recognising that they can he of value, nevertheless always reserves judgment regarding their authenticity exclusively to herself. In forming her judgment the Church first verifies the historic certainty of the fact in order to exclude the possibility of the alleged apparition being produced by natural means or through satanic intervention.
Following the directives of Pope Benedict XIV, the person claiming to have seen an apparition is subjected to close medical and moral examination. and any trace of psychopathy or lack of sincere humility will lead to a negative judgment.
Then the content, form and objective of the apparition must he fitting and worthy of the Mother of God. There can he nothing unseemly in an apparition of the Blessed Virgin.
For the application of these rules and to discern the truth or otherwise of the alleged apparition. the Bishops generally nomi pate a diocesan commission omposed of theologians, medical doctors and experts in Canon Law, who conduct investigations, interrogate the persons concerned and visit the place indicated.
An affirmative decision given by the competent ecclesiastical authorities only means that the apparition is piously believable and does not contain anything in contrast with faith and morals.
A negative decision. however, based on a matter o); faith, is binding in conscience upon all, and in every such case the faithful are hound to give an example of disciplined obedience to their Bishops.
The attitude of the Catholic, Mgr. Castellani emphasised, should he of great confidence in the Church and far removed from exaggerated credulity.
NO DECISION
Mgr. Castellani gave a long list of alleged apparitions during the past 2(1 years.
Out of 27 cases examined, the Church has given a negative decision in 18 cases, In seven others—including that of the Three Fountains near Rome—no decision has been given. Thus in the past 20 years a favourable decision has been given in only two cases.
German union movement to join I.F.C.T.U.
The new German Christian Trade Union movement—now approved by the Hierarchy in spite of fears that the C.T.U. would split organised labour—on Satur. day held its first extraordinary congress at Bochum.
The 700 delegates resolved to seek membership of the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions. Among them were Christian Democrat members of the Bundestag, although the Christian Democrat party has not approved the new movement.
One of them, Herr Winkelheide, supported the demand for a 40hour week, measures to encourage property ownership for workers, and workers' representation on management hoards in industry.
The movement has been formed because of fears that the General Federation of Labour had become a tool for Socialist politics and was tending to anti-Christian
Rosary broadcasts
Three radio stations in Cuba are now making daily broadcasts of the Rosary. People living in even the most remote areas of this island are able to hear at least one.