Basis of criteria in judging apparitions

APPARITIONS of the Blessed Virgin often come with a claim to have a message from God for the Church and for the world. It is obviously important therefore to discern their authenticity.
What criteria are to be used in judging them? For example, it would be valuable to know on what grounds the bishops of Santander have judged that the apparitions of Garabandal are not of supernatural origin, and how to know why in comparison the apparitions of Bernadette are of supernatural origin. Where does the essential difference lie when outwardly the phenomena are similar?
The question is insistent in view of the fact that Dr Morales, who as a leading expert on mental health was a member of the commission appointed to investigate the apparitions at Garabandal, is now completely convinced that they are of supernatural origin. whereas at the time of the apparitions he gave the same judgement as the bishops of Santander, that they have a natural explanation.
Apparitions with a message for the Church are in the category of prophecy and scripture gives us guidance in the matter. `You may say in your heart, "How are we to know what word was not spoken by the Lord?" when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord and the thing does not happen and the word is not fulfilled, then it has not been spoken by the Lord. The prophet has spoken with presumption.' (Deuteronomy 18:21).
If we apply this principle of discernment, given by the Holy Spirit, to the events at Garabandal we note that there were very many instances of the young visionaries having prophetic knowledge that was vindicated. When they said such and such a thing would happen, it did happen. In this respect the weight of supporting evidence is much greater than for the apparitions of Bernadette.
This being so, prudence, basing itself on the scriptural principal mentioned above, would be shown by not making any hasty judgement that rejects a supernatural explanation of the apparitions, especially since, according to the leading visionary, Conchita, there are two important prophecies, concerning a public warning and a public miracle from God, still to be fulfilled. , It has been acknowledge by the ecclesiastical authority in Santander that there is nothing in the content of the message of Garabandal that offends against the Church's doctrine or moral teaching.
Fr Michael Sellers Thrapston, Northants AS FR TUTTO correctly says, August 10, the Rev Michael Kelly had remarked that the Contre Reforme Catholique movement does not accept the decrees of Vatican II. Quite right. But what does Fr Tutto mean when he says ,"that says it all?" Does he really mean that because an article appears in a paper of whose general policy he disapproves it must therefore be unworthy of consideration? I think most readers know better than that.
La Contre-Reyorme Catholique is edited by Abbe George de Names, whom I believe to be the most important Catholic
philospher and theologian of the present time, the equal of such as Rahner, de Lubec, Congar. and Danielou, though his standpoint is very different from theirs.
His criticisms of the decrees of Vatican II are severe, as are his analyses of the writings of the pontiffs Paul VI and JohnPaul II; and at times his language may be — at least for us more gentle English con troversialists a little excessive.
But he cannot be ignored by any Catholic who is really prepared to think about philosophical and theological issues, and any article, by whomsoever written, that he publishes in his journal is likely to be of similar weight.
Hence the importance of the two articles — some Forty pages in all — by Frere Michel de la Sainte Trinite on the alleged apparitions of Mediugorie.
Fr Brocard Sewell, 0. Cam Whilefriars School, Cheltenham GL52 6NT.
THE INFORMATION on which I based my views on the alleged apparitions at . Medjurgorje is indeed based on the letter of the Abbe de Nantes.
I agree it is impossible to support him in his attack on the Holy Father and I find his views on Action Francaise also quite unacceptable. However whenever the Abbe writes on matters theological concerning the doctrines and truths of our Faith a brilliant mind emerges.
His theological teaching is completely orthodox and much in line with that of Hans Urs von Balthasar. It is on the theological points that the Abbe bases his condemnation and in this 1 cannot fault him at all. If anyone wished a more detailed breakdown of the false theology then I am willing to send them a duplicated sheet.
Rev Michael Clifton St. Joseph's Church, 30 Park Road, London 9 2HS.
REV Michael Clifton raises questions open to interpretations other than his.
He writes: the vision is supposed to have said "We must respect the Faith of all". If you take that literally you stop working for conversions.
This has been otherwise translated, from the report of Fr Tomislav Vlasic, spiritual director to the visionaries, as
God there are no religions, there are no divisions, but you men have made divisions. You have to esteem all men, no matter which religion they belong to".
This could as well be taken as encouragement to preach the gospels of peace, Yugoslavia's faithful being equal!), divided between Catholic and Serbian Orthodox Christians, and the other third Muslim.
No source is quoted for the statements that the vision appeared in two places simultaneously. But there seems nothing remarkable in this, given the context, nor does it seem unreasonable for the vision to turn black, since all the world is not white.
According to Fr Tomislav the vision never prays the Hail Mary but listens to the children doing so, joining them only in the Our Father and Glory Be.
Joan Ashton Address supplied.