Stefano Cecchin: "Apparitions are under scrutiny".
The President of the Pontifical Marian Academy stresses the importance of verification in the face of increasing hoaxes
How was the Observatory on Apparitions and Mystical Phenomena associated with the Virgin Mary created?
It was created in response to all the problems and confusion created by certain false apparitions. In the 19th century, under the influence of positivism, the Church almost denied the supernatural; it gave it no importance. But the problem is that, if you overlook it, sects can be born, as has already happened. Latin America is a rampant example of the proliferation of santeros, curanderos, gurus... people who want to take advantage of the credulity of the people and their pain. Then there is the danger of infiltration by mafias, who know that shrines are a source of money. That is why it is the bishops themselves who have explicitly asked us for a healthy and solid Mariology.
What will be your role?
We are not here to take the place of the bishops; we only offer formation. We try to help them, because many times they are confronted with situations of this kind and they don't know what to do, they are not prepared. They either deny the phenomenon, or they are too quick to give it a positive airing; other times they are very condescending. So when a bishop doesn't know what to do or wants to set up a study commission, he calls us. We must be clear that the Pontifical International Marian Academy (PAMI) is a body that depends directly on the Roman Curia. We are the only ones competent in the subject of the figure of Mary in the whole world. Our scholars are accredited by the Holy See. In other words, we are recognised as experts in this discipline and therefore have the right to intervene. When we set to work, we do so with a certificate from the Holy See that accredits us as trustworthy people, with no outside interests. But it is the bishops who make the final judgement and have the last word.
What happens if it starts to become a phenomenon that crosses borders and is not limited to the local reality?
If the phenomenon spreads and becomes worldwide, as in Medjugorje, for example, then the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith intervenes. It also intervenes when there is a doctrinal or theological problem.
Can you give an example?
We have a clear example in the studies on Mother Agreda. She was condemned by the Inquisition because she said that Mary is the Mother of the Church. It was taken as a theological error, but it was not.
Do you have an allocated budget?
No, we don't receive any remuneration for doing this. We work for free. This reinforces our independence. We have no interest other than the good of the Church.
But this can also limit the work?
Our work is more about co-ordination. At the moment we can't do bi-locations [laughs]. But now with the internet it is easier. Our idea is to create a network of specialists based in all parts of the world, so that all dioceses have a specific place where they can find the experts who will be in charge of dealing with these phenomena if they occur. For this we will rely on the various national Mariological societies. We will also offer online courses.
Stigmata and lachrymations are analysed
On 13 April the Vatican presented the International Observatory on Apparitions and Mystical Phenomena associated with the Virgin Mary, which is integrated into the Pontifical Marian Academy. The aim is to create a network of experts to study cases of Marian apparitions, lachrymations, interior locutions, stigmata and other mystical phenomena whose authenticity has not been approved by the Church.
How does the Study Commission work?
The apparitions are examined in an interdisciplinary way from a scientific perspective. The commission is made up of doctors, lawyers, psychologists... For example, the morality of the visionaries, their physical and mental state or whether there are any external conditions or interests. The vote is then taken. Each member of the commission makes a written judgement, gives his vote, his positive or negative opinion. This material is given to the bishop for him to decide.
What are the elements that might give rise to the suspicion that it is false?
The Holy See issued clear rules on this in 1978. So there is a protocol in place. But there are warning signs. Does a Mother want to punish her children by sending them illnesses, death...? No way. So the apparitions that speak of punishments from God are absolutely false.
See below on how misguided this is.
What is the role of the Pope in all this?
It must be made clear that the apparitions are private revelations. They neither add to nor subtract from public revelations, so there is no need for the Pope's approval. There never will be, there never has been. If the Pontiff goes to a place where there have been apparitions already approved, it is always with a pastoral significance. Moreover, it must be clear that in the field of Canon Law there is no such word as apparition. For the Church there are apparitions or mystical phenomena, but in juridical discourse we speak of a place of pilgrimage. These are two different things. For example, in the Medjugorje case the apparition may not be approved, but the place of pilgrimage is.
Was it easier now to undertake such an investigation?
In the past it was more difficult to find documents, but today it is more difficult to keep at bay all the influences that can distort the messages. Times have changed. We have more resources and more experts. For example, tears of blood are analysed with DNA tests and can be compared with other apparitions.
Source
First Secret of Fatima
Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire which seemed to be under the earth. Plunged in this fire were
demons and
souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side like sparks in a huge fire, without weight or equilibrium, and amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear. The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repulsive likeness to frightful and unknown animals, all black and transparent. This vision lasted but an instant. How can we ever be grateful enough to our kind heavenly Mother, who had already prepared us by promising, in the first Apparition, to take us to heaven. Otherwise, I think we would have died of fear and terror
Second Secret of Fatima
You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end: but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the Pontificate of Pope Pius XI. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that he is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father. To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the Consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.
And some Biblical verses which might concern the priest
Old Testament
Divine retribution is often portrayed in the Old Testament.Genesis 3:14–24 – Curse upon Adam and Eve and expulsion from the Garden of Eden; Disobedience
Genesis 4:9–15 – Curse upon Cain after his slaying of his brother, Abel
Genesis 6–7 – The Great Flood; Rampant evil and Nephilim
Genesis 11:1–9 – The confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel; To scatter them over the Earth
Genesis 19:23–29 – Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; people of no redeeming value
Genesis 38:6–10 – Destruction of Er and Onan; wickedness in the Lord's sight
Exodus 7–14 – Plagues of Egypt; to establish his power over that of the gods of Egypt
Exodus 19:10–25 – Divine threatenings at Mount Sinai; warn that the mountain is off limits and holy
Exodus 32 – Plagues at the incident of the golden calf; disowning the people for breaking his covenant with them
Leviticus 10:1–2 – Nadab and Abihu are burned; offering unauthorised fire in their censers
Leviticus 26:14–39 – Curses upon the disobedient; divine warning
Numbers 11 – A plague accompanies the giving of manna in the wilderness; rejecting his gracious gift of heavenly food and failing his test of obedience
Numbers 16 – The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram – Their supernatural deaths and the plague that followed; insolence and attempting self-promotion to roles they were unworthy of holding
Numbers 20:9–13 – Reprimand of Moses at the water of Meribah; disobeying the Lord's instruction, showing distrust and indifference in God's presence
Numbers 21 – Murmuring of the people and the plague of fiery flying serpent; spurning God's grace
Numbers 25 – Whoredom with the Moabites and resulting plague; breaching God's covenant through sexual immorality and worshipping other gods
Deuteronomy 28 – Curses pronounced upon the disobedient; another divine warning
1 Samuel 6:19 – some/many men of Beth Shemesh killed; Looking into the Ark of the Covenant
2 Samuel 6:1–7 – Uzzah struck dead; Touching the Ark of the Covenant
1 Kings 11 – God promises to tear King Solomon's kingdom from his son except for a single tribe; Building altars to other gods for his wives
Job 14:13 – sending trials to the just man Job
New Testament
The New Testament associates the wrath of God particularly with imagery of the Last Day, described allegorically in Romans 2:5 as the "day of wrath", and the Book of Revelation. The wrath of God is mentioned in at least twenty verses of the New Testament. Examples are:John 3:36 – John the Baptist declares that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Acts 5:1 – Ananias and his wife Sapphira struck dead, Holding back some of the proceeds after selling a piece of property
Romans 1:18 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Romans 5:9 – Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Romans 12:19 – Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
Ephesians 5:6 – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Revelation 6:17 – For the great day of his wrath has come, and who is able to withstand?
Revelation 14:19 – So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Revelation 15:1 – Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God was finished.
Revelation 19:15 – From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
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