Mags Gargan
The commission investigating alleged visions of Our Lady at Medjugorje has reportedly recommended early apparitions be accepted as authentic, but casts doubt upon later claims of visions.
According to reports in the Italian media this week, the overwhelming majority of the 15-member body voted in favour of recognising the supernatural nature of the first seven alleged visions. Just one member voted against, with another member deferring his vote. The commission is also said to recommend that a ban on official pilgrimages to the shrine be lifted.
The commission draws a distinction between the first seven alleged apparitions (between June 24 and July 3, 1981) and subsequent claims.
One of the issues of concern in relation to the second phase of claimed visions is, according to the reports, the issue of the ‘secrets’ of the somewhat apocalyptic flavour that the seers claim to have been revealed from the apparitions.
Authenticity
It comes after Pope Francis appeared to voice serious doubt about the authenticity of continuing apparitions in Medjugorje.
“These presumed apparitions don’t have a lot of value. This I say as a personal opinion,” he told reporters on his plane returning from Fatima.
Referring to the commission, the Pope said: “the report has its doubts, but personally, I am a little worse. I prefer Our Lady as mother, our mother, and not Our Lady as head of the post office who sends a message at a stated time.”
Donal Lowry, acting chairperson of the Medjugorje Council of Ireland, told The Irish Catholic that “we as committed and faithful Catholics are prepared to accept the ultimate findings of the commission”. He also said that while “the Holy Father did cast some doubts about it” he had pointed to “the spiritual and pastoral facts that cannot be denied about Medjugorje”.
The Pope is expected to give his formal opinion on the Medjugorje phenomenon later this year.