Because the Dicastery for the Docrine of the Religion declares the ‘Nulla Osta’ for devotion related to Medjugorje, Mons. Armando Matteo, the Dicastery’s Secretary, critiques the timeline of more than a few commissions and bishops’ statements in regards to the alleged apparitions on the Shrine.
By way of Msgr. Armando Matteo*
The phenomenon of the alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Medjugorje considerations the occasions that started on June 24, 1981, within the parish of St. James in Medjugorje, administered through the Franciscan Fathers OFM of the Herzegovina Province, inside the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno within the former Yugoslavia (modern day Bosnia and Herzegovina).
At the past due afternoon of that day, two women, Ivanka Ivanković and Mirjana Dragicević, went to the locality of Podbrdo, on the foot of the Crnica hill. Abruptly, Ivanka noticed the Madonna (who didn’t seem to Mirjana). The 2 women endured their stroll during the village.
At the similar day, round 6 PM, six kids noticed in the similar position the determine of Mary conserving a kid in her hands: but even so Ivanka and Mirjana, Vicka Ivanković, Ivan Dragičević, Ivan Ivanković, and Milka Pavlović have been provide. Marija Pavlović and Jakov Čolo, who’re nonetheless a part of the six alleged visionaries, joined the others the next day to come, on June 25.
On July 21 of the similar yr, Bishop Pavao Žanić, Bishop of Mostar-Duvno, met with the six “visionaries,” who reported to him their fresh studies. The Bizarre was once satisfied that “the lads don’t seem to be mendacity.” He expressed this conviction once more a couple of days later, as he administered Affirmation within the parish of Medjugorje. Due to this fact, on November 19, 1983, Bishop Pavao Žanić despatched a confidential report back to the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Religion in regards to the alleged apparition of Mary, expressing his “most powerful doubts” about it.
On October 12, 1984, the Yugoslav Episcopal Convention issued a commentary in regards to the alleged occasions in Medjugorje, invoking the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical authority regarding the analysis of apparitions and prohibiting authentic pilgrimages to Medjugorje.
On Might 19, 1986, the diocesan Fee tasked with comparing the alleged apparitions in Medjugorje issued its judgment: 11 participants to 4 declared Non constat de supernaturalitate.
Throughout the similar yr, the Professional-Nuncio in Belgrade expressed a unfavourable opinion in regards to the paintings of the diocesan fee. The then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Religion made up our minds to entrust the Yugoslav Episcopal Convention with a brand new exam of the case.
The next yr, exactly on April 9, the paintings of the Fee of the Yugoslav Episcopal Convention started, which might proceed till April 1991.
At the tenth of that month, the overall document of the Fee of the Yugoslav Episcopal Convention at the Medjugorje phenomenon was once printed, referred to as the Declaration of Zadar. I quote:
“The bishops, from the very starting, were following the occasions of Medjugorje during the Bishop of the diocese (Mostar), the Bishop’s Fee and the Fee of the Bishops Convention of Yugoslavia on Medjugorje. At the foundation of the investigations, up to now it can’t be affirmed that one is coping with supernatural apparitions and revelations. Alternatively, the a large number of gatherings of the trustworthy from other portions of the sector, who come to Medjugorje, brought about each through motives of trust and more than a few different motives, require the eye and pastoral care within the first position of the diocesan bishop and with him of the opposite bishops additionally, in order that in Medjugorje and in the whole lot attached with it a wholesome devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary could also be promoted according to the educating of the Church. For this function, the bishops will factor particularly appropriate liturgical-pastoral directives. Likewise, via their Fee they are going to proceed to stay alongside of and examine all of the match in Medjugorje.”
We now leap to 1994. It’s October 28 of that yr when Bishop Ratko Perić, the brand new Bizarre of Medjugorje, asked that Pope John Paul II identify a Fee for a definitive verdict at the “apparitions.”
In July 1995, a seek advice from through John Paul II to Medjugorje right through his Apostolic Adventure to Sarajevo was once introduced. In more than a few non-public letters, the Pope expressed a good view of Medjugorje and his need to seek advice from where. Knowledgeable of this, Bishop Perić asked the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Religion to forestall any such seek advice from, which successfully by no means happened.
On March 2, 1998, on the request of the Bishop of Saint-Denis-de-L. a. Reunion, the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Religion spoke back that non-public pilgrimages to Medjugorje have been authorized, noting that Medjugorje was once then again now not declared a spot of unique apparitions. It was once additionally declared that Bishop Perić’s place in regards to the judgment Non constat de supernaturalitate was once now not that of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Religion.
Within the following years, more than a few consultations happened between the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Religion and the brand new Episcopal Convention of Bosnia and Herzegovina referring to a brand new exam of all of the documentation. Alternatively, the Episcopal Convention of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared that it was once not able to adopt a brand new exam, nor did it deemed one suitable.
The turning level got here on January 14, 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI made up our minds to ascertain a global Fee to judge the alleged supernatural phenomena of Medjugorje.
Cardinal Camillo Ruini was once appointed because the President of this Fee. In January 2014, after about six years of labor, the global Fee issued its judgment. The conclusions of the Ruini Fee weren’t made public, because of an specific request from the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Religion.
Within the following years, the latter ready a chain of in-depth research on all of the Medjugorje match. Two mavens have been consulted, arriving at very other effects in comparison to the ones of the Ruini Fee.
In December 2015, upon receiving all of the documentation, Pope Francis took upon himself all choices referring to Medjugorje.
Due to this fact, on February 11, 2017, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Henryk Hoser because the Holy See’s Particular Envoy to inspect the pastoral scenario in Medjugorje. Then, on January 14, 2019, a disposition through the Pope was once made public, consistent with which “it’s imaginable to prepare pilgrimages to Medjugorje, only if care is taken to keep away from them being interpreted as an authentication of the occasions.”
In any case, it will have to be remembered that on December 27, 2021, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Aldo Cavalli as the brand new Apostolic Customer to the Parish of Medjugorje, on an everlasting and advert nutum Sanctae Sedis foundation. Archbishop Cavalli succeeded the Polish Archbishop Henryk Hoser, who died on August 13 of that yr.
The overall Be aware on Medjugorje may also be discovered right here.
* Secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Religion
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