- Sun May 13, 2018 3:03 pm
#231143
When we pray the Creed we start by saying “I believe”, and then make a statement of what we believe exactly, according to Church teaching.
I hear so many say “ I believe in Medjugorje”, but what exactly does this belief encompass?
Does their belief include the apparitions, some or all… the messages… the claims of rosaries turning ‘gold’… that the spinnng sun phenomenon and water seeping from the Risen Christ are in fact miracles… that the so-called ‘secrets’ will come to pass… that all the claims made by pilgrims regarding supernatural experiences are just that – supernatural?
And when any of us get asked, “Do you believe in Medjugorje?” are all Medjugorje creeds the same or do they differ. Is one to able to believe in some aspects of Medjugorje and not others, or does that make the person a ‘skeptic’ or even a ‘non-beleiver’ in the eyes of some Medjugorje ‘believers’.
Is Medjugorje all or nothing, or are we allowed to take on board some aspects and not others, according to our own experience and faith?
Is a Medjugorje ‘believer’ allowed to question or have doubts about any of the multifarious claims without being considered a skeptic?
A man went to Medjugorje one time. He wasn’t a Catholic and was challenged by another pilgrim who questioned his faith because of this. The man replied: “I believe in God, but by your judgement he doesn’t match up to your God.
I once read somewhere that one of the Medjugorje visionaries said that Gospa’s favourite prayer is the Creed. Whether it’s the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed or the Creed espoused by those who say “I believe in Medjugorje”, I’m not sure.
The Apostle’s Creed and the Nicence Creed is the truth as the Church teaches. Unfortunately, the “I believe in Medjugorje…” creed is yet to be clearly determined, so when I say I believe in Medjugorje it may not be the same as expressed by others because by their judgment it doesn’t match up to their belief. That applies vice versa as well.
I recently came across this teaching by Fr Jozo Zovko;
I hear so many say “ I believe in Medjugorje”, but what exactly does this belief encompass?
Does their belief include the apparitions, some or all… the messages… the claims of rosaries turning ‘gold’… that the spinnng sun phenomenon and water seeping from the Risen Christ are in fact miracles… that the so-called ‘secrets’ will come to pass… that all the claims made by pilgrims regarding supernatural experiences are just that – supernatural?
And when any of us get asked, “Do you believe in Medjugorje?” are all Medjugorje creeds the same or do they differ. Is one to able to believe in some aspects of Medjugorje and not others, or does that make the person a ‘skeptic’ or even a ‘non-beleiver’ in the eyes of some Medjugorje ‘believers’.
Is Medjugorje all or nothing, or are we allowed to take on board some aspects and not others, according to our own experience and faith?
Is a Medjugorje ‘believer’ allowed to question or have doubts about any of the multifarious claims without being considered a skeptic?
A man went to Medjugorje one time. He wasn’t a Catholic and was challenged by another pilgrim who questioned his faith because of this. The man replied: “I believe in God, but by your judgement he doesn’t match up to your God.
I once read somewhere that one of the Medjugorje visionaries said that Gospa’s favourite prayer is the Creed. Whether it’s the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed or the Creed espoused by those who say “I believe in Medjugorje”, I’m not sure.
The Apostle’s Creed and the Nicence Creed is the truth as the Church teaches. Unfortunately, the “I believe in Medjugorje…” creed is yet to be clearly determined, so when I say I believe in Medjugorje it may not be the same as expressed by others because by their judgment it doesn’t match up to their belief. That applies vice versa as well.
I recently came across this teaching by Fr Jozo Zovko;
In Medjugorje the miracle is not so much in Our Lady’s apparitions, nor in the words she speaks to us, but in the pilgrim’s reply, who accepts to change his heart and life. That is the great miracle!
Take St Francis: the miracle was not that Jesus spoke to him, but in the fact that he gave up everything to become poor in everything.
In the Gospel we read of the rich young man who was called by Jesus. The miracle wasn’t that he saw Christ and heard his call; it would have been in his response, had he responded. But he preferred his riches to Jesus. That is a miracle which did not occur.
In Medjugorje a pilgrim can decide to see a miracle or not. It is not a miracle for God to talk; it is normal. In Medjugorje it is the pilgrim who decides if a miracle will occur or not. All he has to do is to open his heart to respond to the call.