The authenticity of Medjugorje’s Marian Apparitions

Recently, Toronto’s Catholic Register had an article regarding the bishop of the diocese to which Medjugorje belongs, who rejects claims of Marian apparitions in Medjugorje. This bishop of the Mostar Diocese, Msgr. Ratko Peric, despite his personal reluctance regarding the Apparitions, has never banned pilgrims from Medjugorje and in fact had authorized the construction of a massive, open air addition to Medjugorje’s local parish (St. James Parish) that can house 5,000 people in order to accommodate the tens of thousands of pilgrims in liturgies. The bishop has also continued to administer the sacrament of confirmation in this parish every year.

The local bishop’s reluctance towards the authenticity of the Apparitions is mainly due to the fact that the Vatican has not yet validated the Apparitions, and that the special adjudication committee which was formed in 1991 still has not ascertained the Apparitions’ supernatural nature. Therefore, the local bishop’s prudent stance is understandable.

According to the Church’s past practice, the process of adjudicating and validating the authenticity of Marian apparitions does not begin until 25 years after the apparitions end. To this day, however, Mary continues to appear daily to the visionaries.

With regards to the miracles that take place at Medjugorje, especially the prolific conversion of non-practicing Catholics who return to the Church after receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Medjugorje, these cannot explained except by the grace of God. Pope John Paul II once indicated that he would have long since made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje if the local bishop had invited him; however, he respected Bishop Peric’s position on the matter.

The head of the College of Bishops for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cardinal Vinko Pulijic, announced on July 14 that a new adjudication committee will be appointed by the Vatican’s congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to restart investigations in the matter.

Let us pray for this new committee while continuing to fast and pray, ardently receive Holy Communion, frequently read the Bible and attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation.