Public and Private

Revelation

Public Revelation

• Sacred Scripture

• Apostolic Tradition

"I commend you because you … maintain the traditions even as I

have delivered them to you" (1 Cor. 11:2)

Private Revelation

1. Servants of God• Blessed • Venerable• Saints

2. Apparitions and Miraculous Signs• Approved• Unapproved

Must never contradict Public Revelation or undermine Church authority!

Approved Major Marian Apparitions

1531, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico

1830, Immaculate Conception (Miraculous Medal), Paris, France

1846, La Salette, France

1858, Lourdes, France

1917, Fatima, Portugal

1968, Zeitoun, Egypt

1973, Akita, Japan

Our Lady of Zeitoun

1968

Egypt

Our Lady of Akita Japan

1973

• warned of worldwide disasters if man does not repent • emphasized the need to pray the

rosary

The Black Madonna

Our Lady of Częstochowa

Photo of Mary holding Pope John Paul II in

Her arms when he was shot in

1981.

Jesus of Divine Mercy

Sr. Faustina, Poland, 1930s

Church Teaching on Unapproved Miraculous Events

• Does not improve upon or complete Public Revelation, but helps us live more fully by it in a certain period of history.

• Those who publicly release information related to new appearances, revelations, etc... should do so under the guidance of a qualified Spiritual Director (priest).

…the final authority regarding these messages

rests with the Holy See of Rome (Pope).

Miraculous Signs-People“Charisms”

• Extraordinary gifts are not to be rashly desired (or boasted).

• Beware of false prophets and people who use special gifts to bring attention to themselves

Stigmata

Padre Pio Mirna of Damascus

Miraculous Signs-Apparitions and Photos

• Beware of false prophets

• Test goodness by its “fruit”

• Evil has some supernatural power in this world

• When in doubt, doubt it!

Be Wary of Fakes

And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath-- Acts 2:19

Clearwater, Florida

1996

Newsweek Magazine

June 1989

photo 1970s

The True Image of Jesus

True Image of Mary?

Conyers, GA

Miracle of the Sun

1990

Medjugorje, Yugoslavia

Our Lady Queen of Peace(Medjugorje)

1977

Our Lady of Naju, South Korea

1993

Rosaries Turning Gold

http://www.whatisthetruth.com/whatisthetruth/thetruth_rosarypics.html

Rosaries Turning Gold

The End