Arroyo: I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you. One of the areas most well known to Americans, of course, is Medjugorje, in your part od the world. Can you tell us your opinion of the apparitions there. I know there is still some controversy over whether these apparitions are actually supernatural or not. The Holy See has still not given us a final determination. What is your opinion of those happenings there?Puljic: Medjugorje is a part of the second diocese, it belongs to Mostar diocese. Really, the contemplating and examining the phenomenon has not been completed. This started before I became a bishop and declaration has been made that we could not speak aboutsupernatural and then the war came and further examinations have have ceased.
Many facts, many things remain unanswered. It is unseen before that we have eighteen years of apparitions. So that this is one of the questions; but this is still under the authority of the bishop and when he recieves the directions from the Vatican we will re-examine and perform a very detailed examination.
Wherever people pray, including Medjugorje, miracles are possible; but as far as Medjugorje specifically, I'll have to wait a little longer to give specific qualified opinion.
This is an example of complete obedience to the Holy See. The clergy can state personal opinions but when speaking to the press they are in disobedience if they state one way or the other. The Church in her infinite wisdom as the body of Christ simply cannot rule on an ongoing reported apparition one way or another. As part of the faithful we have a similar obligation. We can just give our personal opinions but we must always follow whatever the Church decides. I have thought much about this. If I had been alive in 1917, I would have gone to Fatima.
There have been a few people saying Medjugorje is false and most have never been there. I have been there and I believe it is true. There is one guy out there who is making a personal crusade against Medjugorje. He complains of commercialism (ever been to Fatima?) and yet he sends me mail trying to get me to buy his books and video tapes. Go figure. No one in favor of Medjugorje has sent me unsolicited mail.
We must be very careful. If you say that something isn't from the Holy Spirit and it turns out to be the work of the Holy Spirit, you are guilty of the sin that cannot be forgiven in this world or the next.Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Matthew 12:31.Many people have returned to the Church in a special way because of Medjugorje. If the Holy Father condemned Medjugorje this page would get a lot smaller the very next day. Medjugorje is what sparked my reconversion with passion back to the Roman Catholic Church. Many people I know will tell you the same story. I cannot deny what I see in my life as a great grace from God. So with great thanksgiving I tell my stories on this page. The Holy Spirit works in many different ways with many different people."but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" Mark 3:29
And every one who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Luke 12:10
If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. 1 John 5:16
Now, from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
"Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is is guilty of an eternal sin." There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss. CCC 1864.
"Blasphemy is directly opposed to the second commandment. It consists in uttering against God-inwardly or outwardly-words of hatred, reproach, or defiance; in speaking ill of God; in failing to respect toward him in one's speech; in misusing God's name. St. James condemns those "who blaspheme that honorable name [of Jesus] by which you are called." The prohibition of blasphemy extends to language against Christ's Church, the saints, and sacred things. It is also blasphemous to make use of God's name to cover up criminal practices, to reduce peoples to servitude, to torture persons or put them to death. The misuse of God's name to commit a crime can provoke others to repudiate religion." CCC 2148.
"The second commandment forbids the abuse of God's name, i.e., every improper use of the names of God, Jesus Christ, but also of the Virgin Mary, and all the saints". CCC 2146.
"Throughout the ages, there have been so-called "private" revalations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ's definitive Revalation, but to help live more fully by it in a certrain period of history. Guided by the magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revalations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church." CCC 67.
We have heard it said, better to believe and to be blessed, then not to believe and be cursed. Yes, but as always I will follow the Pope, asking for guidance from Jesus daily. So consider this before you slam simple people like me who believe in some Marian apparitions.
Excellency,
In regard to this matter, I think it is impossible to reply to each of the questions posed by Your Excellency. The main thing I would like to point out is that the Holy See does not ordinarily take a position of its own regarding supposed
supernatural phenomena as a court of first instance. As for the credibility of the "apparitions" in question, this Dicastery respects what was decided by the bishops of the former Yugoslavia in the Declaration of Zadar, April 10, 1991: "On the basis of the investigations so far, it can not be affirmed that one is dealing with supernatural apparitions and revelations." Since the division of Yugoslavia into different independent nations it would now pertain to the members of the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia-Hercegovina to eventually reopen the examination of this case, and
to make any new pronouncements that might be called for.
What Bishop Peric said in his letter to the Secretary General of "Famille Chretienne", declaring: "My conviction and my position is not only 'non constat de supernaturalitate,' but likewise, 'constat de non supernaturalitate' of the
apparitions or revelations in Medjugorje", should be considered the expression of the personal conviction of the Bishop of Mostar which he has the right to express as Ordinary of the place, but which is and remains his personal opinion.
Finally, as regards pilgrimages to Medjugorje, which are conducted privately, this Congregation points out that they are permitted on condition that they are not regarded as an authentification of events still taking place and which still
call for an examination by the Church.
I hope that I have replied satisfactorily at least to the principal questions that you have presented to this Dicastery and I beg Your Excellency to accept the expression of my devoted sentiments.
Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone
(Secretary to the "Congregatio", presided over by Cardinal Ratzinger)
This is the summary of the letter:
1. The declarations of the Bishop of Mostar only reflect his personal opinion. Consequently, they are not an official and definitive judgement from the Church.
2. One is directed to the declaration of Zadar, which leaves the door open to future investigations. In the meanwhile private pilgrimages with pastoral accompaniment for the faithful are permitted.
3. A new commission could eventually be named.
4. In the meanwhile, all Catholics may go as pilgrims to Medjugorje.
We can' t but be thankful for this long awaited explanation.