August 16-17, 2025
Dear parishioners,
In this article, I would like to offer a few brief thoughts on a somewhat complex topic: reported visions (apparitions) of Our Lady. As a starting point for this discussion, it is important to note that the proper authorities at the Vatican are always diligent to review all of the facts when it comes to someone claiming to have visions of Mary and/or messages from her. This process intentionally takes a long time, because the Holy See always wants to safeguard the truth of the faith and its inherent connection with the spiritual and devotional life of the Church. In fact, there are very few fully approved apparitions of Our Lady throughout the history of the Church (e.g.- Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima).
Even in the rare case of a fully approved apparition, it is nonetheless considered “private revelation,” which means that no one is required to put their faith in the contents of the alleged apparition, even when approved. This is because Jesus gave us the fullness of divine revelation by coming to us in the flesh and manifesting himself to us, leaving us the deposit of faith. There will never be any new revelation which adds to what Christ revealed to us through his Incarnation, Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension.
With the above principles in mind, I would like to quickly draw our attention to three particular alleged apparitions about which I have received questions over my time here at Divine Mercy. Firstly, there was an alleged apparition in the Cleveland area in recent decades, calling itself “Holy Love Ministries.” After reviewing the facts of the claims, and after “dialogue with the leadership of Holy Love Ministries proved unsuccessful,” Bishop Lennon of Cleveland issued a decree on November 11, 2009. In that decree, he states that, “the alleged apparitions… are not supernatural in origin.” Further, Bishop Lennon “Forbid members of the clergy of any ecclesiastical jurisdiction to celebrate the sacraments on the site of Holy Love Ministries” and admonished all the faithful “to cease gathering for any religious, liturgical, spiritual, or devotional purpose on the site of Holy Love Ministries.”
Our second case involves another nearby location: the alleged apparitions of Our Lady under the title of “Our Lady of America” by Sr. Mary Ephrem in Rome City, Indiana. Investigation into these claims included the letters sent to and from the nun’s spiritual director, consultation with theological experts, investigation by the U.S.C.C.B., and the required consultation with the pertinent offices at the Vatican. After the investigation was completed, Bishop Rhodes of Fort Wayne issued a decree on the matter. In it, he makes clear the distinction between interior subjective religious experiences in which the imagination is engaged, and objective visions of private revelation. Therefore, he declared that, “we do not find evidence that these were objective visions and revelations of the type seen at Guadalupe, Fatima, and Lourdes. Therefore, I must come to the conclusion that the visions and revelations themselves cannot be said to be of supernatural origin in the sense of objective occurrences (non constat de supernaturalitate); thus further, I cannot approve or support public devotion or cult.” As such, any devotions to “Our Lady of America” are not permitted.
Lastly, I would like to make a brief comment on the alleged apparitions that are claimed to still be happening in Medjugorje. It is very important to note that these alleged visions have not been officially approved by the Holy See! …but they have also not been formally condemned. Those directly involved claim the visions started in 1981. In that same year, the local bishop expressed strong doubt about the supernatural nature of this alleged apparition. In 1991, the bishops of Yugoslavia formed three different commissions to study the case, and reported that, “on the basis of studies conducted so far, it cannot be affirmed that supernatural apparitions and revelations are occurring” at Medjugorje. In 1996, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declared that parishes and dioceses may not lead pilgrimages to Medjugorje. In 2010, Pope Benedict established a commission to once again review the supernatural character of the alleged apparition; he resigned before the commission finished its study. In 2017, Pope Francis expressed his personal suspicions of the alleged apparition’s authenticity during an in-flight press conference. In 2019, Pope Francis granted permission for pilgrimages to be taken to Medjugorje. In 2024, the Vatican acknowledged that the devotional practices happening at the site are good, but still advised the faithful to exhibit grave caution regarding the supernatural nature of the claimed visions. While time will tell what the Holy See will decide in regard to this claimed vision, I advise everyone to be very cautious about any claims pertaining to any supernatural character of this alleged apparition!
Blessings,
Fr. Ammanniti
