The Medjugorje Commission

The process of determining the authenticity of miraculous events is a long and tedious process. When alleged apparitions gain notoriety the Church would seem to stay aloof. When the happenings remain insistent the Church commissions the Bishop of the province to investigate.

The task of examining the occurrences in Medjugorje fell upon the Bishop of Mostar. Testimony says the Bishop at first was positive but later recanted. Its been said the Bishop changed his mind because of an ongoing feud between Franciscans and Secular priests in the region. At the end of the investigation, the Bishop’s Commission ruled against the Medjugorje miracles.

The Church inspected the findings of the Bishop’s Commission and thought a closer examination was necessary. A new Commission was assembled in 1982.

As in any such inquiry, there are many elements to consider. Visionaries must undergo constant intrusion. Physical, psychological and scientific studies are frequent. Endless interviews become an every day occurrence, and the visionaries remain under close scrutiny for many years.

Beyond the evaluation of the visionaries the Commission will analyze stories of miraculous phenomena. They will also review accounts of supernatural healing.

After years of investigation the facts are compiled and the report of the Commission presented to the Church. The final decision in this matter rests with the Papal Policy.

Through out the Church’s history, the Papal Policy is such that a decision is often withheld. The report of the Commission may very well suggest a genuine religious episode, but the Papal Policy is silent. This soundless voice may go on for many years after the Commission which investigated has disbanded. So it is difficult to say when the findings of the Commission will be released, if at all.

So, is the Medjugorje Commission still investigating Medjugorje or had the Commission reached a finding? This is a question I can not answer. However based upon my study of previous apparitions it is my opinion the Church will not release any findings regardless of the Commission’s current status.

So, can we pin point a time when the Church may release the findings of Medjugorje? I believe Papal Policy will await the, "Lasting Sign," Our Lady promised she would leave on Mt. Pobodo. If and when this, "Lasting Sign" should appear, as promised to the visionaries, the Papal Policy may consider releasing the Commission's findings.

On a personal note having experienced the miracles and wonders of Medjugorje first hand, there is no doubt in my mind that Medjugorje is Holy Ground. I remain deeply committed to spreading the message of Our Lady of Medjugorje, Mary, Queen of Peace.

Dear brothers and sister, Below is a letter published in the February 11, 1998, Medjugorje Press Bulletin. This letter tells me that after many years of Our Lady's visitations in Medjugorje, the Franciscan Friars still "strongly" believe in the apparitions taking place. This letter written to the Holy Father on behalf of the Friars and the pilgrims confirms their strong convictions for Our Lady, the Queen of Peace.

LETTER TO THE HOLY FATHER (information source, Press Bulletin #84 January, 98.)

In January the following letter was delivered to the Holy Father:

Medjugorje, January 1, 1998 Feast of the Divine Maternity of Mary

HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

Holy Father,

From the heart of Bosnia-Hercegovina, from the Parish of Medjugorje, here where not one bomb fell during the dramatic years of the war, we Franciscans send You this message of peace and joy for Your Apostolic Ministry. We do not wish to sadden You with bad news but to give You joy with the promise that we have made to the Queen of Peace, who for more than sixteen years is appearing in this place that has become an international center of prayer and conversion, visited by millions of pilgrims, hundreds of bishops and tens of thousands of priests.

Your Holiness, this is our promise to You: With the approach of the Great Jubilee the Parish of Medjugorje wishes to support the Holy Father by a special daily prayer for Your universal ministry with this intention: that John Paul II may open the Holy Doors at Christmas 1999.

Our Lady in her messages from the very beginning called us to pray in a special way for the Holy Father, because She has a special plan for You, Holy Father. Today we are more conscious than ever of that great spiritual battle that we in Bosnia-Hercegovina have lived through in the war, which can be won only with the weapons of the gospel to which Our Lady calls us: prayer, fasting, conversion of heart, sacramental life, the rosary, consecration to Her Immaculate Heart. . .

Conscious of our pastoral responsibility, which is increased by the apparitions that have attracted millions of pilgrims, we feel the responsibility to petition the pilgrims who come here to pray in a special way for You, Holy Father. We truly think that this inspiration comes from the Queen of Peace who requests that we put Medjugorje at the spiritual service of Your Holiness through prayer until the grace of prayer of the many hearts that have obtained it here shall be poured out on the whole world as a contribution of Medjugorje in support of John Paul II, the Marian Pope, so You may finish the task that God has entrusted to You.

Your Holiness requested the faithful in Poland, on Your last pastoral visit, to implore God on bended knee for the grace to finish that which Cardinal Wyszynski, of blessed memory, prophesied to You: "You must lead the Church into the third millennium". The parish of Medjugorje has accepted Your invitation addressed to Poland and desires to spread it to all pilgrims that Providence has not ceased to lead to the Queen of Peace. We wish that, in the Franciscans who work in this blessed parish, they recognize the desire to support Your Holiness in these years of preparation for the Great Jubilee. We wish to make a contribution with the prayer of the Most Holy Virgin for the intention that She has for Her Pope "Totus Tuus".

May Your Holiness accept our humble gift.

The Friars and pilgrims of Medjugorje

STATEMENT OF THE HOLY FATHER ABOUT MEDJUGORJE TO BISHOP ROBERT CAVALLER (information source, Press Bulletin #85 Feb. 98)

This written testimony was sent to us October 9, 1997 by Mr. Marcello Pierucci, Via Castiglione 154, Bologna, Italy.

"During the Eucharistic Congress that was held recently in Bologna, I hosted Archbishop Msgr. Maria Rizzi, former apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria, and now stationed in Rome where he works on the cause for beatification of servants of God. During a supper in the presence of my wife Anna and Msgr. Novello Pedezzini, Archbishop Rizzi narrated the following:

'I found myself in the private chapel of the Holy Father at morning mass. At the end of Holy Mass the Holy Father approached us and personally greeted all those present. Near me was Msgr. Robert Cavallero from the Shrine of Our Lady of Chiavari. When the Pope got close to us with the intention of greeting us, Msgr Cavallero said: Holy Father I am just now coming from Medjugorje.

The Pope said; Monsignor, do you believe?

The Monsignor answered: Yes, Holy Father!

After that Bishop Cavallero asked the Pope: And You, Holy Father, do You believe?

Then after that question the Pope stopped for a moment in silence and then said at intervals: I believe. . .I believe. . .I believe. . .'

The next evening at my request Archbishop Rizzi repeated this testimony in the presence of Msgr Novello Pedezzini and the bishop of Prato, Msgr. Gastone Simoni."

I confirm the authenticity of this testimony with my own signature.

Medjugorje, October 9, 1997 Marcello Pierucci [signature]

TESTIMONY OF FATHER MICHAEL O'CARROLL

CONGREGATIO
PRO DOCTRINA FIDEI
Pr. No 154/81-06419

Citta del Vaticano, Palazzo del S. Uffizio
May 26, 1998
To His Excellency Mons. Gilbert Aubry,
Bishop of Saint-Denis de la Reunion

Excellency:

In your letter of January 1, 1998, you submitted to this Dicastery several questions about the position of the Holy See and of the Bishop of Mostar in regard to the so called apparitions of Medjugorje, private pilgrimages and the pastoral care of the faithful who go there.

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.

Fr. Daniel-Ange (France) summarizes this way:

1 -The declarations of the Bishop of Mostar only reflect his personal opinion. Consequently, they are not an official and definitive judgment 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.