Answers to questions

Bonjour!

Is it just me or can clothes shopping be yucky sometimes? I always find it thoroughly exhausting and more often than not, unsuccessful!! Perhaps it's because, as a poor student, I can only afford to look at clothes in the 'Sale' section.....and there's a reason that the clothes are on sale.... they're not so pretty and so noone else wanted them!

yes, I have just come back from a shopping trip!

My friends are having a little party for me tomorrow in London and we'll be going out for dinner and the like, so I have been looking for something suitable! (without success!)
I think I will pray to St. Anthony for help and then go back again tomorrow morning.


But anyway! So yes, today is Friday and I promised to answer your questions from the Ask me a Question post.
Okay, so that post didn't go down hugely well, but I'll be positive and say that's obviously because I am such a good blogger that you all already know me so well...!!!

But I did get a couple of questions (thank you very much!!! -x- ) ...


Carmel: What is your confirmation name?

Me:

it's Gianna, after St. Gianna , although she was only a blessed when I chose her.

She was Italian, a wife, a mother, a medical doctor and a martyr for the pro-life cause and so I thought she was the perfect role model for me!!



Mylhibug: How do you feel about people taking pilgramages to Medjugorge? Should they be taking these trips, even though the Vatican hasn't recognized officially, the apparitions?



before I begin I just want to put a diclaimer......please don't be offended! This is not a personal attack on the experiences people may have had at Medjugorje, this is how I see it in general...


I know Medjugorje is a very touchy subject in Catholic circles. There are people (many people) who swear that there lives have changed in a dramatic and incomparable way since they've been to Medj, and I've spoken to many people who say it was the cause of their conversion, or reversion, to the faith.

All that is fine and well, and I do agree that these are all genuine and from the heart.

However, there are many very dodgy and weird things about Medj and the fact that people have very holy experiences when they go there isn't actually enough to signify that it is authentic.

People go there wanting, with a pure heart, to seek Mary and God, and God can grant them graces none-the-less.
Let's take Muslims as a example. God grants graces to Muslims, and there are very kind and loving Muslim people. Doesn't mean Islam is the true religion.

Likewise good things can happen while at Medjugorje, doesnt mean the apparitions are authentic.

To see clearly one always has to be objective about the facts and not get blinded and drawn by subjective experiences.

Here are a selction of the objective facts that I can remember having read against the authenticity of Medj:


* When determining the authenticity of a vision one of the things the Church looks as is its effect on the visionary's life. St. Bernadette, Sr. Lucia for example became cloistered holy nuns.

What do we have in Medj; 6 visionaries, without a single religious vocation.
Not one of the 6 became a Priest or nun.

it's just something to think about.

If Mary appeared to other people only a tiny handful of times and this was enough for them to undergo a radical transformation of life, why, after appearing for 25 years to these 6 people has not ONE of them had a calling to the consecrated life?

....it just doesn't quite fit...

In fact, I also read somewhere that 'Mary' congratulated one of the boys when he left the seminary after a year... .almost as if she was happy he left..


On an unrelated note, one of the visionaried is married to a former Miss Massachusetts.


* These kids can call 'Mary' to appear pretty much wherever, and whenever they want.
They go to a big conference all over the world and they can get 'Mary' to appear at their command.

Completely out of line with other visions, like in Fatima, where Mary still appeared at the place and time that she told the children she would appear, despite the fact that they had been thrown in jai and weren't therel.


* The Franciscan priests and nuns involved at Medj, from what I have read, are all pretty dodgy and many have been kicked out of their orders for unrelated disobedience and behaviours consistently incompatable with their vows.

Furthermore, they are consistently disobedient to the local Bishop and to their superiors, something that noone would dare do if they were actually holy.


* Ivanka, one of the visionaries once told a reporter that 'Mary' said that "all religions are equal before her son".

and there are many many many other New Age-esque under-tones to 'Mary's' messages, and many very subtle and sneaky anti-Catholic doctrine (like, 'you must listen to me, and not to your Bishop who is evil and hates me' as "Mary" apparently said).


* There are supposed to be some secrets that Mary told the visionaries that would come about before the end of last century and nothing has materialised.


* Despite appearing daily for 25 years the Medj messages aren't particularly substantial and are very very repetative.


and finally finally, but I think most telling...


* God has given us a Church on Earth to speak His truth.

Many countless Saints have said that obeying your superiors in the Church is on par with obeying God.

The ONLY official stance that the Church has proclaimed on the authenticity of Medj has been from the local Bishops in that region.

and these Bishops have, for practically 25 years, been saying that it is not authentic and must must stop!

In fact, only a week ago the local Bishop said, yet again, that it has to stop!


If these kids really were seeing Mary, they would obey.

When St. Pio was told by his Bishop to stop celebrating Mass publicly because of all the fuss that his stigmata were causing, he stopped immediatly and he didn't say a single public Mass for 3 years till they allowed him to again.

Whereas these visionaries can't stop for one day!


Consistent disobedience to Christ's body on earth, when you are apparently being visited by Christ's mother is not a good sign.



I do definitly believe that people recieve graces while there...but not because of Medj itself, but because they go seeking Christ and His mother, and so recieve the graces.


"But I think people have lost some sense of critical judgement because they're anesthetized by some nice feeling. I think they're bound by a guilt ... that they cannot declare this to be inauthentic because they feel like they're denying the grace that they received." said by a Franciscan priest.


So in a nutshell....no, I personally, would never ever go to Medjugorje, unless the Church declares it as authentic.

If I wanted to go on a pilgrimige I would go to one of the countless locations approved by the Church.

Or if I wanted to go somewhere peaceful to meditate I would go on a retreat to a monestary or convent.

Or if I want to see Jesus I would go to my local Catholic Church!

But no, I would def not go to Medj and if asked by a friend, would advise them not to either.


phew!


Mylhibug: Did you root for Italy in the World Cup after England was dismissed?


actually, I wasn't really rooting for either really!! I didn't watch a single game and barely knew it was world cup year till all the flags started appearing on people's houses 10 days before it all started!

no, I'm not a football type person!!