The Last Pope!

Blackberry Under the Spotlight  D THE THIRD SECRET CONTROVERSY

This is the marvellous fact, that a woman was chosen to be the Mother of God. Everything in the Virgin's soul that prepares for and prefigures Christ still remains an immediate reality for us today, since the mystery of Christ's gradual coming to all souls and in all nations is taking place before our very eyes. "We are always in an advent", Cardinal Jean Danielou wrote, "He has come but his manifestation is not yet complete". The criterion for the discernment of the truth of a private revelation is therefore its orientation to Christ and to the Gospel. Starting with this fundamental criterion, certain keys of interpretation can intervene, such as popular piety or religiosity. In his Theological Intervention, Cardinal Ratzinger referred to popular piety in very meaningful terms, affirming: "This does not mean that a private revelation will not offer new emphases or give rise to new devotional forms, or deepen and spread older forms" (Theological Commentary, L'Osservatore Romano English edition [ORE], 28 June 2000, p. VII, n. 2). Yet, underlying all this is the question of nourishing faith, hope and charity, which for everyone constitute the permanent path to salvation. Popular religiosity means that faith puts down roots in the heart of individual persons in such a way that it may be introduced into the world of daily life. Popular religiosity is the first and fundamental mode of "inculturation" of the faith. But what are the reasons for the Church's prudence in recognizing apparitions as genuine manifestations of the supernatural? With reference to our day rather than to the past, one of the reasons has to do with the increase in these phenomena, which in all likelihood is due to various causes: the collapse of rationalism, the spasmodic search for mystery, a superficial, insufficiently formed faith, increasing apprehension or anxiety about not knowing what the future will bring.... Such phenomena are more quickly affirmed than in previous times. Their influence is being felt in

various parts of the world mainly because of the emphasis given to them by the media. Indeed, a conspicuous, programmed dissemination of presumed "supernatural messages" associated with these phenomena can be observed. There is likewise a tendency to connect the "messages" received during specific "apparitions" with the messages of other apparitions, so much the better if they are recognized as authentic by the legitimate ecclesiastical Authority, but also with those that have not been recognized; and thus to link the various movements dependent on the different phenomena. With regard to the content of the "messages": there is a risk of judging such phenomena as authentic for the sole reason that the messages contain no doctrinal errors against the faith since they are exhortations and invitations to prayer and conversion. These presumed apparitions are often a vehicle for "apocalyptic" messages and this trend is increasing. Publications (books, periodicals) that specialize in supernatural phenomena are attracting considerable interest. These publications make a special impact, particularly when they are written by an ecclesiastic or a theologian. Furthermore, the fact that "seers" are attracting considerable attention can be seen as characteristic of our time. New "Movements" or Associations of the faithful frequently form round a specific phenomenon, which requires discernment so as to forestall problems arising with communion or with ecclesial life in the country or local Church. Even if at times the behaviour of diocesan Bishops and their collaborators may be wanting, it is essential to steer clear of the risk of a "Church of apparitions", diffident of the Hierarchy of the Church, as a variant of the well-known opposition of "charismatic Church — institutional Church". In this case, of course, we find that rather than facing a definite ideological position we are up against an attitude lived out and influenced by a somewhat superficial religiosity, a weakened ecclesial communion and a rather shallow faith in need of miraculous signs.

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