Excellent observation Carol. So, this means to me there is still some time before the Church enters the era of peace. But I do feel we are very close to the Warning. Akita’s fire falling from heaven may be the chastisement after the warning. Will we have to endure the chaos in the Church without justice for a few more years?
While true that Bishop Ito approved the apparition, unlike Fatima and the Our Lady of Good Success apparitions, Akita has not received full Vatican approval. Therefore listing Akita in the same breathe as Fatima and Quito is misleading since Akita does not hold the same weight in the RCC as does Fatima/Quito. Akita should be fully approved. Frank, since it appears you only support apparitions receiving some level of approval, which gives you liberty to diss Medjugorje ( and Garabandal ), let me remind you that the Vatican has approved the first 7 Medjugorje apparitions. This, immediately, gives Medjugorje a higher level of church approval than Akita. Given your need for approval status, does that change your perspective on Medjugorje?
My point is that it doesn’t matter. It is a non issue. We are all free to take or leave it. Please don’t take it personally. I choose to stay clear of it for my own reasons. I am not obliged to believe any apparitions. As to Medjugorge... I have been there. (Back at the beginning—yes I am that old)I’ve read everything. I’ve met with the seers. I have an informed and prayerful opinion. I wish you all grace and blessing in your staunch support of it. I do not choose to join you. And I am disturbed by the insistent implied demand to accept it. Subject closed. I won’t enter the lists again. God speed.
Byron, Thank you. I am still in agreement with Desmond Birch's timeline for the end of times which resulted from his study of various prophecies. He has a mainly man-made chastisement then a period of peace and then the abomination of desolation - the time of the Antichrist. In addition, when Our Lady of Akita states that "Fire will fall from the sky" I believe that this will not be man-made at all, possibly a comet or an asteroid or something of that nature. This could be. Fiat, You could be correct, of course. I think of the cross now as "the Sign left by My Son" since we do refer to making the sign of the cross. In addition, in English sign is a synonym for symbol and vice versa. I agree that we will have to wait and see. Following the messages of Garabandal is the most important thing - soul preparation.
I don't believe that the reasoning contained in this article below is according to the Church's requirements for recognization of a private revelation. It's the local bishop, in this case, Ito, who has the authority to declare approval or not....since for private revelations where the Bishop is is the Church. So an authority other than the bishop, like the one over a group here, doesn't have the authority to declare against the Bishop's reasoning. I believe this may be another case of geo-political consideration. As in the case of Our Lady of America, then Archbishop Burke gave a favorable opinion which those attempting to by-pass the Church's requirements attempted to use AS IF it showed a full approval in order to force the next step of bishops processing the statue (which itself must be the one dictated by our Lady to Sr. Mildred and not the one hurriedly created and used in this push). Burke, when questioned about this had to admit that he did not have that authority....since it was the local bishop of Toledo, OH....who has the authority to begin the proper commission of study, etc. Is Japan's Our Lady of Akita apparition 'worthy of belief'? .....The bishop’s assessment In April 1984, Bishop John Shojiro Ito of Niigata, the diocese in which Akita is located, was ready to retire. Before handing over the diocese to his successor, Bishop Ito published a letter regarding the Akita case, in which he declared that on four separate occasions he witnessed the statue of the Mary weeping. He stated that he had known Sister Agnes for 10 years. “She is a woman sound in spirit, frank and without problems,” Bishop Ito wrote. “She has always impressed me as a balanced person. Consequently, the messages she says that she has received did not appear to me to be in any way the result of imagination or hallucination.” In this letter, Bishop Ito declared: “I recognize the supernatural character of a series of mysterious events concerning the statue of the Holy Mother Mary which is found in the convent of the Institute of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist at Yuzawadai, Soegawa, Akita. I do not find in these events any elements which are contrary to Catholic faith and morals. Consequently, I authorize, throughout the entire diocese, the veneration of the Holy Mother of Akita, while awaiting that the Holy See publishes definitive judgment on this matter.” In 1981, after studying the case, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had reached a negative decision regarding the visions and messages of Akita, and the supposed supernatural events that took place there. After reading the report, Bishop Ito found that a number of details had not been submitted to the congregation, so he sent them to Rome, with a request that the case be re-evaluated in light of this new information. By the time Bishop Ito was ready to retire, the congregation had not reached a decision, which explains his statement about waiting for the Holy See’s “definitive judgment on this matter.” No approval Nonetheless, statements that the CDF and Cardinal Ratzinger specifically had recognized Akita as an approved apparition circulated soon after Bishop Ito released his letter. Then, in 1990, Cardinal Peter Seiichi Shirayanagi, president of Japan’s conference of bishops, gave an interview to 30 Days, an Italian Catholic magazine, in which he said bluntly, “The events of Akita are no longer to be taken seriously.” Given all the conflicting information, in 1999 Christian Order, a British Catholic magazine, sent a formal query to the apostolic nuncio in Japan, Archbishop Ambrose de Paoli. He replied: “The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has asked me to respond to your query re: Akita. ... The Holy See has never given any kind of approval to either the events or messages of Akita.” It appears, then, that Akita is not an approved apparition and the apocalyptic warnings we have read recently are not “worthy of belief.” https://www.osv.com/RSS/365DaysToMe...ady-of-Akita-apparition-worthy-of-belief.aspx When it comes to private revelations or the mystical dimension it is becoming pretty evident that prelates of higher positions don't really understand what the rules are themselves and seem to make it up on the fly! So often this is due to the desire to just bury the future, as shown to the world via heavenly sent warnings, when it doesn't conform to their more earthly ways of reasoning or of personal expectations.
Thank you for those considerate postings. Coming back to the question of the sign left by our Lady's Son being perhaps the Eucharist, I had Don Bosco's two pillars in mind, as well as this prayer at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament which speaks of a "memorial" when referring to the Host: "O God, who, under a wonderful Sacrament, hast left unto us a memorial of Thy passion..." Another point that comes to mind is the beginning verse of Adoro Te Devote by St. Thomas Aquinas, which goes like this: Adoro te devote, latens deitas, Quæ sub his FIGURIS vere latitas... Here is the translation from Wikipedia: I devoutly adore you, o hidden Deity, Truly hidden beneath these appearances... Now, to translate "figuris" with "appearances" seems interesting, in English we have the word "figure" which means number and that is a symbol or a "sign". Of course the real presence is not doubted, beneath the sign is truly hidden the real deity. Hence my thought the "sign" in the Akita message could potentially refer to the Holy Eucharist.
As far as discerning apparitions of Our Lady is concerned, what strategies could the evil one develop to cause distraction, confusion? For wordly people - easy! Entertainment, consumerism, sex, etc... But what about devout Catholics? A bit harder... What about false apparitions? Yeah, that could work! The fruits? Have adherents believe in something that is ever-so-slightly off Catholic teaching. For example, a warning and illumination of conscience before death that has never been granted before, not even to Stalin, Hitler, or Mao, or anyone. Therefore, believe in something that is not really taught by the Church. Make them believe that they know something more than the average Catholic, some secrets that the masses just don't understand. A gnotiscism of sorts. Have them hope for years and years and years. Have them speak sharply and on a personal level with non-followers. Division and strive within the group of faithful Catholics. The evil one is rejoycing. Again, the evil one thinks, have them hope and wait for years and years. Let them come up with timelines even. Usually, they'll say, "it" will happen in the next few years. Once the timeline passes, let them revise the self-constructed theology and come up with a new timeline. But now the warning event must be near, it must be! And what if the warning never comes? What if we are simply called to walk through the valley of tears day by day like every generation before, doing everything with love in the little way, sanctifying ourselves and our loved ones through our work, through our prayers, taking up our cross, no special warning, suffering through like all who've gone before us? Then after years of waiting and waiting, revised timelines, hoping and praying, what if there is still no warning? What will befall the faithful who put their hopes in a warning? Perhaps disillusion? Desolation? Despair? And then? Falling off the Catholic faith entirely? Now that would be horrible! That is why I'm writing this! I'm trying to say this with charity, as much as I can find the right words and hit the right tone which is not my strength. I myself am guilty of having considered Irlmaier and other unapproved nonsense. A time-trap! Our life is time, time is in essence what we've been given as a trust. We will have to give an account for each minute. God bless all here. Offered a decade today for this forum. Please forgive me should I have offended anyone. Sincerely, that was not my intention. God bless, Frank
Having said that, coming back to the first posting in this thread, it seems evident to me that the events outlined in the Akita message are unfolding now (Cardinals opposing Cardinals).
This is an interesting topic though I think we can never be sure until it happens: I´ve read several Garabandal and Akita experts (including Maria Saraco in an interview and possibly one of the seers - but I´m not sure) state flatly that the fire from heaven described in both Akita and Garabandal (and in a number of other messages) WILL NOT BE MAN-MADE. That, of course, does not rule out the very real possibility that nuclear weapons will be used sometime in the future, but according to these experts the fire described in the chastisement will be sent directly by God in the form of some type of unprecedented, unexpected cosmic phenomenon.
Although I believe in some unapproved manifestations (as I stated before) I believe you make some very valid points. Here´s my two cents: I strongly suspect the vast majority of prophecies around us today are false: they are either private meditations or the result of the subject´s unconscious mind or - yes! - some may come from the dark side. However, given that we are living in absolutely unprecedented times - the end-times, no less! predicted by Our Lord 2,000 years ago; given that Satan is more active today than ever before - stated by numerous popes and saints and approved prophecies; given that the challenges we face today (the state of the church and of the world, the prospect of nuclear war, cloning, genetic manipulation, abortion etc. - well, you get the picture); given all that Is it conceivable that Our Loving God, Our Lord and His Holy Mother would sit idly by and not resort to extraordinary measures to help us along the way, to avert the worst, to warn, to chastise, to send messengers and messages to help us along the path of righteousness? Especially considering that God HAS SENT the Mother of God before on numerous occasions, when things were not even so dire (La Salette, Quito, Fatima, Guadaloupe, Laus - the list goes on and on) Why would He be silent NOW that we are in the midst of the greatest crises, living in the 100 years or so that were GIVEN TO SATAN to test the faithful? Does that make sense? Isn´t it more likely that at least SOME of the apparitions and messages are from God - and that we must exercise our discernment to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Also, the most likely reason for the delays is that not enough people have converted. Although some people are praying and fasting and trying to do what has been asked, the vast majority probably do not and therefore we may not reap the benefits, because of the lack of faith of many people.
It seems to me that we reap some benefit on an individual level with our sacrifices but not on a corporal level because so many of us are distracted and can not see and interpret the signs of the times. The harvest will come however. How many of our Shepards give the water of life to those who seek it? How many even seek it? How many have itching ears? Why would God fall silent? Would he allow us to be deceived? He says as much through Saint Paul to the Thessalonians. Therefore, God is sending them a deceiving power so that they may believe the lie, that all who have not believed the truth but have approved wrongdoing may be condemned.
God is anything but silent these days. He is sending us marvelous means, through His mother especially, and reminders of how to remain close to the Holy Trinity, on the narrow road of light in this darkness; how to prepare and what the means are to do so. We are on our way to living in the Divine Will but only if we surrender our own wills and attachments to this world around us, all the noise and distractions, attacks against us, into the hands of our Mother....."Queen and Mother of the End Times". We're more like putty in the hands of the means of communication controlled by the minions of Satan! We mustn't fall into the trap of actually helping the globalists accomplish their plan of dissolving, through misinformation and hatred, all influences of old to the one True God......warts and all as ever before.
Thank you, Frank. I think you say things well, carefully, and charitably. It is difficult to know what is true and what isn't. Some Protestants hope in a Rapture; when this doesn't come and they're slogging through the Tribulation with all the rest of us Christians, they can either admit that they were taught and assumed wrongly, or they will have such a hard time separating what they were taught from Christian Truth, that their faith may fail. It is difficult to know what is true. That is why, for myself, I find saying the Rosary safe, and easy to understand and follow through on. Follow Christ, repent, ask for humility and charity and the ability to forgive others, and keep going. Carry the Cross. Mary is still Mary and the Church's tradition of loving, praying to, trusting, and seeking her intercession is always good, no matter what turns out to be valid or invalid. I've been wrong on apparitions, too, and divorcing feelings from reality is not easy. Totally not easy. Feelings can feel so right. And true. Bleh.
I was commenting on the forum for people who had negative opinions about the messages of Medjugorje to reconsider and join in the efforts of praying, fasting, confessing, eucharist, and scripture. For example, today is Wednesday and we are to fast on bread and water all day. The same for Friday. We are also supposed to confess monthly, read scripture daily, attend Mass as often as possible and pray the rosary daily. These are what the Virgin of Medjugorje has recommended. Now if you take a look at the third part of the secret of Fatima. Sister Lucia described a vision " After the two parts which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendour that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: ‘Penance, Penance, Penance!'. " When the angel shouts PENANCE three times, what do you think he means? What kinds of penances do you think he is shouting to us to do? Other than the First Friday and First Saturday obligation, what kinds of penances do the Catholics that have a devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, what are they organizing and carrying out? The Virgin of Medjugorje has consistently asked for these five stones she calls them (prayer, fasting, Eucharist, Confession, and Scripture) and she says with these, we will defeat Goliath. She also said that we are to pray daily for the conversion of people that don't believe in God and that when we pray for them, we are praying for our future. The next part of Sister Lucia's vision goes "And we saw in an immense light that is God: ‘something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it' " This could be how Sister Lucia describes the Warning or the Illumination of Conscience ie. seeing in the light of God how we honestly look as if in a mirror.
