Technical issue so reposting my reply to Fatima here. (My apologies for somehow inadvertently making it look like my my response was a part of the quote to which I replied. It’s all in italics.) Advocata Nostra speaking here: For that website’s two theologians who have their agreed upon line of thinking, I could, if I looked hard enough, find two different theologians—guaranteed—who measure studying things of this nature using a completely different set of criteria than do your aforementioned two. Noah WAS validated, for sure. He’s in Sacred Scripture and Our Lord referred to his time, as well, just to drive it home for all of us. I’d have to be completely clueless to argue THAT point. Far too many people are “doing the circuit” with their “words” from God. It is foolish to just think that because someone has been invited to speak his/her messages inside a series of Catholic Churches or at Catholic conferences that these facts legitimize them as seers. Unfortunately, many a false seer has had these types of beginnings only to be called out later due to bad fruits despite the initial hype. This is reckless. You don’t know me, so please don’t make assumptions about how I approach things of this nature. I am quite open to listening and prayerfully discerning messages that seems to speak truth to my heart. But I’ll still await the Church’s say on the matter. For instance, it is with holy hope that I await Her proclamation on one in particular—Garabandal. The main seer lives a very private life. She’s not out with a microphone promoting her message. The messages and her hidden way of life speak for themselves. I can quite safely choose to believe in the possibility of Our Lady’s messages of Garabandal and even wait upon the Warning as something merciful to be given to us by God. So, I trust and I wait. Finally, please allow me to quote from Sacred Scripture, as well— Matthew 24:23-26 [24] Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him. [24] For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. [25] Behold I have told it to you, beforehand. [26] If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not.
Thank you, Lynnfiat, a powerful essay. This harkens to the days of Antonio Yague, however he tried to fit it into his "time premises." That did not work out. But it certainly may still. Mallet statement below is very much in point today. "Clearly, the most important message out of all of this is that humanity is at a critical juncture as never before. We may not be able to change our neighbour’s heart, but we can certainly change our own, and through reparation, bring mercy upon others. Today is the day to enter into the safe refuge of Christ’s heart—that City of God that will never be shaken."
I find interest in messages from others like Mark from time to time but I find it is much more productive actually spending time in meditation, contemplation and prayer. Fr Gallaghers Meditation and contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with Scripture is an excellent way to begin to learn to discern not only things which come to us in prayer and meditation but all throughout the day. It's really excellent. Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with Scripture
This is what I love about the message of Garabandal. It is truly a message of great Hope. One in fact that I have seen a similar thing playing out in some people I know now in this time of great upheaval. People who have become introspective and who are being shown their sins and how they have affected others by them. It is really something quite incredible.
It is good to see that all, laity and clerics, who oppose God's prophets of today have not and do not oppose them for being contrary to scripture or church teaching. If they did, I would be the first to drop them like some on the forum have. Garabandal has is 'scary' parts too "when communism returns" and "things are at their worst" is pretty scary I would think, but it is good to see some still embrace those prophecies fulfillment. From what I can deduct, unless someone out there can prove otherwise, the modern prophets are dismissed, because they bring a horrible purification coming and I too understand I would rather have a "soft" purification. However, once again turning to scripture, we can see it gives us not a "soft purification", but a very hard undesirable purification. Let us see what it says about out time, as it sounds like the scary stuff prophets today are saying. Here is what the first Gospel of Matthew had to say about the end-times. I assure you it is not a soft purification either. Matthew 24 [3] And when he was sitting on mount Olivet, the disciples came to him privately, saying: Tell us when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the consummation of the world? [4] And Jesus answering, said to them: Take heed that no man seduce you: [5] For many will come in my name saying, I am Christ: and they will seduce many. [6] And you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that ye be not troubled. For these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be pestilences, and famines, and earthquakes in places: [8] Now all these are the beginnings of sorrows. [9] Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall put you to death: and you shall be hated by all nations for my name's sake. [10] And then shall many be scandalized: and shall betray one another: and shall hate one another. [11] And many false prophets shall rise, and shall seduce many. [12] And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold. [13] But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom, shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations, and then shall the consummation come. [15] When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand. [16] Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains: [17] And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house: [18] And he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat. [19] And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in those days. [20] But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the sabbath. [21] For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be. [22] And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened. [23] Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him. [24] For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. [25] Behold I have told it to you, beforehand. [26] If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not. [27] For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall the coming of the Son of man be. [28] Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together. [29] And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.
Yes, I am very familiar with this chapter of Matthew where there is much food for meditation. I knowingly posted a specific excerpt of it in my previous reply to highlight my line of thinking because you seemed to question me in that regard. And now I will offer you one more thought. The following admonitions were extracted from +Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.’s book, A Still Small Voice, with regards to private revelation: 1) “Do not make hasty judgements about ultimate authenticity.” 2) “...Resist the temptation to consider any piece of evidence as ultimately conclusive.” 3) “Do not avoid the consideration of an honest critical evaluation (of the alleged revelations)...”. These are the type of guidelines to which any people who place themselves in the business of vetting alleged seers should attend. If someone is going to make it their mission to inform the world of every person who turns the corner claiming to have a message from God or the Blessed Mother, they’d better be careful not to let their drive for doing so take precedence whilst ignoring and letting slide obvious danger signals.
The guidelines are on the right lines but rather sparce/meagre in detail. How would they apply for example to the apparitions of Garabandal?
