Medjugorie

[Ice_nine]

I know there's a lot of debates about the authenticity about these alleged apparitions, but I don't intend to get people on the merry-go-round.

 

There's folks in my family that keep talking to me about the recent mircales and apparitions, and I just feel hella awkward when they do. I have serious hesitation about these apparitions and the messages associated with them, but some of my folk seem really impacted by the recent developments (such as the sun pulsating in Israel https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10201030205950774 , in which there's so much camera movement that I'm not really at all impressed by).

 

I always feel a little awkward talking about religion to my family because I'm one the few that still practice (in terms of going to Mass every week, confession etc) and so when they talk about meddjugorie like it's some terrible, wonderful thing I feel extra awkward (I'm aware I'm using this word a lot).

 

I guess what I'm asking is how to be honest without damaging someone else's faith, especially if that faith is on shoddy ground to begin with? I know God uses different things to bring people to Him, so I don't like being too much of a hard-ass, but I honestly don't think this Medjugorie stuff is legit.

 

 

 

This is a weird stupid thread, but maybe some of you have experienced this.

[Jaime]

Whether or not you think Medjugorje is legit is obviously completely up to you.  Even with the apparitions that are approved of by the Church, you can make your own determination on whether or not it's legit.  I've been to Medjugorje twice now and it's my opinion that it's absolutely real.  I witnessed things that are not possible and couldn't possibly be doctored or created by humans. 

 

Now I've also seen a lot of stuff in Medjugorje that was absolutely created by people for various reasons.  Make money, get somebody sainted, etc.  But I would venture a guess that there are more than a few scam artists at Lourdes, Fatima and Jerusalem as well.  Just because something extraordinary is happening, doesn't mean that bad people won't try to exploit it. 

 

Here is the compelling thing for me about Medjugorje.  The visionaries have claimed to receive messages since the 80s.  The Church will not authenticate any visionary experience until the apparitions have stopped.  But the Church has declared other so called apparitions at other locations as false in the same time.  I find it interesting that there is still a commission studying the phenomena almost 30 years later.

[GeorgiiMichael]

I just tell people that I remain skeptical until the Church approves of a vision/apparition. I tend to not discuss it, and just smile and nod when others bring it up, and if they ask my opinion, I tell them clearly. It's not my place to say whether or not Medj is legit or not, and so I won't tell people to stop, but I'm in no way obligated to have faith in Medj, and so I won't until Mother Church says that it's worthy of belief. 

[PhuturePriest]

I am incredibly skeptical and critical of Medgjugorie and am pretty much certain it isn't legitimate. But I still respect others' opinions and ultimately say that it is up to the Church and we will see what the final verdict is soon enough.

[Basilisa Marie]

If it were me in your position, I'd try to grin and bear it, unless they ask me my own opinion.  Then I'd say something like what GeorgiiMichael said.  I have a rosary from Medjugorje that was a gift I received on a mission trip, and it means a lot to me.  Ultimately I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that some of the stuff was true and others weren't. 

[4588686]

Go on a message board where sincere and decent people post about these heartfelt issues and act like a johnsonville brat.  That's what I do, anyway.  

Edited August 31, 2013 by Hasan

[southern california guy]

I know there's a lot of debates about the authenticity about these alleged apparitions, but I don't intend to get people on the merry-go-round.

 

There's folks in my family that keep talking to me about the recent mircales and apparitions, and I just feel hella awkward when they do. I have serious hesitation about these apparitions and the messages associated with them, but some of my folk seem really impacted by the recent developments (such as the sun pulsating in Israel https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10201030205950774 , in which there's so much camera movement that I'm not really at all impressed by).

 

I always feel a little awkward talking about religion to my family because I'm one the few that still practice (in terms of going to Mass every week, confession etc) and so when they talk about meddjugorie like it's some terrible, wonderful thing I feel extra awkward (I'm aware I'm using this word a lot).

 

I guess what I'm asking is how to be honest without damaging someone else's faith, especially if that faith is on shoddy ground to begin with? I know God uses different things to bring people to Him, so I don't like being too much of a hard-ass, but I honestly don't think this Medjugorie stuff is legit.

 

 

 

This is a weird stupid thread, but maybe some of you have experienced this.

 

Boy, I know exactly what you mean.  My mom really gets into the whole thing, and she is always giving me things that she wants me to read.  Things that she feels will change my mind.  But they don't.... And then I feel bad when she asks what I think and I honestly tell her that I am a little skeptical and it seems like she is pretty let down...

[dUSt]

My grandparents went to Medjugorje. They were changed. Their conversion influenced me greatly and probably had a lot to do with my own conversion and the creation of this site.

 

So, real or fake, the good that has come into my family because of Medjugorje cannot be denied.

[cmaD2006]

I'm agreeing with dUSt.  I went to Medjugorje right after my mom's death, and it really helped soothe that loss.  It wasn't planned that way, but it happened that way.

 

I also agree that scam artists are everywhere :).

 

Finally if it makes any difference, I'm not a gun-ho Medjugorje fan ... i.e. I'm not one who goes nuts over it.  But -- I will consider a 2nd trip in the future.  It was beautiful ... even for simply a prayerful atmosphere.  There was space for prayer, and there was space to contemplate, and on a pilgrimage that is golden (not all pilgrimages have the right amount of prayer time/space ... some are too much "go-go-go", and Medjugorje was really flexible in that regard).

[Selah]

I have noticed that those who have been to Medjugorge have come back changed, and really believe the Theotokos has been there, while those who have not yet been there, are not in favor that these are true apparations of Her.

[4588686]

Haven't we had enough Bosnia threads on here for a while?