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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 104
DATE 29-05-2012
Summary:
- POPE SADDENED AND CONCERNED AT THE MASSACRE IN HOULA
- CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH PUBLISHES NORMS REGARDING
DISCERNMENT OF PRESUMED APPARITIONS
- NORMS REGARDING THE MANNER OF PROCEEDING IN THE DISCERNMENT OF PRESUMED
APPARITIONS OR REVELATIONS
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
___________________________________________________________
POPE SADDENED AND CONCERNED AT THE MASSACRE IN HOULA
Vatican City, 29 May 2012 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico
Lombardi S.J. today released the following declaration.
"The recent massacre in the Syrian town of Houla in which around one hundred
people, including numerous children, lost their lives, is a motive of great
sorrow and concern for the Holy Father and the entire Catholic community, as
it is for the
international community which has expressed unanimous condemnation of the
incident.
"Renewing its appeal for an end to all forms of violence, the Holy See exhorts
the parties involved and the entire international community to spare no
efforts to resolve this crisis through dialogue and reconciliation. Likewise,
leaders and believers of
the various religions, through prayer and mutual collaboration, are called to
commit themselves to promoting the peace which is so much sought after, for
the good of the whole population".
___________________________________________________________
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH PUBLISHES NORMS REGARDING
DISCERNMENT OF PRESUMED APPARITIONS
Vatican City, 29 May 2012 (VIS) - The Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith recently published its "Norms regarding the manner of proceeding in the
discernment of presumed apparitions or revelations", translated into various
languages. The document
was approved by Pope Paul VI and issued by the congregation in 1978 though it
was not then officially published as it was principally intended as a direct
aid for the pastors of the Church.
Over the course of the years the document has appeared in various works
dealing with the subject in question, although without the authorisation of
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which is the competent
authority in such matters. Since
the contents of the Norms are already in the public domain, the congregation
believes it is now opportune to publish them.
The publication is accompanied by a preface written by Cardinal William Joseph
Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, extracts of
which are given below.
"In the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God held in
October 2008, the issue of the problems stemming from the experience of
supernatural phenomena was raised as a pastoral concern by some bishops. Their
concern was recognised by
the Holy Father Benedict XVI, who inserted the issue into the larger context
of the economy of salvation in a significant passage of the Post-Synodal
Apostolic Exhortation 'Verbum Domini'. It is important to recall this teaching
of the Pontiff".
"As the Fathers noted during the Synod, the uniqueness of Christianity is
manifested in the event which is Jesus Christ, the culmination of revelation.
... He Who ‘has made God known’ is the one, definitive word given
to mankind. ... The
Synod pointed to the need to ‘help the faithful to distinguish the word
of God from private revelations’ whose role ‘is not to complete
Christ’s definitive revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a
certain period of
history’. The value of private revelations is essentially different from
that of the one public revelation: the latter demands faith; in it God Himself
speaks to us through human words and the mediation of the living community of
the Church.
"The criterion for judging the truth of a private revelation is its
orientation to Christ Himself. If it leads us away from Him, then it certainly
does not come from the Holy Spirit, Who guides us more deeply into the Gospel,
and not away from it.
Private revelation is an aid to this faith, and it demonstrates its
credibility precisely because it refers back to the one public revelation.
Ecclesiastical approval of a private revelation essentially means that its
message contains nothing contrary
to faith and morals; it is licit to make it public and the faithful are
authorised to give it their prudent adhesion. A private revelation can
introduce new emphases, give rise to new forms of piety, or deepen older ones.
It can have a certain prophetic
character and can be a valuable aid for better understanding and living the
Gospel at a certain time; consequently it should not be treated lightly. It is
a help which is proffered, but its use is not obligatory".
"It is my firm hope that the official publication of the 'Norms regarding the
manner of proceeding in the discernment of presumed apparitions or
revelations' can aid the pastors of the Catholic Church in their difficult
task of discerning presumed
apparitions, revelations, messages or, more generally, extraordinary phenomena
of presumed supernatural origin".
___________________________________________________________
NORMS REGARDING THE MANNER OF PROCEEDING IN THE DISCERNMENT OF PRESUMED
APPARITIONS OR REVELATIONS
Vatican City, 29 May 2012 (VIS) - Given below are extracts from the document
"Norms regarding the manner of proceeding in the discernment of presumed
apparitions or revelations", published recently by the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith. The
document was approved by Pope Paul VI and issued by the congregation in 1978
though it was not then officially published as it was principally intended as
a direct aid for the pastors of the Church.
ORIGIN AND CHARACTER OF THESE NORMS
"1. Today, more than in the past, news of these apparitions is diffused
rapidly among the faithful thanks to the ... mass media. Moreover, the ease of
going from one place to another fosters frequent pilgrimages, so that
Ecclesiastical Authority should
discern quickly about the merits of such matters.
"2. On the other hand, modern mentality and the requirements of critical
scientific investigation render it more difficult, if not almost impossible,
to achieve with the required speed the judgements that in the past concluded
the investigation of such
matters ('constat de supernaturalitate, non constat de supernaturalitate')".
"When Ecclesiastical Authority is informed of a presumed apparition or
revelation, it will be its responsibility:
"a) first, to judge the fact according to positive and negative criteria;
"b) then, if this examination results in a favourable conclusion, to permit
some public manifestation of cult or of devotion, overseeing this with great
prudence (equivalent to the formula, 'for now, nothing stands in the way')
('pro nunc nihil
obstare').
"c) finally, in light of time passed and of experience, with special regard to
the fecundity of spiritual fruit generated from this new devotion, to express
a judgement regarding the authenticity and supernatural character if the case
so merits"
I. CRITERIA FOR JUDGING, AT LEAST WITH PROBABILITY, THE CHARACTER OF THE
PRESUMED APPARITIONS OR REVELATIONS
"A) Positive Criteria:
"a) Moral certitude, or at least great probability of the existence of the
fact, acquired by means of a serious investigation;
"b) Particular circumstances relative to the existence and to the nature of
the fact, that is to say:
"1. Personal qualities of the subject or of the subjects (in particular,
psychological equilibrium, honesty and rectitude of moral life, sincerity and
habitual docility towards Ecclesiastical Authority, the capacity to return to
a normal regimen of a
life of faith, etc.);
"2. As regards revelation: true theological and spiritual doctrine and immune
from error;
"3. Healthy devotion and abundant and constant spiritual fruit (for example,
spirit of prayer, conversion, testimonies of charity, etc.).
"B) Negative Criteria:
"a) Manifest error concerning the fact.
"b) Doctrinal errors attributed to God Himself, or to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
or to some saint in their manifestations, taking into account however the
possibility that the subject might have added, even unconsciously, purely
human elements or some
error of the natural order to an authentic supernatural revelation.
"c) Evidence of a search for profit or gain strictly connected to the fact.
"d) Gravely immoral acts committed by the subject or his or her followers when
the fact occurred or in connection with it.
"e) Psychological disorder or psychopathic tendencies in the subject, that
with certainty influenced on the presumed supernatural fact, or psychosis,
collective hysteria or other things of this kind.
"It is to be noted that these criteria, be they positive or negative, are not
peremptory but rather indicative, and they should be applied cumulatively or
with some mutual convergence".
II. INTERVENTION OF THE COMPETENT ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY
"1. If, on the occasion of a presumed supernatural fact, there arises in a
spontaneous way among the faithful a certain cult or some devotion, the
competent Ecclesiastical Authority has the serious duty of looking into it
without delay and of diligently
watching over it.
"2. If the faithful request it legitimately (that is, in communion with the
pastors, and not prompted by a sectarian spirit), the competent Ecclesiastical
Authority can intervene to permit or promote some form of cult or devotion,
if, after the
application of the above criteria, nothing stands in the way. They must be
careful that the faithful do not interpret this practice as approval of the
supernatural nature of the fact on the part of the Church.
"3. By reason of its doctrinal and pastoral task, the competent Authority can
intervene 'motu proprio' and indeed must do so in grave circumstances, for
example in order to correct or prevent abuses in the exercise of cult and
devotion, to condemn
erroneous doctrine, to avoid the dangers of a false or unseemly mysticism, etc.
"4. In doubtful cases that clearly do not put the good of the Church at risk,
the competent Ecclesiastical Authority is to refrain from any judgement and
from any direct action (because it can also happen that, after a certain
period of time, the
presumed supernatural fact falls into oblivion); it must not however cease
from being vigilant by intervening if necessary, with promptness and prudence".
III. AUTHORITIES COMPETENT TO INTERVENE
"1. Above all, the duty of vigilance and intervention falls to the Ordinary of
the place.
"2. The regional or national Conference of Bishops can intervene" in certain
cases.
"3. The Apostolic See can intervene if asked either by the Ordinary himself,
by a qualified group of the faithful, or even directly by reason of the
universal jurisdiction of the Supreme Pontiff".
IV. ON THE INTERVENTION OF THE SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE
FAITH
"1. a) The intervention of the Sacred Congregation can be requested either by
the Ordinary, after he has done his part, or by a qualified group of the
faithful. In this second case, care must be taken that recourse to the Sacred
Congregation not be
motivated by suspect reasons (for example, in order to compel the Ordinary to
modify his own legitimate decisions, to support some sectarian group, etc.).
b) It is up to the Sacred Congregation to intervene 'motu proprio' in more
grave cases, especially if the matter affects the larger part of the Church".
"2. It is up to the Sacred Congregation to judge and approve the
Ordinary’s way of proceeding or, in so far as it be possible and
fitting, to initiate a new examination of the matter".
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 29 May 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
- Appointed Bishop Richard J. Malone of Portland, U.S.A., as bishop of Buffalo
(area 16,511, population 1,621,000, Catholics 716,000, priests 425, permanent
deacons 127, religious 1,075), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Edward U. Kmiec,
whose resignation from
the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having
reached the age limit.
- Appointed Bishop Samuel J. Aquila of Fargo, U.S.A., as archbishop of Denver
(area 101.279, population 3,328,000, Catholics 549,325, priests 306, permanent
deacons 184, religious 203), U.S.A.
___________________________________________________________
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VISnews120529
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXII - N° 104DATE 29-05-2012
Summary: - POPE SADDENED AND CONCERNED AT
THE MASSACRE IN HOULA -
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH PUBLISHES NORMS REGARDING
DISCERNMENT OF PRESUMED APPARITIONS - NORMS REGARDING THE MANNER OF
PROCEEDING IN THE DISCERNMENT OF PRESUMED APPARITIONS OR REVELATIONS -
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS ___________________________________________________________
POPE SADDENED AND CONCERNED AT THE MASSACRE IN HOULA
Vatican City, 29 May 2012 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr.
Federico Lombardi S.J. today released the following declaration.
"The recent massacre in the Syrian town of Houla in which around one
hundred people, including numerous children, lost their lives, is a motive of
great sorrow and concern for the Holy Father and the entire Catholic
community, as it is for the
international community which has expressed unanimous condemnation of the
incident.
"Renewing its appeal for an end to all forms of violence, the Holy See
exhorts the parties involved and the entire international community to spare
no efforts to resolve this crisis through dialogue and reconciliation.
Likewise, leaders and believers
of the various religions, through prayer and mutual collaboration, are called
to commit themselves to promoting the peace which is so much sought after, for
the good of the whole population".
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH PUBLISHES NORMS REGARDING
DISCERNMENT OF PRESUMED APPARITIONS
Vatican City, 29 May 2012 (VIS) - The Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith recently published its "Norms regarding the manner of proceeding in the
discernment of presumed apparitions or revelations", translated into various
languages. The
document was approved by Pope Paul VI and issued by the congregation in 1978
though it was not then officially published as it was principally intended as
a direct aid for the pastors of the Church.
Over the course of the years the document has appeared in various works
dealing with the subject in question, although without the authorisation of
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which is the competent
authority in such matters. Since
the contents of the Norms are already in the public domain, the congregation
believes it is now opportune to publish them.
The publication is accompanied by a preface written by Cardinal William
Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
extracts of which are given below.
"In the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God held
in October 2008, the issue of the problems stemming from the experience of
supernatural phenomena was raised as a pastoral concern by some bishops. Their
concern was recognised
by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, who inserted the issue into the larger
context of the economy of salvation in a significant passage of the
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation 'Verbum Domini'. It is important to recall
this teaching of the Pontiff".
"As the Fathers noted during the Synod, the uniqueness of Christianity is
manifested in the event which is Jesus Christ, the culmination of revelation.
... He Who ‘has made God known’ is the one, definitive word given
to mankind. ... The
Synod pointed to the need to ‘help the faithful to distinguish the word
of God from private revelations’ whose role ‘is not to complete
Christ’s definitive revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a
certain period of
history’. The value of private revelations is essentially different from
that of the one public revelation: the latter demands faith; in it God Himself
speaks to us through human words and the mediation of the living community of
the Church.
"The criterion for judging the truth of a private revelation is its
orientation to Christ Himself. If it leads us away from Him, then it certainly
does not come from the Holy Spirit, Who guides us more deeply into the Gospel,
and not away from it.
Private revelation is an aid to this faith, and it demonstrates its
credibility precisely because it refers back to the one public revelation.
Ecclesiastical approval of a private revelation essentially means that its
message contains nothing contrary
to faith and morals; it is licit to make it public and the faithful are
authorised to give it their prudent adhesion. A private revelation can
introduce new emphases, give rise to new forms of piety, or deepen older ones.
It can have a certain prophetic
character and can be a valuable aid for better understanding and living the
Gospel at a certain time; consequently it should not be treated lightly. It is
a help which is proffered, but its use is not
obligatory".
"It is my firm hope that the official publication of the 'Norms regarding
the manner of proceeding in the discernment of presumed apparitions or
revelations' can aid the pastors of the Catholic Church in their difficult
task of discerning presumed
apparitions, revelations, messages or, more generally, extraordinary phenomena
of presumed supernatural origin".
NORMS REGARDING THE MANNER OF PROCEEDING IN THE DISCERNMENT OF PRESUMED
APPARITIONS OR REVELATIONS
Vatican City, 29 May 2012 (VIS) - Given below are extracts from the
document "Norms regarding the manner of proceeding in the discernment of
presumed apparitions or revelations", published recently by the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The document was approved by Pope Paul VI and issued by the congregation in
1978 though it was not then officially published as it was principally
intended as a direct aid for the pastors of the Church.
ORIGIN AND CHARACTER OF THESE NORMS
"1. Today, more than in the past, news of these apparitions is diffused
rapidly among the faithful thanks to the ... mass media. Moreover, the ease of
going from one place to another fosters frequent pilgrimages, so that
Ecclesiastical Authority
should discern quickly about the merits of such matters.
"2. On the other hand, modern mentality and the requirements of critical
scientific investigation render it more difficult, if not almost impossible,
to achieve with the required speed the judgements that in the past concluded
the investigation of
such matters ('constat de supernaturalitate, non constat de supe
naturalitate')".
"When Ecclesiastical Authority is informed of a presumed apparition or
revelation, it will be its responsibility:
"a) first, to judge the fact according to positive and negative
criteria;
"b) then, if this examination results in a favourable conclusion, to permit
some public manifestation of cult or of devotion, overseeing this with great
prudence (equivalent to the formula, 'for now, nothing stands in the way')
('pro nunc nihil
obstare').
"c) finally, in light of time passed and of experience, with special regard
to the fecundity of spiritual fruit generated from this new devotion, to
express a judgement regarding the authenticity and supernatural character if
the case so merits"
I. CRITERIA FOR JUDGING, AT LEAST WITH PROBABILITY, THE CHARACTER OF THE
PRESUMED APPARITIONS OR REVELATIONS
"A) Positive Criteria:
"a) Moral certitude, or at least great probability of the existence of the
fact, acquired by means of a serious investigation;
"b) Particular circumstances relative to the existence and to the nature of
the fact, that is to say:
"1. Personal qualities of the subject or of the subjects (in particular,
psychological equilibrium, honesty and rectitude of moral life, sincerity and
habitual docility towards Ecclesiastical Authority, the capacity to return to
a normal regimen of a
life of faith, etc.);
"2. As regards revelation: true theological and spiritual doctrine and
immune from error;
"3. Healthy devotion and abundant and constant spiritual fruit (for
example, spirit of prayer, conversion, testimonies of charity, etc.).
"B) Negative Criteria:
"a) Manifest error concerning the fact.
"b) Doctrinal errors attributed to God Himself, or to the Blessed Virgin
Mary, or to some saint in their manifestations, taking into account however
the possibility that the subject might have added, even unconsciously, purely
human elements or some
error of the natural order to an authentic supernatural revelation.
"c) Evidence of a search for profit or gain strictly connected to the
fact.
"d) Gravely immoral acts committed by the subject or his or her followers
when the fact occurred or in connection with it.
"e) Psychological disorder or psychopathic tendencies in the subject, that
with certainty influenced on the presumed supernatural fact, or psychosis,
collective hysteria or other things of this kind.
"It is to be noted that these criteria, be they positive or negative, are
not peremptory but rather indicative, and they should be applied cumulatively
or with some mutual convergence".
II. INTERVENTION OF THE COMPETENT ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY
"1. If, on the occasion of a presumed supernatural fact, there arises in a
spontaneous way among the faithful a certain cult or some devotion, the
competent Ecclesiastical Authority has the serious duty of looking into it
without delay and of
diligently watching over it.
"2. If the faithful request it legitimately (that is, in communion with the
pastors, and not prompted by a sectarian spirit), the competent Ecclesiastical
Authority can intervene to permit or promote some form of cult or devotion,
if, after the
application of the above criteria, nothing stands in the way. They must be
careful that the faithful do not interpret this practice as approval of the
supernatural nature of the fact on the part of the Church.
--- NetMgr/2 1.0y+
* Origin: NetMgr+ @ Sursum Corda! BBS Meridian MS USA (1:396/45)
