Vatican to Approve Medjugorje Apparitions

Vatican Likey Expected to Approve First 7 Medjugorje Apparitions

By Michael K. Jones (founder of Medjugorje USA)

Bosnian and Croatian news agencies are reporting that on August 19 Archbishop Henryk Hoser told the catholic news agency KAI, he expected the Holy See to approve the Medjugorje apparitions, maybe even before the end of this year. Archbishop Hoser stated, “There is every indication” that the Vatican will recognize the authenticity of at least the first reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary, dating back to 1981. Hoser added, “It is difficult to reach any other verdict.”

On February 11, 2017 Pope Francis sent Polish envoy Archbishop Henryk Hoser to Medjugorje to gain “deeper knowledge” of the pastoral needs of millions of Catholic drawn there by reports of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary. The apparitions began in June of 1981 and continue to this day. Hoser’s mission did not involve deciding the merits of the six children who are now grown with families of their own, who still claim they receive visitations and messages from the Holy Virgin.

Vatican spokesman Greg Burke in February released Archbishop Hoser’s resolve was to study, “the needs of the faithful who go there on pilgrimage.” The mission was to finalize by summers end. On Wednesday April 5, 2017 Bishop Hoser conducted an interview with media in Medjugorje. Hoser offered a number of positive comments which impressed him about events taking place in Medjugorje. With a number of media news sources on hand for the interview in April of 2017, Henryk Hoser concluded that “Medjugorje is a light shinning into the darkness, so people can find their way to the light once again.” Transcripts of Medjugorje Press Conference in Medjugorje with Archbishop Hoser’s http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/bishophoser.htm

In his most recent interview with KAI, Hoser enlightens us a little more about his mission in Medjugorje. The Archbishop tells us, his mission was “to evaluate whether the pastoral ministry was proper and consistent with the doctrine and teachings of the Church.” He answered affirmatively saying, “From a pastoral point of view, there is a very positive result, as well as being effective and well organized. We should note in Archbishop Hoser’s comments to KAI suggests his mission is worded in past tense saying, “his mission was.” This would be consistent with the original plan to send envoy Henryk Hoser to Medjugorje on a mission to warp up by summer’s end.

We at Medjugorje USA would like to note that the Medjugorje apparitions have been deeply divided since their humble beginning 36 years ago. Where one stands for the apparitions, there is one who stands opposed. In the speculation and rumors generated by believes and nonbelievers alike, there were also 3 Medjugorje Commissions investigations that failed, leaving the faithful without direction and creating yet more division.

The 4^th Medjugorje Commission aka “The Independent Commission” (2010 – 2014) was comprised of experts from several countries, rather to keep the investigation within the confines of the “Conferences of Bishops” in the former Yugoslavia, as was the previous investigations. The 4^th Commission was under the direction of Cardinal Camill Ruini. On January 18, 2014 the Holy See Press Office announcer Fr. Rederico Lombarai publicly acknowledged the last 4^th Medjugorje Commission meeting took place on January 17, 2014 and the finding were given to the “Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, for evaluation.”

Once in the hands of Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Reverend Gerard Ludwig Mueller, the controversial division would continue. Over the years Mueller made his position clear that he did not believe in the apparitions. At times Miller used his position to openly voice opposition, taking negative actions against the apparitions, even prior to a formal completed investigation. Receiving the Commission Report, Mueller would again show is anger against the official report submitted by Cardinal Ruini.

In May 2017 Pope Francis praised Cardinal Ruini's Medjugorje Commission report (2010 - 2014) stating it to be "very very good." Francis said, internal Vatican politics intervened: Cardinal Gerhard Mueller of the Vatican's doctrine office raised doubts about elements of the Ruini report and sought input from his own cardinal and bishop advisers. Pope Francis said he only learned about Mueller's intervention after the fact. Francis commented, "And it didn't seem right. It was like, excuse the phrase, putting Ruini's report up for auction when it was very well done." Pope Francis intervened the following day insisting that any further reflections on Medjugorje and the Commission Report be sent directly to him, not Mueller. The normal and usual process of Vatican procedure had broken down and the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith Prefect was now kept out of the loop. “Prefect of the Congregation of Doctrine of Faith,” Reverend Gerhard Ludwig Mueller was ousted July 2, 2017. His Holiness Pope Francis relieved Mueller from his duties after just 5 years of service as prefect. There is no announcement from the Vatican as to why Mueller has been fired but we at Medjugorje USA do believe it is the result of his former and more recent transgressions of improper process and procedure in regard to Medjugorje. Article by Medjugorje USA about why Reverend Mueller was likely fired, http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/muellerfired.htm

The Commission Report submitted by Cardinal Ruini is mixed but on May 17, 2017, Vatican City announced in part, “We have received information telling us 13 members of the 4^th Medjugorje Commission voted in favor of recognizing the first 7 apparitions as supernatural in nature."

Conclusion: We need consider positive findings. The Commission Report states early apparitions are supernatural. Pope Francis sends Archbisop Hoser to Medjugorje who states publicly, “Medjugorje is a light shinning into the darkness, so people can find their way to the light once again.” More recently 89 year old Cardinal Ernest Simoni was guest speaker at the Medjugorje youth festival (2017) http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/youthfestival2017.htm having been sent to Medjugorje at the request of Pope Francis. Now media is reporting that according to Archbishop Hoser it is believed the early Medjugorje apparitions may well be approved by the Vatican as supernatural in nature.

We continue to see a flowing positive trend taking place in the Vatican’s position on Medjugorje. Statements such Hoser’s, “Medjugorje is a light shinning into the darkness, so people can find their way to the light once again,” are not said or taken lightly. The firing of Doctrine of Faith Prefect Reverend Gerard Ludwig Muller is yet another strong position against negative opposition. Finally, although there is positive feedback shared between the faithful Medjugorje believers and the Vatican, this does not mean all aspects of the continuing apparitions at this time are considered realistic. The question remains, why have the apparitions lasted longer than any known Marian apparitions in the history of the world.