Private revelations – their role in the Church’s life and the process of verification

Abstract

The private revelations or supernatural visions are present in the Church’s life from the very beginning. Usually they were bounded with the mystical life of the holy people and made the heavenly reality somehow present on earth. Among the private revelations a special place have the apparitions of the Mother of God. This phenomenon become more intense in the last two centuries, what – according to some theologians – could be a sign of the so called „End Times”. In those events the Most Blessed Mary comes down from heaven with the message of love and peace, virtues which are lacking in the contemporary world. The newest history knows some apparitions recognized by Church (as for example Fatima, La Salette, Guadelupe), some which were not acknowledged (Garabandal), and some not evaluated yet (Medjugorje).

Because every private revelation concerns the spiritual and metaphysical sphere of life and is connected with a mystery, it provokes a simply human curiosity which very often leads to the polarization of opinions. In front of such events some people ask for the immediate recognition of them, and some others warn against the apparitions. The Holy Church appreciate the private revelations but at the same time is very careful with the recognition of their authenticity. In order to evaluate the revelations a number of theological criteria have been elaborated. In this study the author reminds the teaching of the Church regarding the private revelations and presents the criteria and the signs of authenticity to proof the true origin of a revelation.