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So what are
words (and fruits) coming out of Medjugore? Principally, and repeatedly over past twenty-two years: love, peace and prayer - and not just any prayer, but sustain, repeated, serious, two, three hours of prayer every day; establishments of prayer groups and a renewal by thousands of their life in Christ. Now, does that sound like a message from Satan? Hardly. For as yet, his kingdom has not fallen. Certainly he is a crafty strategist, but he would hardly take risk of repeating these messages every day for so long! And to what end?
So phenomena at Medjugore is unlikely to be satanic in origin. That leaves a divine source. FP doubts it is Mary. But who else, then? Has God sent some angelic spirit to give such words of truth, over so long a period, by deceiving his people with a spirit instructed to claim to be mother of Jesus but which it is not? That seems implausible, to put it at its lowest.
Hence, whether we like it or not, (but why do we not?) Mary seems likeliest probability.
Now, although a lifelong Catholic, (albeit with strong Pentecostal symptoms) I am not what Catholics would call a Marianist i.e. someone with a special devotion to Mary. And I have always been somewhat shy of idea of to Jesus through Mary>/I> - not because it cannot happen, because it can and has for many people, but there is always risk getting stuck on or at Mary. But maybe that implies that I think God cannot look after those who sincerely seek him.
However, we also have to take a wider view than Medjugore itself. It has been argued here that (claimed) appearances there are not extra-biblical and that is not surrendered. But suppose they were, for arguments sake. While Bible contains only truth, not all truth is contained within Bible.How could it be when John’s gospels says that world could not contain even everything which disciples knew of Jesus alone (John 21. 25)? Being extra-biblical, as WP acknowledges, is not in itself a cause for condemnation. So...?
In order to accept that appearances at Medjugore are genuine, one has to consider them within wider framework of Marian appearances. Medjugore is only latest in a long cycle of (claimed) appearences of Mary. Most non-Catholics will not be aware of even those in modern era, which amount to at least eight major visitations, from Guadalope in Mexico in 1531, through Bernadette Soubirous in1858 at Lourdes in France, andKnock in Ireland in 1879, to Fatima in Spain, in 1917 (which led Catholics world-wide to pray over decades for downfall of communism and USSR). Not one is identical to another but there is a very strong pattern of similarities (which space here does not permit of description).
In every instance there have been signs and wonders over succeeding decades or centuries of continuing evangelistic and healing associations. Far too many to delineate here, but far too many to pass-off as bunkum and, for reasons similar to those given above, too marked by work of Spirit to judge satanic in origin.
I have never been to Medjugore. Perhaps I should have. But, in FP’s t erms, I could have been found running after signs when Toronto Blessinghit north east of England at Sunderland some years ago. I hope I did not do it at expense of God’s word. But I could not accept condemnations which some other Christians were making of it of it without investigation. I did get shakes as a result, although I could never see any real spiritual growth as a consequence.
There is, perhaps, too much suspicion among Christians of Christians in sectors other than one’s own (not that Francis Frangipane is guilty of this). God is too big even for Bible, and certainly for our limited minds to comprehend. And it is surely an irresponsible Christian who thinks he knows limits to ways in which God acts among his people, or who thinks he can impose such limits.
About The Author: A K Whitehead Web Site: www.christianword.co.uk. Email: akw@christianword.co.uk Experience: Over twenty years in Christian healing, teaching and writing. Qualifications: B.A., M.Phil., Camb Univ Cert in Religious Studies This article may be reproduced on condition that it is unaltered and that alll this information is included.
