Our Blessed Mother's Children
 
"Dear children! May this time be a time of personal prayer for you, so that the seed of faith may grow in your hearts; and may it grow into a joyful witness to others. I am with you and I desire to inspire you all: grow and rejoice in the Lord Who has created you. Thank you for having responded to my call."
 
 
 
 
Rome, 15 January 2010
Excellency! Dear brother in Christo,
I have received your recent letter dated 2 January. I regret if you have the impression that my pilgrimage to Medjugorje did a disservice to peace. Rest assured that this was not my intention.
The Mother of God and her divine Son will certainly lead all things towards that which is good. In this trust, I greet you fraternally united in the Lord and remain,
Yours,
+ Christoph Card. Schönborn O.P
 
 
 
 
 
 
In an interview given to kath.net Cardinal Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, has made more comment about his time spent in Medjugorje recently .

He said that it was rather unusual for a Cardinal to visit Medjugorje as a pilgrim but has since heard that several other cardinals and bishops had been there in a very private way.

He added that Medjugorje is now one of the greatest pilgrimage sites in the world to travel to.

The cardinal also confirmed that Medjugorje had played an important part for many young priests on their personal path to the priesthood.

He referred to the annual Youth Festival at Medjugorje and said that, other than Taize, there is no other place that gathers so many young people and that this reflects the global importance of the phenomenon.

Cardinal Schönborn revealed that he had listened to Confessions for two and a half hours in Medjugorje, and that some of the penitents had not received the Sacrament for 20 or 30 years.

“How does this tree bear such fruit?” the cardinal asked.

He went on to speak about the phenomena of apparitions around the world and said that apparitions have their own language, that they provide simple uncomplicated messages which can get to the heart of the Christian message. He said that in Medjugorje the messages have a distinguishing feature with Our Lady’s call to peace and revealing herself as the Queen of Peace.

The cardinal confirmed again that the official position of the Church is as the Zadar declaration of 1991 made by the Yugoslav bishops’ conference. He said that this declaration has been confirmed at least twice and an ideal guideline to keep to.

On the question of the Church providing a definitive ruling when the phenomena are completed the cardinal said that there are many Marian apparition sites where an ecclesiastical verdict is not pronounced but still pilgrimages take place. He also stressed that ‘official’ pilgrimages to Medjugorje (pilgrimages organised by a diocese) cannot take place but support will be given to the spiritual needs of pilgrims who go there.

The cardinal also pointed out the deep level of prayer witnessed at Medjugorje and that the pilgrims show an incredible desire to return. He said that he could only explain that the closeness of Our Lady is good for the people and he also definitely wants to return to Medjugorje.

When asked if Medjugorje was a place of grace the cardinal said that to doubt that grace flows from Medjugorje it is necessary to close our eyes and the evidence was very obvious that graces spring from Medjugorje.

As to the messages and locutions cardinal Schönborn said that when Rome investigated the claims of Sr Faustina, who received daily messages from Jesus, it was very critical but the phenomena stood the test of time. He emphasised that the Church is always very cautious in this respect and it is a good thing.

He then added it was also very important that the fruits are not hampered and he was particularly impressed by the amount of good works resulting from the Medjugorje. He specifically mentioned the Cenacolo Community and Mother Village founded by the late Fr Slavko Barbaric.

He spoke about Medjugorje in the light of the Second vatican Council and the “sensus fidelium”, the faith of the people. He said that the messages play an important role for pilgrims to stay “connected“ to Medjugorje and that without the initial momentum there would be no Medjugorje today, but he did not want to speculate “recognition” and that for him as a bishop it is important that nothing in the messages is contrary to faith. He added that in this time Our Lady manifests herself as Queen of Peace and that is the theme of the messages from Medjugorje, peace with the emphasis on conversion, because when we are peace with each other we are peace with God.

The cardinal was asked that in the light of people’s lives changing at Medjugorje is there anything he does differently since his vist. The cardinal responded by saying that if there was, he would not say, but he knows through a long association with Lourdes that a close union with the Mother can lead to God. He stressed the pastoral care of Our Lady in bringing people to her Son and how her words can touch hearts and get people to say “Yes”.

When asked if he would report his impressions to the Holy See, the cardinal stated he went on pilgrimage for personal reasons but he does not conceal his attitude to Medjugorje from his brothers, which has deepened since his visit. He confirmed that he has spoken with many bishops and will continue to do so and that this was part of the Church view and judgment. He added that as a visiting Cardinal to Medjugorje it brought consolation to the people who were there on New Year’s Eve.

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The rumors last autumn swirled. After long years of confusion among the flock, after virulent debate -- and diatribes, especially from those who opposed it -- and after periods of outright befuddlement, the Vatican was going to issue guidelines on the famous apparition site of Medjugorje, said a spokesman for the Cardinal of Sarajevo, with hints that those guidelines would not be interpreted as favorable. It would come, they said, by the end of the year.

The same was indicated by the Bishop of Mostar, Ratko Peric -- who would normally have jurisdiction but whose authority in the matter was removed more than twenty years ago when his close associate and predecessor tried to ban the apparitions.

Pope Benedict, went the buzz, would finally put a rein on the apparitions, and perhaps even dismiss them.

That was the hope in a band of detractors who for years have spearheaded e-mail campaigns against Medjugorje, led by the bishop.

So there was consternation if not a degree of shock last week when a major cardinal -- Christoph Maria Michael Hugo Damian Peter Adalbert von Schönborn of Vienna, better known simply as  Cardinal Schönborn -- not only visited Medjugorje, but celebrated Mass at St. James Church with Medjugorje pilgrims, freely moved about the village -- at least once with a seer who accompanied him up the hill of apparitions -- and issued what could only be interpreted as positive statements about the apparitions.

"Who could make these things up?" he asked at one point after his arrival. "Who could invent this thing? Man? No, this is not a human act."

The cardinal also called Medjugorje a "superpower" of God's mercy.

In conversation with the press office of the Archdiocese of Vienna, Cardinal Schönborn advocated "an integration of the 'Medjugorje phenomenon' into the normal pastoral work of the Church," reported an Austrian radio station. "The Archbishop of Vienna made a private visit to the Marian pilgrimage site over Christmas. He wanted to see the place from which so 'many positive fruits' had come."

It hardly meant that the Church had officially approved of the site. The Cardinal is not the prefect of the congregation that one day may make this decision. But he is a close ally of the Pope and a member of that congregation. Moreover, Cardinal Schönborn was director of the team that wrote the Catechism -- obviously, an expert on Church teaching.

While some tried to spin the event otherwise, it became difficult.

Medjugorje, said the cardinal, has not yet been ruled upon by the Church; a committee of Yugoslavian bishops in 1991 declared it  non constat de supernaturalitatae, meaning that thus far, the supernaturality of the events has not been confirmed. No one knows what the final decision will be. But instead of being a rejection, said the eminent cardinal, this leaves open the possibility that it is indeed a supernatural event. The cardinal said that pilgrims and priests are allowed to go as long as such a pilgrimage is not an official parish event -- something announced long ago by Rome.

This flew directly in the face of those who have long argued that the local bishop -- who disapproves -- has sole authority, and that pilgrimages are prohibited.

It was a stunning clarification, as was his statement, to an interviewer from Vecernji List, daily newspaper for Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, that "when I see the fruits of Medjugorje back at home I can only say that the tree is surely good."

The cardinal mentioned as fruits the countless vocations and conversions spawned by Medjugorje, along with healings.

The statements were especially powerful in that Cardinal Schönborn is known as a close friend and colleague of Pope Benedict XVI. "Cardinal Schönborn is a prominent voice in a wide variety of contemporary discussions and (though he himself avoids this characterization) is considered by many as 'papabile,' that is, as a prelate with a significant chance of someday being elected Pope," notes a site that follows his movements.

Acknowledged one Catholic news blog that has been negative toward the apparitions, "Cardinal Schönborn has unquestioned influence at the Vatican; he is a former student and close ally of Pope Benedict, who chaired the editorial committee that prepared the Catechism of the Catholic Church."

Besides the Doctrine of the Faith Cardinal Schönborn has "curial membership" in the congregations for the Oriental Churches and Catholic Education. He is a member of the pontifical Council on Culture, the commission on the Cultural Heritage of the Church, as well as the Special Council for Europe of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. The cardinal is also Ordinary for the faithful of the Byzantine Rite in Austria.

Notes a bio, "in collaboration with the Archbishops of Paris, Brussels, Lisbon, and Budapest, Cardinal Schönborn is deeply involved in the re-evangelization of Europe. He is active in bringing about cooperation between new movements (such as the Charismatic Renewal) and the Church's hierarchical structure, and is recognized for his sensitivity to Eastern Christian and Orthodox spiritualities. Within Austria and Europe, Cardinal Schönborn has led the way in reconciling Christians and Jews."

That stature gave his words yet more power -- and they were surprising ones. But there was also a cautionary tone.

"Supreme authority in the Church is the Holy See, the Holy Father and his Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and that is the highest authority in all of the issues of faith and morality," stated Schönborn -- dismissing that notion that the local bishop has ultimate say over Medjugorje.

There will be no decision, he added, until the phenomena cease -- a dramatic confirmation of what supporters have argued -- accurately, as it turns out -- for more than two decades.  "Both in Lourdes and Fatima, the events first ceased and than the Church made its decision about that; its final decision," he said. "Sooner or later that will take place here as well, but until then we leave the Mother of God with freedom of choice.

It wasn't the only time he compared Medjugorje with Lourdes and Fatima.

Said the Cardinal: "There are three elements which are connected with this phenomenon. Almost always Our Lady appears to children. Those were not especially intelligent children or holy children but normal. Bernadette did not know how to write. She was 14, almost as children over here. Secondly, Mary gives the messages through the children. It is insulting for one bishop. Why Our Lady does not come to bishop’s house? Why does she come to the hill filled with stones or by the river? This is not practical. In Fatima she appeared in the bushes. She gives the messages through children because children are not complicated. The third element: it looks like Our Lady has her own program. In Fatima she appeared before Russian Revolution and she gave a message. When rationalism was on its highest level she appeared in Lourdes. She appeared in Yugoslavia in the moment when we did not have an idea that Yugoslavia would fall apart in the time when the Catholics, Muslims, and Orthodox were living together. She appears with the name Queen of Peace.  I think that theologians have to study the syntax of Mary’s apparitions and in that context to study the phenomena of Medjugorje."

"I am fascinated with the coherence of Medjugorje with other Marian shrines, apparition sides," went on the eminent churchman. "I always say that there is a grammar of Mary’s apparitions. That style has something special with Our Lady."

In his New Year's homily at Medjugorje -- concelebrated with Franciscan priests who support the apparitions --  the cardinal added, "These days, we have all come to Medjugorje to be especially close to the Mother of the Lord. To be more exact, we have to say that we have come here because we know that the Mother of the Lord wants to be close to us."

"We cannot deny that pilgrims have been coming over here for the past twenty years, as we can not deny what they experience in Medjugorje and how close they felt to the Blessed Mother," he commented. "This is my first visit, but since I’ve been a Bishop from 1991. I have simply noticed the fruits of Medjugorje."

It will be hard to put a negative spin on those words. Still, controversy is likely to arise over what some have seen as liberal tendencies of the cardinal, including controversies over what has been allowed in the Vienna archdiocese and some reports asserting that he tends toward allowing married priests. Meanwhile, although the Medjugorje parish has not suffered through an abuse crisis -- despite dozens of Franciscans who have served there -- two priestly scandals have been cited as negatives, as has materialism.

And the Vatican -- which has final say -- has not yet ruled; no one is certain how Benedict himself feels. There are credible reports that as a cardinal -- and prefect of the same congregation -- the Pope twice visited Medjugorje incognito.

At the same time, it seems unlikely that a close friend of the pontiff would travel there without tacit approval. Was it perhaps even the "statement" or "guideline" many were expecting?

"There is no official recognition yet, but in that formulation it is also said that supernaturality is not excluded," said the cardinal. "The Church has clearly said it is not excluded. It is not confirmed, but it is not excluded."

But Cardinal Schönborn made no secret of his own belief, and went so far as to lead a rendition of Gospa Mojka Moja -- written by a pilgrim and the virtual theme song of Medjugorje. "His first words as he stepped to the podium were 'Hvaljen Isus i Marija,' a Croatian phrase that means 'Praised be Jesus and Mary,'" noted a blog. "This is a common greeting among the visionaries and Medjugorje villagers. The cardinal repeated it several times and urged the crowd to repeat it with him."

"He went on to say, 'When you look at a place like Medjugorje, you can see a superpower of mercy. Many merciful deeds were born here or they were supported here.'"

While concluding a talk in Medjugorje, Cardinal Schönborn said, "I believe that many experiences in the Church demonstrate something that is impossible from a human point of view." Pope John Paul II was also known to view the apparitions positively.

The cardinal's visit immediately raised a protest from Bishop Peric, who still claims authority over the situation, even though he has been directed by the Vatican not to comment on the apparitions.

Complained the bishop, who said he was "surprised" by the visit: "As the diocesan bishop with this statement I want to inform the faithful that the visit of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn does not imply any recognition of the authenticity of the 'apparitions' related to Medjugorje. I regret that the Cardinal, with his visit, appearance, and statements, brings something new to the present suffering of the local Church which does not contribute to peace and unity so necessary."

Although no longer in charge of discernment as far as mystical claims, the bishop retains authority over sacramental practices in Medjugorje (as at any other parish) and should be respected in this role. He has used that power of late to restrict the activities of pilgrims and seers.

And despite the powerful rebuke to Bishop Peric -- and the clarification of several crucial issues -- the debate is not likely to end until there is an official Church declaration either way. When it comes, we'll strictly adhere to it.
 Added Cardinal Schönborn, "I would advise for patience. The Mother of God is so patient with us that for nearly 29 years here, in a very direct way, she is showing her closeness and care for the parish of Medjugorje and numerous pilgrims. We can peacefully wait and have patience! Twenty nine years is a long period of time for us, but not such a long period to our God!"

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The bishop of the local Mostar-Duvno diocese has issued a statement expressing concern about statements issued by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn during a visit to Medjugorje last week and emphasizing that the cardinal’s visit “does not imply any recognition of the authenticity of the ‘apparitions’ related to Medjugorje.”

Bishop Ratko Peric-- who has repeatedly warned against the dangers of “the Medjugorje phenomenon” and strongly discouraged confidence in the alleged apparitions—complained that the visit by Cardinal Schönborn had caused new pastoral problems for his diocese. Citing a list of conflicts and irregularities arising from the activities of the alleged seers and their supporters, Bishop Peric voiced “regret” that the Austrian cardinal’s appearance had lent new credibility to their claims.

In an interview released by the press office of his Vienna archdiocese, Cardinal Schönborn pointed out that he had never directly addressed the authenticity of the reported apparitions, leaving that question open during his “private” visit to Medjugorje. He said that he would await the judgment of the universal Church, and meanwhile respected the prudence of the demands for caution released by the bishops of the region.

Cardinal Schönborn said that in his public remarks he had stressed the need to weave the “Medjugorje phenomenon” into the normal life of the local Church. He said that the spiritual vigor he saw in the town was not due to any single event, but rather to the regular use of the sacraments and intense prayer.

However, the Austrian cardinal did repeat his observation that “good fruits” have been produced by the Medjugorje phenomenon; he cited in particular a home for recovering drug addicts. Cardinal Schönborn also noted that the reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Medjugorje conform to the pattern of other apparitions approved by the Church, such as those of Lourdes and Fatima, where the Blessed Virgin made her appearance in an impoverished country, to simple young people, and delivered a straightforward message encouraging prayer and devotion to the Gospel.

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From Vecernji List daily newspaper for Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina

“Medjugorje is again in the center of attention, church and public as well. Though the visit of Cardinal Shonborn is private, it did not leave anybody indifferent because he is the member of Congregation for Doctrine of Faith. We talked to Cardinal while he was visiting Medjugorje.

“We came here to be close to the Lord’s mother”, you said during the Christmas Eve Mass, Your Eminence. These words had a great echo. We would like you to explain them?”

Cardinal:
“ We cannot deny that pilgrims have been coming over here for past 20 years, as we can not deny what they experience in Medjugorje and how close they fell to the Blessed Mother. This is my first visit, but since I’ve been a Bishop from 1991. I have siply noticed the fruits of Medjugorje.

“What kind of fruits are you talking about?”

Cardinal:
“ I will give you couple of examples: vocations calls for priesthood. Lots of our young priests have received their vocation call here, but not strictly in Medjugorje but because of Medjugorje. The second thing are conversions. I am impressed that that happens in every level of society, from noble families, industrials down to the common little peole. Flying from Vienna, via Zagreb to Split I was asked by a security guard where I was going and I told him I was going to Medjugorje. All of sudden his face started shining and he told me that he had his conversion in Medjugorje as well. Couple of weeks ago on one small railway station one worker told me his story. His wife died of cancer and he was desperate and his friends brought him to Medjugorje. He has received the strong and living faith over here. The third evidence are the healings. A young man who was addicted to drugs told me that he was almost forced by his friends over here. He told me while the bus was entering to Medjugorje something happened with him. Especially he was healed immediately and all of us know how long that healing lasts. The fourth evidence are the prayer groups. I’ve known this Medjugorje Prayer Group from Vienna since the period when I wasn’t the Bishop. I’ve known them since 1980-s. To us Dominicans it was very meaningful that these people pray for hours and their church is always full. The Dominican churches in Vienna are rarely so full, on Thursday nights the church was always full. They stayed faithful to the prayer till today. Jesus said that the bad tree doesn’t bear any fruits. Which means: if the fruits are good than the tree is good as well.”

“For pilgrims Medjugorje is a miracle and they expect a message from the Holy See until Official Church would approve the supernatural events of Medjugorje. It has been speculated a period of time about the movements of Holy See. What do you know about this and what is your opinion about the demands to recognize Medjugorje?”

Cardinal:
“I do not have detailed information about this matter and that is not my assignment. But I am standing to the statement made by Bishop’s Conference of Yugoslavia and Congregation for Doctrine of Faith of the Holy See. That statement for me has always been reasonable and smart. I will remind you about three statements made about Medjugorje. The first of all are phenomena. I am dogmatist and I was a professor of theological dogma. “Non constat de supernaturalitate.”- which means that Church hasn’t given the final judgment about supernaturality of phenomena and hasn’t given any statements. So it has never denied or confirmed.”

“This sounds as diplomatic answer, what this really means in the practice?”

Cardinal:
“It simply means that the Church hasn’t given its final judgment and decision. I am personally convinced that this is correct. While these phenomena are still going on, the Church is hardly going to give or make its final judgment and decision. These phenomena are the center of Medjugorje. It has started with the children who said that they saw Our Lady and the messages she gave through them. What has developed from that is second phenomena which will be studied by the church on the second level. From the very beginning a huge number of pilgrims have been coming to Medjugorje. The intensive prayer life has developed here and many humanitarian organizations have been born here.”

“The Church has divided the matter of Medjugorje from the pastoral work. But still a large number of pilgrims come over here. What position we should take about this matter?”

Cardinal:
“The concrete ways of pilgrimages have been over here and that is a practical challenge for the church. That’s why the bishops from ex Yugoslavia said in 1991 that the official pilgrimages shouldn’t exist. I do not want and I cannot organize official pilgrimages to Medjugorje in my diocese as we did to Rome or Holy Land. But the Bishops Conference or Rome have never forbidden to pilgrims to come to Medjugorje which is the main part of the third statement. For us Bishops, for me this is very important .The believers must get the pastoral care. As the Archbishop I see my homework in that. If I as a bishop see that in my diocese hundreds, thousands of believers convert, pray, and are healed then I as a Bishop must take care that all of them get that pastoral care.  That’s why I supported all these things as for example community of the “Oasis of Peace’ , which was started because of Medjugorje.  I think that all of this has influence on us bishops, especially those dioceses which pilgrims do come to Medjugorje and they need to get good pastoral care. So in all of those conversations I had with other bishops about Medjugorje I encouraged them to support their pilgrims.”

“You had a meeting with a visionary, you climbed to the Apparition Hill. What were you talking about?”

Cardinal:
“I would say ironically that Our Lady did not choose the simple hills. I am fascinated with the coherence of Medjugorje with other Marian shrines, apparition sides. I always say that there is a grammar of Mary’s apparitions. That style has something special with Our Lady.”

“In what way is this connected?”

Cardinal:
“There are 3 elements which are connected with this phenomenon. Almost always Our Lady appears to children. Those were not especially intelligent children or holy children but normal. Bernadette did not know how to write. She was 14 almost as children over here. Secondly, Mary gives the messages through the children. It is insulting for one bishop. Why Our Lady does not come to bishop’s house? Why does she come to the hill filled with stones or by the river? This is not practical. In Fatima she appeared in the bushes. She gives the messages through children because children are not complicated. The third element: it looks like that Our Lady has her own program. In Fatima she had appeared before Russian Revolution and she gave a message. When rationalism was on its highest level she appeared in Lourdes. She appeared in Yugoslavia in the moment when we did not have an idea that Yugoslavia would fall apart in the time when the Catholics, Muslims and orthodox were living together. She appears with the name Queen of Peace. 10 years after that the first of 4 wars on Balkan Peninsula brakes out. And her first message was peace through conversion, prayer and this first message has its weight, strength, credibility.  Maybe we could go further to Guadalupe, Mexico. When Europe started invasion of America, Our Lady appeared to one Indian who had to go to his bishop to tell him what to do.  I think that theologians have to study the syntax of Mary’s apparitions and in that context to study the phenomena of Medjugorje.”

“It is prayed for peace in Medjugorje all the time but the political peace is not correct, the state is in problems and the Croats Catholics are in the worst position. What would you suggest to the International Community which is run now in this country by your co-citizen Valentin Inzko?”

Cardinal:
“ The problem over here is that too many countries are involved in this such a small country which that way cannot over come these problems. The long lasting peace can be formed only if everything is just for everybody. This is a challenge for European policy. I am happy that Valentin Inxko is now in charged of Bosnia and Herzegovina and I expect that he gets a bigger support from European community. I am sure that this  what is going on Medjugorje supports that peace. And people from all over the world do come to this small vHerzegovina which has never been known in the world, if I want to speak ironically. Look, how many Koreans come to Medjugorje! This is a hope that these people will be apostles of peace in their countries, peace which comes from Medjugorje. If it is prayed for peace in the world  on one place, than that is a special blessing for one country. And Our Lady respects all three religions. Ortodox believers honor Our Lady, Islam doesn’t respect any other  person that much, but Mary. For Croats Catholics who are minority in this country the apparitions among them are the great comfort.”