Vienna's Cardinal Schonborn on Medjugorje
"On Medjugorje I don't want to express myself from the standpoint of an ecclesiastical judgment. But I only can ascertain one thing again and again, that this is a place where there is obviously an intense mission-station of heaven where thousands upon thousands of human beings find prayer, confession, conversion, reconciliation, healing and deeper faith." 2003
September 18, 2009
"It is a great gift that the Mother of all her children will be so close! She showed it in so many places in the world. And, for many, many years, it shows in a particularly close way in Medjugorje.
We must thank the Lord that He through His mother, so many people in this now almost 30 years ago led to the love God has shown them His love and that so many people have found healing, repentance and renewal. In the confession, they were allowed to discover the love of the Lord in the Eucharist and the love of his mother by his mother. The reconciliation in families, the healing of drugs, addictions and troubles are their concerns. It is a very great sign for our time that Mary as concrete and very close and easy, worries about her children and cares and is with them.
When I see how many of them today in the cathedral and how long they have to pray - a lot longer than me, then I can only thank the Lord and His mother with all my heart, and they all ask if they were witnesses, witnesses of His mercy. Witnesses near Our Lady to the people.
Show them what you're getting them here and by the grace of Medjugorje and have time and again, they show it to others and they continue to give. That is my request, also in view of the great diocesan mission. What does the diocese - Mission? She wants to invite us to your friendship with Jesus. "Do whatever he tells you!", The words of Mary at Cana were "Do whatever he tells you!"
So I invite you now realize that we will get it, who really is truly present in our midst in the Eucharist, worship, praise Him and thank Him that we can bring our needs to Him. To Him who wants to heal each of us and make healing."
September 29, 2009 in Ars, France
“Let us speak about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Sr Faustina calls Confession 'the Court of Mercy'. What is it about this Sacrament in our lives as priests and bishops and also in our pastoral work? How can we not pose this question to ourselves here in Ars? In our countries of Europe, with some exceptions, I have the impression that the practice of this Sacrament has enormously regressed and in certain areas almost disappeared.
“There are certainly strongholds of Confession today. I think particularly of Medjugorje. I dare speak of that because for 28 years it has become one of the greatest strongholds of Confession. Thousands and thousands of people go to Confession!
“I recall simply to clarify: what does the Church say about Medjugorje? Just to reiterate between parentheses: the official position of the Episcopal Conference of ex-Yugoslavia but also of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith often repeated in three points:
1. Non constat de supernaturalitate. This means that it is not sure that it is supernatural, but it is not excluded. It remains open. The judgement of the Church is not pronounced yet.
2. Constat de supernaturalitate. Lourdes, Fatima, etc.
3. Constat de non supernaturalitate. It is not supernatural, the judgement of the Church is negative.
So, for Medjugorje it is the first possibility. For the moment the Church has not made a judgement, but she says two other things:
“Since Medjugorje is not officially approved by the Church, one cannot organise an official pilgrimage, as from a diocese.
“Since there are many faithful who go to this place, it is opportune that one takes care of the pilgrimage pastorally, and that one pastorally accompanies the faithful in this step. This is what has happened for the past 28 years.
“Certainly our places of pilgrimage are strongholds for Confession. This is my experience, and that of many of my brother priests who exercised the ministry of Confession in places of pilgrimage. But especially in Medjugorje, they were overwhelmed by the experience of Confession.”
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