Being more protestant then my catholic brethren, I tend not to put allot of stock in claimed visions and apparitions of the Theotokos (I term I do use at least). However these are relevant to this blog in some ways.
As such Here is a link to an article about the Pope and Marian apparitions. Apparently he is having the rules revised and made more critical of claimed encounters and revelations.
I'm undecided on appearances of saints and angels in the modern world. I don't think I can say it is impossible for at least angels to continue to appear. It would be highly absurd to think we have recorded in scripture all angel appearances ever made, and then that afterwards there have been none. Saints like Mary are a bit trickier. The closest in scripture to an occurrence like this was the Transfiguration when Moses and Elijah appeared on the mountain with Jesus, but they didn’t deliver a message and it seemed unique. Now a Reformed theologian will then say that is enough, if God didn’t have a saint appear in scripture delivering a message, then a saint can’t do this. This is an epistemological issue with the use of scripture that is beyond this blog (see Moreland’s article on evangelicals being over committed to scripture for more) and so I don’t think we can go that far.
Does this mean that they are legitimate? Not necessarily, just that they should be critically examined by trained theologians and investigators, and not believed because they become popular places to visit. The Pope is right to enforce some standards of investigations and emphasize that “No apparition is indispensable to the faith”.
The new guidelines have not been drawn up yet, but I would think they would be along the lines of:
1) Are there any possible natural explanations for the visions?
2) Have they been witnessed by more then one person over a length of time?
3) Do the messages given conflict with the Christina faith?
4) Do the people who flock there leave encouraged to live a life of faith and virtue?
5) Does the entire event glorify God?
I’m sure some more could be added, and it would be interesting to see what the Papal commission comes up with, as it could be applied to any supernatural visions such as modern angel encounters within both catholic and protestant circles.
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3 comments:
Wesley,
I'm glad to see that you are blogging, I think your voice will benefit the blog-o-sphere (or whatever "they" are calling it now).
I tend to view the appearance of Mary - or some other saint - as consistent with the basic picture of the world that is painted for us in Scripture. Certainly, as you point out, on at least one occasion Elijah and Moses (the greatest of OT saints) appeared to Jesus and the apostles. So perhaps Mary, or some other great NT saint might appear to the covenant people even to this day. I readily admit the possibility, though not necessarily the occassion, for such an appearance.
There is also the incident with the necromancy in which Saul speaks to the prophet Samuel, but this is surely not to be taken as a positive precendent.
The more I read the Bible, the more I'm struck at how many WEIRD little things are in there that seem to sound like "Romish superstitions" at first glance (the healings with the Apostle's cleanex in Acts, or the the raising of a dead man who touched the bones of the prophet). Sounds like relic-nonsense to me. But then, there it is.
This is one (of many reasons) that I've become much more friendly to Catholicism in recent years (in a weird way, I've also become more friendly to Calvinism at the same time). It seems that the more I read the Bible, the more complex things turn out to have been all along...
How's being Anglican going for you these days? I'm still doing my best to help Methodists (and others) find their catholicity...
And I'm ready to admit that the Blessed Virgin Mary, is indeed among the greatest of New Testament saints...
Thanks Daniel, glad you stopped by!
I avoided the example of Saul because it is obviously a negative example. I think closer to Halloween I will revisit it. I want to do a major blog on ghosts and if/how they fit into Christian theology.
You are right, there are a lot of weird things in the Bible. And on some things I actually lean more Catholic as well. The Marian Apparitions I think I’m more skeptical over the legitimacy of the ones claimed more then the possibility. To the RCC credit they don’t authenticate all of them, even some popular ones (such as Medjugorje). And I do wonder if some of them like Fatima may be real, considering the prophecy that seemed to have come true. I admit most of it may be that the visions, if real, would likely vindicate some of their theology I have problems with.
The Anglicans are a fun bunch. Never know what to expect from the circus right now, but as St. Augustine said the Church may be a (insert expletive) but she’s still my mother (take that Puritans!). At least I am in a great diocese with a great Bishop. They want to send me to Nashotah house after this, and then back to work for ordination!
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