Recently I posted about Mary appearing to St. Bernadette in France in the 19th century (Our Lady of Lourdes) and why someone should become Catholic based on it.
But perhaps that one doesn’t convince a person. Are there any others? Undoubtedly yes: The day after the Immaculate Conception solemnity, we celebrated the optional memorial of St. Juan Diego, the poor native American peasant to whom Mary appeared in the 16th century, and today is Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feastday, the name for Mary given to this appearance.
What signs confirmed this event as from God and not the Devil?
- Millions of native Americans converted to Christianity after it
- The horrific human sacrifices the Aztecs committed ended
- The tilma or cloak worn by Juan Diego through which he proved the miraculous visitation remains preserved today
Like Bernadette, when Juan Diego told his bishop about what had happened and what the Lady had told him, he was not believed. They were both made to prove via miracles that it was Mary who was coming to them, miracles which were completely outside of their power to accomplish, and yes God worked those miracles to demonstrate to the priests and bishops of the Church that Mary really was appearing to them.
If it were just one confirmed visit to one person at one point in time, perhaps it could be ignored or explained away, but there are tens to hundreds of confirmed Marian appearances, and the Church is not quick to approve any of them, but rather instead plays devil’s advocate, knowing that if they are authentic, God will make it known unequivocally.
Regarding Marian Apparations, I know they aren’t obligatory to believe as they’re private revelations, but I know the vast majority of Catholics do believe in them, and I’m not opposed to them in principle, so I just need to hear more about them. Are there any good books or sites or anything on them that you’ve seen?
Hey Andrew,
I kind of warmed up to them slowly over the past 9 years of being a convert to the Catholic Faith. There is a book by Warren Carroll on Our Lady of Guadalupe that Katie has read and recommends. I’ve watched two movies about Our Lady of Lourdes (the mainstream one “Song of Bernadette” and the one Ignatius sells with Sydney Penny which is apparently more faithful to the actual story (I thought both were good)). I don’t know of any one book that has a big summary of all of the main ones, but over the years I have heard all sorts of different ones which are less well-known, depending on where you live (this or that shrine, Our Lady of Knock, of San Juan, etc.).
There are also many that are not approved or not (yet) approved: Medjugorje is a good example of one that has not been approved yet. Take it slow and God bless!