Chasing after the supernatural
Crying Cardboard Christ Draws Faithful
It surprises me that some Catholics will travel miles and miles to see the latest alleged apparition. While some apparitions have been declared "worthy of belief" by the Church, the over whelming number of them are not. No Catholic is required to give faith in even those apparitions in the category "worthy of belief." I accept those apparitions such as Fatima, but even in these cases I think that God giving us a visible reminder of truths already given us by public revelation is sad. It is a lack of faith that we require such. As Jesus told St. Thomas "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." But just as Jesus allowed St. Thomas to feel the nail holes he allows those of us weak in faith to be reminded of the supernatural and God's mercy.
Before coming into the Church I had a fascination with apparitions and I read books on ones both approved and not approved. While researching I discovered that one of the tests of an apparition is whether the message is consistent with the faith. Realizing this I saw that any true apparition would have to be consistent with the deposit of faith that we already have. We don't really need a message to tell us to pray and repent. We can turn to what the Church has consistently taught of what pertains to salvation.
At every Catholic Church around the world Jesus is fully present sacramental in his body and blood in the Blessed Sacrament. How many of those who chase after apparitions avail themselves of Daily Mass? The greatest miracle that occurs continuously around the world is the Eucharist. An apparition may help to confirm us in our faith or to even pave the way for faith of an unbeliever. Yet the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. The fact that we are able to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity daily if we are properly disposed and are able to attend is something that we should be so grateful for. The Eucharist is a fire hose of a sacrament. Unfortunately usually our disposition crimps the flow of grace to only a trickle. Jesus had said "The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here." Truly something greater than any wisdom or apparition is present in the Tabernacle if will just avail ourselves of it either via Mass or in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
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It's not curious that people travel miles to see an apparition. People would travel miles to see the world's biggest ball of string. It's a curiosity. ;-)
Mr. Miller: Hmmm . . you believe in Fatima? Then you must also believe in Our Lady's promise, given at Fatima, that if the Pope, together with all the Bishops, consecrated Russia to Her Immaculate Heart, that nation would be converted and a period of peace be given to the world.
Well, Russia hasn't converted that I can see, and we certainly aren't in a period of peace. Hmmm . . that must mean that Russia was never consecrated in accord with the Blessed Virgin's express wishes, for surely her promises can be "taken to the bank." For reasons know only to him, the Pope has not complied with the stated desires of our Most Gracious Advocate, and as a result we find ourselves in the midst of a savage war, whose end none can foresee.
There are consequences to belief.
I once heard Fr. Groeschel say, "If you want to hear God speak to you, read the bible. If you want to see a miracle, go to mass"
An Italian priest was giving a tour of his diocese to American visitors. He stressed the history of miracles in that particular place. "Have any miracles happened in America?" he asked, certain that there would be a negative response. "O yes, of course," his guests responded, "every day at every Mass."
that's the most "duh" moment for me after I learned about the real presence of Christ. There is no need to travel to find Christ - He's here!