Expert: Fr. Michael - 3/10/2007

Question
What is the church's position on Maria Vadia and Vassula Ryden?

Answer
       It appears that whoever they are and whatever they are doing, it has nothing to do with the true Catholic Faith.

       The question often arises how much emphasis we should put upon
private revelations, apparitions, and visions.  There have been some 260
alleged, likely spurious, "apparitions" since Vatican II (Medjugorje, Bayside,
etc.).  Too many Catholics, so confused in the present state of the Church,
cling "to any port in a storm" and therefore cling to even the ludicrous,
such as the "apparition" of the Blessed Virgin Mary in an oil stain in a
subway in Mexico or in the knothole of a tree in Northern California!

       First, it should be stated that such apparitions, even if true, are
never part of the Public Revelation of the Church, and nothing in them is
necessary for our salvation, nor are we bound by them as we are by the Public
Revelation of the Church.  In fact, they are much more apt to be diabolical
than worthy of belief.  The Church, therefore, forbids to Catholics the
reading of books and pamphlets that relate recent apparitions, unless they
have specific approval (Canon 1399).

       Everything necessary for our salvation is contained in the
Public Revelation of the Church, that is, the Deposit of Faith:  Sacred
Scripture (the Bible) and Sacred Tradition, which closed with the death of
the last of the Apostles, St. John.

       As far back as Deuteronomy, the Jews were warned against visions:  
"Thou shalt not hear the words of that prophet or dreamer.  For the Lord your
God trieth you, that it may appear whether you love him with all your heart,
and with all your soul, or not....   And that prophet or forger of dreams
shall be slain:  because he spoke to draw you away from the Lord your God"
(Deuteronomy 13:3,5/DRV).

       The Gospels warn us:  "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh a
sign; and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.  
For, as Jonas was in the whale's belly three days and three nights; so shall
the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights."  
(Matthew 12:29/DRV)  In other words, we look to Our Lord Himself as the sign.

       Moreover, Our Lord Himself warned us that false "miracles" can be
used by Satan to deceive:  "For there shall arise false Christs and false
prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if
possible) even the elect (Matthew 24:24/DRV).  When His Apostles asked for a
prediction of the future, Our Lord told them explicitly:  "It is not for you to
know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in his own power (Acts
1:8/DRV).

       In place of Catholic and Apostolic teaching and practice, to presume
to find a new basis of faith in private revelations prophecies, visions, and
"signs and wonders," loosely called extreme Fatimism, is a grave error.  We
must be very cautious indeed about these things, since Sacred Scripture warns
us again and again about the fact that even visions, apparitions, signs, and
wonders may be of the Devil:  

"Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they
belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1
John 4:1/DRV)

       And again:        

"For such false apostles are deceitful workmen, transforming themselves into
the apostles of Christ.  And no wonder: for Satan himself transformeth
himself into an angel of light.  Therefore, it is no great thing if his
ministers be transformed as the ministers of justice, whose end shall be
according to their works" (2 Corinthians 11:13-15/DRV)

       And again:

"And then that wicked one shall be revealed:  whom the Lord Jesus shall kill
with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming:  him Whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in all power
and signs and lying wonders:  And in all seduction of iniquity to them that
perish:  because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved.  Therefore God shall send them the operation of error, to believe
lying" (2 Thessalonians 2:8-11/DRV).