Lulled into a False Sense of Fidelity

The previous articles in this series examined three grave problems with the “Norms of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith for proceeding in the discernment of alleged supernatural phenomena,” published by Cardinal Víctor Fernández on May 17, 2024.

• First Problem: No Church authority may judge an event to be of supernatural origin.
• Second Problem: Authority in discerning the authenticity of an alleged phenomenon no longer resides with the local bishop.
• Third Problem: The use of ambiguous language.

Yet if rank-and-file Catholics read the actual norms and its accompanying cover letter by Cardinal Fernández, they may think the document is sound and even helpful in the improvements it purports to make. The document certainly contains many true and pious statements. It quotes Doctors of the Church such as St. John of the Cross and past pontiffs such as Benedict XVI. So it’s easy for the document to lull one into a false sense of normalcy or even spiritual progress.

I use the phrase “time bomb” to indicate that a dangerous situation is forthcoming. These problems are like hidden mines that unleash their destruction once tripped. It’s fair to ask: “But how do we even know these are ‘bombs’ set to go off?” To understand how these new norms will unleash destruction upon the faith and piety of Catholics, we simply have to look at the recent track record of Vatican officials who oversee the process and what they themselves have told us.

Exhibit A: The Errors of Fr. Steffano Cecchin

Let us consider these new norms in light of recent comments made by Fr. Steffano Cecchin, President of the Pontifical International Marian Academy (PAMI). On April 15, 2023, a new body was established within PAMI with the specific purpose of training and guiding bishops on how to respond to alleged Marian apparitions. During this time, we know from Cardinal Fernandez that the new norms were being reviewed, redrafted, and radically revised.^[i] The new group formed within PAMI is not only involved in the process of establishing the revised norms but is also spearheading the effort to “re-educate” bishops in the new norms. Hence, what the president of PAMI tells us is a clear indication of how these new norms will be applied.

First, it’s important to note the authority that Fr. Cecchin boasts for his group. He says:

“We are the only ones competent in the subject of the figure of Mary in the whole world. Our scholars are accredited by the Holy See. That is to say, we are recognized as experts in this discipline and, therefore, with the right to intervene.”

This public statement has not been contradicted by any Vatican authorities. Thus, we must maintain that it is the position held by his superiors as well, namely Cardinal Fernández and Pope Francis.

Second, in a press release from May 19, 2023, Fr. Cecchin rejected as “false” any alleged apparitions that spoke of divine punishment:

“How could Mary, mother of the Church, undermine its integrity or sow fear and conflict, She who is mother of mercy and queen of peace?”^[ii]

“Does a mother want to punish her children by sending them illnesses, death…? No, not at all. So the apparitions that speak of God’s punishments are absolutely false” [emphasis added].^[iii]

Fr. Cecchin believes Our Lady would never speak of chastisements or punishments for sin. This is how he, and many of Pope Francis’ curial appointees, interpret the Gospel. Why? Because they adhere to a novel doctrine that “to speak of God’s punishments” is, in effect, heretical (i.e., absolutely false).

Our Lord and Our Lady Speak of Punishment for Sin

Yet anyone who reads the Gospel easily notes that Jesus Christ speaks clearly of God’s punishments.^[iv] The Bible is replete with them. Fr. Cecchin overlooks the Old Testament prophecies regarding dire punishments, especially those of the End Times. Our Lord often mentions the punishments of hell and those associated with His Second Coming. These punishments are further explained in St. John’s Apocalypse.^[v]

Our Lady always directs us to Her Son (cf. John 2:5). She fulfills God’s will perfectly (cf. Luke 1:38). She always conveys the same message as Her Son. Therefore, if Jesus talks about God’s punishments, we can be sure Our Lady does as well.

Moreover, Our Lady has a great maternal solicitude for us. She wants to preserve us from the chastisements we so richly deserve on account of our sins. She does all She can to hold back the wrathful hand of Her Son from falling upon us (as She lamented at La Salette, France in 1846). Thus, Our Blessed Mother constantly reminds us of the need to cease offending God, to repent, and to do penance, penance, penance! To spur us on with greater urgency She, like a good mother, will indeed warn us of the impending punishments due to our ongoing disobedience.

Reversing Official Church Approval

Since Fr. Cecchin has publicly asserted that any apparition that speaks of God’s punishments must be absolutely false, what might he think of Fatima?

Following Pope Francis’ act of “consecration” on March 25, 2022, Fr. Cecchin was quick to claim that Francis’ act was not related to the Message of Fatima. Rather, he argued it should simply be interpreted as an act promoting synodality and unity.^[vi]

No other Marian apparition has received more papal approval than Fatima. Could Francis and his curia try to terminate Fatima devotion? Consider these words from Cardinal Fernández in his cover letter for the new norms:

“Moreover, it should be noted that reaching a declaration affirming the ‘supernaturalness’ of an event, by its very nature, not only requires a suitable amount of time to carry out the analysis but it can also lead to the possibility that a judgment of ‘supernatural’ today might become a judgment of ‘not supernatural’ years later – and precisely this has happened.”

Please read those words carefully. For this could be the fuse to the “time bombs” of which we are speaking. Just put two and two together:

[1] Even if a Church apparition has already been approved as “supernatural,” we are now told that contemporary Church authorities can, and have, reversed such a decision.

[2] We are informed, quite ‘dogmatically,’ that any apparition which speaks of “God’s punishments” must be absolutely false.

[3] This judgment is presumedly made by the only ‘experts’ sufficiently competent regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary in the entire world.

[4] At Fatima, Our Lady certainly spoke of God’s punishments.

Therefore, it does not require a stretch of the imagination to realize that the groundwork is being laid for a future reversal of the Church’s judgment regarding the authenticity of Our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima.

Indeed, this is a devastating “time bomb” now just waiting to explode…

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

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ENDNOTES:

^[i] The project to revise the norms for how Church authorities discern alleged supernatural phenomena has been in the works since 2019. Several revisions were proposed but were rejected by Pope Francis and his curia. By November 2023 the new direction for “a comprehensive and radical revision” had been determined.

^[ii] “Papal academy launches study center to evaluate Marian apparitions,” National Catholic Reporter, April 18, 2023.

^[iii] “Vatican: worrying statements by the president of the Marian Academy,” Militia Immaculatae, May 16, 2023.

^[iv] The Gospel passages are too numerous to cite, but a small sample incudes Matthew 8:12, 12:31-45; Mark 16:16; Luke 12:46-49, 13:1-9.

^[v]  “Vatican Mariologist suggests apparitions about God’s punishment are ‘false’ despite past approval,” LifeSiteNews, May 19, 2023.

^[vi] “Why is a leading Vatican theologian rejecting Fatima links to Pope Francis’ consecration of Russia?,” LifeSiteNews, March 28, 2022.

The post “Time Bombs” Within the New Vatican Norms for Supernatural Apparitions [Part 4] first appeared on The Fatima Center.

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Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.