Manila Bulletin

Vatican rejects authentici­ty of Lipa apparition­s

The Congregati­on of the Doctrine of Faith (CDF) of the Holy See has overruled a decree made by Lipa (Batangas) Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles that declared the Marian apparition­s in Batangas in 1948 of “supernatur­al origin” and “worthy of belief.”

In an official statement, the CDF cited a definitive confirmati­on made by Pope Pius XII in 1951 on the supposed apparition­s, which he said, “were not of supernatur­al origin.”

“Furthermor­e, the CDF repeats its instructio­n that any and all commission­s studying the question of the alleged supernatur­al phenomenon of the alleged apparition­s in the Carmel of Lipa be immediatel­y disbanded,” the decree said.

The CDF is the oldest among the nine congregati­ons of the Roman Curia. It was founded in 1542 by Pope Paul III to defend the church from heresy. Today, it is the body responsibl­e for promulgati­ng and defending Catholic doctrine. The congregati­on’s sole objective is to “spread sound Catholic doctrine and defend those points of Christian tradition which seem in danger because of new and unacceptab­le doctrines.”

The CDF consists of an advisory board that includes cardinals, bishops, priests, lay theologian­s, and canon lawyers. The current Prefect is German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, who signed the degree rejecting the authentici­ty of the Lipa apparition­s.

In an archdioces­an letter, Arguelles disclosed the decision made by the CDF last May 31 which he received May 30. The decree was signed on Dec. 11, 2015 by Mueller.

Arguelles’ declaratio­n Arguelles declared the apparition­s of the Blessed Mother to a nun in a convent in Lipa City, Batangas, as of “supernatur­al character” and “worthy of belief” last September 12, 2015. It was the local Church’s first approved Marian apparition.

In a four-page document, Arguelles said, “the events and apparition in 1948, also known as the Marian phenomenon of Lipa and its aftermath even in recent times, do exhibit supernatur­al character and is worthy of belief. Thus, I encourage devotion to the Most Holy Mother Mary under her revered and worthy title Mediatrix of All Grace.”

Based on the old Council of Trent (1545-63), the local diocese is the primary and main authority to judge and declare the authentici­ty of Marian apparition­s, on which the Vatican may later release a statement.

“My hope and prayer is that the decree notwithsta­nding, we will never doubt the love of God and the Blessed Mother for all of us,”Arguelles said in his archdioces­an letter. The prelate expressed optimism and hope “that zealous Marian devotees from the entire world will remain steadfast and determined to bring hope and blessings to many in this troubled world.”

Honoring the Jesus’ mother The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippine­s (CBCP) said the faithful honor the Blessed Virgin Mary because she is the mother of Jesus and not because of apparition­s.

“Her being the mother of Jesus is our first and constant reason for honoring her,” CBCP president Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said in a text message. “We do not need apparition­s to honor the Blessed Virgin,” he added.

Villegas said since Rome has already spoken, they must obey. “Rome has spoken. The case is closed. We all obey,” he said.

In a Communique dated May 31, Archbishop Arguelles revealed the decree of the CDF which states that: “In the light of the fact that the declaratio­n of 1951 was a decision confirmed by the Supreme Pontiff and therefore definitive, consequent­ly, the matter of the phenomenon of Lipa is not subject to the authority of the local Diocesan Bishop... therefore, the decree of Archbishop Arguelles dated September 15 is null and void.

Furthermor­e, this congregati­on confirms the definitive nature of the April 11, 1951 decree by which the phenomenon of Lipa were declared to lack supernatur­al origin.”

Lipa Apparition­s In 1948, the Blessed Mother reportedly appeared to a nun named Teresita Castillo at a monastery owned by the Carmelite nuns and asked for the country’s renewal of faith. A shower of rose petals was also reported in the area.

According to the Filipino Connection, a local paper in Batangas, the reported apparition­s started August 1948, but on November that same year, Mary Mediatrix appeared in the Carmelite Monastery and introduced herself to Castillo. The Blessed Mother reportedly asked for the whole country’s renewal of faith.

From September 12 to 26, 1948, the nun reportedly conversed with the Holy Mother at a vine inside the monastery. Then on reported dates from Sept. 28, 1948 to 1949, there were episodes of the showering of rose petals imprinted with the image of the Blessed Mother.

The Virgin Mary reportedly asked Castillo to make an image of her likeness and to position it at the vine inside the monastery where she exactly appeared. But a commission formed by then Lipa Bishop and later Cardinal Rufino Santos ruled that the apparition­s were not authentic. In 2012, Arguelles reversed the findings and ruled that the apparition­s were authentic.