Marian Apparitions

[Monoxide]

How should I know? I am saying that there was a chance that it could have.

[Archangel]

Were there any "embellishments" from the seers in Fatima?

[Monoxide]

Personally? I would say that I do not think the Lord's Mother would send a vision of hell to a bunch of pre pubescent children. (7 8 and 9 years old?) That is probably just me though, so well, I dont know? I didn't see them? So how could I honestly know? How could you? shway

[Nicole8223]

We can't look at what WE think is right (i.e. not showing hell to young children), but we must have faith, that's #1. The only thing we have any right to look at is the fruits of the apparitions. From both Fatima and Lourdes, there are countless healings and conversions taking place daily...I have no doubt....I'm not going to question God.

[Apotheoun]

When the Church approves a "private revelation" it simply means that there is nothing contrary to the Catholic faith within it, but a Catholic is not required to believe in any private revelations.

[MichaelFilo]

Fatima was a bit different from private revelation. Many onlookers saw Mary. 70,000 went on to see the Miracle of the Sun. That is not private revelation, unless, a whole city is private.

God bless,
Mikey

[Socrates]

[quote name='MichaelFilo' date='May 10 2005, 08:06 PM'] Fatima was a bit different from private revelation. Many onlookers saw Mary. 70,000 went on to see the Miracle of the Sun. That is not private revelation, unless, a whole city is private.

God bless,
Mikey [/quote]
Still, in theological terms, Fatima is considered private revelation.
The Church teaches that Public Revelation (what is necessary for our salvation to beleive) ended with John.

The Church does not require Catholics to beleive in the revelations at Fatima.

Edited May 11, 2005 by Socrates

[SarahB]

I find it awfully hard not to believe in it, though. I mean....not only did 70,000 including a whole lot of skeptics see it, but the Church has declared two of the children saints(or at least blesseds....someone correct me if I'm wrong) and the last person to see Mary at Fatima, Sr Lucy, just recently died and I'm sure will be declared a saint soon enough. With that much stock put into the visions at Fatima by the Church I think it's hard for any Catholic to not believe them. I'm not saying anything aganist any Catholic who might not believe it it. Just that I find it hard not to.

[Socrates]

[quote name='SarahB' date='May 11 2005, 02:23 PM'] I find it awfully hard not to believe in it, though. I mean....not only did 70,000 including a whole lot of skeptics see it, but the Church has declared two of the children saints(or at least blesseds....someone correct me if I'm wrong) and the last person to see Mary at Fatima, Sr Lucy, just recently died and I'm sure will be declared a saint soon enough. With that much stock put into the visions at Fatima by the Church I think it's hard for any Catholic to not believe them. I'm not saying anything aganist any Catholic who might not believe it it. Just that I find it hard not to. [/quote]
I'm not saying I don't believe in it, I'm merely pointing out that the Church does not consider it public revelation, and therefore does not [b]require[/b] Catholics to beleive in it or any other private revelations. That's all.

[SarahB]

Oh, I know you're not. I hope what I said didn't come across as me saying you didn't believe in the visions. And I know the Church doesn't require anyone to believe in them, which is fine. I just find it hard to see why some people don't.