Catholicism is weird. Every once in a while, stuff slips out that makes me think we’re dealing with aliens from another planet…like this discussion of how ‘apparitions’ are ‘approved’.
Many know about approved apparitions of our Blessed Mother. But only a handful realize that there were apparitions in Itapiranga, Brazil from 1994-1998 in which St. Joseph appeared along with Mary and Jesus.
In January 2010, after much study, prayer, reflection, observation and seeing the growth in the faith life of thousands, the local ordinary, Bishop Carillo Gritti declared a Decree of Worship favoring the Itapiranga appearances and in an earlier document called it of “supernatural origin.”
In another document he stated that considering the manifestations of the Virgin from 2005-10, who has called upon devotion to the three Sacred Hearts: Jesus, Mary and Joseph, a first step has been taken to build a new sanctuary with the certainty that it will be a place for pilgrimages, and the conversions that only God by the intercession of Mary can operate has been thus far for him and enlightened souls, reason enough to see in these visions and messages the finger of God (translated form the Portuguese).
It’s simply taken for granted that we know what these apparitions are, but apparently, all it is is that some guy had a vision of Mary and Joseph, and later his mom claimed to have seen them too. So now a bishop has declared that it is OK for you all to see particular ghosts, presumably without risk of being declared a heretic.
I do like the Catholic version of the scientific method: much study, prayer, reflection, observation and seeing the growth in the faith life of thousands
. I don’t think observation
means going to Itapiranga to have a conversation with old Joe’s shade, though; most likely it involved noting that church attendance is up, and counting up potential revenues from a new shrine.
I wanted to know more about this mysterious method for divining the truth from the claims of Catholic zealots, but instead the rest of the article goes on at tedious length about the wonderful imaginary virtues of the imaginary saint. Catholics do live in a rich fantasy world, that’s clear.
But I will commend the Catholics for one thing: they can write voluminously about St Joseph, yet they didn’t use the word cuck
even once, which was a relief.
growth in the atheist-life of thousands means that atheism is the correct way, eh? /s
so “thinking about it” ( ‘it’ being an anecdote of a person’s fever dream) and seeing the population rise of a group from empathy is all it takes to conclude the events in that dream actually happened?
Evidence is a word with a different meaning than they think it does.
I thought that they believe that the Bible Bogey is supposed to be omnipotent? Superstitious fools!
Funny how these sightings never come from Norway, or Netherlands, or New England. The Holy Ghost prefers to spend its time proving itself to people it doesn’t need to prove itself to. Heaven must have the worst marketing school on the index.
But the Rugby team…
No, although, some do think it. Speaking it aloud would be heresy, whereas mind reading isn’t an ability of the Almighty, save for convenient times when it is.
Or something.
Maybe I’d have gotten that oddity clearer, had I had more than five years of Catholic school.
Nah, I never was any good at doublethink, triplethink would be utterly out of the question.
A few years back when I lived in Boston, a double-glazed window in a suburban hospital sprang a leak. The condensation between the panes apparently resembled an image of the virgin in some people’s minds, whereupon the parking lot filled up with pilgrims and the patients and visitors couldn’t get in.
This post is timely since it coincides with the annual Lourdes pilgrimage. So ridiculous.
re @3:
obvious proof that what HG does, works!! Where HG isn’t, its results are sorely lacking, where HG is, its results abound in abundance.
*cough cough*
[obviously an example of confirmation bias]
The Virgin Mary has a jam-packed itinerary, what with all of her apparitions around the world. Lourdes and Fatima were big time, of course, but she is also responsible for window condensations, wall stains from sprinklers, mold patterns, wood-grain patterns, rust blotches, etc., etc., etc. For comic relief, check out “Our Lady of the Artichokes” by Katherine Vaz, an authentic treatment of how the superstition works in a community of believers. It’s simultaneously amusing and disturbing.
Oh, the lessons she could learn from Trump.
Be an asshole in front of the press, don’t have to make all of those extra appearances or do all of any real work.
Oh wait, the latter part is already down pat. That which does not exist, by definition, may not do work. I think that’s one of the laws of thermodynamics.
TANSTAAFL.
Well I did go longer It was when I realized that “god” new what I was thinking and all That also realized I did not need a church really it was just full of a lot of crappy judgemental people. It allowed me to begin to let go of religion and see it for what it is.
They do not sound like “space aliens” they just sound like priests have always sounded. Using events and odd unverifiable reports and the fear, ignorance and superstition of people. At best they make up stuff (lies) to sooth and comfort their people to reassure them that they are going to be OK at least that is what they may tell themselves what they do is reinforce the fear and superstition and ensure their power is perpetuated it is all they can do they are also ignorant and superstitious and resist all change for fear of instability. Seems a willful exercise in denial since it is quite clear that every thing is caring a degree on instability and absolutely everything is changing the rate of change varies.
uncle frogy
not caring but carrying
uncle frogy
Why don’t the Three Sacred Hearts™ apparate themselves in Rio and claim a three-pack of gold medals?
@Pierce #11:
Because the undead don’t have representation on the IOF.
The IOC, on the other hand…
…heresy, no – lunacy yes.
Alas, we’re just dealing with time travelers from the past :P
I wonder if the bishop “declared a Decree of Worship favoring the Itapiranga appearances,” or did he say, “We could make a fortune out of these silly bastards.“
The “much study, prayer, reflection, observation” part of the equation for the RCC is simple. If the bishops prayerfully discern with must study and reflection, they can observe whether the statements of the apparition will support the RCC’s doctrine, dogma, positions, and plans. If so, the bishops write how acceptance would aid their work and submit to the Archbishop for approval. The Archbishop observes their position paper, and prayerfully discerns if it fits his personal ambitions. He is likely to report fasting and prostration (the reports of a new Lay-z-boy and caviar and chocolate truffles are scurrilous rumors). Soon the apparition is declared a ‘true’ vision.
If the apparition does not support dogma and doctrine, the vile wretches who originally reported the event have fallen under the sway of the Devil’s spiritual warfare, and must confess their sins or be condemned.
Easy, once you grasp the equation.
“Observation”? Here is an “observation”…
“OMG! The Military Killed a Biblical Giant!”
(aka a “nephilim”, my comment)
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/dispatches/2016/08/15/omg-the-military-killed-a-biblical-giant/
Ed Brayton’s blog:
“The comment section for the original article is fantastic! One of the commenters insists that giant skeletons are being hidden by the Smithsonian.”
also “they have mixed up the description of a Hill Giant with a Fire Giant!”
Addendum: The people who write the conservative World Net Daily mentioned above may be Baptists rather than Roman Catholics, but it would be fun to imagine what would happen if they joined the latter. Demands that the Vatican release the Ark of the Covenant, which they have kept in a box in a giant warehouse, for studies by “top men”?
@18
Surely not the ark from the bronze age migration event a fundamentalist Israeli government invested millions into unearthing evidence of in the 80s-90s, finding nothing? Because that ark is safely six stories under the Liberty Bell.
That was no virgin! That was my (trophy) wife!
“Catholicism is weird”
You expected differently from an organization that peddles demons, Adam and Eve, ghosts, etc? The Catholic church hasn’t actually left the middle ages, they just periodically apply a new coat of paint to their rotting foundation.
It’s essentially identical to the method used to divine whether or not a priest has an extraordinary fondness for children.