Dear Beloved in Christ,
It is so very important that we understand the teaching of Holy Mother Church regarding private revelations and their place in the life of the Faithful. Private revelations show us that Christ is still active in His Church. It is His Will that certain souls receive revelations, always for the good of others and the edification of souls. They bring us to the imminent reality that is Jesus, through whatever means He takes, (the use of His Most Blessed Mother, His saints, Himself.) Private revelations are approved by the Church when it is deemed necessary for the good of souls.
HOWEVER… Only Holy Mother Church, through the Petrine Office, (the pope) and the Magisterium united to the pope can say definitively if a private revelation is worthy of belief- AND EVEN THEN it is not necessary for salvation! Only Public Revelation, (Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition) is necessary for salvation. Private revelations are NEVER on a par with what we must believe in order to be saved.
Also, because of the situation in the Church today, we must always downplay any current, so-called private revelations, because there is no proper Authority extant, (above the catacombs) that we can follow with certainty in these matters. Stick to those private revelations that have been approved by Holy Mother Church before the False Council, i.e: Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima, etc…
There are so many good people who are being led astray by these so-called private revelations. I have a close relative that is enamored of one of these and she does not recognize that all it takes is ONE non Catholic statement by the “apparition” to invalidate the entire phenomenon. It doesn’t matter if the sick are being cured, if you “feel” and “just KNOW” that this is true! Even if the seer was to levitate and fly through the clouds to Rome, if they speak heresy- that’s it! It’s over. Walk away.
In these times, so many good intentioned folk gravitate to private revelations because they are sad, depressed and in need of validation. I understand. Still, the emphasis on private revelations can be a great deterrent to evangelism and to the basic sharing of the Holy Gospel with our family, friends and neighbors. People have stopped listening to me and to many priests because we do not give approbation to their personal, pet revelations. Even if a revelation is true, it should be received in humility and in these days, again, SILENCE. Pride can masquerade as private revelation so many times. The saints who did receive valid, personal revelations NEVER WANTED THEM! It became a great source of penance and were approved only after their deaths with complete certainty by the Church.
Please, let go of these things and read the gospels, pray your rosary and go to Holy Mass, if possible. If you do this you will have peace. Many a soul has been led into heresy by so-called private revelations.
As always, I remember all of you before the altar of the Lord and send my priestly blessing to you and those you love+
