Reports of alleged supernatural phenomena are numerous and recurring, especially with today’s means of communication, which spread news of these events very rapidly. Who does not remember the case of the multiplication of gnocchi and pizza recounted by the alleged “seer” from Trevignano? This is just one of the many cases added to others that are often more delicate and complex. So, how can true apparitions be discerned from false ones? The new norms, long awaited, enable the Church to act within a reasonably short time, following and applying transparent procedures in order to arrive at a clear and necessary discernment.
What is the Church’s task?
The Church must first proclaim that:
• «Jesus Christ is the definitive Word of God, “the First and the Last” (Rev 1:17). He is the fullness and fulfillment of Revelation: everything that God wished to reveal, he did so through his Son, the Word made flesh. Therefore, “the Christian economy, since it is the new and definitive Covenant, will never pass away; and no new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ”» (Dei Verbum, no. 4). Everything necessary for Christian life is found in the revealed Word.
• «The Holy Spirit leads believers of every age “into all the truth” (Jn 16:13), so that “understanding of revelation becomes deeper and deeper” (Dei Verbum, no. 5). Indeed, it is the Holy Spirit who continually guides us toward a deeper understanding of the mystery of Christ».
• The Holy Spirit may grant some people entirely particular experiences of faith, whose purpose is not «to “improve” or “complete” Christ’s definitive Revelation, but to help people live it more fully in a certain period of history» (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 67).
For this reason, the Church has the task of reminding the faithful that such phenomena are not an object of faith, but «represent ways of deepening knowledge of Christ and of giving oneself more generously to him, while at the same time becoming ever more deeply rooted in communion with the entire Christian People» (Saint John Paul II)
How will the Church decide on an apparition?
Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et exsultate, recalls that the only way to know whether something comes from the Holy Spirit is discernment, which must be requested and cultivated in prayer. Therefore, the first step to take is careful discernment, at the end of which a judgment is issued that in the past was expressed as: constat de supernaturalitate, or non constat de supernaturalitate, and which, from now on, after evaluating the various spiritual and pastoral fruits and the absence of significant critical issues in the event, will be expressed, if the judgment is positive, with the formula: Nihil obstat.
In the past, some phenomena were recognized and then denied, or vice versa. All these judgments «were contrary to the Church’s conviction that the faithful are not obliged to accept the authenticity of these events», reads the text introducing the new norms. Thus, «these complicated situations, which cause confusion among the faithful, must always be avoided». Therefore, by following this guidance, it will be avoided that «discernment should point toward a declaration of “supernaturality”, with strong expectations, anxieties, and even pressure in this regard».
Who must carry out the discernment?
Discernment is the task of the diocesan Bishop, who, however, before publishing his judgment, must consult the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is responsible for giving final approval to the Bishop’s decision. When the Bishop subsequently makes the decision public, it will be stated, unlike in the past: «in agreement with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith».
Although the task of discernment belongs to the diocesan Bishop, both the Holy Father’s right to undertake, in entirely exceptional circumstances, a procedure leading to a possible declaration of the event examined as supernatural, and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s right to intervene motu proprio in the case or to intervene again following the development of the phenomenon, asking the Bishop to «continue to exercise vigilance» for the good of the faithful, are confirmed.
The possibility of a declaration of “non-supernatural character” also remains, but only when objective signs clearly indicating manipulation at the basis of the phenomenon emerge.
What are the criteria for discerning true and false apparitions?
The document defines a series of “positive” and “negative” criteria for evaluating each case. The former include «the credibility and good reputation» of the person claiming to be involved, the orthodoxy of the message, the «unpredictable nature» of the event «which clearly shows that it is not the result of the initiative of the people involved», and the «fruits» of the apparitions or messages: «a spirit of prayer, conversions, priestly and religious vocations, testimonies of charity, sound devotion, and abundant and lasting spiritual fruits» and «the growth of ecclesial communion».
Among the «negative» criteria are listed: «Manifest error concerning the fact; doctrinal errors attributed to God himself, or to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or to some saint», while taking into account the possibility that «the person claiming to be the recipient of events of supernatural origin may have added - even unconsciously - to a private revelation purely human elements or some error of a natural order, not due to bad intentions but to the subjective perception of the phenomenon».
Other negative signs are «a sectarian spirit that generates division within the ecclesial fabric», the «obvious pursuit of profit, power, fame, social recognition, or personal interest», «gravely immoral acts committed by the person or their followers at the time of or on the occasion of the event», and «psychological alterations or psychopathic tendencies in the person that may have exerted an influence on the alleged supernatural event, or psychosis, mass hysteria, or other elements attributable to a pathological context».
What are the 6 levels of evaluation for an apparition?
The document proposes, with the new Norms, a procedure different from that of the past, but also more comprehensive, with six possible prudent conclusions that can guide pastoral work concerning events of alleged supernatural origin. Let us look at them:
1. Nihil obstat: «Although no certainty is expressed regarding the supernatural authenticity of the phenomenon, many signs of an action of the Holy Spirit “in the midst” of a given spiritual experience are recognized, and, at least up to that point, no particularly critical or risky aspects have been detected. For this reason, the diocesan Bishop is encouraged to appreciate the pastoral value and also to promote the spread of this spiritual proposal, including through possible pilgrimages to a sacred place».
2. Prae oculis habeatur: «Although important positive signs are recognized, some elements of confusion or possible risks are also perceived, requiring careful discernment and dialogue by the diocesan Bishop with those involved in a given spiritual experience. If there are writings or messages, doctrinal clarification may be necessary».
3. Curatur: «Various or significant critical elements are detected, but at the same time the phenomenon is already widespread and there is a presence of related and verifiable spiritual fruits. A prohibition in this regard is discouraged, as it could disturb the People of God. In any event, the diocesan Bishop is urged not to encourage this phenomenon, to seek alternative expressions of devotion, and, if necessary, to redirect its spiritual and pastoral profile».
4. Sub mandato: «The critical issues identified are not connected with the phenomenon itself, which is rich in positive elements, but with a person, a family, or a group of people who make improper use of it. A spiritual experience is used for a particular and undue financial advantage, immoral acts are committed, or a pastoral activity parallel to that already present in the ecclesiastical territory is carried out without accepting the directives of the diocesan Bishop. In this case, pastoral leadership of the specific place where the phenomenon occurs is entrusted either to the diocesan Bishop or to another person delegated by the Holy See, who.
5. Prohibetur et obstruatur: «Although legitimate concerns and some positive elements are present, the critical issues and risks appear serious. Therefore, to avoid further confusion or even scandals that could undermine the faith of ordinary believers, the Dicastery asks the diocesan Bishop to declare publicly that adherence to this phenomenon is not permitted and, at the same time, to offer catechesis that can help people understand the reasons for the decision and redirect the legitimate spiritual concerns of that part of the People of God».
6. Declaratio de non supernaturalitate: «In this case, the diocesan Bishop is authorized by the Dicastery to declare that the phenomenon is recognized as non-supernatural. This decision must be based on concrete and proven facts and evidence. For example, when an alleged seer declares that they lied, or when credible witnesses provide evidence that makes it possible to uncover the falsification of the phenomenon, the erroneous intention, or mythomania».
In light of the above, the declaration of «supernatural character» is «replaced either by a Nihil obstat or by another determination suited to the concrete situation», among the six cases defined by the new rules. Only the Pope may intervene «authorizing, in entirely exceptional circumstances, the undertaking of a procedure concerning a possible declaration of the supernatural character of the events: this is an exception that, in fact, has occurred in only very few cases over the last centuries».
