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.