The Vatican has authorized exclusively private devotion for alleged Marian apparitions on Mount Fileremo in Italy. The decision follows a period of investigation into the authenticity of the apparitions. Public veneration and pilgrimages are still prohibited. The ruling allows for private prayer and visits to the site by individuals.
3 months ago
The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) has issued a nuanced ruling on alleged Marian apparitions at Mount Sant’Onofrio in Molise, southern Italy, permitting only private devotion while prohibiting public worship 1 2 3. The DDF assigned the designation of "prae oculis habeatur" ("let it be held before the eyes"), indicating the presence of "important positive signs" alongside "aspects of confusion or potential risk" that necessitate further doctrinal clarification 2 3. This decision was communicated in a letter from DDF prefect Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández to Bishop Camillo Cibotti of Isernia-Venafro and Trivento 2 3.
Since 2009, Michelino Marcovecchio, a local resident, has claimed to receive visions of the Virgin Mary and messages from her at Mount Sant’Onofrio 2 3. He also asserts that his deceased mother-in-law, Livia Casciano, communicates with him through his guardian angel 2 3. The messages reportedly emphasize fundamental means of sanctification, such as the Word of God, the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and the recitation of the Rosary, and call for prayer and acts of charity, including prayers for souls in purgatory 2 3.
Under the DDF's ruling, private worship is allowed, encompassing personal visits or small group visits to the cross or Stations of the Cross erected on Mount Sant’Onofrio 2 3. However, acts of public worship are strictly prohibited 2 3. This includes the celebration of liturgical rites at the site without explicit ecclesiastical approval, organized pilgrimages or pastoral events, and the dissemination of information about the phenomenon or its alleged messages without Church authority approval 2 3.
Cardinal Fernández highlighted two primary concerns regarding the alleged manifestations 2 3. Firstly, there have been instances of disobedience by some local clergy who failed to observe a previous bishop's prohibition on public or private worship related to the apparitions, causing a "wound in ecclesial communion" 2 3. Secondly, the "unusual fact that some souls of the deceased are said to manifest themselves to the alleged visionary through the work of his guardian angel" requires further study to ensure consistency with spiritual tradition and to avoid problematic practices 2 3. The DDF stressed that while the alleged apparitions follow Church teaching on the relationship between the living and the dead, their manner is original and requires careful discernment 2.
This ruling falls under the Vatican's new streamlined process for evaluating supernatural apparitions, which replaced the 1978 norms in May 2024 3. The new system offers a nuanced scale of six possible outcomes, moving beyond a simple "supernatural" or "not supernatural" declaration 3. The "prae oculis habeatur" designation is one such outcome, acknowledging positive aspects while flagging areas of concern 2 3. Future public worship at Mount Sant’Onofrio may be permitted if "full ecclesial peace and a clarification of the ambiguities present in the messages" are achieved 3.
How does the Church discern the authenticity of private revelations?
The Catholic Church discerns the authenticity of private revelations through a careful process, primarily involving the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the local Diocesan Bishop . This discernment aims to determine if the alleged phenomena are truly supernatural and if their content aligns with Catholic faith and morals .
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (formerly the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) holds the competence to examine cases of alleged apparitions, visions, and messages attributed to supernatural sources . Its primary task is to promote and safeguard the doctrine of faith and morals for the entire Catholic world .
Historically, the Holy See has clarified that while ecclesiastical approval of a private revelation indicates that "the message contains nothing contrary to faith or morals," it does not mean the faithful are obliged to accept the authenticity of these events . The Dicastery's involvement ensures that such phenomena do not lead the faithful to believe they must accept them, especially if they are valued more than the Gospel itself .
Discernment in this area remains primarily the task of the Diocesan Bishop . However, due to the widespread and rapid dissemination of these phenomena across various dioceses, regions, and even countries, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith must always be consulted and give final approval to the Bishop's decision before he announces a determination . When the Bishop makes his decision public, it will be stated as "in agreement with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith" .
The Dicastery may also intervene motu proprio in some instances . Once a clear determination is made, the Dicastery reserves the right to intervene again depending on the development of the phenomenon and requests the Bishop to continue to watch over it for the good of the faithful .
While not explicitly detailed in the provided texts, the general principle for evaluating private revelations is that they "may help a person to live the faith as long as they lead us to Christ" . The Magisterium "cannot accept those which claim to surpass or correct that definitive Revelation which is Christ" . This means that any private revelation must be consistent with the Deposit of Faith, which is the definitive Revelation of Christ .
The discernment process serves to protect the faithful from deception and to ensure that any alleged supernatural phenomena genuinely contribute to the renewal of faith in Jesus Christ . It is part of the Church's responsibility to guide the faithful and safeguard the truth of the Catholic faith . The Dicastery's work in this area is considered "pastoral" as it contributes to the unity of faith and the communion of all believers, which is essential for the Church's saving mission .