On Reading Private Revelation
Part 1: On How to Read and Receive Private Revelation
Part 2: On Sharing and Publishing Private Revelation
Part 1: On How to Read and Receive Private Revelation
For years, I was very uncomfortable - as I believe many people are - when it came to the question of private revelation. To what extent do we believe it? What if the Church has not given approval? What if there are contradictions among the ecclesiastical authority, regarding whether or not the revelations are good? What if one mystic says one thing about God, and another mystic says something else? And finally, the worst question: what if the mystic is still alive, and proves themselves to be an unfaithful Catholic before their death, would this invalidate everything they had heard and received.
It was not until 2020, the Year of St. Joseph, when I came across this book, The Life of St. Joseph, in a Catholic Book Shop, and could not resist purchasing it, in spite of my interior reservations in regard to private revelation. Little did I expect that this book would contain the very resource - an Introduction to the German Edition of the book by P. Odo Staudinger, O.S.B. - which would set my mind at ease, in regard to these questions.
And this was fortunate, for I myself had begun to hear the voice of the Lord, interiorly, but was absolutely resolved never to share with others what I heard, for fear of leading them into error. And yet, over time, the Lord has clearly and insistently commanded me to share certain things that I hear, and had I not previously read this introduction to The Life of St. Joseph, by Mary Cecilia Baij, I might still be trapped in fear regarding such actions. But as it is, I am filled with consolation, for how reassuring it is that the Catholic Church recognizes the human frailty of its mystics, and does not consider this a stumbling block to our receptions of them! The Lord’s word is absolute truth… our words are only vague shadows, trying to point to the ultimate reality. The only way my words can be fruitful is if the Holy Spirit interprets them in your mind and ear, and wills them to take root there. I am a useless vessel on my own.
If you too struggle with knowing how to read and interpret private revelation, I have included the relevant passages below, which were so beneficial to me in bringing me peace. If reading my words brings you peace, then please give glory and praise to God!
If it does not, then please set my writings aside, and turn your mind to Scripture, as it is the final and complete word of God, and nothing I say here can add or detract from it; or turn to others of the Mystical Body of Christ, who do fill you with peace, whether they be living or dead. I advise this because the eye cannot touch the finger without pain, so that, sometimes, there are members of the Body of Christ, among the Communion of Saints, who injure one another without attempting to do so, whether on account of woundedness, or differences in personality, or the place of a soul on their particular journey to the Lord.
All you who read my words, you are in my prayers at all times!
Excerpt from the Introduction to the German Edition of The Life of St. Joseph
“In the lives of saints and mystics there are plenty of instances of unpremeditated, unwitting deceptions connected with private revelations. The Jesuit August Poulain, in his Handbook of Mysticism, lists five basic causes to which these errors can be traced. He contends that ‘a heavenly revelation can occasionally be misunderstood by the one who receives it. When visions depict historical scenes such as the life and death of Christ, they often present them only in broad outline, giving mere approximate representations without going into detail.
‘“Consequently, whoever attributes to them a manifestly absolute accuracy, deceives himself.’
Similarly, in regard to the contradictions in the visions of various saints, he says:
‘“The human intellect may very well be active at the same time that a vision is being regarded, and thereby contribute something of its own to the divine revelation. Whoever then would nevertheless attribute everything to God, would be mistaken. Occasionally the memory and the imagination also play a part...and a true revelation can be altered by the seer himself without his realizing it.”
“For instance, the Lord actually commented to St. Bridget about such an alteration of His revelations, either because she did not understand things properly, or had failed to express herself clearly.
“In regard to the objection often raised, namely, that private revelations contradict each other on many points, P. Schmoger, C.S.S.R., the publisher of The Life and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by A. C. Emmerich declares: ‘These contradictions are frequently only apparent. If one would understand the particular passages in question correctly, the contradiction would in most instances disappear.’ Thus, among the older revelations, some say that the Savior was fastened to the cross with three nails, while others say with four. For centuries scholars racked their brains over this in an endeavor to decide which was true, and books were written on the matter.
“Now, however, any reasonable critic must admit that the revelations of Catherine Emmerich eliminate the conflict between these earller revelations and resolve this notable item of contention. She speaks of a fourth nail, which was actually not a large nail like the other three, but rather a narrow peg, a sort of gimlet or awl, whereby the left foot of the Divine Savior was fastened over His right foot, before the large nail was driven through both. In the light of such a consideration, both of the seemingly contradictory declarations could claim to be true, and all conflict, therewith, be resolved.
“To the above-mentioned objection we further reply: ‘If contradictions are found in private revelations, this does not constitute a valid ground for declaring that either the one or the other of the revelations is false, or for declaring that all revelations are unworthy of credence. The contradictions are often easily explained.
‘“Theologians teach that a true prophet can occasionally be mistaken, and that by reason of the fact that he makes constant use of his prophetic gifts (ex magno uso prophetandi), he may bring forth something from his mind which he truly (but erroneously) deems to be prophetic. In a similar manner, it can easlly happen, declares Pope Benedict XIV, that a saint in considering his previous experiences, observations, or judgments, considers something to have been revealed, when actually it was not. It is, therefore, possible for a genuine visionary sometimes to err, and precisely because of this fact, contradictions may also occur between different revelations.’
“Most instructive in this regard, moreover, is what the Lord Himself on one occasion sald to St. Bridget, when her communications were labeled as being false: “No untruth has ever come from My mouth, nor can such ever proceed therefrom, since I am Truth Itself. Consequently, everything that I have announced through the prophets or through other friends will either spiritually or materially be accomplished, as I had then intended it to be.
“The fact that I said one thing on one occasion, another thing on another occasion, some things clearly and some things obscurely, in no way detracts from the truth of what I have stated; for in order to prove the steadfastness of faith and the solicitude of My friends, I have revealed many things, which according to the diverse operations of My spirit could be understood in different ways, ie., either good or bad, by those who are good and by those who are evil.
‘“In this way different persons, in their various prevailing circumstances were able to actively promote what is good. And so, though calumniators and the ignorant saw only contradictions, My words were nevertheless true. Nor was it unreasonable that I transmitted some things obscurely, for it was proper this way, so that some of the things which I have decreed may remain hidden from those who are evil, while those who are good may fervently await My grace, and be rewarded for this expectation, and lest at any given time My purpose would become known, and everyone would desist from expectation and from charity because of the long duration’” (Rev. 1, 2, Chap. 28).
“It would, therefore, obviously be a mistake to cast aside in their entirety all private revelations, simply because of certain errors. Poulain remarks in this regard: ‘Prudence here lies in the middle: not to accept or discard anything without good grounds, and where these grunds are lacking, to withhold one's judgment.’ As Dom Gueranger has also pointed out: ‘…God permits this admixture with error, lest we be tempted to esteem private revelations to the same degree as Sacred Scripture.’”
Part 2: On Sharing and Publishing Private Revelation
Fr. Cris Alar, of the Marian Fathers, MIC, says,
“The church may approve for belief that Mary appeared at a particular location, but it doesn’t traditionally approve a particular prophecy…. So, as it stands, Canon Law though does not require material only be published from approved apparitions, surprisingly. Under present Canon Law, alleged visionaries may publish their own private revelations, even though these have not received ecclesiastical approval, as long as there is nothing contrary to the faith (for instance, we call this speculative theology).” (https://youtu.be/amW0PJRqCT0)
To be absolutely clear, then: anything I share here in this blog does not currently hold any approval from any ecclesiastical authority within the Catholic Faith, and if I publish anything contrary to the faith (God preserve me!) and a proper ecclesial authority commands me to cease publishing here, I shall do so without hesitation, for obedience to the Church is far more important than any words the Lord gives me to share.
If these are words He wishes to defend, then He shall do so, and if He wishes me to cease, or if He desires to humble me, He shall move His priestly ministers to silence me. Praise His Name!