The Vatican’s doctrinal office has granted a nihil obstat to a Marian devotion related to alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Slovakia. Source: CNA.
The Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith granted the nihil obstat – that is, nothing stands in the way – of the devotion surrounding the alleged apparitions of Mary on Mt Zvir near the village of Litmanová in northwestern Slovakia from 1990 to 1995 — without recognising their supernatural character.
The letter, signed by the dicastery’s prefect, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, and addressed to Archbishop Jonáš Jozef Maxim, hierarch of the Archeparchy of Prešov for Byzantine-rite Catholics, recognises the pastoral value of the phenomenon and authorises public worship without commenting on the supernatural authenticity of the apparitions.
The cardinal stated in the letter, published by the Vatican dicastery, that the discernment has taken into account “the many spiritual fruits” borne from this phenomenon.
The decision responds to the formal request by Archbishop Maxim, who in letters sent to the Vatican in February and May highlighted “the countless sincere and heartfelt confessions and conversions” experienced by pilgrims, which continue to take place at the shrine, despite the alleged apparitions ending three decades ago.
The Slovak prelate also highlighted the constant flow of pilgrims who have continued to come to the site, manifesting an ongoing experience of faith.
Cardinal Fernández noted several messages attributed to the Virgin that offer invitations to conversion, joy, and inner freedom.
However, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith recognised that “some messages contain ambiguities or unclear formulations,” such as one that suggests that nearly all people in one part of the world are condemned or one that states that “the cause of all illness is sin.”
The Vatican made it clear that the nihil obstat does not equate to the recognition of supernatural intervention, but it does permit public worship and that the faithful can “safely approach this spiritual offering,” whose contents can help them live the Gospel of Christ more deeply.
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Vatican approves Marian devotion in Slovakia but doesn’t recognize apparitions (CNA)
