IRACLES ARE HOAXES
UNDERSTANDING
MEDJUGORJE,
AN EXCELLENT REFUTATION
Understanding Medjugorje,
Heavenly Visions Or Religious Illusion? Donal Anthony Foley, Theotokos Books,
This book goes back to the original records about the visions and what
the apparition said. It finds many
absurdities and much dishonesty among the promoters of Medjugorje.
Ivan Dragicevic has stated on tape that on 24th June 1981
when he saw the Virgin he noticed that her hands were “trembling” (page 45).
Visionary Mirjana said on the tape, on June 30th 1981, that
the Virgin said she would appear for only three more days! The children were heard repeating after the
Virgin, “Three more days” (page 71).
Three days later Vicka said that the Virgin had appeared for the last
time (page 81).
Chapter 13 is the most important chapter in the book. It is entitled Medical and Scientific
Investigations.
Page 146, says that the first commission of investigation held by the Church
was so sure that the ecstasy of the visionaries wasn’t genuine that they
didn’t bother with much of a medical examination of the visionaries. Vicka
apparently reacted when a priest stuck a pin in her but it is disputed how
much of a reaction she made. Bishop
Zanic said in 1985 that he rejected the hallucinations hypothesis given by
one of his doctors and concluded that the simulation or fraud was taking
place. Father Laurentin responded that
the tests he and Dr Henri Joyeux refuted this idea. But in fact in their book Scientific and Medical Studies on the
Apparitions of Medjugorje such tests were not mentioned! Joyeux stated that the problems of
understanding what the visionaries were saying and the problems in
transporting equipment meant he couldn’t rule out that the visionaries were
lying. None of the tests could prove
that the visionaries were not lying and were not going into self-induced
trances.
Page 147 finds it disturbing that Jacov claimed he forgot to ask the
Virgin could he touch her. And Marija
and Ivanka said that the Virgin didn’t agree to such a test. Why is it disturbing? Because cameras were poised to photograph the
positions of their hands to see if they were really touching anything.
It seems that Laurentin made sure the visionaries would pass the
tests. The tests which led to it being
boasted in his book that the visionaries were looking at something that even
cards put in front of their eyes to obstruct their vision couldn’t stop them
seeing were dubious. Small cards were
used meaning their peripheral vision was unaffected (page 147). I would add this. Look at a point on a wall in front of you.
Move the first finger of the left hand about two inches in front of the left
eye. Be careful not to focus on the
finger. You will not ice that you seem
to be able to see through your finger.
Page 147 says that Dr Marco Margnelli said in 1985 that the visionaries
were in a state of consciousness that is similar to ones deliberately induced
but deeper.
Page 148 Laurentin stated that no evidence of signalling was found when
the visionaries dropped to their knees nearly at the one time to indicate the
vision was present despite admitting that this always happened before they
finished the first Our Father. So
obviously the prayer could be used as a symbol then!
Page 149, lots of clips have been taken to show that the visionaries do
not react as if the Virgin is appearing at the same time.
Page 150 says that the tests were not conducted with scientific
rigour. I would add that lack of such
rigor has led to psychics fooling scientists but when the standards were
raised the psychics failed and were showing to be faking.
Page 150 shows that Laurentin had no right to say that the children’s
voices went quiet though their lips were moving for they couldn’t even get a
lip-reader to determine what the children were saying. The silencing would be a miracle if the
children are to be believed. But it
would be a pointless miracle. Nothing
that private is ever said. And if a lip-reader can work out what they are
saying, then due to the fact that the children were often filmed then the
miracle is doubly pointless. A group
of fakes would pretend their voices went quiet to hide the fact that they were
talking to nobody at all. Yet we read
on page 151 that the Virgin is able to have a different conversation with
different visionaries at the same time!
If anybody would believe that they are having visions they would
believe anything. If Mary is appearing
at Medjugorje, why does she lower the standard of visions so much that any
group of frauds will be able to fake easily?
Page 151 remarks the expression on Ivan’s face when he was filmed
having a vision in
Page 153, tells us that Louis Belanger did experiments in
Page 154, the trances not being hypnotic doesn’t mean they cannot be
self-induced trances.
Conclusion: Believing in the visions of Medjugorje is really believing
the visionaries not God or Mary. The
glory and importance they have received could make them fake visions and even
believe afterwards that they did experience visions. It is no different from a girl who makes
herself believe that a boy who used her actually loved her.
BOOKS CONSULTED
“I BEG YOU: LISTEN
TO MY MESSAGES AND LIVE THEM,” Padraic Dunne, published privately, Drogheda,
BIBLICAL
EXEGESIS AND CHURCH DOCTRINE, Raymond E Brown, Paulist Press,
LOOKING FOR A MIRACLE, Joe Nickell, Prometheus Books,
MEDJUGORJE, David Baldwin, Catholic Truth Society,
MEDJUGORJE HERALD, Vol 13, No 2, Feb 1999,
MEDJUGORJE, A TIME FOR TRUTH AND A TIME FOR ACTION, Denis Nolan
MEDJUGORJE, FACTS DOCUMENTS THEOLOGY, Fr Michael O Carroll, Veritas,
OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE, Tomislav Vlasic OFM, published by Peter Batty,
POWERS OF DARKNESS, POWERS OF LIGHT, John Cornwell, Penguin,
POWER OF THE WITCH, Laurie Cabot with Tom Cowan, Arkana, Penguin,
QUEEN OF PEACE (Newspaper), Fall, 1995,
SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL STUDIES ON THE APPARITIONS AT MEDJUGORJE Rene
Laurentin and Henri Joyeux, Veritas, Dublin, 1987.
THE APPARITIONS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY TODAY, Rene Laurentin,
Veritas,
THE HIDDEN SIDE OF MEDJUGORJE, Fr Ivo Sivric, Ed. Psilog, Saint
Francios Du Lac, Quebec, 1989
THE THUNDER OF JUSTICE, Ted and Maureen Flynn, MAXCOL,
UNDERSTANDING MEDJUGORJE, HEAVENLY VISIONS OR RELIGIOUS ILLUSION? Donal
Anthony Foley, Theotokos Books,
VISIONS OF THE CHILDREN, Janice T Connell, St Martin’s Press,
WORDS FROM HEAVEN, Anonymous, Caritas of
The following books are available from Militia Immaculatae Trust,
CRITERIA FOR DISCERNING APPARITIONS REGARDING THE EVENTS OF MEDJUGORJE
by Monsignor Peric.
MEDJUGORJE – AFTER FIFTEEN YEARS, Michael Davies, Remnant Press,
MEDJUGORJE THE UNTOLD STORY, E Michael Jones Fidelity Press,
MEDJUGORJE, Bishop Zanic, Mostar, 1990.
THE
THE MEDJUGORJE DECEPTION, E Michael Jones, Fidelity Press,
TWENTY QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDJUGORJE, Kevin Orlin Johnson, Ph.D. Pangaeus
Press, Dallas, 1999.
UNDERSTANDING MEDJUGORJE, HEAVENLY VISIONS OR RELIGIOUS ILLUSION? Donal
Anthony Foley, Theotokos Books,
To Order Understanding Medjugorje visit http://www.theotokos.org.uk or write
to Theotokos Books, PO Box, 8570,
Videos
VISIONS ON DEMAND, Network 5 International, 1997
DIVINE OR DECEIVED? COVER-UP, Network 5 International, 1998
Contact:
Network 5 International
L69 3EE
A critical look
at...
the
"apparitions" of the Virgin Mary in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Since 1981, the
Virgin Mary, reportedly, has been appearing to six young Croats during daily
ecstasies which last several minutes. Millions of pilgrims have responded to
the Lady of Medjugorje, the young visionaries, and the Franciscans who lead
the parish there. What exactly has happened?
From a unique
vantage point---he is both a Franciscan priest and a native son of
Medjugorje---the author of this book exposes contradictions and falsehoods
that have been omitted or intentionally concealed until now. He introduces us
to the group of visionaries, makes known and explains the Church's teachings
on Marian apparitions, and comments on exceptional and previously unpublished
material (in appendices) which allows a thorough examination of the roots of
these events. He scrutinizes the role of Medjugorje's Franciscans and the
Bishop's interventions, as well as those of the Commission of inquiry set up
to evaluate the whole question. He also provides an update of the recent
events in Medjugorje and attempts to explain the so-called apparitions.
Finally, the theologian urges readers to draw their own conclusions as to
whether it is still possible to believe in the Madonna's presence and action.
Father Ivo
Sivric was born in Medjugorje in 1917. After completing his studies in
philosophy and theology in Mostar, he was ordained in 1941, and then went on
to complete his postgraduate studies in
The author of the prospective Volume II (Observations
of an anomalist) visited Medjugorje, filmed the visionaries during four
of their «ecstasies» and explored various physical and psychological
hypotheses to explain both the luminous phenomena and visions as not
supernaturally caused. He illustrates the sequences of a spontaneous test
done during an «apparition» and analyses their consequences. He invokes the
testimony of critical witnesses, as well as the opinion and work of expert
specialists. From the matrix of his special interest in altered states of
consciousness, he proposes his own experimental counteranalysis of the
«scientific and medical studies.» For example, an «ordinary» student is shown
doing a laboratory reproduction of the «ecstatic electrophysiological
parameters» identical to those recorded in the young Yugoslavian visionaries.
Important sociopolitical, ecclesiastical, and economic factors, as well as
the high stakes for Marian propagandists and the overt manipulation are
introducted and explored. In all, Louis Bélanger provides readers with a
complete overview of Medjugorje's apparent anomaly: on a fine June day in
1981, two teenaged girls, moved by the sincerest hopes, incited a collective
drama which has drawn millions of believers in search of tangible expressions
of the spiritual dimension.
Louis Bélanger was born in
To order The
Hidden Side of Medjugorje, 419 pages, including 16 original
transcripts - ISBN 2-921010-01-1, please enclose a money order for CAD$ 40.
($ 25.00 + $ 15.00 for Express/Priority postage & handling to the U.S.A.
(including Internet tracking and insurance - 3 to 4 days to come in) payable
to PSILOG INC., 465 Notre-Dame, Saint-François-du-Lac, (Québec) Canada JOG
1MO.
THE WEB
SCIENTIFIC STUDIES DONE ON THE VISIONARIES OF MEDJUGORJE – 1998
SCIENTIFIC STUDY ON THE VISIONARIES
www.childrenofmedjugorje.com/medj/research.htm
AN OVERVIEW OF THE MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC TESTING OF VISIONARY
http://members.aol.com/bbu84/biblicalstupidity/science.htm#10
DISCERNMENT AND SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF VISIONARIES FROM THE MEDJUGORJE
STAR
http://members.aol.com/bbu84/biblicalstupidity/study.htm#11
09/09/07