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Theotokos.org.uk |
When
author
Donal Anthony Foley
was exposed by Ministry Values for surreptitiously basing
a large portion of the reasoning utilized in his hypercritical
book "Understanding
Medjugorje"
on quotes from "lucifer's Echo and atheist sources, he
responded:
"some valuable critical points were made, which I hadn't seen
elsewhere" (5).
No kidding Sherlock, undoubtedly there would be critical venom in
the mouth of lucifer, of the likes that couldn't be found
elsewhere. Foley practically bases his entire chapter 13
(fittingly) on quotes from satanic orator Hector Avalos (6).
Avalos is a lecturer for "satanism and the luciferian
path" (7).
His book: "The End of Biblical Studies" has been touted as
"the "Synagogue of satan". Avalos' book "Fighting Words" acclaims Mein Kampf (8). |
For any
conscientious Catholic, regressing to cooperating with the "prince
of darkness" as a means to accomplish ones dirty work would have
been a major red flag. Foley may have surrendered to the
erroneous reasoning: "the enemy of my enemy, must be my friend".
Notwithstanding, Foley's book is routinely utilized as the
back-bone of arguments against the Medjugorje Apparitions by unbeknownst Catholics. Harvard and Yale
scholar Daniel Klimek writes: "Why is a Catholic author using a Satanic
magazine to challenge reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary?
If we look closely at this source
which Foley uses, the results are quite troubling. The editors of
"Lucifer's Echo" mock all belief in God and religion while proudly
elevating the name of the Devil - this is a major source that Foley
uses to construct
chapter 13 of
his book. About religious people, the editors of "Lucifer's Echo"
write: "As we find their values, such as faith in the non-existent,
obedience to the imaginary and reverence of the ridiculous,
repulsive, we adopt the name of their ancient antagonist [Lucifer]
with pride.
The editors of
"Lucifer's Echo" can, in actuality, assist Foley in his impoverished
attempts to deny the supernaturality of Medjugorje because on their
site they explain that denying supernatural beings - thus, we can
assume they mean beings like God or the Virgin Mary - is what they
stand for: "We are atheistic as we do not believe in the actual
existence of any supernatural beings or any transcendental reality."
The most
ironic aspect about Foley using this source is that in his book a
major thesis that Foley tries to promulgate is that Medjugorje
possibly constitutes "a diabolical intervention" (p. 232). The
dubious reliability of such claims need to be considered in light of
the disturbing fact that the author uses an online magazine which
proudly elevates the Devil's name - while ridiculing religious
people and any belief in God - to deny supernatural experiences of
the Virgin Mary in a village where millions of people have found
their faith in God" (10).
In his
stumbling misguided efforts to prove the Marian Apparitions at Medjugorje
are a "diabolical intervention", Donal
Anthony Foley unintentionally unearths the greatest testimony to the
authenticity of the Apparitions, since Jesus made clear that satan
cannot oppose himself. Jesus while defending Himself before
the
Chief Priests, Doctors of the Law, Pharisees
and Scribes who were accusing Him of being of beelzebub, retorted:
“How can satan drive out satan? If a kingdom is divided
against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is
divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if satan
opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come" (Mark
3:22-26). Jesus Christ Himself proves that Our Lady
of Medjugorje is not of "diabolical
intervention" because the atheists, luciferians and satanists are
are in strong opposition to the Marian Apparitions at Medjugorje,
therefore, unbeknownst to himself, Donal Anthony Foley has actually
been beneficial.
Tests:
Since the
beginning of the apparitions, the credibility of the six visionaries
has remained intact. They have never contradicted themselves in
relating the messages of the Blessed Mary. In addition during these
years they have been subjected periodically to every type of medical
and scientific examination available.
Note: These
many tests and their results throughout the years are printed in
books, pamphlets, news stories and on web sites. Any remarks that
this writer might have would prove insufficient except to add this
conclusion of 17 renowned scientists, doctors, psychiatrists and
theologians in their long and detailed research on January 14, 1986
in Paina near Milan. “The results… proved that the apparitions, to
which the visionaries testify, are a phenomenon that surpasses
modern science and that all points toward some other level of
happening.”
Interestingly,
during a test by a team from the University of Montpellier, France
on five of the visionaries during their apparitions, the following
was noted: Within one-fifth of a second of one another: They
simultaneously knelt and looked at precisely the same spot (without
a visible reference point) when the Virgin Mary appeared. They
knelt and ceased all eye movements from three to 45 minutes. None
blinked in response to touching the eye. They did not react to
pain during the apparition. When touched with an algometer (that
causes a lesion or skin burn) there was complete absence of
sensitivity. They showed no reaction to a hearing test, an
input of 90 decibels (equivalent to a loud explosion) in their ears.
They did not blink when a 1000 watt light bulb was placed in front
of the eyes. Their voices stopped during the vision. Though
all muscles (mouth, jaw, and throat) involved in speech continued,
the larynx shut off. This is physically impossible. The French
team concluded, “nothing in the physical realm interferes with the
experience.” They defined the phenomena “as a state of active,
intense prayer, partially disconnected from the external world, a
state of contemplation with a separate person whom they alone can
see, hear and touch.”
Father
Svetozar Kraljevic of St. James Church reports that another team of
12 university professors, scientists and medical doctors from
different fields observed Vicka, Marija and Ivan in Milan, Italy for
five days in April 2000. This was the most serious approach with the
most sophisticated equipment ever done on the visionaries. Findings
are pending at this time. A controversy exists today regarding
the importance of Mary. Some people feel that she was simply the
earthly mother of Jesus and that too much honor is given her,
detracting from our worship of God. Christian tradition holds,
however, that at the crucifixion, Jesus gave His Mother Mary to each
of us as our spiritual mother. The apostle John was present with
Mary as Jesus said, “Behold your Mother.” (John 19:27). Thus, many
believe that Mary’s purpose on earth was to bear the Son of God, the
living bread. Through her, with her, and in her, God became man. Her
purpose now as God’s most perfect servant is to bring us closer to
him. Her messages focus on those of the Bible as she urges us to
pray to her son. And since we often ask our earthly mothers and
others to pray for us, it is quite natural to ask our Heavenly
Mother to pray for us also (11).
Miraculous
Photographs from September 18, 2010 Pilgrimage
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