The Church’s teaching distinguishes between “public Revelation” and “private revelations.” In Jesus Christ, God has revealed himself completely. God made himself known to people step by step. He became man himself, through his Incarnate Son, Jesus Christ. Public Revelation was finished in the New Testament. Although public Revelation is already complete, it has not been made fully explicit. The Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church into all truth.
All the visions and revelations that have taken place since the completion of the New Testament are called “private revelations.” Those that have been recognized by the authority of the Church are very important, because they can help us understand the Gospel and live it better in our times. They help us understand the signs of the times and respond to them rightly in faith. There are private revelations like Our Lady of Guadalupe, Fatima, Lourdes, La Salette and others.
On the 13th of this month, we remember Fatima – the place from which Mary chose to speak to us. The Virgin Mary appeared to three simple shepherd children with an urgent message calling for conversion and repentance. The message of Fatima invites us to trust in God’s promise and in his love.
During the apparition of Oct. 13, 1917, Mary, the Lady of the Rosary, asked that a chapel be built in her honor and that the Rosary be recited every day. She said the war would end soon, and the soldiers would return to their homes. The children brought many petitions, and Mary said, “Some I shall grant, and others I must deny. People must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. They must not offend Our Lord any more, for He is already too much offended!”
Today’s first reading is about the healing of Naaman, the commander of the army who suffered from leprosy. Because of his greatness, he was a very proud man. Before Naaman was healed, he had to humble himself. So we are to humble ourselves in our relationship with God.
Fr. Rafal Duda
ParochialVicar