» 01/13/2010 13:26 VATICAN Card Shönborn: Medjugorje, Lourdes, a school of everyday faith From December 28 to 31, the archbishop of Vienna visited the place where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1981. In an interview with Tagesblatt, he explains the meaning of the apparitions. Without prejudging the final assessment of the Church, he asks everyone to look at the positive fruits of prayer and love that flow from Medjugorje.
Vienna (AsiaNews / Agencies) - According to Card. Christoph Shönborn of Vienna, "the phenomena witnessed in Medjugorje since 1981 have strong similarities with other Marian apparitions, especially Lourdes and Fatima.
The Archbishop of Vienna, a close friend of Pope Benedict XVI, has made a trip to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina where for decades the Lady appears almost daily to some visionaries. The current bishop of Mostar, as well as his predecessor, remains very sceptical about the apparitions.
Card. Shönborn visited Medjugorje December 28 to 31, indicating that his was a "private visit", that his trip was intended to "see the place the origin of many positive results" and to pray.
In a long interview with Tagesblatt (8 / 1 / 2010), the cardinal explains that he will not "anticipate any final assessment of the Church" of the apparitions, but that the phenomena reported there "have strong similarities with other Marian apparitions”.
In the lengthy interview in German, the cardinal says that more important than the messages of Medjugorje are the prayers offered there, including the Eucharistic adoration, the Via Crucis, confession, etc.. practiced by tens of thousands of pilgrims every year.
"To doubt that a current of grace flows in Medjugorje - said the card. Shönborn - you would have to close your eyes".
The Archbishop of Vienna also emphasizes the "personal credibility" of witnesses, the sense of faith of believers and all the charitable work that takes place in Medjugorje as positive signals. The same statements made by local bishops - confirmed twice by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - that "it is not certain that [the phenomena of Medjugorje] are supernatural," the cardinal does not rule out the possibility that maybe they are.
According to the card. Shönborn, "faith in daily life” is learned from the Mother of God is. “For me, Medjugorje is a school of normal Christian life. " Since 1981, at least 30 million pilgrims have visited Medjugorje.
