Argentina: Mystic Phenomenon Defies The Church (2005)

 

SOURCE: Clarin.com

DATE: 08.03.05

 Mystic phenomenon defies the Church

MARIAN APPARITIONS AND MESSAGES IN SALTA AND MENDOZA?

Man and woman summon crowds who attribute them with powers of divine intercession

 They summon multitudes. They create an evident spiritual atmosphere. They say that the Virgin appears before them and gives them messages calling for greater religious devotion among the faithful. Believers ascribe to them gifts -- or at least, the possibility that they may have them -- of intercession with Mary, or directly with Jesus Christ, to grant favors, generally healing. Many say that what they asked was granted to them, and many claim to have deepened their conversion and even that of their loved ones. In Salta, Maria Livia Galiano de Obeid, and in Mendoza, Manuel Yanzon is the protagonists of these potent mystic phenomena.

 The Church prompts extreme caution -- with allowances, as the case may be -- or directly rejects the existence of supernatural events. It even shows its displeasure because of the tendency among movements created around these events to abide by investigative processes and the ecclesiastical provisions that apply in these cases. Although it avoids outright prohibition, the Church feels particularly affected by these events as it evidences a spiritual search by many people who perhaps it cannot reach with its more formal structure.

 The case involving the so-called Virgen del Cerro (Our Lady of the Mountain) in Salta is the oldest and also the strongest. The story began in 1990, when a married housewife with 3 children claimed having been visited by the Virgin. The image, according to the description, is different from other devotional images known. The woman allegedly receives messages from the Virgin, and in 1996, the spiritual entity told her that her image represents a new avocation: the Immaculate Mother of the Divine Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. An image was created around the vision described.

 According to Maria Livia, the Virgin asked in the first apparitions that a shrine be built for her (the present hermitage of Schoenstatt, located at the foot of the mountain). She later asked that all messages be made known through a Carmelite abbey in the region. Later on, she asked that another sanctuary be built for her on top of the mountain, and that the site should become an evangelical center. [She asked] that a house be constructed for elderly priests; a seminary and a house for monks. But above all, she recommended working for conversion and the adoration of the Eucharistic heart.

 Increasingly more people congregated every Saturday around the image of the new avocation and of Maria Livia at the mountain, a privileged geographic site, beautiful and with a unique view of [the province of] Salta's capital city. Amid a powerful spiritual atmosphere, people congregated to pray, especially the Rosary, and to meditate on the messages received by the woman. With all of this, the most emotional moment is when Maria Livia prays a brief "prayer of intercession" for the intentions of the faithful, walking in front of them and placing her hand on their shoulder for a few seconds.

 To many, this is a very powerful experience. Not a few collapse to the ground--even the nuns. Behind them, ever-attentive ushers keep people from being hurt during their falls. In fact, the organization is very prolix and seeks to preserve an atmosphere of prayer centered on a hermitage with the image of the new avocation. In fact, it is only possible to reach the summit on foot following a path along which the usher -- wearing white and blue kerchiefs -- offer water. Many report a scent of roses, which do not exist in the area.

 The Archbishopric of Salta is extremely cautious. After the former archbishop--Msr. Moises Blanchoud -- allowed the diffusion of the messages received by Maria Livia, the current archbishop -- Msr. Mario Cargnello -- decided to deepen research at this stage of the phenomenon and to forbid the most recent messages from becoming known while they are studied. He also virtually forbade the "prayer of intercession" in a pronouncement made 2 years ago: Cargnello made it clear that in his jurisdiction "no layman is authorized to perform the laying of hands."

 Cargnello also questioned the messages, which he considered "revelations lacking content" and maintained that "the seeress's urge to be in the limelight is evident." He further stated that he was never informed of the results of the psychological exam requested from Maria Livia. "The woman and the Carmelite nuns did not comply with what the Church asked them to do," was the recent statement from the Archbishopric. Maria Livia's collaborators sent him a letter last month in which they deny that the results of the psychological test had been concealed and asked him to be more understanding toward the phenomenon.

 The Mendoza case is more recent. It began on July 27, 2000 when Yanzón reported having seen his first apparition of the Virgin under the avocation of the Mystical Rose. Yanzón himself claims to have received messages, even requesting the construction of a sanctuary. Many visit him at El Agarrobal in the department of Las Heras in search of his reputed efficacy as an intercessor for finding impossible cures and other miracles. But he was recently deserted by a close collaborator who accused him of fraud.

 Last May, the Archbishop of Mendoza, Jose Maria Arancibia, seriously questioned the authenticity of the phenomenon experienced by Yanzón. "There aren't sufficient reasons to acknowledge these alleged supernatural manifestations as genuine," he pointed out in a letter. He rejected the alleged messages on the grounds that "they contain serious errors and statements contrary to the Catholic faith," but reserved his judgment on the grace that the faithful claim to have received.

 He concluded his message with an incisive reflection:" We cannot cease to wonder what our God is telling us from El Algarrobal. What are we being told through the faces, hopes and supplications of so many of our brothers who, having heard of a possible manifestation of Mary, set out to reach that humble location? How may we hear the voice of the Spirit in all of this?"

 SOURCE: Clarín (Suplemento Especial) - http://www.clarin.com/suplementos/especiales/2005/08/03/l-00411.htm

 [Translation © 2004 S. Corrales, IHU with thanks to Christian Quintero, Planeta UFO]