In Vittorio Messori’s Ratzinger Report, the future Pope Benedict XVI discusses the criteria for identifying paranormal phenomena. These same norms were developed in the diplomatic service for new documents of the doctrine of faith.
From Vatican News
“One of our criteria is to distinguish the true or presumed ‘supernatural’ aspect of a ghost from the aspect of its spiritual fruit,” said Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, then prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. , answered a question by journalist and author Vittorio Messori: This conversation was reported in the 1985 bestseller “The Ratzinger Report.”
First, the future Pope Benedict And it certainly cannot be prevented from speaking to our times through special signs.”It points out the inadequacy of the culture imprinted by rationalism and positivism that dominates us… Apparitions officially recognized by the Church occupy a unique and specific place in the development of Church life in the last century. In other respects, the apocalypse is still unique, conclusive, and therefore insurmountable, but it is not yet dead, but alive. Moreover…one of the signs of our times is the increasing number of reports of “Marian apparitions” around the world. world…”.
And he continued: “One of our criteria is to distinguish between the true or presumed ‘supernatural’ aspect of an apparition and its spiritual fruit. Ancient Christian pilgrimages were often , were concentrated in places where our contemporary critical spirit is reflected.”We would be horrified by the “scientific truth” of the traditions associated with them, but this meant that their pilgrimage was fruitful. And that doesn’t take away from the fact that it was important to Christian life. It is a critique of modern excess (which later ends in a new credulity), but it is an assessment of the vitality and orthodoxy of the religious life that is developing around these places. ”
