Taken from Radio Vatican -Statements from Cardinal Schönborn on his return home from Medjugorje
Part 1
The cardinal from Vienna Christoph Schönborn advocates an integration of the "phenomenon Medjugorje" into the regular pastoral care. This was told on Sunday by the president of the Austrian bishop's conference in an interview with the "news service of the archdiocese Vienna". Schönborn had spent the turn of the year at the Marian site in a visit that was declared as being private and a meeting with the community "Cenacolo". Cardinal Schönborn wanted to see the place where allegedly Mary has been appearing since 1981 and from which, according to his impression, "many positive fruits" have come forth.
He deems it necessary to "dedramatize" the phenomenon Medjugorje, said the Viennese archbishop. Without a doubt the initial impulse came forth from the "seers" who in 1981 were still children when it came to the first alleged "apparitions". Since then these extraordinary events are only playing a secondary role. He thought it to be something like "a school of ordinary Christian life" and is fascinated by this:
"There it is about the belief in Christ, prayer, the Eucharist, practiced charity, about the essentials of Christianity, and the strengthening in Christian daily life".
Incidentally, Cardinal Schönborn is in favor of studying the "phenomenon Medjugorje" in light of the Second Vatican Council: The "sensus fidelium", the sense of faith of the Baptized plays a very important role in the occurrences in Medjugorje.
He does not want to anticipate the decision of the universal church, but in the matter of Medjugorje would prefer to orient himself on the "guidelines" formulated by the Yugoslavian bishop's conference in 1991, says Cardinal Schönborn. These "guidelines" - twice confirmed by the Vatican Congration for the Doctrine of the Faith - "are wise and trend-setting". In the "guidelines" it is emphasized that it is not determined whether the incidents in Medjugorje are "supernatural". The question of supernaturalness is expressly left open. As a consequence, there are no official pilgrimages allowed. But at the same time, the necessity of the pastoral care of the pilgrims is also emphazied in the "guidelines". On the one had the bishops were concerned to not hinder the fruits, on the other hand they wanted to ward off people being led astray. Incidentally, the Viennese archbishop was very congenially moved that the female seers"have turned out to be normal and humorous young people".
Part2
What is it that moves the pilgrims coming to Medjugorje? Cardinal Schönborn: "Above all, the pilgrims are doing one thing: They are praying. Every day the entire psalter is prayed by thousands of people, there is Eucharistic adoration; the people are climbing the Cross Mountain where a cross was erected in 1933, and are praying the stations of the cross or are climbing the mountain Crnica in the district of Bijakovici and are praying the rosary." The "fruits" of Medjugorje can be encountered consistently in the life of the Church, emphasized the archbishop. The prayer groups are a significant aspect: "The first prayer group in Vienna was formed in the middle of the 80's in the Dominican Church. The church was always full, even in the summer months. Especially impressive was the large number of young people." Among the younger priests there are many whose journey of vocation has been influenced by the experience of Medjugorje. But in Medjugorje not only vocations are happening but also conversions. During his stay Cardinal Schönborn met an Italian TV moderator who experienced a deep conversion at this place of pilgrimage. Medjugorje is also a "rediscovery of confession". Furthermore, the aspect of the global Church is very impressive - during his short stay the cardinal noticed groups of pilgrims from Italy, Germany, the United States, Lebanon, Korea and so forth. The annual youth festival in July draws 60.000 young people from all over the world.
In particular, the Viennese archbishop stressed the large number of social works that developed in Medjugorje: The community "Cenacolo", founded by Sr. Elvira Petrozzi for teenagers addicted to drugs, gained in Medjugorje the impulse for global expansion, the "Mother's Village" ("Majcino selo") offers orphans and raped women shelter since the Balkan Wars, and from an encounter of a female pilgrim from the African Malawi with a Scottish group of pilgrims under the direction of Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, the initiative "Mary's Meals" was formed, that ensures daily meals for hungry children worldwide.
Hence, the question how the tree looks that carries such fruits, needs to be asked, says Cardinal Schönborn. Many aspects that are consistend with the "grammar of Marian apparitions" apply to Medjugorje: A poor region whose inhabitans are nonetheless very religious, the visions were bestowed to children just like in Lourdes or Fatima, and the messages are very simple but pertain to the crux of the gospel. Notably is also that in Medjugorje Mary has been revered foremost as "Queen of Peace" from the beginning - ten years before the breakout of the Balkan Wars. It is becoming clear that in Medjugorje the reconciliation with God is the precondition for conciliation among the people. The messages contain few moral appeals, rather it is about the conversion of hearts because then many things arrange themselves with "inner evidence". Cardinal Schönborn: "Maybe we should let us be inspired by Mary's pastoral concept in the Church."
Translated by Pandora with thanks
