Sir, I was surprised to read that Nuala O'Faolain believes the Church and journalists marginalise miracles (July 29th). Journalists of the secular anti religious kind, of course, but hardly the Catholic Church which pays a lot of attention to miracles and needs them for processing the causes of saints, and has stringent criteria for their evaluation. When I read on, I realised that she wasn't talking about miracles at all, but private visions and revelations. These may be wonderful, but they are not miracles.
Commenting on the appointment of a commission by the Archbishop of Tuam to investigate the visions and locutions of Christina Gallagher, she asks what else they can do except satisfy themselves whether they think she is sincere or not. There is actually a great deal more. There is a stern warning in the New Testament: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 Jn. 4. 1). There are several criteria given for discerning locutions, e.g. any spirit that says cursed be Jesus, or that prophesies falsely. "These criteria are to be applied by those in authority in the Church".
People with visions and locutions can go very much astray, and there is a great risk of delusion and self deception in this area. I know of cases where sincere people relying on inner locutions gave advice that was potentially fatal. Locutions are no adequate substitute for prudence and common sense and a good doctor. That's another criterion to be used. In my experience, people with these experiences are usually glad to have guidance and encouragement.
Ms O'Faolain writes: "I had realised that the dimension of popular belief is profoundly opposed to the authority of the institutional Church". She could hardly be more wrong. The lives of multitudes of saints give the lie to this Catherine of Siena, Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, Ignatius Loyola, and a host of others. If she knows anything about the work of Sr Breege McKenna, she would know that her vision and locution filled life has reached out right across the institutional church from the Pope and cardinals, to bishops and priests - right around the globe, and it has been greatly welcomed and appreciated.
And then, as a final bonus, the intrepid Nuala reveals the Third Secret of Fatima. How did she manage to worm it out of the old man in the Vatican when no one else could? Alas, she's wrong here too. - Yours, etc
The Abbey,
Galway City.