Theological Precisions on Prophecy & Private Revelation

Let’s think about this some more and make sure we’ve got the subject of Fatima straight

El Greco, Apparition of the Virgin to St Lawrence, ca. 1580 (source)

My article “Whom Would You Trust about Hell—Our Lady or Pope Francis?” predictably generated quite a buzz, especially on social media wherever the link was shared. I was frankly astonished at the anti-Fatima (and generally anti-apparition) comments people were making, including some self-styled traditionalists. Even if one wants to say that some of this reaction is an overreaction against exaggerated personal devotions, no one should ever forget the principle: abusus non tollit usum, that is, the abuse of a good does not take away its proper use.

But the matter is quite a bit more serious, because if we look into what is taught by theologians we will find that there is a true obligation on the part of Catholics to accept certain private revelations, even if they are accepted with a different kind of faith than the one we give to public revelation. I will endeavor in this short essay to explain why.

Kinds of revelation and responses of faith

Confusion often surrounds the subject of private revelation and prophecy, and particularly the moral obligations of those to whom these private revelations are directed. It is best to start with some definitions and distinctions.

Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange wrote, “Revelation symbolizes the unveiling of something formerly concealed or at least unclear.”¹ Revelations could be of human or divine origin. A human revelation, for instance, transpires when a friend imparts knowledge previously unknown to you. Fr. Tanquerey said, “Divine Revelation is the manifestation to us of some truth by God through the supernatural illumination of our mind.”²

Divine Revelation can be either public or private. The public revelation is the deposit of faith that concluded with the death of the last apostle.

We must also differentiate between Divine Faith and Catholic Faith. Divine Faith encompasses all divine revelations, meaning everything God reveals to humanity. Conversely, Catholic Faith comprises all doctrines found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, passed down to us by the Church.