Catholic Answers Live #12527 La Salette , Mejugorje and More | Ranking Marian Apparitions - Jimmy Akin
Jan 1, 2026
Jimmy Akin, a senior apologist and investigative podcaster, dives deep into the fascinating world of Marian apparitions. He explains how the Church classifies these supernatural events, clarifying that Catholics aren't required to believe in every approved apparition. Akin evaluates notable cases like Father Michel Rodrigue and discusses the credibility challenges surrounding his dramatic claims. He also recounts the history of La Salette and Medjugorje, analyzing their backgrounds, approvals, and the impact of ongoing Vatican investigations.
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How The Church Classifies Apparitions
- The Church historically used three verdicts for apparitions: constat de supernaturalitate, non-constat de supernaturalitate, and constat de non-supernaturalitate.
- In 2024 the Dicastery added intermediate categories (e.g., nihil abstat) to focus on devotional safety rather than definitive supernatural proof.
2024 Norms Speed Decisions On Devotions
- The 2024 norms speed up decisions by assessing whether devotion is safe rather than proving supernatural origin.
- The pope must intervene to pursue a formal determination of supernatural origin, so that question is rarely examined under the new rules.
Treat Church Rulings With Caution
- Do not treat ecclesial rulings on apparitions as infallible; the Church does not exercise infallibility in these matters.
- But avoid disagreeing lightly because bishops usually have strong pastoral and evidential reasons for their judgments.