Archbishop Arguelles with CFD Luzon Governor Atty. Marwil Llasos
Atty. Marwil Nacor Llasos, OP reads the full text of the Decree issued by Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, DD approving the Apparitions in Lipa.
SHORT EXPLANATION ABOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE LIPA APPARITION BY ATTY. MARWIL:
“Under the 1978 Norms of Discernment of Private Revelations, the local ordinary has the jurisdiction to investigate and approve alleged apparitions that occurred within his See. The Vatican does not approve private revelations, except on certain cases where the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is requested to intervene. Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, DD exercised his power, authority and jurisdiction in approving the apparitions in Lipa.”
“The Decree starts by recalling the doctrinal patrimony of the Church regarding Mary’s title as Mediatrix of All Grace, starting with the early Church Fathers towards the movement to declare the title a dogma of the faith spearheaded by Belgian Cardinal Mercier. Lipa is in historic continuity with that movement.”
“Archbishop Ramon Arguelles recalls the act of consecration of the Bishops of China to the Mediatrix of All Grace in 1942. Six years later, the Blessed Mother appeared in Lipa under the title of Mediatrix of All Grace. Note also that later on, in an interior locution to Sr. Teresing, the Mediatrix has a special message for China. The Decree, in a way, tells us that Fatima is to Russia as Lipa is to China.
“The Decree, with moral certainty, states that indeed the Blessed Mother appeared to a Carmelite postulant named Teresita Castillo several times in 1948 making herself known as the Mediatrix of All Grace. Our conscience can thus rest at ease that it was truly the Blessed Mother who came to visit us in 1948. The apparition is worthy of belief based on prudence as humanly possible.”
“What strikes me in this Decree is the audacity of Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, borne I believe solely by the impetus of grace, to vindicate the dramatis personae or the personalities involved in the apparition – Sr. Teresing Castillo, Mo. Cecilia De Jesus (although without naming her), Bishop Alfredo Versoza and Bishop Alfredo Obviar. The sufferings they went through were proof of the authenticity of the apparition. The warning of the Blessed Mother that they will suffer, including ridicule and persecution happened as precisely foretold. Yet, the personalities involved remained obedient, humble, faithful and holy in spite of, and because of, the sufferings they went through. The Decree comes as their vindication in God’s time.”
“The Decree courageously yet honestly and charitably faced historical truth. It stated that the April 10, 1951 declaration that there was nothing supernatural in the alleged apparitions and miracles in Lipa was perceived to be tainted with a shadow of doubt because the Bishops who signed the declaration recanted in duly notarized affidavits their decision thereby expressing their belief in the apparitions. That they did so near the end of their life is very telling: they told the truth before death would catch up with them. As a lawyer, I hold that these dying declarations bore kernels of truth.”
“It is interesting to note that the very same Bishop (Apostolic Administrator at that time) who forbade the devotion to the Mediatrix of All Grace on April 11, 1951 himself approved and allowed the spread of the said devotion on September 25, 1963. Personally, I have seen estampitas of the Mediatrix of All Grace with the imprimatur of Rufino Cardinal Santos issued after the ban. From sources close to the late Cardinal and the family of Sr. Teresing, the Cardinal personally believed in the apparitions; otherwise he won’t grant the imprimatur and keep a rose petal from Lipa until the end of his life.”
– Atty. Marwil Nacor Llasos, OP shares his analysis of the Decree approving Lipa to the Company of St. Dominic.