CV NEWS FEED // The Vatican has released a previously undisclosed ruling on the supernatural nature of an alleged Marian apparition in Amsterdam during the 1940s and 50s.
In a July 12 press release, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith revealed its 1974 ruling on the alleged apparitions that a young Dutch woman, Ida Peerdeman, experienced and that inspired the “Lady of All Nations” devotion.
According to the “Lady of All Nations” website dedicated to the devotion, Peederman claimed to have seen the Blessed Virgin Mary, who introduced herself as the “Lady of All Nations,” on more than 55 occasions from 1945 to 1959.
“In the past, the Dicastery, as a rule, did not make public decisions about alleged supernatural phenomena,” the Dicastery stated in a press release, noting that “in light of persistent doubts,” regarding the apparitions, it wished to make the decision known “so that the holy People of God and its Pastors may draw the appropriate conclusions.”
The results of the March 27, 1974, Ordinary Session, of what was then known as the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Dicastery determined the following, the release announced:
1. As for a doctrinal judgment, OMNES: “constat de non supernaturalitate.”
2. As for whether to investigate the phenomenon further, OMNES: “negative.”
Pope Paul VI approved the decision during an audience with the Congregation on April 5, 1974.
As Catholic News Agency reported, while the Vatican’s negative judgement regarding the supernatural nature of the apparitions has been known for the past fifty years, the Dicastery’s latest announcement reveals that the decision “involved a unanimous negative vote by the cardinals participation in the doctrine office’s ordinary session.”
