The number, frequency and breadth of events such as the Marian Apparitions in this century has not been witnessed in the history of the Church. What is occurring now is virtually unprecedented and needs to be made more widely known and better understood. A more concise and immediate way to begin to understand why so many unusual spiritual events are occurring today is available. A review of some of the the prophetic dreams and statements of one of the Catholic Church's more recently acclaimed saints - John Bosco - should help to put these events into perspective.

John Bosco was an Italian priest, who from childhood onward had vivid and mystical dreams which helped him in directing his life and which described in great detail conditions and events that would occur in the future. He persistently astounded those around him with the accuracy and precision of the prophecies he made that came to pass during his lifetime. He was also a miracle worker, healing thousands, and he was the founder of the Salesian Order. He and his followers helped tens of thousands of street children in Italy and in the Western Hemisphere develop job skills and a moral and spiritual life. He died in 1888. One of his more remarkable mystical dreams occurred in the spring of 1862, when he had a vision of the near-term future of his beloved Catholic Church.

The reason that there have been so many reported Marian apparitions in the last twenty years would appear to be in preparation for the many Eucharistic Miracles which were reported in the 1990's and continuing even today. Taken together, these two mystical occurrences should serve to strengthen the faith of all Christians during a time of great trial - a time in which there will be an all-out attack on the Church and on Christianity, potentially culminating with the murder of the Pope. (This could refer to Pope John Paul I as it is widely believed that he was murdered because of his intention to remove some Cardinals and Bishops he knew to be Freemasons. However he was not injured beforehand)

The Pope in John Bosco's vision is first seriously wounded and later, is wounded again and dies. The only Pope who has been seriously wounded since the time John Bosco had this vision is Pope John Paul II! It is after the election of his successor that a great convulsion occurs. This Event so disorients the enemies of the Church that they retreat and disperse in panic. There seems to be an urgency and increase in statanic activity in the past few years, just as there is an urgency and increase in both Marian Apparitions and Private Revelations around the globe. With the health of Pope John Paul II so poor at the moment he could well be murdered without any of us having the slightest suspicion! Read the full writing on this particular dream HERE: 

Further, the messages contained in recent Marian apparitions conform closely to both biblical prophecy and to a number of the prophecies about these times recorded throughout history by individuals recognized by the Catholic Church as Saints. It would appear that the quantity and character of recent Marian appearances relates to the proximity of the events - a period of chaos and calamity finally overcome through the direct intervention of God - probably occurring in the lifetime of most of you reading this.

Mary, our Heavenly Mother, appears to be trying to warn her children that they have seriously offended God and need to change. She also gives us a method to ameliorate the events to come and bring hope, joy, and peace back into our lives - the prayers of the Rosary.

Thus, the many reports of Marian apparitions and the messages accompanying them to pray, convert and practice self-denial appears to be a necessary preparation for a time of difficulty followed by a time of joy and hope, since just as those past prophecies told of a time of great difficulty for the world, they also described a time of global peace and plenty. Just such a time was guaranteed by Our Lady of Fatima in 1917 when she said,

"...in the end my Immaculate Heart shall triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me which will be converted, and some time of peace will be given to the world." We still await this consecration in definite terms, even though the Pope had consecrated the whole world to Her care. Are his advisors stalling him on this one for political reasons?

Since the 1960's, there has been a dramatic increase in reports of alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary all over the world. This increase precedes the recent interest in the supernatural by about two decades and, in some instances, has been accompanied by reports of extraordinary phenomena. With the benefit of being able to look back on many of these alleged apparitions, it is now possible to discern a distinct theme that appears to emerge from these events that speaks to the modern world with a loud and clear message - the message given in the Blessed Virgin Mary's reported appearances at Fatima in 1917 is being continued in Amsterdam, Garabandal, Akita, Naju and Medugorje. Not to mention the many other reported sites of apparition all over the world, particularly 4 here in Ireland.

The process that the Catholic Church goes through to evaluate apparitions isn't quick - it typically takes more than ten years after the apparitions have ceased to come to a final conclusion - but is indicative of a mindset resident in the Catholic Church that is very circumspect about accepting claims of supernatural visions. In fact, the most the Catholic Church will ever give is a negative approval - a statement that nothing occurring in the apparitions is contrary to faith and morals - and therefore notes the apparition as being "worthy of belief".

While Marian apparitions are reported to have occurred in the past, until the last two centuries they have been rather infrequent. The Catholic Church has taken note of these appearances by constructing basilicas, churches or chapels to honor Mary's special presence at these locations. Some of the more well-known of these can be found HERE: