LIPA CITY, Batangas—Even as the Catholic Church has cast doubt on the authenticity of what were considered miraculous apparitions and petal showers here 60 years ago, Olive Sorio’s devotion to Mary Mediatrix of All Grace has not faltered.
Sorio, from Batangas City, learned of the Vatican’s decree that the miracle had no “supernatural origin.”
“But I believe in my heart that she (Mary) was there during the time that we Filipinos needed her most,” Sorio said.
Fr. Jay Encarnacion, parish priest of St. John The Evangelist in Tanauan City, said the faithful’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin must not be diminished despite their parish’s acknowledgment of the Vatican’s ruling.
On May 30, the Vatican’s decree dated Dec. 11, 2015, stating that the Marian apparitions in Lipa that occurred in 1948 had no supernatural origin was received by Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles.
The decree pertained to the “Lipa apparitions,” a series of supposed appearances by the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of Mediatrix of All Grace at the convent of the Carmelite contemplative nuns in Lipa City, which were said to have been witnessed by Teresita “Sister Teresing” Castillo.
The supposed apparitions drew the Catholic faithful to Lipa. The appearances were said to be accompanied by a rain of rose petals.
Not authentic
During the height of the popularity of the “Lipa apparitions,” a commission formed by the then apostolic administrator of Lipa, Bishop Rufino Santos, ruled that the apparitions were not authentic.
On April 11, 1951, the Philippine hierarchy declared that “there was no supernatural intervention in the reported extraordinary happenings, including the shower of rose petals in Lipa,” even as the veneration of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace was allowed by Bishop Alfredo Versoza after he himself reportedly witnessed the Lipa apparitions.
The declaration was signed by six Catholic bishops.
Then Lipa Bishop Mariano Gaviola declared his personal conviction that the Lipa apparitions were worthy of belief and granted permission to display once again the image of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace.
In 2012, Arguelles reversed the finding of Santos’ commission and declared the apparitions were genuine.
Decision for our good
In its decree, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) of the Holy See argued that Pope Pius XII made a “definitive” confirmation in 1951 against “the supposed apparitions” and declared they “were not of supernatural origin.”
Arguelles said he had decided not to appeal to the Holy See the nullification of his decree. The Vatican’s move reversed the declaration he had made that the phenomenon was “worthy of belief.”
“Whatever the decision of the Vatican, it will be for our good,” Arguelles said.
On Sister Teresing, Arguelles said she was still alive. “I think she’s hanging on but she might go at anytime,” he added.
Arguelles said Castillo was now 89 years old and was bedridden in her home in Manila.
He said he will visit Castillo soon because she had asked to see him.
“I actually didn’t know her and my movement was not intended for her but for Mary,” he said.