In recent years there have been reports from all over the world regarding alleged visionaries and locutionists. One question which immediately comes to mind is, "Why would there be such a great number of visionaries and locutionists supposedly receiving private revelations at the same time?"
I myself asked this question about two years ago when I was doing research regarding the writing of a book about our Blessed Mother. Initially, I myself was quite skeptical concerning the great number of persons allegedly receiving private revelations. However, the more research I did, the more convinced I became that many of the messages being received by the reported visionaries and locutionists could be authentic.
We apparently are living in one of the most critical periods of human history, and many of the messages, in one way or another, bring out how a great number of people have seriously strayed from God. Never before has there been such alienation from God. Has there ever been a time in the history of the human race when sin was so widespread?
I am convinced that God, in His great love and mercy, is going to extraordinary lengths to try to wake up the multitudes concerning the seriousness of the situation. This, to me, explains why there are so many claimed visionaries and locutionists in these our times.
We can say, in summary fashion, that the messages they are delivering have to do with the call to conversion. The messages are addressed to two basic kinds of people. The messages are calling back to God those who have seriously wandered from the path which leads to eternal life. In reference to those who are in a basically good relationship with God, the messages are calling for an ongoing conversion--to a deeper relationship with God.
I think at this point it is beneficial to say a few words about the different kinds of visions and locutions (messages). I quote here from Fr. Joseph de Guibert, S.J., one of the most eminent mystical theologians of this century:
A distinction is made between corporeal, imaginative, and intellectual visions. This distinction can also be applied to locutions. In corporeal visions and locutions there is a real perception by the external senses; the person who is seen or heard may be really present, or (in corporeal visions) the body which appears may be formed in the air, or a change may be affected at the moment the light-rays impinge on the eye, or (in corporeal locutions) a real acoustical vibration may be produced in the ears. In imaginative visions and locutions there is no perception by the external senses but, rather, a Divine action on the imagination or the internal senses. . . . In intellectual visions and locutions the Divine action directly affects the intellect (from The Theology of the Spiritual Life, pp. 355-356).
Often, a visionary receives a locution (message) together with an apparition or vision. However, a vision can be received with no accompanying locution. A locutionist is usually understood to be a person who receives messages without an accompanying external vision. Still, a locutionist often does experience an internal type of vision when receiving messages.
In the history of the Church there obviously have been those who claimed to be visionaries and locutionists who, in reality, were not having authentic mystical experiences. This reminds us that we must have a set of criteria at hand which helps us to discern whether or not the messages coming forth from reported visionaries and locutionists are authentic or not. There are specific guidelines which mystical theologians have traditionally employed to help discern the authenticity, or lack thereof, of alleged private revelations.
First, one must look to the credibility of the alleged visionary or locutionist. Does the person seem to be well balanced mentally and emotionally? Is the person generally known to be a truthful person? Second, is there anything against faith or morals in the alleged visions or messages? Third, what fruits are being produced by the alleged visions and locutions? Are they helping to bring people closer to God? Jesus tells us in the Gospel: ". . . a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit" (Matthew 7:17-18). Fourth, at times external signs are given by God to help confirm the authenticity of visions and locutions. It is appropriate to look for these, although if they are absent one cannot conclude that a particular alleged vision or locution is not authentic.
If the first three of the above criteria can be favorably attested to, a person can prudently give consideration to the authenticity of the particular visions and locutions involved, while always being willing to submit to the final judgment of the Church in the matter.
I myself began receiving locutions on a regular basis in the summer of 1993. For a number of months, these were given to me for my own spiritual development and guidance in my ministry. On Holy Saturday, 1994, Jesus told me that on the following day, Easter, I would also begin to receive messages for others. Our Lord also told me that some of these were eventually to be published in a book--and here is that book.
I humbly make the following statement: I recognize and accept that the final authority regarding private revelations rests with the Holy See of Rome, to whose judgment I willingly submit.
Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J
Professor of Theology
Xavier University
Cincinnati, Ohio
Copyright
© 1996 Shepherds of Christ.