The Church in Malta, in a statement today said that it has concluded that the origin of the alleged apparitions, the alleged messages and the alleged phenomena associated with Mr Angelik Caruana and the locality known as Borg in-Nadur in Birzebbuga, "is not divine and is not supernatural."

The Church authorities said that it reached this conclusion following detailed investigations instructed by Archbishop Emeritus Mgr Pawlu Cremona O.P., on all the circumstances regarding the case.

"During the investigations, various experts from different fields were consulted. These include natural and social sciences, spiritual and Marian theology. The criteria and norms of the Holy See regarding the discernment of presumed apparitions were also taken into consideration. A number of witnesses, including Mr Angelik Caruana, were also called to testify."

The statement continued, "the decision of the Ecclesiastical Authorities was announced by means of a decree issued by the Archbishop's Curia (copy included), signed by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, following consultation with the College of Consultors, and after having taken the advice of the Bishop of Gozo, Mgr Mario Grech. The decision was also conveyed to the members of the Presbyteral Council, which includes representatives of diocesan and religious priests, during a meeting held this morning."

"Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna exhorts the Christian Community to promote the true devotion towards the Eucharist, towards the Blessed Virgin Mary, and towards the Saints, according to the official Liturgy of the Church. Priests, Male and Female Religious, Catechists and all the Christian faithful are to refrain from the promotion, in any way whatsoever, of the said alleged apparitions, the said alleged messages and the other alleged mystical phenomena related to this case," the Church said.

Members of the public who would like clarifications on this case, and on the decision of the Church authorities, may contact Fr Renè Camilleri, Episcopal Vicar, during office hours, on telephone number 25906238.

The Decree is shown in full below:

DECREE

REGARDING THE ALLEGED MYSTICAL PHENOMENA

ASSOCIATED WITH MR ANGELIK CARUANA AND BORG IN-NADUR

"During the last years, various members of the Christian faithful have asked the Ecclesiastical Authorities to pronounce the definitive judgement of the Church regarding the alleged apparitions, the alleged messages and the alleged mystical phenomena associated with Mr Angelik Caruana, and associated as well, among others, with the locality known as Borg in-Nadur and with the private residence of the said Angelik Caruana, both of which lie within the territorial limits of the Parish of St Peter "in chains," Birzebbuga, in this Archdiocese of Malta.

Having considered the thorough investigations made on all the circumstances regarding the case, which investigations were instructed by my predecessor, Emeritus Archbishop Mgr Paul Cremona O.P;

Having carefully weighed the opinions of various experts from different fields of the natural and social sciences, and of other experts in spiritual theology and Mariology;

Taking into consideration the amount of witnesses heard, and the fact that the said Mr Angelik Caruana was confronted with the result of the investigations;

Having taken into account the criteria and the norms promulgated by the Holy See regarding the discernment of presumed apparitions and revelations;

After having consulted the College of Consultors;

After having taken the advice of the Bishop of Gozo, Mgr Mario Grech;

BY MY PASTORAL AUTHORITY

I DECREE

THAT IN THIS CASE THE JUDGEMENT OF THE CHURCH

REGARDING THE SAID ALLEGED APPARITIONS, ALLEGED MESSAGES, AND OTHER ALLEGED MYSTICAL PHENOMENA

IS THAT THEIR ORIGIN IS NOT DIVINE AND THAT THEY ARE NOT TO BE REGARDED AS SUPERNATURAL:

(CONSTAT DE NON SUPERNATURALITATE).

Consequently:

– I order Presbyters, Male and Female Religious, Catechists and all the Christian faithful to refrain from the promotion, in any way whatsoever, of the said alleged apparitions, the said alleged messages and other alleged mystical phenomena;

– I exhort the Christian Community in Malta to continue promoting the true devotion towards the Eucharist, towards the Blessed Virgin Mary, and towards the Saints according to the official Liturgy of the Church – especially the celebration of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours – and according to the forms of devotional prayer approved by the Church, in particular the devotion of the Way of the Cross and the recitation of the Holy Rosary;

– I reiterate the clear teaching of Sacred Scripture and the Church as found in the text of The Catechism of the Catholic Church (nn. 65-67):

* Christ, the Son of God made man, is the Father's one, perfect and unsurpassable Word. In him he has said everything; there will be no other word than this one.

* "The Christian economy, therefore, since it is the new and definitive Covenant, will never pass away; and no new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Second Vatican Council, Dei Verbum, 4). Yet even if Revelation is already complete, it has not been made completely explicit; it remains for Christian faith gradually to grasp its full significance over the course of the centuries.

* Throughout the ages, there have been so-called "private" revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church (e.g. Lourdes [1858]; Fatima [1917]); however, they do not belong to the deposit of the faith. It is not their role "to improve" or "complete" Christ's definitive Revelation in a certain period of history.

* Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these [private] revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his Saints to the Church.

* Christian faith cannot accept [private] "revelations" that claim to surpass or correct the [public] Revelation of which Christ is the fulfilment."

Issued from the Archbishop's Curia, Malta, on the 6th January 2016

+ Charles Jude Scicluna Archbishop of Malta

(Mgr) Lawrence Gatt Chancellor

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