Books

Making Sense of Private Revelations, by Fr Paul Newton

Msgr Peter J. Elliott

Contents - Dec 2004 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Religious literacy: why not a national inquiry? - Michael Gilchrist US and Australian election results: the cultural revolution challenged - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Gone fishing: Catholic Earthcare Australia adopts discredited Green agenda - Pat Byrne Administration: Cardinal Pell: Church administrators must put Christ's mission first - Cardinal George Pell English language: Will Rome ensure the completion of an improved Mass translation? - William Oddie Liturgy: Redemptionis Sacramentum on the liturgical rights of the faithful - CDF New Evangelisation: Rebuilding a lost Faith - Fr John Walter Archbishop Fulton Sheen: 25th anniversary - Martin Tobin Society: American surveys show advantages of sexual abstinence education Letters: Orthodoxy succeeds (letter) - Fr Adrian Head Letters: Seminary reforms (letter) - Fr Peter Thompson CM Letters: Election result (letter) - Maureen Federico Letters: Liturgical development (letter) - Msgr Peter J. Elliott Letters: Catholic youth (letter) - Robert Denahy Letters: Graham Greene a Catholic? (letter) - Malcolm Mackinnon Letters: Mass translation (letter) - Leo McManus Letters: 'Fem-speak' (letter) - C.V.Phillips Letters: Misunderstanding over 'Come As You Are' (letter) - Peter Hannigan Letters: Call to holiness (letter) - Mark Calleja Letters: Abortion (letter) - Maryse Usher Letters: Nihilism (letter) - Robert Prinzen-Wood Poetry: The Salami Treatment - Bruce Dawe Books: Decoding Da Vinci, by Amy Welborn - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: Theology of the Church, by Cardinal Charles Journet - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: Making Sense of Private Revelations, by Fr Paul Newton - Msgr Peter J. Elliott Books: Architects of the Culture of Death, by Donald DeMarco and Benjamin Wiker - Jodie Brown (reviewer) Books: Inspiring Christmas Gifts Reflection: Today is born to us a Saviour of the world - Pope John Paul II

(Divine Mercy Publications, 2004, 77pp, $12.50. Available from AD Books)

At some time or other, most Catholics come across private revelations, usually in the form of reports of apparitions of Our Lady with accompanying messages. In an era when interest is high in the paranormal, these messages may intrigue or even attract many people, but they can also be very confusing, even divisive and destructive.

Fr Paul Newton has done a great service in providing sound and accurate advice about the status, authority, purpose and credibility of private revelations. He presents the Church's guidance in an accessible manner to help people distinguish between public revelation and the wide range of private revelations.

He rightly indicates the freedom Catholics enjoy as to whether they accept these revelations, but accompanied by prudent advice as to whether they should believe them. He sets up the most favoured example, Fatima, as a useful point of reference.

He includes some practical advice in the form of "Ten Guides for Authentic Devotion" which readers will find helpful as a means of discernment. He adds some wise guidance for people who believe they are recipients of messages inspired by God.

Rev Mgr Peter J Elliott is Episcopal Vicar for Religious Education, Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 17 No 11 (December 2004 - January 2005), p. 17