OFFICE OF THE BISHOP OF PIACENZA OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION
My recent Pastoral Visit to the parish of St. Damiano as well as
the announcement already made of gathering of young people at the
place where the apparitions of Mary are presumed to be force me
to take action regarding these events. It is a known fact that for
a long time these activities have been disturbing the spiritual
life of that parish and are bringing much discredit on Religion
and on true Christian piety. The authority and responsability which
come from God to me as Bishop of the Church in Piacenza urge mc
to judge the facts which regard faith and ethics. I cannot shrink
from the duty to denounce and strongly deplore the serious disobedience
of those people, laymen, religious and priests coming from outside
the Diocese who continually neglect to follow the judgement and
directions of the legitimate and competent Ecclesiastical Authority.
The Apostolic See, indeed, has issued, among other correspondences,
the letter from the Secretary of State of His Holiness the Pope
dated May 16 th 1977 prot. 327.022. Therefore, I ORDER AND DECLARE
what follows:
1. Once again I express the negative judgement already more times
declared by my Venerable Predecessor and by myself regarding the
so called happenings of St. Damiano and which I again stress have
no supernatural foundation.
2. No act of cult to the Blessed Virgin, connected with those presumed
apparitions and messages, may be licitly practiced and encouraged.
3. Those who advertise through writings in order to propagate such
events, or who organize pilgrimages or go to St. Damiano for devotional
reasons are in blatant disobedience to the Church.
4. On the 3th. and 4th. of May and in future days during which,
according to the judgement of the competent Authority, particular
circumstances could require it, St. Damiano's Church will remain
closed. The Pastor will provide other means for the parishioners
to participate to the celebration of the Eucarist.
5. In the whole Diocese I renew the following dispositions:
a) Priests from outside the Diocese going to St. Damiano for such
a devotional reason must not be permitted to celebrate Mass, and
if they dared to do it, they are suspended 'a divinis'.
b) To the Priests and religious going to St. Damiano Holy communion
is to be refused. 6. I invite the Rectors of the Churches, including
those administered by Religious and at times frequented by groups
of 'pilgrims of St. Damiano' to give an adequate instruction to
enlighten them on true devotion to the Blessed Virgin and on the
obedience to the legitimate Authority of the Church according to
the doctrine of the Second Vatican Council and in conformity with
the Canon Law.
Piacenza: Bishop's Office - May 1 th 1980
+ ENRICO MANFREDINI
Bishop of Piacenza |
