Episode 013
Apparition Expert Fr. Edward Looney
Who hasn’t heard of Lourdes, Fatima, and Guadalupe? Even Zac Efron in the new Netflix series, Down to Earth, dedicated almost an entire episode to the miraculous water found in Lourdes, France. To Catholics we know of these pilgrimage sites as Marian Apparition sites. These are considered “Landmarks of Hope” (I have a NEW project about these sites listed below, you are going to love it!)
Miracles occurred here. Documented ones. This is not an easy thing to prove or get Vatican approval. To be considered a Marian Apparition site it takes YEARS and work, evidence, and specific qualifications. There are many sites around the world claiming to have hosted miracles, but few have been proven and given the “seal of approval’ by the authority of the Catholic Church. Zac actually explains all of this and the process really well, in fact if you have Netflix you should watch that specific episode for a fantastic explanation by someone who is NOT Catholic. Which of course I personally love!
So, why then is there not a lot of pomp and circumstance for the ONLY Marian Apparition approved in the USA? Why does no one talk about it? Is it because it is so old it has been forgotten? Perhaps it is because it is SO NEW no one really knows of it. I would venture to say that 2010 is pretty new…for anything. That’s right as in TEN years ago! The Vatican approved this AMERICAN Marian Apparition in 2010 in…wait for it…WISCONSIN! Yes, it is just as holy/important as Lourdes, Fatima, & Guadalupe, and it is in our own backyard! (I’m feeling a Dorothy of Oz vibe for this story). The only problem is it is just not as popular.
Here is where it gets crazy…the leading author on ALL things around this apparition is a 31-year-old priest who has been an Instagram follower of mine for 3 years! He has numerous books, a Twitter account, Podcast, and obviously Facebook & Instagram. What is really crazy is I was there in 2012 (as in where the apparition took place) and bought a ton of books…HIS BOOKS! (Y’all, I had NO idea about any of this until recently.)
Hold on…even more amazing…this Friday, OCTOBER 9th is the FEAST DAY for this incredible apparition! Is God’s timing incredible or what? However, the most fascinating part of it all is the man behind the books. Wait until you meet Fr. Edward Looney…you are just going to love him.
