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A second generation of visionaries

Daria Klanac : A year after the start of the apparitions in Medjugorje, another manifestation occurred. Two young girls from the village, Jelena and Marijana Vasilj, said they had visions and internal conversations. On the 15^th of December, 1982, an angel appeared to Jelena and told her that he would lead her in her prayer life so as to prepare her for her encounter with the Virgin. Jelena does not have her vision in three dimensions as do the other visionaries of the first generation. However, she is certain that it is the Gospa and that she speaks to her.
Jelena is a woman who today has completed her study of theology and philosophy, Church history, Sacred Scriptures, and classical languages. She is married and the mother of four children. She is a well-balanced person who gives humble witness to the fact that she has visions and internal conversations. How is one to differentiate false visions from those that are authentic, as well as internal locutions?

Arnaud Dumouch : It is impossible to be absolutely sure of the origin of such supernatural but sensible locutions. The spiritual fruits they produce are the possession of every Christian who lives a serious life in grace.

However, as we have previously said, a well-balanced person and his genuine humility are a good secondary sign of credibility; namely, it would be an offense against a reasonable person to attribute paranormal things if they are not real. On the other hand, if a person truly does not hold to honor or the opinion of others, such things will be more of a nuisance than of interest.

D. Klanac : This visionary in her heart, speaking of our times, asserts that perhaps we are living in Biblical times wherein our sons and daughters will serve as prophets, and where our youth will have visions. Can it be said that we have entered into a time of prophecy, or, perhaps, that we are soon to approach them?

A. Dumouch : “Then, afterward I will pour out my spirit upon all mankind. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy and your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions.”[55]

These words of Sacred Scriptures have three important realizations:

1. The first realization: Before all else, they announce that which happens after the first appearance on Earth by Jesus two thousand years ago: after Pentecost, even the least of those who believe, if they live in grace, begin to comprehend and to announce matters that concern one’s spiritual life. This, then, means that in our time, prophecy consists of announcing the realization of the Gospel thanks to the grace received at baptism. Prophecy is realized by all through what are called the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost (Wisdom, Knowledge, Fortitude, Fear, Reason, Good Counsel, and Piety.) These allow all to speak words that relate to the general content, as, for example: “God grants His grace through a life of grace,” (love, mercy,) etc. We are no longer conscious of the magnitude of that gift since we have become so accustomed to it. Meanwhile, this is prophecy far surpassing that which we see in the Old Testament even in the greatest of the Prophets. Hence, that visionary in her heart, Jelena, (if I understand correctly) receives messages that are more precise and real than ordinary, as though reading the thoughts of some person, or else, she announces some precise future occurrence through internal certitude (certitudes) of the type such as: The Virgin seeks that we pray for this and this thing. In other words, she accomplishes something new from the gifts of the Holy Ghost along with all those who were baptized. She performs a charism (that of prophecy, the discernment of spirits, words, knowledge). One must say that her gift is not a characteristic that is common to all men who live in grace so long as they live on this earth. It is, then, an exception and rare instance that is not within the context of the first sense of prophecy. One must understand that such a charism is not tied to the personal sanctity of the visionary’s heart: it is granted by God for sake of the good of others.

2. The second realization: The second meaning of Joel’s prophecy is that those words will be realized more deeply at the moment of death (in our transition for this world into the next), when the words of the Creed are realized: “He will come again in glory…” In that moment, all will see the Virgin, the saints, and the full glory of Christ’s humanity with their own eyes. At that moment, and quite concretely, all, without exception, will have a vision and see, in the Light of the Second Coming, the Gospel of Christ, and the state of one’s soul. In this instance, all Charisms will be universal.

3. The third realization: Ultimately, these words will be realized in perfect manner when look at the face of the Most Holy Trinity. The Beatific Vision will make of us intimate friends and perfect collaborators of God.

55. Joel 3:1. [↩]

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