AMSTERDAM

Letters of approval


In Response to Inquiries Concerning the Lady of All Nations Apparitions Æ

  May 31,2002

                    In Response to Inquiries Concerning the Lady of All Nations Apparitions
                     
                    As Bishop of Haarlem/Amsterdam, I have been requested to make a statement regarding the authenticity of
                    the apparitions of Mary as the Lady of All Nations in Amsterdam during the years of 1945 -1959. Many
                    members of the faithful and bishops have emphasized the urgency for clarification. I also have been
                    personally aware that this development of devotion, which has spanned over 50 years, call for this.

                    As it is known, my predecessor, Msgr. H. Bomers and myself had previously given permission for public
                    veneration in 1996. As to the supernatural character of the apparitions and contents of the messages, we
                    did not give our judgment, but declared that "everyone is free to make a judgment for himself or herself
                    according to their conscience." Having had a generally positive attitude towards authenticity, we decided
                    to await further development and to "discern the spirit" further (cf. 1 Thes 5:19-21).

                    Over the period of six subsequent years, I observed that the devotion had taken its place in the spiritual life
                    of millions all over the world, and that it possesses the support of many bishops. Many experiences of
                    conversion and reconciliation, as well as healings and special protection also have been reported to me. In
                    full recognition of the responsibility of the Holy See, it is primarily the task of the local bishop to speak out
                    in conscience regarding the authenticity of private revelations that take place or have taken place within his
                    diocese.

                    Therefore I have asked once again for the advice of theologians and psychologists concerning outcomes of
                    previous investigations, and the questions and objections deriving from them. Their recommendations state
                    that no theological or psychological impediments for a declaration of supernatural authenticity can be
                    found therein. I have also requested the judgment of a number of brother bishops concerning the fruits and
                    development of the devotion, who within their own dioceses have experienced a strong devotion of Mary as
                    the Mother and Lady of All Nations. In light and virtue of all these recommendations, testimonies, and
                    developments, and in pondering all this in prayer and theological reflection, I have come to the conclusion
                    that the apparitions of the Lady of All Nations in Amsterdam consist of a supernatural origin.

                    Naturally, the influence of the human element still exists. Authentic images and visions are always
                    transmitted to us, in the words of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of
                    Faith, "through the filter of our senses, which carry out a work of translation..." and "...are influenced by
                    the potentialities and limitations of the perceiving subject" (Cardinal Ratzinger, Theological Commentary
                    In Preparation for the Release of the Third Part of the Secret of Fatima, L 'Osservatore Romano, June 28,
                    2000).

                    Unlike Holy Scripture, private revelations are never binding upon the conscience of the faithful. They are a
                    help in understanding the signs of the times and to help live more fully the Gospel (cf. Lk 12:56,
                    Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 67). And the signs of our times are dramatic. The devotion to the
                    Lady of All Nations can help us, in my sincere conviction, in guiding us on the right path during the present
                    serious drama of our times, the path to a new and special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Who alone can heal
                    the great wounds of our times.
 
                    To follow the further development of this devotion and to come to an even deeper insight into its meaning,
                    I have installed a commission whose task it will be to continue to document all initiatives, experiences, and
                    testimonies stemming from the devotion in order to help insure and preserve a correct ecclesial and
                    theological progress of devotion.

                    I hope this has provided sufficient information and clarification.
Bisdom van Haarlem    Nieuwe Gracht 80, Postbus 1053, 2001 BB Haarlem, Tel. 023 - 511 26 00, Fax 023 - 511 26 29   Militair Ordinariaat

THE LADY OF ALL NATIONS AND THE CHURCH

THE LADY OF ALL NATIONS AND THE CHURCH
 
Because of many requests, we asked Bishop emeritus Jozef Punt to give a short summary of the development of the position of the Church regarding the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as “The Lady of all Nations” or “The Mother of all Peoples,” (Amsterdam 1945 – 1959):

The Church and “the Lady of all Nations” have a long common history, on the diocesan level, as well as on the level of the universal Church. It started more than 70 years ago. Like most of my predecessors, I also had known the visionary very well. She was totally reliable and very down to earth. All her visions happened in the presence of others, and were recorded by others. As a bishop, we have a duty to “test the spirits,” to separate the “wheat from the chaff,” but also “hold fast to what is good.” I cannot describe 70 years of history in detail, but shall try to explain the central stages in this development.

In 1956, the first local Bishop, Johannes Huibers allowed the private veneration of the title, the image and the prayer of the Lady of All Nations, but prohibited public veneration. This was based on the advice of a diocesan commission, that could not yet establish a supernatural origin. Besides that, the apparitions were still going on. In 1957, Rome confirmed the Bishop’s disciplinary measure, adding that it did not rule out new information presenting itself in the future. After his retirement (1960), Bishop Huibers became more and more convinced of the authenticity of the apparitions, as is manifested in letters to his successor and to Rome, as well as in other documented testimonies.

In 1967, the then Bishop of Haarlem, Theodorus Zwartkruis, on the request of many faithful and in consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, decided to re-open the case. A new diocesan commission could not draw a clear conclusion, but tended to attribute a natural origin to the events. Yet, it advised the granting of permission for public devotion. In 1974, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith did not state that the apparitions are false, but specified that the “non constat de supernaturalitate” position still existed, and in an official publication confirmed the prohibition of the public veneration from 1956 by Bishop Huibers.

In 1973, an unexpected development happened. The sisters of a convent of Eucharistic Adoration in Akita, Japan, had commissioned a wooden statue after the image of the Lady of all Nations, and daily prayed the prayer of Amsterdam. In July 1973, Sister Agnes Sasagawa heard a beautiful voice coming from the statue of the Lady of all Nations, giving messages. Also, healings, tears and other miraculous events at the statue happened, five times in the presence of the bishop himself. After extensive scientific investigation by the University of Akita, the local Bishop, John Shojiro Ito, on April 22, 1984 approved “the supernatural character of the events.” He made a pilgrimage to Amsterdam, and shortly before his death, he wrote a letter (February 28, 1989) to the Bishop of Haarlem, in which he confirms that he had approved the events regarding the statue of the Lady of all Nations in Akita, as consisting of a supernatural origin. There is also a deep relation of the Lady of all Nations with the Holy Eucharist, both in Akita and in Amsterdam.

In 1984, Rome modified its position regarding Amsterdam. The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith advises the then local Bishop, Henricus Bomers, to consider making a distinction between the title and the apparitions, expressing that the Congregation was inclined to recognize the title. In the following years, there is ongoing correspondence between the local bishop and the Congregation about the possibility and the reality of such a distinction. On April 6, 1990, the Congregation states in writing that “the Bishop of Haarlem himself should judge the advisability” of this policy.

In 1995, Rome allows the public veneration. In that year, I was appointed auxiliary Bishop of Haarlem. At my introduction visit to the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, October 1995, the Prefect, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, brought up the issue of the devotion to The Lady of All Nations, and asked my opinion on this topic. I responded that I was in favour of allowing public devotion, without yet giving a judgement on the authenticity, but await further developments. The Prefect gave permission to this policy. On May 31, 1996, Bishop Bomers, together with me as his auxiliary bishop, therefore released a decree in which we allowed the public veneration of “The Lady of all Nations,” and left the question of the authenticity to the conscience of the faithful. The devotion sharply spread.

In 2002, in my continued responsibility as the new Bishop of Haarlem, I had to take a position on the Amsterdam apparitions. Already for several years, I was confronted with many requests from bishops and faithful to give clarity about the authenticity, and also in the light of the approval of Akita. I asked some theologians and psychologists to again study all the available material. On their positive advice, and in my responsibility as local bishop, I then approved the apparitions as “in essence consisting of a supernatural origin.” In a pastoral letter, I added that the approval does not imply a guarantee on each word or image, because the influence of the human factor always remains. I also recalled that private revelation, even if recognized as authentic, “does not bind the conscience of the faithful.”

In 2005, Rome required a small change in the prayer. The last sentence of the prayer read as follows: “May the Lady of all Nations, who once was Mary, be our Advocate. Amen.” Of course, the Blessed Virgin retains the name, “Mary.” The name is used throughout all the messages. In fact, Our Lady presents herself with the words: “I am the Lady, Mary, Mother of all Peoples”. What is meant is that this humble young woman, Mary of Nazareth, was chosen and elevated by the Lord to become, as St. John Paul II refers to her under the titles, “the Mother of all Humanity” and “the Mother of all Peoples.” But to avoid misunderstanding, and in obedience, the clause was changed. Now the most current form of the clause reads: “the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

The devotion has spread all over the world and is presently supported by hundreds of bishops and cardinals. The prayer is translated in almost all languages of the world. The first sentence of the prayer reads: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send now your Spirit over the earth,” with special emphasis on “now.” Our world needs the Holy Spirit now, more than ever. If we honour Mary in the full greatness the Lord has granted Her, She then can fully execute her maternal power over the heart of her Son, and obtain for us a new descent of the Holy Spirit over our wounded world. That is the essence of this devotion. For this reason, millions of people are praying the Rosary and this prayer. At the Lady of All Nations prayer day in Germany, 2019, we were happy to receive a message of greeting and blessing on behalf of Pope Francis.


  Jozef Marianus Punt
  Bishop Emeritus of Haarlem-Amsterdam                                                
  15 September 2020


DECREE OF
BISHOP OF HARLEM

2002
Jozef Marianus Punt
Bisschop van Haarlem
May 31,2002
In Response to Inquiries Concerning the
Lady of All Nations Apparitions
As Bishop of Haarlem/Amsterdam, I have been requested
to make a statement regarding
the authenticity of the apparitions of Mary as the
Lady of All Nations in Amsterdam during the years of 1945 -1959.
Many members of the faithful
and bishops have.......[.]
Continua per traduzione

DECREE
OFFICIALLY TRANSLATED
in Italian


2002

Traduzione Italiana
dell’originale olandese.


Bisdom van Haarlem
Nieuwe Gracht 80, 2011 NJ Haarlem
Postbus 1053, 2011 BB Haarlem  
Telefoon 023 - 5112600
Telefax   023 - 5112629
Traduzione autorizzata
Haarlem, 31 maggio 2002

In risposta alle domande riguardo le apparizioni della Signora di tutti i Popoli
Come Vescovo di Haarlem/Amsterdam mi è stato richiesto di .......[.]
Continua per traduzione

SUMMARY
OFFICIAL LETTER

in English


2020
THE LADY OF ALL NATIONS AND THE CHURCH
-
 
 
Because of many requests, we asked Bishop emeritus Jozef Punt to give a short summary of
the development of the position of the Church regarding the apparitions of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, as “The Lady of all Nations” or “The Mother of all Peoples,”
(Amsterdam 1945 – 1959):
The Church and
“the Lady of all Nations”
have a long common history,
on the .......[.]
Continua per traduzione

COMMUNICATION
FOR THE DIOCESE OF HARLEM

1996
Comunicazione per la diocesi di Haarlem
                  (Paesi Bassi)
 
 
Vescovo di Harlem
    Henricus Bomers    
       
  Vescovo ausiliario
    Jozef Punt

Haarlem, 31 maggio 1996,
festa della Visitazione
-
Da molto tempo e in modo crescente, dai Paesi Bassi e dall’estero, giungono a noi, vescovo e vescovo ausiliario di Haarlem, numerose.......[.]
Continua per traduzione