The Apparition at Medjugorje: a Transpersonal Perspective – Part I

This is the first part of a two-part article that provides in-depth background information and a critical examination of a phenomenon that has importance not only to transpersonal psychology but also to psychology and science more generally–the protracted Marian apparition at Medjugorje. The article presents four perspectives that may advance understanding of what the apparition and related phenomena might mean and the implications that it has for our respective disciplines and areas of interest. Critical realism and parapsychology are addressed in Part I, while aspect psychology and empowered Imagination are treated in Part II, where future work suggested by the proposed models is also presented. The goals of this two-part article are to increase awareness of the Medjugorje apparition and identify alternative ways of interpreting the phenomenon. The apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Madonna or Gospa, as the local Croatian Catholics call her) that is associated with the small Catholic parish of St. James in the remote mountain village of Medjugorje (pronounced meh’-joogor-yeh) in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina of the former Yugoslavia, began on June 25, 1981 and continues to this day. To afford a fuller account and analysis of the phenomenon the article is divided into two parts. Part I presents an outer history of the events tied to the apparition. Background information is provided about the percipients, the apparitional experience, the Messages and ten ‘‘Secrets,’’ its sociological impact and scientific studies, and the Roman Catholic Church’s official position regarding the phenomenon. Four key questions that frame the present inquiry are identified, judgments about the apparition’s validity are discussed, and the ambiguity of the situation is acknowledged. The perspective of critical realism is then presented that addresses the complex psychological and philosophical issues posed by the apparition. Critical realism is defined and distinguished from other interpretations, inner and outer order of events are differentiated, and the problem of literalizing symbolic experience is discussed. The issue of the extent to which different forms of religious experience are intrinsic or unnecessary to basic transcendent reality is examined. An argument is made for moving beyond the perennialism/constructivism debate to a framework of participatory spiritualism and noetic pluralism. The implications of this move for understanding the nature of basic reality are described. Finally, a parapsychological perspective is presented that draws upon studies of other types of apparitions to place the Medjugorje phenomenon in the context of scientific literature. The Marian apparition’s classification and resemblance to secular apparitions of the living and the dead, its evidential aspects and collectively-perceived nature, and quasiphysical features are examined. Two parapsychological theories (psi-mediated The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology trps-43-01-04.3d 27/7/11 01:39:49 1 [email protected] Copyright ’ 2011 Transpersonal Institute The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 2011, Vol. 43, No. 1 0 and discarnate spirit) and four psychological hypotheses (pure hallucination, dissociation, inner voice, and normal creativity) are presented as alternative interpretations/explanations of the apparition. Part 2 examines the Medjugorje apparition from the perspectives of aspect psychology and empowered imagination and presents future work suggested by the proposed models. RELEVANCE TO TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY What is the importance of the Medjugorje apparition to transpersonal psychology, and to psychology and science more generally? This type of phenomenon (if its characteristics can be verifiably established) has crucial significance in its bearing on some of the most fundamental problems of philosophy, psychology, religion, and science. It has important implications for extending and broadening understanding of human personality action, the multidimensional nature of reality, and the creativity of consciousness. It also has important bearing on the problem of the survival of personality beyond bodily death. Apparitions of the Medjugorje-type can be considered transpersonal events in which ‘‘the sense of identity or self extends beyond the individual or personal to encompass wider aspects of humankind, life, psyche, and cosmos’’ (Walsh & Vaughan, 1993, p. 3). The apparition arguably presents knowledge to the six percipients from an inner order of events beyond the boundaries of their known selves that springs into physical existence to actualize new dimensions of experience and fulfillment in their lives and the lives of others. But is this all that is happening? How does the universe participate in the creation of such experiences of the sacred? What role does Being play in the occurrence of such a transpersonal event? An abundant literature about the apparition exists in print materials published primarily in French, Italian, and Croatian languages (Medjugorje Books and Publications, 2005). If the growing number of Internet references on Medjugorje is any indication (according to Google at the time of writing, it approaches 2.25 million results), there is little sign that public interest in the apparition is diminishing (Apolito & Shugaar, 2005). The disinterested observer will find that websites devoted to the phenomenon display an almost evangelical fervor in support of the genuineness of the apparition (e.g., www.medjugorje.net/; http:// www.medjugorjeusa.org/; http://www.childrenofmedjugorje.com; http://www. medjugorje.org). Public declarations of the Roman Catholic Church are much more reserved and state that it is impossible to prove or disprove that the BVM has ever appeared to anyone in Medjugorje. The controversial issue for scholars interested in religious issues is whether the apparition at Medjugorje is valid and discloses the existence of an actual transcendent reality. If so, then how? If not, then what else might be happening? OUTER HISTORY OF THE CASE