(Gene Zannetti. Rorate Coeli).
How often have we heard, concerning supernatural phenomena: “The faithful are not obliged to give an assent of faith to them,” or concerning a private revelation: “Its use is not obligatory”?
Such language, taken from the recent document “Listening to the Spirit Who Works in the Faithful People of God” released by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, May 17, 2024, is no doubt familiar.
While I am no dissenter from the authoritative teaching of the Church, and I accept the DDF document as magisterial, I am nonetheless concerned that an important aspect of our Catholic Tradition is harmfully overlooked in it.
Is it true that all private revelations and prophecies are always merely optional? Can a private revelation ever impose a moral obligation on one or more Catholics?