Michael Brooks
There are several accounts of non-Catholics encountering the Blessed Mother, also known as the Virgin Mary. One such account is that of a 19th-century Jew and militant atheist, Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne, who converted to Catholicism after encountering the Blessed Virgin Mary. Another is the story of Roy Schoeman, who, despite being of Jewish descent with no interest in Christianity, encountered the Blessed Mother in a dream. There are also accounts of Muslims, Protestants, and non-Christians who have reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary. These stories often involve miracles, conversion, and a profound sense of the presence of the Blessed Mother, leading individuals to seek instruction in the Catholic faith.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Has the Blessed Mother ever appeared to non-Catholics? | Yes |
| Who has she appeared to? | Muslims, Jews, Protestants, Presbyterians, atheists, and others |
| What are some examples of her appearances? | The Miracle of Zeitoun in Egypt, 1968; Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, 1531; Lourdes in France, 1858; Fatima in Portugal, 1916-1917; Rome, 1947 |
| What are some common reactions to her appearances? | Conversion to Catholicism, profound presence of Our Lady, joy, gratitude, and a deeper connection to God |
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What You'll Learn
- Marian apparitions are reported supernatural appearances by Mary, the mother of Jesus
- Non-Catholics who have encountered Jesus through Mary
- The Virgin Mary appearing in Zeitoun, a district of Cairo, in the 1960s
- The 1531 Marian apparition at Tepeyac, Mexico, also known as Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Mary appearing to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, in 1858
Marian apparitions are reported supernatural appearances by Mary, the mother of Jesus
Marian apparitions are reported supernatural appearances of Mary, the mother of Jesus. These apparitions are predominantly associated with the Roman Catholic tradition, but they have also been recognized by the Coptic Orthodox Church and Sunni Muslims. While some people consider these apparitions to be real interventions of divine power, others view them as subjective experiences.
The Catholic Church has specific regulations for investigating these phenomena, and approval of a Marian apparition is relatively rare. The majority of investigated apparitions are rejected as fraudulent or false. However, in some cases, the Church may choose not to open or conclude an investigation, instead approving of the public religious activity inspired by the apparition. Apparitions in this category have not received judgment on the apparition itself but have been authorized for liturgical veneration.
Marian apparitions are often accompanied by other alleged supernatural phenomena, such as medical cures or miracles. Witnesses claim that Mary offered them a message or performed a miracle. Most apparitions feature only Mary, but there have been reports of witnesses claiming to have seen other figures with her, such as a saint or Jesus. Some apparitions are reported as single occurrences, while others are said to have occurred multiple times over several days, weeks, or years, usually in the same location.
There are accounts of Marian apparitions leading to the conversion of non-Catholics. For example, Roy Schoeman, a Jew, reported that the Blessed Mother appeared to him, leading him to convert to Catholicism. Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne, a 19th-century Jew and militant atheist, also converted after the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him. These apparitions can be considered private revelations that emphasize some facet of the received public revelation, but they cannot add anything new to the faith.
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Non-Catholics who have encountered Jesus through Mary
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is a revered figure in Christianity and other religions. She is often portrayed as a virgin or queen and is believed to be the Mother of God by many Christian denominations. While apparitions of Mary are more commonly reported by Catholics, there are several accounts of non-Catholics who have encountered Jesus through Mary. Here are four notable examples:
- Father Donald Calloway: Father Calloway, a former rebellious and irresponsible teenager, experienced a profound transformation after an encounter with Mary. He describes finding a book about her one night and hearing a sweet feminine voice say, "Donnie, I am so happy." This experience led him to seek instruction in the Catholic faith and eventually became a priest and popular speaker and author.
- Roy Schoeman: Roy Schoeman, of Jewish descent, had no initial interest in Christianity. However, he dreamed of a beautiful young woman whom he recognised as the mother of Jesus. She offered to answer his many questions, and this experience led him to explore the Catholic faith. He documented his journey in his book "Salvation is from the Jews."
- Claude Newman: While in jail, Claude noticed a Miraculous Medal of Mary around a fellow inmate's neck. That night, he claimed to have seen the most beautiful woman God ever created, who instructed him to see a Catholic priest. This experience led him to seek instruction in the Catholic faith, and he made a profound impression on those around him with his insights.
- Charles Rogers: Charles, along with his wife Melanie, embarked on a faith journey that led them to the Catholic Church. While Melanie had a Presbyterian background, they both felt drawn to Catholicism after Charles' encounter with Mary. Charles expressed profound gratitude to Jesus and Mary for the impact on his life.
These individuals experienced a profound presence of Mary in their lives, leading them to embrace the Catholic faith. Their stories highlight the belief that "the path to Jesus is through Mary," as emphasised by Catholic saints and devotees. While apparitions of Mary to non-Catholics may be less common, they do occur and can lead to transformative spiritual journeys.
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The Virgin Mary appearing in Zeitoun, a district of Cairo, in the 1960s
The Virgin Mary, also known as Our Lady of Zeitoun, is believed to have appeared in Zeitoun, a district of Cairo, Egypt, multiple times between 1968 and 1971. The first reported sighting occurred on the evening of April 2, 1968, when two Muslim bus mechanics noticed a figure on the roof of Saint Mary's Coptic Church. They believed it was a woman about to jump from the roof and called for help. As a crowd gathered, they witnessed the figure glowing in luminous white, surrounded by a divine light, and identified her as the Virgin Mary.
The church where the apparition occurred was built by Tawfik Khalil Ibrahim, based on a vision he had in 1923. In his vision, the Virgin Mary instructed him to build a church in Zeitoun, promising that she would appear there after 40 years. The church was consecrated on June 29, 1925.
Over the next three years, Mary is said to have appeared above the cathedral numerous times, often at night, and sometimes multiple times a week. These appearances drew crowds of Copts, Muslims, Catholics, and Christians of other denominations. The figure of Mary would glow atop the church, sometimes accompanied by what witnesses described as "birds of light" or a "shower of diamonds" forming a cross.
The apparitions were recognized by the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, and the Sunni Mosque of Al Azhar. Many people also reported unusual encounters with a woman dressed in white during this time, who they believed to be the Virgin Mary. It is estimated that one million people claimed to see Mary in Zeitoun during this period, making it one of the most observed Marian apparitions in history.
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The 1531 Marian apparition at Tepeyac, Mexico, also known as Our Lady of Guadalupe
There are a few accounts of non-Catholics who have experienced apparitions of Mary and other saints. One such account is of Roy Schoeman, a Jew who claimed that Christ and the Blessed Mother appeared to him. Another is of Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne, a 19th-century Jew and militant atheist who converted after the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him. There are also stories of dreams, visions, and encounters with Jesus among Muslims.
Following her instructions, Juan Diego sought the Archbishop of Mexico City, Juan de Zumárraga, to tell him what had happened. During the fourth apparition, Juan Diego found beautiful flowers on top of the frozen and barren hill, which he gathered and presented to the Bishop. When Juan Diego opened his cloak to show the flowers, the Bishop saw the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe imprinted on the inside, and he immediately understood the truth of Juan Diego's message. The fifth apparition occurred in the home of Juan Diego and his uncle, where Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Bernardino and cured him of his fatal illness.
The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe played a crucial role in explaining Christianity to the indigenous people of Mexico, leading to the conversion of eight million natives from 1531 to 1538. A shrine to the Virgin has existed on the site since at least 1556, and her image has become a national symbol of Mexico.
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Mary appearing to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, in 1858
There are several accounts of non-Catholics encountering Mary, the mother of Jesus. One such account is of a Jew and militant atheist, Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne, who converted after the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him. Another is of Roy Schoeman, who was of Jewish descent and had no interest in Christianity. However, after dreaming of a beautiful young woman who he knew was the mother of Jesus, he converted to Catholicism.
There are also several accounts of Mary appearing to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, in 1858. On 11 February 1858, 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous, the daughter of a miller, claimed to have seen the first of 18 visions of "a small young lady", standing in a niche in the rock at the grotto of Massabielle outside Lourdes. Her sister and a friend who were with her at the time stated that they had seen nothing. Troubled by the notion that the apparition might be an evil spirit, Bernadette threw holy water at it during her next vision. The lady simply bowed her head and smiled, which was taken as a positive sign.
Bernadette described the lady as wearing a white veil and a blue girdle, with a golden rose on each foot and holding a rosary of pearls. On 16 July 1858, Bernadette visited the grotto for the last time and said: "I have never seen her so beautiful before." On 18 January 1862, the local bishop declared: "The Virgin Mary did appear indeed to Bernadette Soubirous." The Catholic Church declared Bernadette a saint in 1933, and her feast day is celebrated on 16 April. The grotto where the apparitions occurred became a major pilgrimage site, attracting around five million pilgrims of all denominations each year.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are accounts of the Blessed Mother appearing to non-Catholics. One such account is that of Roy Schoeman, a Jew who claimed that the Blessed Mother appeared to him in a dream. Another account is that of Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne, a 19th-century Jew and militant atheist who converted after the Blessed Mother appeared to him.
Yes, there are several other examples of non-Catholics who encountered the Blessed Mother. One example is that of Claude, who claimed to have seen the Blessed Mother and was instructed by her to see a Catholic priest. Another example is that of a man who, after encountering the Blessed Mother, converted to Catholicism and wrote a book about his experience titled "Salvation is from the Jews".
Yes, there are accounts of the Blessed Mother appearing to people of other faiths as well. In 1968, the Virgin Mary appeared to Egyptians in Zeitoun, a district of Cairo. This apparition was recognized by the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, and the great Sunni Mosque of Al Azhar. Additionally, in 1858, Mary appeared to a French peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, eighteen times in Lourdes, France.
