Why have so many claimed to see apparitions of Mary?

Response

Many individuals assert to have witnessed apparitions of Mary or other Catholic saints. Nevertheless, biblical teachings do not speak favorably of supernatural visions that contradict sound biblical doctrines. So, why do individuals claim to witness these apparitions, and how should we interpret them?

Humans were created to be in communion with God, hence we naturally crave spiritual encounters. This inclination can lead us to hastily draw conclusions, misinterpret, or overreact to situations that appear supernatural. It also renders us susceptible to false teachings (2 Timothy 4:3-4). It is common to perceive what we wish or anticipate seeing, which may result in interpreting an unusual experience as an apparition of Mary. Genuine messages from God are unequivocal (John 3:1-2) and align with the entirety of His Word «but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.», (John 20:31). Apparitions of Mary, by their very nature, cannot be classified as either of these.

At times, those who allege to have encountered an apparition of Mary are simply deceitful (see Ezekiel 13:6). Occasionally, basic human superstition or misunderstanding plays a role. Most assertions concerning apparitions of Mary lack specific details, credible witnesses, and so on. Individuals seeking mystical signs, patterns, or apparitions are inclined to perceive them, even in their absence. This is an attitude that the Bible explicitly discourages (1 John 4:1; Mark 13:22; 2 Corinthians 13:5) should be tested, as it can divert attention from genuine instances when God truly communicates through supernatural means (e.g., Matthew 11:21; Acts 2:22; Hebrews 2:4; Exodus 3:20). It is possible that some individuals who assert being visited by Mary indeed had a genuine supernatural experience—although the supernatural entity reaching out to them might have been a demon posing as Mary, not Mary herself.

This is not to imply that every claim about Mary apparitions stems from overt satanic influence or that all individuals making such assertions are outright lying. However, every spiritual assertion must be evaluated against the written Word of God. God can indeed communicate with people through visions and dreams (Habakkuk 2:2; Isaiah 1:1; Acts 2:17). He has also, at times, dispatched angels to convey His messages (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:13; Genesis 19:12; Judges 6:11-12). Nonetheless, the Bible explicitly warns that the devil can fabricate visions and experiences as well (2 Corinthians 11:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:9), so we must not automatically assume that every such occurrence is from God. Instead, we should compare our experiences with the unchanging, objective, written words of God (Acts 17:11; Galatians 1:8) and the doctrines they uphold. Any apparition that contradicts or undermines the Word of God is a deceitful spirit.

There are no biblical accounts of apparitions or visitations of the deceased, except when Saul

I consulted a witch who summoned the spirit of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 28). This occurrence appears to be unparalleled in history; nevertheless, the Bible explicitly states that we should not engage in communication with the deceased. The issue of whether these visions endorse erroneous Catholic teachings should be taken into account when analyzing appearances of Mary. In essence, there are more scripturally sound, logical justifications for manifestations of Mary than merely embracing them unquestioningly.