PURPOSE

The primary intent of this document is to demonstrate to the reader the application of the Principle of Coherence. This Principle will assist the Faithful to more accurately discern the errors of translation, omission and/or outright fraud in alleged supernatural communications as well as in the many versions and translations of the Holy Scriptures. (1)

Secondarily, this document endeavors to assist anyone else seeking to make some sense out of all the supernatural events and communications which allegedly are taking place all over the world and which continue to grow in number and in errors.


BACKGROUND

Exactly what is meant by "coherence"? "Coherence" means that, when related information comes together, it must make sense and dovetail perfectly, that is, it must be "coherent". There are two distinct types of coherence: "internal coherence" and "external coherence".

In "internal coherence" all of the components within a given thought/principle/law/news report must dovetail internally; however, that does not mean that what it profess is correct.

The proof of correctness comes when that given thought/principle/law/news report also dovetails with confirmed (external) reality.

When such match occurs, then we can say that the given thought/principle/law/news report has internal and external "coherence". Therefore, the thought/principle/law/news report, in principle, should be considered correct.

For example... There is only one Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. There is only one Jesus, Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. What They may communicate to humanity must be "coherent" with Each Other, with the Holy Scriptures, with what They may have communicated in the past AND with reality. Otherwise, there is a legitimacy problem with the alleged communication.


DETAILS

Examples Demonstrating the Principle of Coherence

A. Supernatural Communications

First we should review some of the widely accepted supernatural communications.

1. Messages through Source No. 1 [Faustina Kowalska - Divine Mercy] tell us that:


Which is true and we can vouch for it personally.


2. Messages through Source No. 2 [Conchita González - Garabandal] tell us that:


Which is true and we can vouch for it personally.


3. Messages through Source No. 3 [Don Gobbi - Marian Movement of Priests] tell us that:


Which is NOT true because the events that were to take place in that period of time - 1988 to 1998 - did not take place.


B. Scriptural Writings

Among the many Biblical writings dealing with His Second Coming we shall highlight the following:



Discussion of Examples

If all three of those messages were true, all Scriptural writings regarding the Second Coming of Our Lord would have to be fulfilled very soon - which is the case. Our Lord Himself gave witness to this reality as He would not expire until all prophesied for His First Coming had been fulfilled:


To illustrate our point about "coherent" information...

If all of the above messages and Scriptural quotations had coherence, then the following possible conclusions could be drawn:


Is this really happening? Yes, it is. However one set of communications - that from the Marian Movement of Priests - lacks coherence with the other two. This makes sense considering our final evaluation of the Marian Movement of Priests (3).


CONCLUSION

In the face of the lack of coherence among the information coming from so many other apparently legitimate supernatural sources the reader should ponder upon the following:


There is no simple technical answer to these very disturbing but real questions. The only real answer to this frightening crossroads upon which the Faithful have come may be found through prayer. (4)

Why?

That answer was delivered through Fátima in 1917 and explained through Miguel de Portugal (5) in the year 2002.


EPILOGUE

It is imperative that the Faithful remembers that Blind Obedience is not of God.

God does not speak from both sides of His mouth - He is Perfectly Coherent.

On the other hand, Church Leaders, alleged visionaries, etc., etc. are certainly capable of speaking from "both sides of the mouth", and many certainly do, most especially when there is great Institutional and/or personal gain involved.

If the Faithful were to blindly follow his/her Shepherds, then God would have sent His Holy Spirit ONLY upon the Head of His Church (6) and its Shepherds. (7) Think about that!

There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit of God is the Infallible Guide of the Church. The problem has been that in too many cases the Popes (8) and the Hierarchy (9) have not followed such guidance and the world is right now living those painful consequences.

Our advice is that, if the information/guidance/instruction is not coherent with everything else - but primarily with the Holy Scriptures - even if it appears to come from the Chair of Peter (10) do not believe it or follow it.

Do not be scandalized. The Catholic Faith does not demand the Faithful to believe in this or that Apparition or Message. Nor it demands that he/she follow the example of this Saint or that Saint. Nor it demands that he/she accepts every word uttered by the Successor of Peter - as infallible (11). If that universal infallibility were true, H.H. John Paul II would not have had to publicly ask for Divine Forgiveness over 95 times nor Popes would be required to go to confession, would they?

Think about all of that too. It will not destroy your Faith, it will strengthen it. (12)









En Español:  Coherencia entre los Mensajes Sobrenaturales y las Escrituras

Original version issued only for Worldwide Ecclesiastical Distribution on March 30, 1996. Texas, U.S.A. • Simplified and updated  for the general public on March 16th, 2018.