Apparitions are supernatural manifestations by which a spiritual or corporal object renders itself present to internal or external senses. It is the visible manifestation of a being whose presence in that place or time is unexplainable for the natural course of things.
Apparitions are biblical and extra-biblical . The first concern God or angels (Lk 1, 8-22; 1, 26-38; 2, 8-15; Mt 1, 20; 2, 13). Others involve dead persons, risen or not (Mt 17, 3; 27, 53; Mk 16, 9; Lk 24, 15; 24, 35).
Most of them are perceived by the external senses but there are also apparitions to the internal senses or imagination in which dreams are connected and divine will is revealed (2 Mac 15, 11; Mt 1, 20; 2, 13).
Since the apostolic era there have been apparitions of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, angels, demons and saints.
Apparitions at Paray-le-Monial, la Salette, Lourdes, Fatima are universally recognised. Church recognition means that the faithful are to believe in these apparitions not as articles of faith but as events whose authenticity, considered the extreme prudence which the Church uses in their regard, cannot be reasonably doubted.
One interesting point is the corporal essence revealed in apparitions.
With regard to Jesus, theologians agree that Jesus can leave the heavens to be visible on earth in his real body. St Thomas writes : “Dignitati mansionis caelestis non derogat si ex aliqua dispensatione Christus quandoque corporaliter ad terram descendat.”
Whereas concerning the apparitions of Mary, since she appears under different guises this would seem to confirm that it is not her real body but also a representation of it. It is not easy to described Our Lady as she appears but not even those who see her give a precise description. The speak of a beautiful woman dressed in different manner but with the same shape of eyes.
Apparitions have continued down to our day.
Early apparitions of Our Lady are mentioned: Gregory Thaumaturge, Theofile, St John Damascen, in the 8th century, whose hand, amputated by the Emir of Damascus, was miraculously healed by Our Lady.
In Europe, there were various apparitions in the 19th century: to Catherine Labourè, a novice at the Daughters of Charity in Paris. This gave rise to the “miraculous medal” known today in many parts of the world. These apparitions were never officially approved but they were tacitly and favourably accepted by the Church authority, and Pope Gregory XVI and Pius IX wore the miraculous medal. Pius XII mentions it in Le Pelerinage de Lourdes, promulgated on 2 July 1957 on the occasion of the centenary of Our Lady’s apparitions in Lourdes.