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“Prayer is the answer”: Apocalypticism, Our Lady, and Catholic Identity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2018

Jill Krebs
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Abstract

Apocalyptic beliefs are common in modern Marian apparitions and represent an important area of tension between believers and skeptics—tension that in part determines the official Church stance toward, as well as popularity and longevity of, the apparition. Apocalypticism therefore is an important component of Catholic identity for many Marian devotees. Drawing from a case study of a modern apparition site in rural Emmitsburg, Maryland, I argue that apocalyptic beliefs shape Catholic identity by framing social and religious changes as evidence of coming chastisement; galvanize action among believers, who both prepare for and attempt to avert apocalypse; and validate the Catholic identity of those individuals marginalized within their communities because of those same apocalyptic beliefs. Using Christian Smith's subcultural identity theory of religious persistence and strength, as well as literature on apparitional movements, I describe the dynamics of apocalyptic belief in modern Marian apparitions, explore how the tension engendered by apocalypticism promotes strong identity through symbolic boundary marking, and argue that such beliefs shape Catholic identity for apocalyptic Catholics.

Keywords

Marian apparitionapocalypseCatholic identityvisionaryUnited States Catholicism
Type
Research Article
Information
Religion and American Culture , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , Winter 2016 , pp. 1 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture 2016

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References

Notes

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38. Both organizations have an internet presence. The Foundation can be found at www.tfsih.com and Private Revelations can be found at www.prourladyofemmitsburg.org.

39. As quoted in William Cardinal Keeler, “Letter to Fr. O'Connor,” December 5, 2002, http://www.emmitsburg.net/cult_watch/commission_report.htm (accessed June 12 2012).

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42. I have changed names and other identifying information for all interviewees.

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53. D'Antonio et al., American Catholics in Transition, 50; Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, “Roe v. Wade at 40: Most Oppose Overturning Abortion Decision,” Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (2013), http://www.pewforum.org/uploadedFiles/Topics/Issues/Abortion/Roe-v-wade-full.pdf (accessed March 7, 2013).

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55. There were reports of Marian apparitions in Cairo in December 2009 and in Alexandria in October 2011. In both cases, many people could see the apparition, which did not speak or give any sort of message.

56. Wojcik, , The End of the World as We Know It, 143 Google Scholar.

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59. On matters like abortion and homosexuality, a diversity of attitudes among individual Catholics is actually characteristic of this nominally universal community. See D'Antonio et al., American Catholics in Transition, 50; Pew Forum, “Roe v. Wade at 40.“

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