Medjugorje

<p class=ql-align-justify>This book-the definitive version of Michael Davies's study of the Medjugorje phenomenon a revision of which he was preparing right up to his death in 2004-is a valuable contribution to the growing literature on the subject. Although it covers only the period from 1981 to 2002 <em>Medjugorje: The First Twenty-One Years</em> brings together and offers incisive observations on material that other treatments summarize rapidly or even omit altogether. It must be remembered that Michael's Croatian wife Maria was in a unique position to assist Michael with access to an abundance of information in her native language that would have been and often still is a closed book to researchers from other countries. In its provision of original sources and with its judicious observations <em>Medjugorje: The First Twenty-One Years </em>adds richness to the existing literature concerning the purported apparitions. Davies sees the connection of Medjugorje with a variety of controversial issues in the Church today: the relationship of authority and obedience the nature of the charismatic movement the dangers of chasing after private revelations the scandal of clerical immorality and the lure of false ecumenism.</p><p><br></p>