[ Friday, July 7, 1989 PITTSBURGH CATHOLIC Page 6 Diocesan News Com m ission issues report on crucifix in Am bridge

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION Wuerl. God’s graces in our lives as Christian men and and the meaning of the messages has been HOLY TRINITY CHURCH 12. Father Vincent Cvitkovich called Father women does not require miraculous events. The oriented toward calling all people to adhere to the AMBRIDGE. PENNSYLVANIA David Zubik on Saturday. March 25, 1989. Father Lord's graces are mostly present and active within teaching o f the Church. A) Introduction Zubik was not available but Father Cvitkovich us through the Holy Spirit in and through the or­ 29. The commission wishes to distinguish bet­ was told that Bishop Wuerl would be informed of dinary occurrences of divine providence, which do ween public and private revelation. Public revela­ 1. The Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, S.T.D., the events of Good Friday. not circumvent the laws o f nature. It is possible tion ended with the death of the last apostolic Bishop of Pittsburgh, appointed a Commission on 13. Bishop Wuerl called Father Cvitkovich on that supernatural grace could be working in the witness to God's full and definitive revelation in April 3, 1989 to evaluate the events of March 24. Saturday, March 25, 1989 and discussed the mat­ lives of those connected with the events at Holy His Son, Jesus Christ. Private revelations given to 1989. Good Friday, at Holy Trinity Church. Am­ ter of the crucifix and the events of Good Friday. Trinity Church without those events being individuals after this apostolic time can never add bridge. Pennsylvania. The members of the Com­ Bishop Wuerl informed Father Cvitkovich that he miraculous. anything substantial to God's full revelation in His mission were: Most Reverend William J. Winter. would visit the Church on Monday, March 27, 22. In an attempt to ascertain whether or not a Son. Our adherence of faith is only to God's revela­ S.T.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh. Chairper­ 1989. tion given in His Son. Jesus Christ, as contained in son: Most Reverend John B. McDowell, Ph.D.. miracle occurred at Holy Trinity Church the Com­ 14. On Monday, March 27, 1989, Bishop Wuerl the Scripture and Sacred Tradition(s) and pro­ Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh: Reverend Robert mission has carefully examined the photographic visited Holy Trinity Church. Subsequently, evidence provided by the parish as well as claimed in the Church. Private revelations never L. McCreary, O.F.M. Cap.. S.T.D.. Chairperson of Bishop Wuerl was given a written report and a photographs from an independent agency com­ become an article of faith or dogma in the Church. the Diocesan Theological Commission; and Very videotape showing pictures of the crucifix taken On occasion in the life of the Church, private Reverend Lawrence A. DiNardo. J.C.L.. missioned by the Diocese. We also reviewed the on January 28, 1989, the day the crucifix was in­ written reports submitted and interviewed six revelations have been deemed worthy of pious ac­ Chancellor of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. stalled in the sanctuary and March 24, 1989, Good ceptance by Church authority after careful study. 2. The Commission considered the following witnesses who were most closely involved in the Friday, after the events had taken place. The Good Friday events. Even in these cases, no one is obliged to accept two questions: First, did the eyes of the figure of videotape also included pictures of the crucifix such private revelations. The principal value of Jesus, on the crucifix located in the sanctuary at 23. In the interviews conducted by the Commis­ taken on March 27, 1989. private revelations is that they can deepen the Holy Trinity Church. Ambridge. Pennsylvania, sion, the testimony of the witnesses was 15. On Monday, April 10, 1989, Bishop William faithful’s devotion to Christ and also encourage close during the services on Good Friday. March remarkably consistent in describing the events J. Winter and Father Zubik joined professional which they perceived on Good Friday and during them to be people of faith and prayer, people con­ 24, 1989 and return to their normal condition a photographers, commissioned by the Diocese, at verted more deeply to the Gospel, and to love of few days later? Second, have private revelations the following days. Holy Trinity Church. The photographers took fur­ God's world. occurred to certain persons in conjunction with 24. Although the witnesses testified to what ther video and still photographs of the crucifix 30. The Commission found no convincing this alleged Good Friday event? they had perceived, a careful examination of the from every angle, using every shade and combina­ evidence that there were private revelations in­ 3. The task of the Commission was to evaluate photographs provided by Holy Trinity Church as tion of light available in the sanctuary. volved in the events at Holy Trinity Church. The the physical evidence, and to interview those per­ well as those photographs independently commis­ 16. On Friday, April 21. 1989, the Commission locutions or revelations appear to arise from a nor­ sons directly related to the Good Friday events sioned shows no convincing evidence that a met to review the photographic evidence and mal Christian life of prayer and fidelity to the and report the findings to the Diocesan Bishop. miracle has occurred. The eyes of the figure of develop a process for the investigation. The Com­ Jesus, as seen in the photograph taken from the Church. They do not represent any revelation that B) Events at Holy Trinity Church mission decided to interview the persons directly video of March 24 (Good Friday) do not differ in ap­ is not already part of the deposit of faith. 4. The events of Good Friday evening began related to the Good Friday events on May 1, 1989. pearance from the eyes in the photograph iden­ 31. The Commission wishes to take cognizance when James Cvitkovich, a server at the Good Fri­ Those interviewed were: Dominic Leo, the artist tified by the witnesses as taken on January 28. of the fact that the events of Good Friday have had day ceremony, glanced at the crucifix suspended who refurbished the crucifix: James, Thomas and when the crucifix was raised to its position over a profound effect on many members of the from the ceiling of the sanctuary and perceived Charles Cvitkovich. nephews of the Pastor, altar the altar. faithful. Many have come in good faith to visit Ho­ that the eyes of Jesus, which had been slightly servers and parishioners of Holy Trinity Church: 25. The photographs taken by the agency com­ ly Trinity Church and to view the crucifix. The open, were now closed from the angle from which Joseph Rozman, server and parishioner of Holy missioned by the Diocese show differences in the Commission wishes to note that many people he viewed them. Trinity Church, and the Reverend Vincent eyes from one photo to the other. This, however, is have used this occasion as an opportunity to be 5. James Cvitkovich sought affirmation of what Cvitkovich, O.F.M., Pastor of Holy Trinity Church. clearly attributable to varied lighting combina­ reconciled to the Church and return to its he saw by asking his brother. Thomas Cvitkovich, 17. The Commission met on May 1, 1989 and in­ tions and the various angeles from which the eyes sacramental life especially the Holy Eucharist, who was also serving the ceremony, to verify what terviewed the involved parties concerning the are viewed. All of these commissioned which is the summit of our faith. he perceived. Thomas Cvitkovich confirmed that crucifix and the Good Friday events at Holy Trini­ photographs were taken on the same day. 32. Finally, just as these people found special the eves of Jesus were closed from the angle that ty C h u rch . solace in visiting Holy Trinity Church, the Com­ 26. In brief, the photos taken on January 28, he viewed the corpus. mission prays that all members of the Christian D) Findings of the Commission March 24 (Good Friday), March 27. and April 10. 6. To confirm his original observation James Faithful will visit their parish churches with the when viewed from the same angle, consistently Cvitkovich moved from the right to the left side of 18. The Commission judges that the persons in­ same faith and openness to Christ's grace so that show the eyes of the crucifix to be in the same the altar and viewed the corpus. He perceived that terviewed and involved in the Good Friday events all may find the same comfort and spiritual position. the eyes of Jesus which had been slightly open arc sincere people, filled with faith and love for the growth in the presence of the Eucharist. 27. We believe that the claim of a miracle cannot were closed also from this angle. message of Christ and His Church. The Commis­ be verified. At the same time we believe that the E) Recommendations 7. Toward the end of the ceremony the servers sion found no evidence of deception, desire for witnesses are in good faith. Therefore, we would 33. The Commission believes that no further in­ conveyed their observation to the Reverend Vin­ financial gain or personal notoriety attached to the understand the events to have arisen from the vestigation is necessary in this matter and recom­ cent Cvitkovich, O.F.M., Pastor of Holy Trinity events at Holy Trinity Church or the persons in­ variety of visual perceptions and from the unique mends that the contents of this report be released Church and Celebrant of the ceremony. After the volved in those events. features of the crucifix. to the public either in whole or in part. ceremony Father Cvitkovich examined the 19. We have further learned that many people crucifix. who have visited Holy Trinity Church have been 28. The Commission also considered the report Given at Pittsburgh, this 21st day of June. 1989. of private locutions or revelations to members of F o o tn o te 8. Father Vincent Cvitkovich summoned assisted spiritually by their visitation and par­ the youth prayer group at Holy Trinity Church. Dominic Leo, a participant at the ceremony and ticipation in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and 1 McCraw Hill Book Co.. New Catholic En­ These messages have been reported in the media the artist who had refurbished the crucifix, to ex­ Eucharist at the Church. The Commission finds it cyclopedia. New York. Vol. 9, pp. 890. amine the corpus. Mr. Leo looked at the crucifix commendable that many people have taken ad­ and said: "Oh my God, the eyes are closed." vantage of the Sacraments as a result of this event. 9. After a brief period of time the Pastor went to It has also been reported to the Commission that the basement oi the Church and announced to the some members of the Christian Faithful have people gathered there socially: "It seems that returned to the Church after many years of something has happened. The eyes of Jesus on absence, because of their visitation to the Church. our crucifix are closed." 20. This Commission has spent a considerable When looking for a 10. From that moment many of those who saw amount of time on the question as to whether or the crucifix and examined it closely have main­ not a miracle has taken place at Holy Trinity tained that the eyes oi the corpus changed from Church. The Commission considered the term being slightly open to almost closed. This condi­ miracle in its theological sense, that is, “an ex­ tion. according to certain witnesses, prevailed un­ traordinary event, perceptible to the senses pro­ Senior Care Facility til early in Easter week when the eyes returned to duced by God in a religious context as a sign of the being slightly open. Since that time those supernatural", l that is, as a sign of His presence, witnesses have neither observed nor reported any grace, mercy and truth. This is the meaning of extraordinary events with the crucifix. miracle accepted by the Commission and is the C) Diocesan Involvement basis of the evaluation made by the Commission. there’s nothing more 21. We wish further to distinguish between the 11. Father Vincent Cvitkovich called Bishop meaning of miracle and the meaning of super­ John B. McDowell on Saturday. March 25. 1989 to natural grace. We wish to note that the working of inform him of the events of Good Friday at the Church. Bishop McDowell asked Father SUPPORT Cvitkovich to call Father David Zubik. Ad­ important than someone OUR ministrative Secretary to Bishop Donald W. ADVERTISERS Wills Awareness SUMMERTIME you can trust Workshop REUPHOLSTERING Learn how to protect and pass on the things for which you have worked so hard.

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