How many approved Marian apparitions are there?

How many approved Marian apparitions are there?

And how does the Church decide?

It’s amazing to consider that Our Lady, the Mother of God and Queen of Heaven, wants to visit us here on earth.

Throughout history, Our Lady has appeared to all sorts of people, from farmers and peasants to rulers and religious. However, not all of these claims are accepted by the Catholic Church.

The Church actually has a rigorous process for investigating and approving apparitions to ensure the messages align with Catholic teaching and there’s no deception involved.

As of today, there are 16 Marian apparitions officially recognized by the Vatican.

Here’s the full list:

1. Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico, 1531) — Read the incredible story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and her enduring message.
2. Our Lady of Lezajsk (Poland, 1578)
3. Our Lady of Silvua (Lithuania, 1608–1612)
4. Our Lady of Laus (France, 1664–1718)
5. Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Paris, France, 1830) — Honor this apparition with a Sterling Silver & Crystal Miraculous Medal Necklace or the beautiful Miraculous Medal Rosary, Necklace & Figurine Gift Set.
6. Our Lady of Zion (Rome, 1842)
7. Our Lady of La Salette (France, 1846)
8. Our Lady of Lourdes (France, 1858)
9. Our Lady of Pontmain (France, 1871)
10. Our Lady of Gietrzwałd (Poland, 1877)
11. Our Lady of Knock (Ireland, 1879)
12. Our Lady Help of Christians (Czech Republic, 1885)
13. Our Lady of Fatima (Portugal, 1917) — Discover what happened to the shepherd children of the Fatima apparition.
14. Our Lady of the Golden Heart (Belgium, 1932)
15. Our Lady of Banneux (Belgium, 1933)
16. Our Lady of Kibeho (Rwanda, 1981–1989)

So why only 16?

Well, the Church is very cautious in these matters. Each case is investigated with great care to avoid misleading the faithful. The process can take years, even centuries, and involves examining the messages, the fruits of the apparition (like conversions and miracles), and the character of those who reported the apparitions.

In short, the Church doesn’t rush to judgment. It’s more important to be thorough than to be quick, and the Church wants to ensure that any approved apparition truly leads people closer to Christ through Mary.

Also, this does not mean that the Church belittles or doubts other reports of Marian apparitions. She simply doesn’t believe that public approval of that apparition is necessary or she hasn’t fully investigated the extent and message of the apparition. Many of Our Lady’s apparitions to saints, such as St. Alphonsus Liguori, are not officially approved by the Catholic Church, but they can still be believed by Catholics.

There are actually several apparitions that have not been approved by the Vatican but have been approved by local bishops. Did you know that one of these locally-approved Marian apparitions actually took place in Wisconsin?

Yes! Our Lady of Good Help appeared in Champion, Wisconsin in 1859 to Adele Brise. In this apparition, Our Lady asked Adele to evangelize the pioneer families of that region and revealed herself as Our Lady, Queen of Heaven. These apparitions took place the year after the Marian apparitions at Lourdes!

Few of us will receive apparitions of Our Lady, but she still longs to be with us and guide us to her Son. This should be inspiring and comforting! The 12 Devotions of Mary Toile Framed Art Print is a beautiful way to honor Our Lady’s many titles in your home. For those who want to go deeper into Marian devotion, 101 Surprising Facts About Mary is a wonderful resource. And if you’re curious about the ongoing legacy of these apparitions, read about Pope Francis and his devotion to Our Lady Undoer of Knots — a beautiful example of how Marian devotion continues to flourish in the Church today.