A Critical Review of Ivan Dragičević’s April 2025 Talk: Doctrinal Reflections and Ecclesial Concerns

A Critical Review of Ivan Dragičević’s April 2025 Talk: Doctrinal Reflections and Ecclesial Concerns

By George Hults (PadreGeo)

In April 2025, Ivan Dragičević—one of the six alleged visionaries of Medjugorje—delivered a public talk recounting his original experience of the 1981 apparitions and sharing alleged ongoing messages from the Blessed Virgin Mary. As a Catholic deacon committed to both pastoral care and doctrinal clarity, I believe it is essential to examine such public events through the lens of Church teaching, especially when they involve unapproved private revelation.

This review is not an attack on Ivan’s sincerity or the personal faith of those drawn to Medjugorje. Rather, it is an effort to illuminate what aligns with Catholic doctrine, what crosses theological and ecclesial boundaries, and why the Church exercises caution in these matters.

The Good: Doctrinal Alignment and Spiritual Encouragement

Let us begin by acknowledging what was praiseworthy and spiritually orthodox in Ivan’s talk:

  • Christ-Centered Messages: Ivan repeatedly emphasized that Mary’s mission is to bring souls to her Son, Jesus. He affirmed that true peace, hope, and healing come only through Him. This is consistent with the Catholic understanding of Mary’s role as a mediatrix who never points to herself but always to Christ.

  • Promotion of the Sacraments and Scripture: Ivan strongly urged the faithful to center their lives around the Eucharist, confession, Eucharistic adoration, Scripture reading, and the Rosary. These practices are not only spiritually beneficial but are foundational pillars of Catholic life.

  • Call to Moral Renewal: The talk challenged modern cultural drift with urgency—addressing family breakdown, digital addiction, and spiritual apathy. Ivan called for interior conversion, forgiveness, daily prayer, and trust in God. These exhortations echo themes found in approved Marian apparitions and papal teachings.

  • Humility in Personal Reflection: At several points, Ivan admitted his own limitations, confusion at being chosen, and inability to fully describe the spiritual experiences he claims. His tone in many moments was reverent and pastoral.

All of these elements, taken in isolation, are sound and even inspiring.

The Concerns: Violations of Church Norms and Doctrinal Caution

However, the central issue lies not in what was said—but in how it was framed and delivered.

1. Apparitions Treated as Definitively Authentic

Throughout the talk, Ivan repeatedly described the alleged apparitions as factual, ongoing, and universally relevant:

“Our Lady was there waiting for us… she spoke to us… she gave us a message… she prayed over each of you tonight.”

This presentation violates the clear directives given by the Church:

  • The 2013 CDF instruction, signed by then-prefect Cardinal Müller, forbids clergy and faithful from participating in public events where the authenticity of the Medjugorje apparitions is presumed or promoted.

  • The 2019 pastoral directive, issued by the Holy See under Pope Francis, allows pilgrimages to Medjugorje only if they do not presume or promote authenticity of the apparitions.

  • In 2023, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández reaffirmed that no final judgment has been reached, and discernment is ongoing.

To present new, detailed messages from the Blessed Virgin without any disclaimer, and to recount a real-time apparition at the event itself, is to publicly circumvent the Church’s discernment. This creates serious confusion among the faithful and treats private revelation as if it were magisterial.

2. Dangerous Blurring of Public and Private Revelation

Private revelations, even when approved, are never binding on the faithful. They must never eclipse or compete with the definitive Revelation contained in Scripture and Tradition (cf. Catechism §§66–67).

Yet Ivan’s language often presented the alleged messages as:

  • Doctrinally instructional

  • Prophetic for the entire world

  • Liturgically impactful (e.g., Our Lady giving blessings, praying over priests and the Pope)

These types of claims require extreme caution. The Church does not permit private visionaries—especially unapproved ones—to assume this kind of spiritual authority over the faithful.

3. Questionable Theological Language

Statements such as:

“You are the lungs of the Church,”
“Social media is a cancer,”
“Our Lady is beautiful because she loves,”

—while emotionally compelling—veer into theologically ambiguous or poetically exaggerated territory. When attributed directly to the Blessed Virgin Mary, such phrasing should be held to the highest standard of discernment. Approved apparitions are consistently marked by simplicity, doctrinal clarity, and submission to ecclesial authority.

This talk, by contrast, leaned heavily on emotional imagery and mystical detail without any effort to submit these messages for formal evaluation or context.

4. Public Blessings and Authority by Proxy

Perhaps most concerning is Ivan’s claim that:

“Our Lady gave us her motherly blessing to each one of us… and to all religious articles present…”

This gives the impression that Ivan serves as a channel of spiritual power during public gatherings. No such authority has been granted to him by the Church. The faithful may mistakenly assume that such events carry ecclesial or sacramental weight, which they do not.

A Word on Sincerity vs. Authority

Ivan may very well believe that these experiences are authentic and that he is doing spiritual good. But sincerity is not the same as ecclesial legitimacy. Catholic teaching is clear: even the most well-meaning visionary must submit to the discernment of the Church, especially when speaking publicly.

The Church has a duty to protect the faithful from confusion, spiritual manipulation, or even unintentional theological error. This is why the hierarchy has always been cautious with Medjugorje—and why no seer has been granted public recognition or preaching authority regarding the apparitions.

Final Thoughts: A Need for Discernment and Obedience

There is much in Ivan Dragičević’s message that appeals to the heart, encourages virtue, and calls the faithful to prayer. But this does not absolve him—or event organizers—from the duty of obedience to the Church.

We must remember the standard offered by the Lord Himself:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing… You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15–16)

And the equally vital admonition from Scripture:

“Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8)

If Our Lady is truly appearing at Medjugorje, then time, prayer, and the discernment of the Church will make this clear. Until then, no visionary—not even one with decades of followers—has the right to present private revelations as fact, or to act as a spiritual authority outside the Church’s guidance.

Let us pray for Ivan, for the Church’s discernment, and for all those seeking genuine encounters with Christ. May we all learn to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1), and above all, remain faithful to Christ through His Church.

—

George Hults (PadreGeo) is a Catholic deacon, fitness author, and teacher of embodied Christian living. His latest work focuses on restoring strength and posture in later life while deepening the connection between the physical and spiritual life.

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