http://www.yourlastchance.org/Direct link to John Salza's presentation 5-15-12 (55:38)Salza has an interesting background and always gives a great talk.
It is the principle accusation of our detractors that Fatima
is only a private revelation, because other criticisms are
easily refutable by established facts of history. But this
false claim of private revelation is no more reliable than
the others.
Excerpt from the talk by Salza (minute 9+) :
By saying that we are only dealing with private revelation is
simply an effort to redirect the conversation, to divert the
topic into the realm of non-binding opinion, or speculation;
in effect, to cover up the popes' failures to obey heaven's
command, because they don't want to admit that the popes
have failed to obey heaven's command. But of course, if
Fatima regards non-binding opinion, then why do these same
people persecute us for holding such opinions? After all,
they wouldn't matter, according to their own criteria.
...
Many are familiar with the two kinds of revelation: general
revelation, revealed in Scripture and Tradition, and which
ended with Christ and the Apostles, also called the Deposit
of Faith; and private revelation, which God occasionally
gives to certain individuals. The Deposit of Faith, of course,
binds all men, what God wills all to believe for
salvation, while private revelation binds only the person to
whom the communication was directed, what God may
additionally require from such an individual.
There is, however, a third type of revelation. And it is called
public prophetic revelation, or public prophesy. It is
unique in that God gives it through a prophet after the
apostolic age, but intends the message for all humanity.
To deny the existence of public, prophetic revelation would
mean that God cannot communicate with humanity after the
period of revelation on matters that affect their salvation,
and that of course, is not true. Scripture reveals that God will
indeed continue to speak to us during the Church age.
...
The Church teaches that prophets did exist after the
Ascension of Our Lord.
...
When God intervenes in history with prophetic revelations, He is
telling us what we must do to save our souls. Those who listen
and obey will be saved, those who hear and deliberately disobey
will be damned. As Scriptures says, When prophesy shall fail,
the people shall be scattered abroad. (Prov xxviii. 19)
...