Marian devotion, 1948 Lipa incident, and clericalism

REPORTED Marian apparitions and the devotions that usually arise from these are objects of the Church's meticulous scrutiny. As the late Orthodox theologian Jaroslav Pelikan said, there is a shaky relationship between doctrine as expressed in forms "recognized" by the Church and that which takes shape among the faithful: "The connection between technical theology and the piety of ordinary believers [is] difficult to handle." There arises the inevitable tug-of-war between the dogmatism of clerics and the pious religious expression of the faithful, with ecclesiastical response often ending in suppression or outright condemnation of popular devotions.

In the case of the alleged apparition of Mary, Mediatrix of all Grace in Lipa, Batangas, clericalism appears the dominant disposition among those in the Church hierarchy.