Greenside Farm: Dory Tan Visionary, Marmora Ontario

1. Prefatory Material
2. Message Commentary

Prayers for everyone involved with Greenside Farm.

Prefatory Material

The following is an assessment of the visions or messages of Dory Tan related to the Greenside Farm. It shall be noted that Dory Tan is not the only person to have claimed to have received visions/messages at the Greenside Farm in Marmora Ontario. Several other individuals have also claimed to have witnesses supernatural events at the site. This assessment is not about the Greenside Farm, but about Dory Tan’s messages. only.

A history of the Farm can be found in these websites “http://secaly.kwikphp.com/Marmora/origins.html” “http://www.marmoraon.ca/indexe.html” [In case the internet losses these rather old looking websites the reader can use the Wayback machine on archive.org which has captured several pages over the last 10 years.]

As of writing [August 2023], It is believed that no formal investigation into the visions or messages of Dory Tan have been completed by the local Catholic Archdiocese. The Archbishop of Kingston, has final approval or denial of the messages as the authority of the keys rests in his chair.

An independent scholar and theologian, Ronald L. Conte Jr., gave a negative assessment which can be found at http://catholicplanet.com/apparitions/false20.htm. The final conclusions of Mr. Conte was states as: “The claimed private revelations to Dory Tan, in the form of apparitions and messages, do not resemble the known and accepted true private revelations in the Church; rather, they closely resemble numerous other false private revelations. There are many other examples, on the same or similar points, that could be cited. But these should be sufficient to show that the apparitions and messages to Dory Tan are not true private revelation from God and are not from Mary or from Heaven at all.“

None of the intentions of Dory Tan are being judged in the assessment. Dory has also made public certain interior events . Hence they are fair to comment on.

Message Commentary

The messages can be found at http://www.marmoraon.ca/, only the commentary will be provided here.

It is understood that the messages on the website are not exact transcriptions of events but summaries or small quotes of the full events.

I have read only the first 4 years of messages and visions (will I change my mind if I read the rest?). That was enough for me to come to a conclusion at least in part. I will update this post at a latter date with the rest of the messages. (Perhaps there are good and false messages mixed together)

I do not want to go against God nor Mary. So I humbly will stand to be corrected, and ask the reader to perform their own judgment if they think the messages are true. Yet, someone must be first to provide a statement if critical thinking is to move forward. Argue with my conclusions and we can sharpen iron against iron and both move closer towards the truth.

Do you own discernment please with spiritual director.

I don’t not believe that the messages are authentic. The messages give an erroneous view of how soon some tribulation is to come by saying very soon. Very implies within a span of years. Some of these messages took place 30 years ago, well beyond very soon time frames, but perhaps not soon time frames. Additionally, the content of the messages is odd at points when compared to approved apparitions both in terms of the content and the details of the visionary’s interior life. There is a failed prophecy which is a sure sign of non-authenticity at least in part (perhaps just that message).

Mary is not a priest she cannot bless items as detailed in the visions. Dory should not also have been blessing religious articles in a public setting. A priest may do so, and lay people may bless things in their own home, but the events in the messages do not fall into these categories.

The messages do contain calls to pray and to receive the sacraments which is great. The messages do not contain frequent calls for obedience to Church authorities. This is not a positive sign in my books.

I also find it odd that Mary, who has so few lines recorded in Scripture, is so vocal in her messages. It seems out of character to me. She is not the Word, but the vessel. The star for the lost but not the sun in its full radiance.

Messages 1993-1994

1993 May 23: Being sad or needing spiritual encouragement is not odd for saints to express or write about. The frequency of these types of comments, especially dealing with the interior spiritual life of the visionary, is odd I my opinion though. I would feel that details of one’s personal interior life would be best left out of the publicly available messages.

It seems immature, for a grown woman, to be sad about forgetting flowers to give to Mary’s statue. Surly, Mary would understand the heart’s intention.

1993 July 27: Quote “Dory expressed concern to Our Blessed Mother that the priests may not believe she was talking to Her. Our Blessed Mother replied, “I have chosen the 10th Station so you could just look at my Son.” Dory has a natural reaction about the opinion of other people. The reaction I would want to hear about to prove grace in action would be that Dory was concerned that it was not Mary who was speaking, and she was hoping the priests could help her discern God’s will. Saintly examples do not focus on their own judgement but those of spiritual directors and the bishops. The messages are not as important as being obedient.

Quote: “My Son, Jesus, is suffering so much, and He is coming very soon.” Very soon implies within a few years. Soon perhaps longer as Scripture itself has similar terms.

1993 August 15: Again Dory was sad that people do not believe her. See commentary above.

1993 September 6th, September 8th: Sadness mentioned again. Quote “Dory expresses concern to Our Blessed Mother that she will not be able to remember this whole message. Our Blessed Mother replies, ‘Don’t worry, I will help you to remember, and I am with you. I know you are not 100% happy because there is no Mass at the farm today. It is not your will My child, it is not My Son’s will, and not My will that there is no Mass here today. It is the will of the bishops and the priests. Go in peace, My child.’ “ Mary says that the priests and bishops will is not that of Jesus’ that there was not Mass. This is concerning.

Time is described as short.

1993 September 19: Time is described as near.

1994 January 7: Dory felt that she was not doing enough. While pious, this is a potentially dangerous train of thought. We have to try our bests, but especially in regards to such supernatural type experiences, our efforts are not that important. At least Jesus does say go in peace.

1994 January 16: This is very oddly phrased. We would want to know how Mary looks, not how Mary actually looks when she appears to Dory. A painting of Mary is a good idea, but the sentence here is worded oddly.

1994 February 1: The Fire of the Holy Spirit. I am not sure actually being on fire is what has been traditionally understood by this.

1994 Feb 02: It’s coming soon….

1994 August 28: St. Theresa the little flower asked for a sign that some of her prayers for a public execution were granted. She was granted the sign that the one to be executed showed repentance before his sentence against all odds. Dory asked for a sign while praying. The occurrence of rain starting and stopping was the proof. What Dory says in her head cannot be verified. Again, I would want to see more verification from the Church rather than herself or the apparition itself on if it is true or not.

1994 December 18: It is odd that Dory would want a piece of a tree to remember Mary. Mary is talking to her! Why do you care about a random tree!

Messages 1995-1996

1995 March 5: Quote “All Rosaries are specially blessed by Our Most Holy Mother this day, as She asked Dory to ask everyone to hold them up.” Mary is not a priest. she cannot bless rosaries.

1995 March 5: Failed prophecy. Quote “During this apparition Our Blessed Mother asked Dory to wear a white robe, walk bare foot, and carry a large cross on Easter Saturday, April 15, 1995, (feast of the Passover), to the spot where it will be erected behind the 10th station at the farm.” on April 15: Quote “As a result of a misunderstanding, the Greensides did not allow Dory to carry the large cross. Dory was very sad and visibly upset for most of the Way of the Cross this day; however, she carried a smaller crucifix instead, walked barefoot, and wore a white robe.“

A small cross is not a large cross period. Failed prophecy equal false visions. Also the fact that she was sad is odd. We know God is in control. It is the interior conformity not exterior conformity that matters most. Mary should correct Dory on this and give spiritual help.

1995 May 20: coming soon…

1995 November 25: Quote “Dory was suddenly propelled backwards onto her back on the snowy ground, and seemed to be unconscious. I later learned that this is called “resting” in the Spirit. Dory remained in this state for several minutes. When she awoke, Dory revealed the nature of Our Blessed Mother’s requests, but could not remember anything else about what had happened to her.” Violently being propelled is not a good sign. Falling okay, sitting okay, falling backwards … while not conclusive as I would have to do more research is in my opinion a bad sign.

1996 January 21: Offering food to a religious statue. Where Hindus visiting the Farm and Dory picked this up from them? I am not familiar with this Catholic practice. If a reader is aware that this is a Catholic practice please confirm in comments.

1996 February 3: Quote “Our Blessed Mother asked Dory to prostrate herself in front of the cross located behind the 10th Station. At first, Dory felt embarrassed and hesitated, but Our Blessed Mother asked her to do it anyway.” Someone who is publicly expressing that they receive visions will be embarrassed a lot unless they have the deep deep humility often required by saints who receive visions so as to not get puffed up. Part of myself also feels that some sort of mental tricks may be going on here. Mary giving messages to Dory, for her to do stuff while in public that are embarrassing could be her inner mind telling her to ‘sacrifice’ and go to the extreme for her faith.

1996 February 11: Sadness mentioned again.

1996 April 6: Quote “Since Dory could not see Jesus, she asked Him for a sign to assure her it was really Him speaking to her. Jesus then repeated the message using the exact same words he used the first time.” Another occurrence of asking a sign from the apparition rather than spiritual director.

1996 August 3: Quote “At the 10th Station, Our Blessed Mother appeared to Dory and told her She would like to give each person present that day, a blessing through Dory on September 8, 1996, at 1 p.m.. Dory implored Our Blessed Mother that she was unworthy to perform such a task, and asked Our Blessed Mother that if She really wanted her to do this to please, “touch my hands”. Our Blessed Mother reassured Dory by physically touching her hands and blessing her. Dory felt uncomfortable with the idea of relaying what Our Blessed Mother had said to those present, and discussed the message with Father Armand Proulx, who happened to be visiting the farm for the sixth time from Cochrane, Ontario. Father Proulx encouraged Dory to do what Our Blessed Mother asked, and after this Dory shared the message with all those present. Then Father Proulx blessed everyone at the 10th Station.”

Mary is not a priest she cannot bless hands. At least Dory asked a priest about the message before saying it.

1996 November 2: Quote “At the grotto after the blessings, Our Blessed Mother said, “Through you My child, I will bless all religious articles (on December 8), especially for those who do not have blessed candles.” Our Blessed Mother emphasized to Dory to bless these articles with holy water.” In a public event only a priest or deacon should be blessing items with holy water. At our own homes we can use holy water for things or bless our own children, but for public events a lay person should not be doing this.

1996 November 23: Quote “In a dialogue with Our Blessed Mother during an evening prayer several days prior to this date, Dory asked Her if She could grant a special request. Our Blessed Mother assured Dory she would receive a special blessing and a special grace. With child-like impatience, Dory wanted to know what this special surprise might be, but Our Blessed Mother did not respond.” Do not desire special graces… a general rule of the spiritual life. The grace is granted but the whole thing could not be verified as it could just be a tale in her mind told afterwards.

1996 December 7: Again Mary cannot bless items. Mary says to double prayers this coming year presumably for some trial. This did not happen. Quote “My children, I know that you are waiting for Me. I am here pleading that you double your prayers, especially in this coming year. I am asking very little from you. Go to confession, attend Mass, especially on Sundays. Always love one another. Be prepared before it’s too late. Be ready always. I want you all to be with My Son.“

1996 December 8: Quote “At the 6th Station, Our Blessed Mother asked Dory to hold her hands up when she reached the 10th Station so She could bless them prior to the blessing of the candles and the religious articles. Dory expressed concern to Our Blessed Mother that the people might not believe that it truly was She who would bless her hands, and asked Our Blessed Mother for a sign to reassure her that the people would believe. Dory routinely follows an alternate path to the 7th Station, preferring this route while the others follow the main path. When Dory asked for a sign at the 6th Station, and knowing about her preferred route to the 7th Station, Our Blessed Mother told her that when she changes direction to follow the secondary path, a young lady would step forward and present Dory with a flower. As soon as Dory turned to follow the secondary path, a young lady by the name of Diane emerged from the crowd and presented Dory with a red and white Carnation.”

Holy water blessing is okay. Getting your hands blessed by a non-priest (Mary) so you can bless articles is not okay. It does not work like that at all. The sign is circumstantial, additionally it would not help the crown believe unless Dory told then she asked for a sign. Why so many requests for signs?

Again, in a public event only a priest or deacon should be blessing items with holy water. At our own homes we can use holy water for things or bless our own children, but for public events a lay person should not be doing this.

More years to come in a latter post. ….