Conference in Cattolica
24 September 1998 07:52
This report comes from Niels Christian Hvidt <[email protected]> who is the person who can be seen in the photo on the web site as he presents a book of messages from Vassula to the Pope.
21/09/98
Dear friends in the Lord.
I thought you might want to know what happened at this weekend’s conference in Cattolica, near Rimini.
Everything went well. Vassula spoke briliantly and with the discernment of the Spirit. As you may know the conference was arranged by “The Movement of Hope” which carries ambiguous traits as it has many parents who lost their children and who try to communicate with them in various more or less problematic ways, including automatic writing.
Vassula began her speech with her own experiences when she was only about 19 years old with the souls of purgatory that were waiting for her prayers. Furthermore she spoke of experiences with people who had lost their children and to whom God gave a message through her saying that they were with him in Paradise. This caused many people in the gathering to weep. I saw big fellows taking off their glasses and wipe their eyes. She was on the same wavelength as the people.
She made a very important point, saying that God sometimes takes young people home in a state in which they are without sin, knowing that they are about to fall into grave sin, that would separate them from him. It is an expression of his love and knowing this secret turns the focus of sudden death away from terror, and places it in the light of God’s providence. It is not a punishment, it is an act of salvation. She also made it clear that Christians should never disturb the dead souls and should never be attached to the dead, as we have one father, who is our Father in heaven. This goes for the dead children too – they are happy with the Father and want their earthly parents not to be possessive in their love.
Archbishop Milingo, the important exorcist, came, even though he had announced he would not. He spoke very well too, although many were outraged and left the morning after his talk, as he told them bluntly that they had to be careful and that they should follow the right way. He said the Church should be with them and not distance itself from them, as the Church has the responsibility for her children.
I think this summed up God’s purpose of sending Vassula and Milingo, why we all came to participate at the conference. We knew there were some ambiguities, but Christ went to those who needed him Many felt that this conference could mean a difference for the movement, as Christ really spoke very lovingly to them but also words of truth. Milingo and Vassula had a very good talk the evening he spoke.
Fr. Laurentin was present too and spoke well about Medjugorie. It was nice to meet him. I myself gave my first extensive theological talk for a big gathering. It was stressful, as Marino Parodi and I finished the translation of the speech from English to Italian only twenty minutes before the talk! It went well, though, and there was a substantial response.
