TLIG YOUTH CHOIR
TLIG YOUTH CHOIR
The youth from TLIG Children Choir met with Vassula in Switzerland and they are sharing their experience of God’s Love poured out through the Messages of True Life in God. Children were invited to sing during TLIG meeting in Dietikon (Switzerland) in April 2023. The lyrics of the songs are all taken from the Message of True Life in God.
Iuliana
Iuliana
My name is Iuliana, I am 29 years old and I’m from Romania. I would like to share with you my testimony, the way God changed my life through The Messages.
I was raised in an orthodox family. My parents raised me to be a good Christian. My dad had many problems in his life and his only hope and comfort was The Lord. He sought after God for 30+ years, reading a lot and visiting different churches, to discern which one is the ‘good’ one.
I remember praying since I was a little girl, but throughout the years, my prayers became lip-service and I thought I had a very good relationship with God, when in fact I was a hypocrite. I was saying that I was a Christian, yet I was sinning a lot. I was selfish, cold, perverted, numb to other’s sufferings. Only now I realize how God must have been near me when I was ignoring Him. I wish I would’ve come near Him sooner.
During my school years, most of my time was spent studying, and I lost my relationship with my parents. I was mad at dad and I did not talk to him for 10 years, besides ‘hello’ and him trying to impose on me his faith.
In 2011 something weird happened. I started to have anxiety, depression and a whole list of other symptoms. The scariest part was that the doctors didn’t know what I had,because my symptoms were so strange. I tried to go to the psychotherapist, but problems were still persisting, because I didn’t have God in my heart.
Now about The Messages. Somewhere between 2014-2015, dad, being fed up with the Orthodox Church, wanted to go to the Protestants. Before he made his decision though, he asked God: “Please, Lord, send me a prophet of Yours that talks to You nowadays”. God immediately made him discover dear Vassula on the internet. So God stopped dad in time before he lost his way and made him understand unity.
He tried to convince me and mom that the Messages were true but I simply thought he was crazy and that he should not read something like that, lest he gets tricked by ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’.
One day, I was tired of this ‘Messages talk’. I said ‘let me go on the internet and find proof that Vassula is a liar and to prove once and for all to dad that he’s wrong and is being mislead’. To my surprise, all the articles against Vassula seemed ridiculous and I didn’t believe them. So, driven by curiosity (and of course, God), I started to try to read the Messages and at first I felt joy. My impurity was at work though, because I found the way Jesus spoke to Vassula and their relationship to be so inappropriate, that I put the Messages away for a while. I read them on and off.
I reached a dark point in 2017 when I thought about suicide. But God never gave up on me. Immediately He put His Words in my mind: if I commit suicide, I’ll betray the Lord, because the most amazing gift that He gave us is life. My dark thoughts stopped at that moment. After a month or so, part of my gastritis was healed by the Lord and I was off medication, after 7 years.
Still, my psychological disorder progressed and my anger towards the Lord persisted because I thought He punished me.
In 2018, God converted me to a true life in Him. For a couple of weeks, He made me feel His presence and He made me think about all the sins I‘ve done, when I thought I didn’t have many. I became very close to Jesus. I went to confession after a long time. I started going to church, and dad brought me to the Catholic Church too, because God showed us in the Messages that we have to be one flock. I started feeling compassionate about others, I started acknowledging and praying to Our Lady, I felt like my personality changed. Last but not least, God repaired my broken relationship with my dad in a matter of minutes. Our family was one again. I felt that somehow, the Messages are alive. It’s like every time you read them ,something in your soul or life changes. Probably that’s why they say that The Word of God is alive.
Fast forward to present day, since 2018 the Lord performed other miracles: after my first general Confession and receiving Holy Communion, my depression disappeared and after a while, anxieties started to vanish one by one. Plus, one of the most precious things He taught me (besides loving Him,of course) is how to suffer and the incredible importance of suffering. I was ALWAYS mad at Him for having ‘taken’ my life away from me when in fact, He gave me my life back, a true life in Him. To this day, although my psychological disorders diminished, my bodily illness is still there and He gives me incredible strength, support and love to be able to carry the Cross further. I still have a ton of things to learn, I rebel against my Cross sometimes, but He is always there for me, teaching me- we, us?
For anyone reading this who is suffering from psychological disorders or any suffering, know this- turn to God, go to a general, truthful Confession (my Confessions of before didn’t help me much because I was superficial) and then every month, like the Lord advises, receive Him as often as possible and turn all your life to Him. He will become your best Friend and your everything. Know that your suffering, when offered to the Lord, becomes priceless. And for anyone who doubts these Messages, pray to the Lord from the bottom of your heart for discernment and He will show you the truth.
All Glory be to God and His Blessed Mother and may Vassula and all who work with her be blessed!
Iuliana
Jack Matusiewicz
Jack Matusiewicz
I would like to share with you, what I would call: the beginning of a conversion of heart.
A little about me. I am a life-long Catholic, and although I attended Church regularly all my life, in the past few years I was slowly drifting away in my relationship with Jesus. Basically, I never lost my faith, but I stopped placing God as first in my life, and so I drifted further and further away from God and His ways.
So last year, at a very low point in my life, I stumbled upon the True Life in God messages. (of course, now I believe all this was by the grace of God). After, what I believe was my «Day of Purification», I was slowly able to understand the messages as being completely non-sensational and all-spiritual.
After my purification, I started to recall some moments/situations from my past and felt strong remorse for them, even things that happened maybe over a decade ago or even longer, things I would never have thought before to be actual sins, but I felt strong remorse for them. Soon after this, I felt a strong urge to go to confession, and so I did.
Ever since this occurrence, I have had a very strong thirst for the Word of God, and for the TLIG messages themselves, a thirst that seems unquenchable. I have already read the TLIG messages a few times, completely through, and now I am reading the Bible completely from beginning to end. The TLIG messages do satisfy this thirst the most, but I feel that even if I would read them 10 times it would not be enough.
My life has not changed, exteriorly speaking, although my passions of the past, about earthly/carnal things, are emphatically, much diminished. I attend Mass, as always, every Sunday, but now I partake in the Eucharist at every Mass, rather than for only a few weeks after Easter or Christmas, as I always use to do. In addition, I now feel more willing to go to confession, I do so every month, instead of being reluctant and going just twice a year, as I did before. I now pray the rosary daily, which I never did before. I also am learning to pray ceaselessly, and have recently started to evangelize around my community by sharing with others the TLIG Messages. And although I do still sin, I now seem to be more aware of my sins, and I’m also sincerely trying my best, in every moment, to follow God’s commandments of love.
Jack Matusiewicz
Arlene Angela Roncal
Arlene Angela Roncal
I was a pretty well-known gal in my school years, consciously and unconsciously denying God. As a child though, I was ‘close’ to the Lord. Things flipped over though as I grew.
In my late teenage years I felt like I’ve reached the “peak” not career-wise but in terms of my “existence” (well so I thought), if you know what I mean. And like I said I denied God to the point that I considered myself an anti-Christ. I was never religious. I dread religious things; I didn’t care about it, literally. It’s obnoxious.
During that time I’ve no clue as to what was happening to me (I know something’s off but I’m not completely aware) and like what Vassula says, “God had a plan”, for me, not very pretty.
In 2008, something happened to me. My life at that time was in ‘turmoil’ already but one afternoon in 2008 (April or May) something worse happened that I cannot describe. But now, I can describe it that in that ‘moment’ it was like heaven’s doors closed and I was left like a wandering zombie. Since, every day was a routine of being like a “drunk” person no idea what’s happening. It’s actually hard to describe simply what happened, but I know ‘something’ supernatural happened.
I just know something happened but I wasn’t aware, no clue. I looked for answers, went to psychologists, healers, astrologers, and even a tarot reader. But I never thought of God. He was the last thing on my mind; He never even crossed my mind. I was lost, and then came 2010, another event that turned my world upside down. I dreamt of hell:
The whole surrounding was of reddish/maroonish color it was like a village and I was sitting at the back of a car, beside me someone was praying the rosary. We were looking for a way out to wherever we were and then suddenly a very very huge wall blocked our way, we made a turn but another very huge wall blocked our way. I saw in my peripheral vision a gate that opened, and a very long corridor that was filled with darkness, pitch black. I got curious, so I tilted my head very little to see what it was, then, the darkness consumed and ate me then I woke up. I was so scared as I woke up that I thought I was going to hell and I thought I committed the unpardonable sin. I even saw shadows and got scratches during those days. I went to an exorcist but was told to go to a psychiatrist first. Then I was scared to death, BUT that’s when I realized, if there’s a devil then God is real!
(I just want to add what the Lord said in the messages: “I always manifested Myself whenever My creation needed My help, or whenever they fell very low going as close as possible at Satan’s gates;”)
Still, though, I was convinced I committed the unpardonable sin and that I was going to hell. I couldn’t function so much so that I even filed a leave of absence from my school. I talked and sought a LOT of priests for consolation but nothing helped. And then, I went to my parent’s office and saw a book lying with other books on the floor, titled, “Totoong Buhay Sa Diyos” (Filipino version of “True Life in God”). I read it, and since I was desperate to look for help I went to their office (the TLIG office) and sought their advice too and that is when I started attending the prayer meetings, but still, I wasn’t convinced that I’m forgiven.
As I attended the prayer meetings, I met Cecilia Lutz and was made known that she is a good friend of Vassula Ryden. When I learned they are going to meet on a pilgrimage I asked her to pass my letter to Vassula asking for some advice… Oh, the consolation when Vassula replied and told me I did not commit the unpardonable sin but it did not end there because I got bombarded by my worries again. I still couldn’t function properly but somehow I was able to go back to school and survive.
And then here comes 2012. I met someone, everything began then…
So, I attended a prayer meeting of TLIG Philippines. I heard the priest share that some members of TLIG open a TLIG book (randomly) to look for answers, anyway, as the meeting was ongoing I was looking at a big picture of Jesus outside the door hanging on a tree, it was being blown by the wind and I was just seriously looking straight at his face for quite a minute, then just turned around. When I got home I also tried opening a TLIG book (randomly) since I’ve completed the books by that time. And then it said, “Smile at Me when you look at Me, blessed are the simple in hearts for they shall see God.”
Ever since I’ve been in communication with Him (Jesus) it’s not the same as Vassula’s but I talk to Him randomly through the website now or the books and He answers whatever I have in mind but sometimes, not. He said that this is also his gift for me. I even asked Him, are you really speaking to me? And he said, “I have indeed opened my mouth and spoken”.
P.S: after typing “smile at Me when you look at Me” I clicked random on the website and it said “A Smile At My Holy Face And I Shall Forgive And Forget”.
Arlene Angela Roncal
Sobre los escritos de la VVeD y su aprobación eclesiástica
Queridos lectores de la Verdadera Vida en Dios:
Recientemente atrajo mi atención que una página web, desprovista de de todo respaldo, apoyo o autorización de la Iglesia, y dirigida por un anónimo no teólogo, ha publicado numerosas declaraciones falsas sobre el Magisterio de la Iglesia Católica y los mensajes de la Verdadera Vida en Dios de la Sra. Vassula Rydén».1
Para obtener claridad sobre este asunto, me puse en contacto con Su Excelencia el Obispo Toppo quien, el 25 de abril de 2018, me proveyó de las siguientes respuestas, que revelan de forma contundente las falsedades publicadas en dicho sitio web no autorizado.
Las respuestas del obispo Toppo son de gran utilidad para los cristianos de todo el mundo, que continúan recibiendo enseñanza y alimento espiritual de los mensajes de la Verdadera Vida en Dios.
+ Rev. J.L. Iannuzzi, STD
26 de abril de 2018
Entrevista escrita con Su Excelencia el obispo Bishop Felix Toppo, S.J., D.D.
P. Joseph: Excelencia, con respecto a la página web no autorizada2 hay una declaración pública que afirma lo siguiente:
«El nihil obstat y el imprimatur no fueron solicitados de acuerdo con las disposiciones del Derecho Canónico. Aunque Vassula nunca residió en las Filipinas ni el primer volumen de los mensajes de la VVeD se publicó allí, el imprimatur fue concedido por un obispo de ese país (el arzobispo Argüelles de Lipa). El Canon 824 §13 establece que el permiso o la aprobación para publicar debe ser otorgado por el ordinario local (= obispo) del autor o del editor.”
Evidentemente, esta afirmación es falsa, ya que el Canon 824 §13 establece claramente que «el ordinario del lugar donde se publican los libros» está investido con la autoridad para otorgar el Imprimatur a una obra que circula en su diócesis aunque el autor no viva en su diócesis.
ObispoToppo: «Le agradezco mucho por señalar las falsas críticas aparecidas en (http://www.pseudomystica.info/tlignihilobstat.htm) contra el Arzobispo Argüelles de Lipa y yo, con respecto al Imprimatur y Nihil Obstat dados por nosotros a la VERDADERA VIDA EN DIOS”.
En respuesta a las falsas críticas contra nosotros, me gustaría decir que el arzobispo Argüelles de Lipa no fue en contra del Derecho Canónico, al dar el Imprimatur al libro de la VVeD, ya que el Derecho Canónico otorga permiso a cualquier obispo para dar el Imprimatur a un libro que circule en su diócesis, aunque que el autor no habite en su diócesis «.
P. Joseph: Gracias por su respuesta. Permítame pedirle también que comente la siguiente afirmación, dada en el mencionado sitio web:
«El Canon 830 §2 advierte al censor que cualquier favoritismo debe ser dejado de lado, y sólo la doctrina de la Iglesia propuesta por el Magisterio debe ser considerada. Este canon fue descaradamente ignorado … El obispo Toppo de la India es un participante regular en las peregrinaciones de la VVeD y ha declarado que cree que los mensajes son de origen sobrenatural».
Obispo Toppo: «Se alega que yo, el obispo Toppo, S.J., usé el favoritismo al dar el Nihil Obstat. Es absolutamente falso. No mostré ningún favoritismo, ni se puede demostrar lo contrario. Cabe señalar que la CDF nunca condenó los escritos de la VVeD, sino que solicitó aclaraciones que luego fueron aceptadas por Roma.
Antes de dar el Nihil Obstat a los mensajes de la VVeD, los leí muchas veces y medité en ellos. El Nihil Obstat es el resultado de una revisión teológica imparcial y libre de toda coacción de los escritos de la VVeD. Descubrí que los Mensajes eran inmunes a todos los errores teológicos. Soy un participante regular de las peregrinaciones de la VVeD. El Derecho Canónico no prohíbe a ningún obispo asistir a retiros o conferencias de aquellos individuos cuyos escritos considere inmunes al error»
P. Joseph: Por último, Excelencia, ¿sería tan amable de proporcionar a los lectores de la Verdadera Vida en Dios una respuesta a la siguiente publicación en dicho sitio web, ya que sugiere falsamente que un asesor canónico anula su autoridad episcopal para pronunciarse en asuntos de la Doctrina de la Iglesia?
«Monseñor Toppo dijo en una entrevista que, antes de dar el Nihil Obstat a los libros de Vassula, previamente había pedido la opinión de un famoso experto en Derecho Canónico, el cual claramente le dijo que de acuerdo con el Derecho Canónico, el obispo no podía dar el Nihil Obstat».
Obispo Toppo: «Se alega que antes de dar el Nihil Obstat al libro de Vassula, dije en una entrevista que había pedido la opinión de un famoso experto en Derecho Canónico que claramente me había dicho que no podía dar el Nihil Obstat. Después de que un obispo haya consultado con otros para obtener consejo, conserva su autoridad para otorgar el Nihil Obstat. Algunos afirman lo contrario, pero esto es absolutamente falso. Después de consultar con un abogado canónico y un teólogo de renombre que ofrecieron sus respectivos consejos, llevé el asunto a la oración ante la Eucaristía. No encontré nada en el libro de Vassula que fuera contrario a las enseñanzas de la Iglesia, sino más bien encontré que contiene mucho de bueno para la Iglesia universal, es decir, para todos los bautizados en Cristo. Fue después del consejo, la oración y el discernimiento que concedí mi Nihil Obstat.
Rev. Joseph Iannuzzi, ¡Gracias por sus sugerencias y apoyo! ¡Espero que esto sea útil para los lectores de la VVeD!»
+Felix Toppo, S.J.
Obispo de Jamshedpur
Bishop of Babylon, Theofylaktos Egypt
Bishop of Babylon, Theofylaktos Egypt
At the beginning of the ‘True Life in God’ pilgrimage in Egypt all the participants of the ecumenical and inter-religious group were invited to a Divine Liturgy held at the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. George in Old Cairo. Copied here is the address of Bishop of Babylon, Theofylaktos, given at the end of the Liturgy on 22nd October 2002: «My beloved brothers, bishops, elders of all the Christian denominations, I welcome you with special love in this holy monastery. I bring you the greetings and blessings of His All-Holiness, our Patriarch, Pope of Alexandria and all Africa, His Holiness Peter VII, who couldn’t be with you all because of other duties. He is wishing you a pleasant stay in the country of the Nile, Egypt.
The place in which you are today is not only holy but also ‘Theovadistos’ (walked by God). Here the Holy Family came and stayed for approximately 18 months, fleeing Herod’s terror. Here Jesus Christ took His first steps, here the little Emmanuel heard the first chirping of the birds. Our monastery is one of the most ancient monuments that North Africa has to show, built in the 4th century AC. Here is where St. George the great martyr was imprisoned for 30 months and from here his martyrdom started and ended in a small town in Palestine.
I’m especially glad for all of us gathering here today and raised our hands in common prayer and supplication towards God for peace for the whole world and for all the peoples on earth. Humanity is suffering from wars and other kinds of catastrophes. We, as the representatives of all Christian denominations and other religions, have the duty to teach our peoples to live in reconciliation with all people. Unfortunately, we all have forgotten that we have common roots, common Father, God and Creator of the Universe. Enough! The earth is tired of receiving, for centuries now, unjustly shed brotherly blood! Man must understand someday that differences aren’t solved with weapons but by the language of the heart and of love. Someday we all must work, and are obliged to do it with all our power, towards this direction: to try and reconcile man first with God and then with his fellowman, because in the Eyes of God we are all the same! St. Paul says there is no Jew nor Greek, slave or free man, man or woman. All, in the Eyes of Christ, are one.
Our gathering today should have a cause, so that all of us make it our daily program in our life to pray everyday so that peace prevails in the world. We should take the message of peace and love and carry it to the peoples of all the earth. We can indeed be the new apostles that will speak of love and peace. Everyday we hear by the media about catastrophes and violence among peoples. Wherever one might turn his eyes will see destruction, fires, human casualties and will hear weeping and laments. Maybe it sounds illogical, but we, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, for 2000 years now, coexist in harmony, in friendship, with love, with all the people of Egypt that are Muslims. We never had any problem. See every morning when the sun rises, it doesn’t differentiate where it will send it’s rays, either to the Christians, the Muslims, the Hindus or the Buddhists because we all live under the big sky, the love of God! If we put aside our personal interests, I’m sure that some day we will all be happy. We will shake hands in reconciliation. I believe and hope and pray that this day will come where the peoples of the world will meet at one point, will shake hands, will lament for the blood that was shed and they will reconcile for ever in their life.
From the land of Egypt, which is ‘Theovadistos’ (walked by God) exactly because Our Lord Jesus Christ walked on it, we are to send today to the ends of the world a brave message of love and peace: as we gathered today in the Church under the same dome and we didn’t differentiate Christians from non-Christians or of other religions. From today we will announce to the whole world that men can live in reconciliation as long as they learn to love first their God, whoever He is, whatever His Name is, and then I’m certain that love for their fellowman will spring also.
Pass on to the leaders of your Churches, to the leaders of your religions, to your people, to your communities, to your towns, to your villages, to your cities, to your countries our greetings and our blessings, our love. That we pray, a few Greeks, a few Christians, whatever the number, we pray for peace, for the whole world so that next year that I hope to have you close by, the smiles be wide! To reveal the message that there is no more war, no men are killed, there isn’t anymore unjustly brotherly bloodshed on earth!»
Amy Olsen-Davis
Amy Olsen-Davis
I was born in California, I was raised in Salt Lake City Utah. Born into a family of active Mormons who’s ancestors had been in the faith for 5 generations. I, myself was an active Mormon, raising my children in that faith. I came across the messages of True Life in God 6 years ago, through a mention in a book about Vassula Ryden. At that time in my life I had been searching for a deeper connection to God, and a greater understanding of Him. The way that God had been presented to me as a child and as a young person, is that He was very conditional. And the love He had for me was more of an impersonal love, He loved me from a distance, more of a lofty sense. And that caused me a lot of grief because I felt that I needed a deeper connection to the Lord. When I came into the True Life in God writings, the first time I read them, it was like a recognition process. I recognized instinctively in the deepest place in my heart, that was the Lord speaking directly to me through those pages. What the messages of True Life in God has shown me, is the tender, intimate, all-encompassing love of God our Father, His Son Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit has for each and every one of us! It is a love that is intimate, passionate, intense, and extremely personal. The knowledge of that has made a HUGE difference in my life. After many years of studying investigation and researching, I chose to be baptized into the Catholic Faith, and now come to Mass joyfully every Sunday to celebrate my connection to My Savior!
What does Christian unity mean to you?
Christian unity is especially meaningful to me because I live in a family where there is more than one religion. My husband is active in the Latter-Day Saint faith, and I now, though I used to be in that faith, am now a Catholic. So, Christian unity is everything to me, because it is what keeps my family united and loving towards each other despite some very significant theological differences. Unity for me is understanding that God sees all of us in a very different light than we see each other. When He (God) considers His Church on Earth, He is not referring to one denomination, He is referring to ALL of His children, who recognize and who love Him either through explicit knowledge of Him, or through the loving nature that they manifest in their lives.
Bishop Felix Toppo
Bishop Felix Toppo
May 28, 2007
»I am Bishop Felix Toppo of Jamshedpur diocese. My diocese is very close to Kolkata. In 2004, I was introduced with the True Life in God and when I first started reading, I immediately knew, a Spirit touched me deeply, that something… there is something divine in this reading. And so continuously I read. Continuously I read, read, read and finished all the volumes and I was very deeply moved, very deeply touched, and started meditating, reflected, and then I also started reading the second time. Vassula Ryden one day asked me whether I would give the Nihil Obstat for her books because she was planning to compile all the messages together and make one book. Now, I was hesitating because of the implications of it and also because of the Church authorities and one day as I was praying in the chapel, you know, something struck me. I said «Why not to give? After all, I believe that this is a revelation from God, I believe that this is a dialogue between God and human being through Vassula. And you know, it has done a lot of good to me and is doing good to others. Why not, you know, why not to give?» And when I decided that, I was very happy and joyful and immediately I wrote to Vassula a letter saying that this is a dialogue between God and human being through Vassula and also it is helpful for any Christian who reads it and there is nothing objectionable according to the Teaching of the Church. That letter I wrote, then I also wrote a letter of Nihil Obstat. I never regret it, I’m happy that I gave it and I’m hoping that many more people would read this and profit by it. »
Adrian Ortega
Adrian Ortega
Adrian Ortega Conversion Testimony
God be praised. After more than 18 years of rebellion against God, against my Holy Mother and the Church, my Lord went in search of my lost soul.
My first marriage was carried out in court and the Catholic Church, and after 2 years I had abandoned it. What happened was very painful and incomprehensible for me, because the foundation that should have been built was not based on my understanding of “The Love of God”. Due to my civil divorce, I learned of the annulment process of the Sacrament of Marriage. My first thought was, “The church is useless. How could the church DIVORCE what has been united by God?” and I thought this without considering the role that I had played. I had ended this relationship, and I had also entered it with my own ideas about marriage, without emotional maturity, and without financial responsibility. I just wanted to be with the person that I thought I “loved”. This led me to resentment with the church and with God. I made the decision that my intellect would be capable of making me understand that the processes of the church were absurd and that other religions and ideologies had some truth to them. That was how my war against God began. I began reading all different types of books following what people had once told me, “Read different types of books and your mind will comprehend their contents.” That is how I came to new age literature and secret societies that cultivated knowledge for one’s own growth. Now I know that God allowed my heart to toughen into a shielded organ that nothing and no one could hurt. However, my most harmful relationship ever had begun, my alcoholism was uncontrollable, and my anger was unstoppable. Nevertheless, my appearance was that of a normal, centered, educated, cultured, and ambitious person that could accomplish anything by simply thinking about it and being mentally focused. I had a lot of downfalls, but I thought, “I can reinvent myself.” My relations to the mundane were growing and I eventually reached complete rebellion without even kneeling for the Sacred Eucharist. The mercy of God, however, is greater than that.
I almost lost my life several times due to my lack of responsibility with alcohol and my lifestyle. One day I started to have a really high fever that did not go away. After a week I went to my doctor and was diagnosed with Typhoid which infected my liver and gave me hepatitis. Since my liver was not working I was not able to take any medication. I could only to hope to get better through rest and candy. One day, the pain from my liver was so strong that I was afraid I would die. My mother wanted to call the ambulance, but I told her not to. At that moment I looked in the dresser drawers of my bedroom and saw a figurine that belonged to my grandfather. It was a statue of San Antonio of Padua with baby Jesus in his arms. At that moment I looked up and said: “Saint Anthony since you are closer to God, tell him to give me more time so that I can see my daughter and change my life.” Like a miracle, the next day I started to get better which led to my recovery. Once I was better, I immigrated to the United States and began a new life. My ideals had not changed much, I remarried, God blessed me with two sons, however, I did not have the intention of reconciling with Him.
I believed that I did not need anything. I had a job, a house, a family, but there was a tremendous emptiness in my life that not even money or my home could fill. I continued drinking but at a different rate due to my liver damage. Once, on a good day, I tried to “help” a family member. I lied to them so that they would come with me to retreat. Of course, according to me, it was he who needed it, not me; and that is how I went through the most profound experience of my life because God had a surprise for me. He was in search of his prodigal son. After going through the experience of this retreat, my hunger for the Eucharist was so great that it motivated me to reconcile through the sacrament of confession. The following week, I heard the announcement for another retreat through the Catholic Church and that is where I went through another indescribable experience. The Holy Spirit receives me with its sublime warmth and takes away my fear of speaking openly about Jesus, my Lord and Savior. I began to research the process of annulment knowing that I could not continue living the way I was. My conscience had been awakened inside me making me look for things of God which led me to look on the internet about the lives of Saints: Padre Pio, San Juan Bosco, Madre Teresa de Calcutta, San Antonio de Padua and more. That is how I came to see a very peculiar film that caught my attention. At first, I had to check various sources to verify the authenticity of what I saw and heard. So I checked web links from the Vatican to see if they corresponded. The film was about a person named Vassula Ryden, who said that she had been receiving messages from God since 1986. The messages are translated into dozens of languages, so I began reading them in Spanish and personalizing them with my name as Vassula had mentioned. My body began to tremble during the reading.
I had begun the marriage annulment process by now. At times my mind was hesitant with doubts, but God filled me with peace. I also had the support of the group with which I lived my first spiritual experience, who helped me to balance my feelings and emotions. The annulment process came to its final stage. The nun who was managing my case contacted me to see if I still wanted to testify my case in the church. For a moment I felt a spiritual power to change the course of the verdict. I told the nun that I would like to testify, and in that moment, she mentioned that we would have to speak with the judge so that I could be assigned a day, and that the process would be further delayed. The case was already ready to be examined. My Mother Santa Maria has nourished me through the rosary to obey my Church. I advised the nun that I trusted in the decision of the judge without my testimony.
At that moment I remembered one of the messages to Vassula that follows:
Yahweh Is With You
December 23, 1990
O Father,
like thirsty land I yearn for You.
Rest me for a while on Your Knees now and console me.
Let me feel enveloped by Your Consoling Heart.
I need Your warmth.
repose your head on My Heart, rest and feel consoled… your Abba is caring for you; your Abba is happy to have you near Him; repose your head on My Heart, My child, and listen to the Desires of My Heart: My Heart is still seeking, longing, pleading for the rest of My children’s love; …
(A few seconds’ pause.)
child? 1 what would you give to console your Abba?
O Lord, anything you want. My love, my will, my heart and my soul.
and what more?
My life, as an atonement to Your Desires.
descend then from My Knees and go and bear witness in My Name; go and tell the nations of My Great Love; remind them that My Promise is very near to its accomplishment and that My Return is imminent; the New Jerusalem2 is at hand; I am going to renew My Church and My people;
so My child, descend from My Knees and go out into the world for My Sake … and make My Love known to the world; let the world realize how I love My children; as it is, you have not sought Me, it is I who found you and have chosen you to go out to the world before My Great Day; it is I who formed you and although you were aloof to Me, I have chosen you and revealed My Holy Face to you; so when you have accomplished all the work I have commissioned you for, My child, I shall take you up to Me and you may then rest on My Knees;
I shall, in the meantime while you are in the world, protect you from your oppressors; I want you for your part to look up in Heaven constantly for Me and talk to Me; «Yahweh is with you», have always these words engraved on your mind and on your heart, for I-Am-With-You; now let your heart treasure all that I have told you and remember: offer Me prayers to reach Me like incense, for the conversion of souls and the revival of My Church;
1 Suddenly the Father’s Head turned and looked at me.
2 Church.
Soon after, I spoke with the sister and asked her if I could send an email with my final testimony. She told me I could and after several attempts she told me that she was unable to receive emails. So, in my own thoughts I told God, “I tried.” A couple minutes after I had hung up the phone with the sister, she called me and told me I could send it by fax. My heart was filled with joy.
This was my final testimony in English which I had to write with my cousin’s assistance in the translation:
Dear Sister Clare,
The following Message explains my conversion. I was fighting against God, but now He brought me back. I did not understand the process of annulment and therefore did not accept it, even though I knew about it 20 years ago. My resentments against God and the Church were so big that I created my own God, became a Free Mason, read up on occultism and so on. Please read this Message. God explained everything to me. I am hungry for the Eucharist
God Bless you.
You Were Wrestling With Me
December 22, 1990
My Jesus?
I am;
I treat you very gently so that you, as My flower, grow; I want you strong and believe Me I shall make it possible; you shall be strong, daughter(Son), since you carry My Word; in front of you, I Am, to break all barriers that come up while you are witnessing; I am the Most High, and I tell you, daughter(son), that I shall see to it that no power from beneath stops you from proclaiming My Message;
I have taken you out of the land of Egypt to respond to Me in a foreign land and witness to a people not your own; so although your behaviour was appalling and your senses blemished, unabling you to see the Light, Mercy1 and Compassion was seized by your astounding misery, guilt and wretchedness and came to your rescue;
no-o Vassula (Adrian), you have not deserved any of My Gifts; why, I had servants in My Hand who honoured Me, never uttering but My Name in holiness, who blessed Me without cease, who praised the Holy Trinity wholeheartedly; but yet My Heart, an Abyss of Love, cried out for you; you had accumulated sorrow upon sorrow in My Heart, treason upon treason; you were wrestling with Me, puny little creature … but I knew that your heart is not a divided heart and that once I conquer your heart, it would become entirely Mine; an object of your era, you were wrestling with Me, but I have thrown you down in the wrestle and dragged you in the dust and into the desert where I left you there, all alone;
I had provided you with a guardian angel, since the beginning of your existence, to guard you, console you and guide you, but My Wisdom ordered your guardian angel to leave you and to let you face the desert on your own; I said: «you are to live in spite of your nakedness!» 2 because no man is able to survive alone; 3 Satan would have taken over completely and would have killed you; My order was given to him too; I forbade him to touch you then; in your terror, you remembered Me and looked up, in Heaven, searching desperately for Me; your laments and your supplications suddenly broke the deathly stillness surrounding you and your terrified cries pierced through the heavens reaching the Holy Trinity’s Ears …
«My child!» the Father’s Voice, full of joy, resounded through all Heaven;
«Ah…I shall now make her penetrate My Wounds4 and let her(him) eat My Body and drink My Blood; I shall espouse her(him) to Me and she(he) will be Mine for eternity; I shall show her(him) the Love I have for her(him) and her(his) lips from thereon shall thirst for Me and her(his) heart shall be My Headrest; she(he) shall eagerly submit daily to My Righteousness; I shall make her(him) an altar of My Love and of My Passion; I, and I only, shall be her(his) only Love and Passion; and I shall send her(him) with My Message to the ends of the world to conquer an irreligious people, and to a people who are not even her(his) own; and voluntarily she(he) will carry My Cross of Peace and Love taking the road to Calvary;»
«And I, the Holy Spirit, shall descend upon her(him) to reveal to her(him) the Truth and the depths of Us;5 I shall remind the world, through her(him), that the greatest of all the gifts is: LOVE;»
«let Us6 then celebrate! let all Heaven celebrate!»
… I have taken you by the hand and formed you to become a living sign of My Great Love; – a witness of My Sacred Heart, and of the renewal of My Church;
(The Father, then the Son, then the Holy Spirit spoke.)
I am the Resurrection;
1 Mercy and Compassion = The Lord.
2 I became «naked» as soon as my guardian angel and all Heaven had turned their back to me.
3 Abandoned by Heaven.
4 The Son then spoke.
5 The Holy Trinity.
6 The Holy Trinity spoke.
7 From purgatory.
The annulment process concluded, and my previous union was declared annulled, since there were irregular situations called vices and defects.
God transformed my life through a personal relationship with him, expressed in a deeper sacramental life in the Holy Catholic Church. On July 11, 2014, after 11 years of civil union, God gave me the grace of the sacrament of marriage with my wife Barbara and blessed my two children on the same day with the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Communion. My daughter from the first civil union has given me two grandchildren and the Lord has healed the wounds between us.
Currently, my wife and I are celebrating 5 years as catechists at St. Nicholas Parish in Aurora, as well as giving testimony for the Glory of God on Channel 36 in Chicago, through a program called «The Harvest of Faith.» In giving my life over to God, I formally renounced Freemasonry in a written letter of resignation and gave testimony of the truth of Jesus Christ our Savior before the members of the Masonic Lodge to which I belonged in the past.
The Fire of the Holy Spirit impels me to bring more souls to God by sharing the Holy Gospel. At the same time, I work to expose the falsehood of Freemasonry’s doctrine, which the True Life in God messages illuminated for me by revealing the purposes and objectives of these false and dangerous teachings.
Sincerely,
Adrian Ortega
Australian people
The Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodoros II
The Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodoros II
The Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodoros II, opened the doors of the Patriarchate in Alexandria of Egypt in April of 2008 with a welcoming embrace and gave a moving speech in the Throne Room to officially welcome TLIG and Vassula. Here is what he said:
«From the depths of my heart, I wish to welcome you all officially, here in the Throne Room, where our companion is St. Mark, the Apostle and Evangelist. In the morning, I received you at the monastery of St. Savvas, a humble monastery, which was founded in the 4th century. Today, I greet you officially here, in our Patriarchate, whose history spans 2,000 years from the time of Jesus Christ to the present. Thus, on the one hand, with the exception of the Apostle Paul, we have our history involving the great Apostles, whose successors were the Great Fathers of the Church. That history brings us to present times and, thus, you can see all the Patriarchs that have been appointed to Alexandria on your right and left.
All this is our heritage, the future lies before us: it is for us the entire land of Africa. That is why I want you to know that, before I ascended the steps to the Throne of St. Mark, I was a missionary in Cameroon, the Sudan, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana and Angola. As a missionary, therefore, I really got to know Africa: the difficulties that it faces and the enormous poverty issues but, most of all during my journeys, I meet people that are searching – searching for the love of Jesus. That is why, Vassula, I was very moved when you all sang to Jesus Christ a few minutes ago as my thoughts went immediately to all my African children who also raise their hands towards the heavens and sing in thousands of languages about Christ; the love of Christ that we so desperately need. I am planning shortly to make a long journey to Ghana, having recently returned from Madagascar.
And now, I would like to welcome you all from the bottom of my heart, especially you, Vassula, as I said in church this morning, welcome to your homeland, welcome to the country of your birth, and greetings to all who accompany you. As they say here, Vassula, «Anyone who drinks from the waters of the Nile never forgets this country.»
I would also like to greet the Bishop from India – welcome dear brother to our Apostolic Patriarchate. I wish to welcome the monk, you, Sister, you, Father and you, Father from the Roman Catholic Church and tell you all that with much love we receive you, we love you and that we are under the same protection and love of our Great Lord, Jesus Christ.
Vassula, I would like to thank you for this opportunity, to be together over the next few days. This evening, we will follow together the Passion of Our Lord. Tomorrow, we shall worship before His Epitaph and we shall live, in our devoutly beating hearts, His Passion and His Resurrection. And that joy – that is my wish – that the joy of the Resurrection and the Light may be with us always all the days of our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ I wish to bless you all and your families and please know that Alexandria’s and the Patriarchate’s doors will always be open to you. Thank you»
TLIG Participates in Greek Orthodox Easter Alexandria, Egypt – April 2008
G. S.
G. S.
Prof. Todor Sabev
Prof. Todor Sabev
Theologian, Church historian and former Deputy General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.
In His divine plan for the salvation of humankind, God, throughout history has been sending His messengers as prophets and apostles, teachers and guardians to lead all nations into the right path, to nourish faith, sustain peace and protect unity.
Nowadays, the prophecies of Isaiah (44:3) and Joel (2:28): «I will pour my Spirit upon your descendants»; «your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (and) shall see visions» come true in a variety of charisms. Gifts of grace are being bestowed on women and men for the enhancement of Christian life, worship and service to the glory of God.
Such a spiritual gift (charisma) has been granted to Mrs. Vassula Ryden for the fulfillment of a particular vocation. ‘From the depths of her obscurity,» Vassula has seen the Light. The Lord has touched her heart to cleanse and heal it. Since then, she is «seeing Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary interiorly» and «has been enabled to hear their Messages.» This unique experience of visions is testified in 70 notebooks published in seven volumes. The Messages that Vassula is receiving are written by herself but dictated «from on high.» Her human handwriting is completely transformed.
The Messages are God’s gifts of spiritual healing, love and mercy «directed to all.» Vassula was called to become an ardent witness of Christ, carrying His Cross «to the four corners» of the secularized world. Together with many other disciples, she has to be an instrument of divine providence, an echo of God’s Word, compassion, reconciliation and peace.
The Messages are not a new revelation but a reminder of the Gospel of Christ. The basic task of Vassula is sharing of the Good News through proclamation in communities and assemblies of prayer and meditation, diffusion of the Writings by publication, and «drawing souls to Jesus Christ.»
The surprising nature of this calling has raised questions and bewilderment for Vassula herself, as well as for friends and listeners. Some of the wonders will still accompany readers of True Life in God. Nevertheless, we are aware of the fact that many expressions of mysticism have encountered different assessments and attitudes within one’s Christian tradition. During the whole period of marxist militant atheism, imposed by state authorities in my country, Bulgaria, a woman with great gifts as a seer kept telling both native and foreign people secrets of their past, present and future. Her faith and prophetic voice have shaken atheistic conceptions and changed the lifestyle of tens of thousands. Bishops, priests and theologians have personally experienced and individually recognized the gifts of that woman. But it was not in the tradition of the Church to make an authoritative pronouncement on this phenomenon.
Several years ago, I was so much impressed by the story of the apparition of the Virgin Mary, which three of my very dear Protestant friends had seen simultaneously «without considering however this event an extraordinary spiritual experience» because this was not part of their church’s tradition!
«We walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7)» and «by faith understand…» (Fleb. 11:3f). Distinguishing between the Spirit of God and other spirits is a delicate Christian duty. Discernment is also a gift of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor. 12: 10-1 1; I jn.4: 1). The main criterion for testing the spirits is the faith in Christ as Incarnate Son of God and our Saviour (1 jn. 4:2f).
Basically, the content of the Messages in ‘True Life in God’ is in harmony with the Holy Scriptures and with the tradition of the Church. They are being distributed, read and meditated within the Church, aiming at a revival of Christian faith, renewal and unity. References are often made to the Bible as source of truth, knowledge and wisdom. The doxological part of the Messages is biblicallybased. Very dear to Orthodox spirituality are the numerous prayers, the urgent call to conversion and repentance, fast and a holy life. In the centre of Vassula’s vision are placed also many other fundamental truths, values and teachings of the Church. Prayer, humility, charity, generosity, peace, reconciliation and mutual love in Christ’s name are continuously underscored in all notebooks. God’s abundant grace and tenderness are often presented in the context of concern and care for the groaning creation, a warning about sin corrupting humanity, and a call to awakening for «the battle against Satan and his followers.» Thus one can feel the «prophetic tone» and the appeal to all Christians.
Remember the Beatitudes! Follow the Ten Commandments! Now is the time of repentance! «Live as though it is your last day on earth.» «Have you reconciled with your brothers and sisters?» «Share My Cross.» «Search for justice and help the oppressed.» «Wealth is to be converted.» «Evangelize with love, for love.» Your era of little faith is dead. «Do not accept Satan’s fruits which are … disunity and impurity.» Be vigilant and prepared for «the last days,» because the Lord is «on the Path of Return.»
And again we hear the Message of hope and Iife: «Shake off the dust that covers you and rise from the dead.» «The Holy Eucharist will keep you alive.» The «time of tribulations» shall be followed «by a new era of love and peace.» «My Kingdom is at your very doors.» God wants everyone to be saved (cf. Rm. 10:12-13).
The Messages are a hymn of God’s love which is «like a fountain, a well of living waters.» Love is «the Root of the Tree of Life» and of all virtues. Therefore, «sow the seeds of love in all directions.» «Judge nobody, and repay evil with love.» The Source of love is the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life. He guides us «into all truths,» transforming the darkness into Light. He uplifts and purifies our hearts, sanctifies us through the Sacraments, drives out ill spirits and brings renewal to the Church. The Holy Spirit creates community in which love rules. He gratifies the poor and the humble people of God.
One of the strongest elements in Vassula Ryden’s visions is the gravity of the divisions between the churches, the urgency of the work for unity of the Church, and the importance of the ecumenical movement.
The sin of division and wounds in the Body of Christ are so often due to lack of fidelity, humility and mutual love. «Rivalry and competition for earthly power,» egoism and pride cannot bring about unity. Those who endeavor to gather together the scattered sheep of Christ «should lower their voices» in order to hear the voice of the Lord; they should «bow down their heads» for blessing by the Head of the Church – Jesus Christ. Then He shall lift all and draw them to Himself. «Blessed are those who do not differentiate themselves» under Christ’s Holy Name. «Pray for the World Council of Churches» and for the world-wide ecumenical movement. Let us always remember that «the keys to unity are love and humility.»
The real unity is and will be in the heart, not «of the letter but of the spirit.» It is a gift of God, but requires also human commitment and effort: «where there is division give peace and love, where there is confusion ask for Light.» «Unity shall come upon you like Dawn … It shall come from God, and your nations shall name it the Great Miracle, the Blessed Day … In this day all Heaven shall … rejoice.» «Behold, what joy I will have when around One Altar you will gather … and praise Me; acknowledging your mistake, repenting for your rebellion and remembering My love for you.» God’s plan is «to unite all nations, from East to West, from North to South.»
In several Messages a great desire is expressed for a simultaneous celebration of Easter – «the Feast of Feasts,» and the «Triumph of Triumphs.» May this become a new impetus for bringing back such a tremendous issue on the ecumenical agenda. Actually it comes from the heart of the decision made by the first Ecumenical Council (325) to strengthen unity and inspire common witness.
While many Orthodox rejoice at Vassula’s gift and appreciate the texts referred to, they are prudent about accepting all points and details. I personally still struggle with some of the questions which had troubled me before. But cannot we find relief in the understanding that the Messages come to us also through the limited human nature, and are perceived according to our own spiritual capacity? The reading of Vassula’s Writings requires a mystical soul, prayer for «knowledge and all discemment» (Phil. 1:9), seeking for truth in the power of love and resisting any easy judgment.
The gifts of the Spirit should be spiritually distinguished (1 Cor. 12:10). Let us measure the value of the tree by its fruits (Nlt. 3:10; 7:16f). The great quality of the numerous fruits of ‘True Life in God’ has been acknowledged by many people. The Messages have deepened spiritual life, strengthened Christian faith and opened the sight of a certain number of non-believers. And we have yet to see the fulfillment of God’s promises: «I the Lord, will multiply the visions … (and) will pour the Holy Spirit without reserve on all humankind. » You will grow like grass in the areas where there is plenty of water.»
Let us give thanks to God for all charismata.
Heavenly Father,
Kindle our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Give us the Spirit of wisdom and faith,
of daring and of patience,
of humility and of firmness,
of love and of repentance.
Geneva, Easter 1994
Reverend Sverker Trônet
Reverend Sverker Trônet
(from a Protestant point of view)
This talk was given to the international gathering of True Life in God in Jerusalem, May 1998
I have been asked to speak from a Protestant point of view about the Unity of the Church and Our Lady. First I must say something about being a Protestant or Lutheran.
The Church of Sweden as a whole was severed from the Church of Rome and the Pope during the Reformation in the sixteenth century. It was the king who wanted to be the sole ruler of his country and he did not want any interference from abroad, that is from the Pope and the bishops who really had a good deal also of worldly power.
The teachings of Martin Luther suited the king’s purposes very well. The king took the place of the Pope. From Germany, the mainland of the reformation, was imported the most important of the reformation confessions – the Augsburg Confession, which was critical of abuses in the late medieval Church but was otherwise very traditional, with no intention of teaching anything new, but only being a witness to the faith of the one, holy, catholic (also Roman) and apostolic Church. The Augsburg Confession is today considered, by the official Catholic and Lutheran Ecumenical Commission, to have a catholic intention and an ecumenical will.
There certainly was a great change of the Church in Sweden and for the faithful in the reformation time, but there was also a certain continuity. Some priests and bishops left the country, but some stayed and saved what could be saved.
After the turmoil of the reformation there was just one Church in Sweden. There still were bishops and priests, who by now could be married. The Mass was celebrated, but it was in Swedish instead of Latin and the people could now communicate also from the chalice. Mary and the saints soon disappeared. And so did the monasteries, often by violence. The Bible was translated and there was catechetical work in the schools. For three hundred years there was no alternative. Being a Swede meant being a Lutheran.
Today, despite a radical secularisation, most Swedes belong to the Church which is no longer governed by the king but by democratically voted politicians and their parties. I cannot call myself a Protestant or a Lutheran, but I belong to the Church of Sweden.
I don’t think the reformation in Sweden, from a religious point of view, could be justified or was necessary or for the good of the Church, but I can see some good things in it, despite the undisputedly bad things, and also what these good things came to mean for the future.
The Bible, read within the horizon of the old tradition and the Augsburg Confession, was kept as the first and last authority for the faith. This is what preserved the Church in Sweden as a fairly orthodox Christian Church, despite its severance from Rome. But you can imagine what happens today when the Bible, at least in practice, is no longer an authority and if it is taken notice of at all, it is interpreted according to the opinions of the day.
In the example of the Church of Sweden you can see, both positively and negatively, the vital necessity of the unity of the Church, both in space and time, being in communion with all the other local Churches all over the world, in the bishops unity with the Bishop of Rome, but also being in communion with the saints of all times, which means an active remembrance of the tradition. When a Church both has lost its memory and is cut away from the universal Church it is exposed to the pressure of the world and modern secular opinion without the God-given defence and corrective. I believe only the reunion with Rome could save and preserve the Church of Sweden as a Christian Church.
This is said as an example. Now something more general about Christian Unity. There certainly are many things that keep all Christians together, also from different denominations. We believe in and pray to the same triune God. We believe in the incarnation of God the Son. We all believe in the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are baptized with the same baptism, Even if all Christians can’t go to communion together we believe that we receive and are joined to the one and same body of Christ in the different churches. With slight variations we share the same beliefs. Isn’t that enough? Our Lord prays to the Father, in his priestly prayer in St. John’s seventeenth chapter and says: «May they all be one … so that the world may believe it was You who sent me.»(v.21)
The unity that Jesus prays for is not only a spiritual unity, but a visible unity in this visible world, «that the world may believe». The Church certainly is an instrument in God’s hands for the salvation of the world. It is God’s Church. He has made it according to his plan and for his purposes. That the Church should be one and visibly one is certainly part of the founder’s will and intention. The visible unity belongs to the nature of the Church and is very important – a top priority. Visible unity demands a visible center of unity. For the local community there is the parish priest. For the diocese the bishop. For the patriarchate there is the patriarch. And for the whole fold, for the universal Church, there is the Pope.
That there should be a pope is part of Christ’s plans for his Church. This is not what was in dispute from the beginning by the reformers, only the misuse of the papal power. That there is and should be a petrine primacy is clear from the gospels. And as certain as there is an apostolical succession from the apostles to the bishops, there is a petrine succession from St. Peter to his followers on the apostolic throne in the Church of Rome.
Can a Protestant really say so? There are liberals who wouldn’t, because they would say the papacy is part of a patriarcalistic structure. There are others who would reiterate the confessional formulas from the sixteenth century and would eventually say the pope is the antichrist. But if by ‘Protestant’ you mean a person who wants to be true to the Bible, read with the glasses of the old orthodox and catholic tradition, a Protestant certainly could say that the papacy is instituted by Christ.
In the papal encyclical letter from 1995, «Ut Unum Sint», John Paul II asks the non-Roman Catholic Church leaders to consider with him the forms in which the Petrine Primacy could best serve its mission, «that they all may be one … so that the world may believe ..» With regard to the Church of Sweden and the Anglican Churches this invitation should have been very interesting three years earlier, but in 1995 there had already happened things in these churches that made dialogue seem impossible.
The ecumenical dialogue between The Church of Sweden and Rome was for some years, between 1989 and 1993 very promising. The Swedish archbishop declared from the high altar in St. Peter’s in the presence of John Paul II: «The moment has come to declare that the denunciations from the time of the reformation are no longer valid.» The Pope visited Sweden and Cardinal Cassidy the head of the Papal secretariat of Christian Unity wanted an examination of and a dialogue about the apostolic succession in the Churches of Finland and Sweden, to see what was needed for a full recognition.
In the question of the important reformation doctrine of «Justification by faith» a consensus has been reached between Rome and the Lutherans. A dialogue at least as promising was also going on between Rome and the Church of England. But in both cases it came to an end because of new divisive developments. John Paul II declared at Pentecost 1994 that the Church has no right whatsoever to ordain women for the priesthood and that this decision is definitive for all the faithful in the Church. Only four and a half months later the Bishops and other leaders in the Church of Sweden declared that «You cannot be ordained to the priesthood unless you acknowledge women as priests.»
The Lutheran World Federation declared that they would not be without or sacrifice women priests for the sake of unity. After this, two women have been made bishops in Sweden and more women than men are ordained and on their way to ordination. There is also a very vocal feministic theology, which makes new interpretations of the faith and also, of morals. This development has made a total relativism necessary. You cannot criticize and say that it is not according to the Bible. They will answer: It is just pictures and symbols and anything will do. You could just as well say that God is our mother as our father.
This development (in Sweden and England and also in other countries) has made divisions within the Churches of Sweden and England seem necessary and groups are now trying to find their way. The eyes are of course on Rome. The situation is felt to be so serious for the Church of Sweden that many people ask whether it will survive at all. My personal feeling is that only being with the Church which Christ has built on Peter could save us from being transformed into something else than a Christian Church or from annihilation. Only a Church in communion with Peter could rightly put its trust in the promise of Christ: «You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it» (Mt,16:18)
Our Holy Mother Mary is together with the Pope, by the typical Protestant, considered to be what is typically Catholic, and therefore to be shunned. The Pope was by one blow of the sword severed from the Church in Sweden. Mary probably remained in the hearts of the faithful of the first reformation-generation. That was a thing the king couldn’t do anything about. But as the Rosary was forbidden and most of the Marian statues were removed, neither was there any place for our lady in the Protestant Swedish hearts. You can only speculate about what this has meant. To live without the Mother Our Lord has given to his Church.
Typically enough in liberal Protestantism Jesus is not Immanuel, that is God with man, but he is man with God and that is what Mary in reality is. To live without Mary as mother and ideal has made Protestant Christianity more of a teaching to understand, than a life to live. The Church in the reformation became more of a school than a place for prayer and adoration. At the same time it must be said that Mary wasn’t banished from the Church’s teaching, although her place was very much in the background.
So you can find in the confessional writings, in the hymns and in the writings of Martin Luther, sentences that in one way or other affirm the teaching of all the Marian dogmas, although not as dogmas. This, together with other similar catholic elements, has not been without consequence for a Marian renaissance in the Church of Sweden and it has also made it possible to remain in the Church of Sweden with a Catholic faith, without a conflict with the official teaching.
As there are no problems with Peter and the pope, there are no difficulties for a biblical Protestant, of what our old ecumenical archbishop Nathan Sderblom called the evangelical-catholic tradition, to share the catholic and orthodox beliefs about Our Lady. The problem with present day Protestants is that very many of them, I speak first of all about the Church of Sweden but perhaps it could be said also about Lutherans and Anglicans in Western Europe and the USA, that they don’t seem any longer to believe in Gods revelation nor in the Bible as the Word of God. But if The Word of God is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path, it will lead you to honour and bless Mary.
We can take it for certain that all of Our Lord’s actions and words had a meaning, not just for the singular situation in which they were performed or uttered, but were meant for the Church he founded and therefore had a universal meaning and were to be valid until the end of time. Therefore it is very natural to see that Jesus, from the Cross, gave Mary to be the mother not only of John, but of all the apostles and of all the Church in all times and places.
Next we are led by the word of God to see with John «the great sign which appeared in heaven: a woman adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown». Of course this is Mary. She is alive, She is taken up to heaven with her body and crowned to be the Queen of heaven and earth. We can turn to her and ask for her motherly care and her prayers for us. Mary is the Mother of the Church, but she is also The Church – Our Mother. She is a personification of the Church. In her everything that we are waiting for is already fulfilled and she is already there, where we hope to meet her and her Son, in heaven.
In this way I could go on, from the Bible to the Catholic dogma. And in the case of, for example the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, where it isn’t absolutely self-evident, from the Bible, that «Gratia Plena» – «full of grace» – means that there was not ever any place for sin in Mary, I am fully confident that the Holy Spirit has led the Church to the complete truth according to the promise of Jesus. (Jn,16:13)
Among the many titles of our Lady and among all the things She is, let us ask her to be, for the Church, the Mother of Unity. That unity which Jesus prayed for and which seems to be so very difficult, sometimes even impossible. Let us confide it to her care and to her prayers, that it may come soon, at that time and in that way which is according to the will of God.
I have also been asked to say why I support the messages of True Life in God. If somebody had told me about Vassula before I myself had heard her or had read the messages, I would probably have been uninterested, supposing it was another silly sect. I would not have said it was impossible with prophesies, revelations or messages like these, but I never had met anything like it. But since I for the first time heard Vassula in Rome in march 1995 I have been convinced that it is all true.
Perhaps I could say that I recognized the voice, I was very moved and had tears in my eyes. Since then I have read the messages and I have never come across anything that sounded strange or foreign to what I have learned from the Bible and the tradition of the Church. What has meant most to me is of course the intimacy of the messages. The important position of Mary. The centrality of the unity of the Church around the Pope and also the admonitions to be one with John Paul II. As you may have understood, I think I have seen instances of that apostasy, which Jesus has spoken of in the messages. What is not unimportant to me is also the fact of Vassula not being formally a Roman Catholic, but living a Catholic life and having the catholic faith. That is my situation also and with me many in the Church of Sweden.
Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi
Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi
En este día, 13 de mayo de 2017, deseo ocuparme de la posición actual de la Iglesia Católica acerca de las revelaciones proféticas de Dios a Vassula Rydén, contenidas en la publicación «La Verdadera Vida en Dios». Esta posición actual se resume en los cinco puntos siguientes:
- Las revelaciones proféticas de la VVED gozan del Imprimatur y el Nihil Obstat del Magisterio, que son sellos eclesiásticos oficiales de aprobación.
- El Imprimatur y el Nihil Obstat de la Iglesia son ejercidos por el Magisterio.
- La Iglesia exige de los fieles cristianos «la adhesión al asentimiento religioso»1 con el Magisterio de la Iglesia, que es particularmente ejercido por los obispos que enseñan en comunión con el Papa.
- Las enseñanzas de aquellos obispos que, en comunión con el Papa, y ejerciendo el Magisterio2 han concedido a las revelaciones proféticas de la VVED dichos sellos de aprobación (28/11/2005 Nihil Obstat e Imprimatur) continúan en plena vigencia hasta el día de hoy.
- En virtud de la concesión del Imprimatur y el Nihil Obstat del Magisterio a las revelaciones proféticas del VVED, se les prohíbe a los cristianos erigirse en jueces y condenarlos públicamente.3 Por el contrario, en la medida en que todos los cristianos deben «estar de acuerdo con el juicio del obispo sobre la fe y la moral» y «adherirse a este» juicio y al Magisterio «con un asentimiento religioso de la mente»,4 el Imprimatur del Magisterio y el Nihil Obstat sobre las revelaciones proféticas de la VVED obtienen dicho asentimiento religioso de los fieles cristianos.
A continuación me explayo sobre estos cinco puntos.
1) Las revelaciones proféticas de la VVED gozan del Imprimatur y el Nihil Obstat del Magisterio, que son sellos eclesiásticos oficiales de aprobación.
Dado que el Magisterio de la Iglesia tiene el deber de «preservar al pueblo de Dios de las desviaciones y deserciones, y de garantizarles la posibilidad objetiva de profesar la verdadera fe sin error»,5 así como «exponerla fielmente»6 examina las publicaciones, en particular las obras sobre la fe y la moral y se pronuncia si están libres de error doctrinal.
El 19 de marzo de 1975, la Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe emitió normas para los pastores de la Iglesia que tienen el deber de estar atentos a la publicación de materiales sobre fe y moral, que deben ser presentados a la Iglesia para su «aprobación». Este mandato fue reiterado por el Código de Derecho Canónico de 1983, canon 823. Esta aprobación se produce a través de un proceso que comienza cuando el autor envía el manuscrito al censor librorum o deputatus que es designado por el obispo u otra autoridad eclesiástica para realizar dichos exámenes. Si el censor no encuentra ningún error doctrinal en la obra, concede un Nihil Obstat («Nada obstruye» su publicación) que lo atestigua. Si el obispo concede su Imprimatur («Imprímase»), este sello eclesiástico constituye una «aprobación» de la obra que permite «exhibirla y venderla en iglesias»7 y una declaración de «garantía jurídica y moral para los autores, los editores y los lectores»8 que la obra «no contiene nada contrario al auténtico magisterio de la Iglesia sobre la fe o la moral» y «que se cumplen todas las prescripciones pertinentes del derecho canónico».9
El 28 de noviembre de 2005, Su Excelencia el Obispo Felix Toppo, S.J., D.D., otorgó el Nihil Obstat a los escritos de la VVED. El 28 de noviembre de 2005, Su Excelencia el Arzobispo Ramón C. Argüelles, STL, DD, otorgó el Imprimatur a las revelaciones de VVED.
Además, el 24 de noviembre de 2005, el obispo Felix Toppo escribió la siguiente carta, que acompañó al Magisterial Nihil Obstat, subrayando la naturaleza sobrenatural de las revelaciones de la VVED:
«He leído todos los libros de LA VERDADERA VIDA EN DIOS y he meditado en su contenido. Realmente creo que los libros contienen el Diálogo Divino de la Santísima Trinidad, Nuestra Señora y los Ángeles con la humanidad a través de Vassula Rydén. No he encontrado nada objetable ni nada contrario a la auténtica autoridad de la Iglesia sobre la fe y la moral. Leer estos libros y meditar en los contenidos es espiritualmente beneficioso para todos. Recomiendo estos libros a todos los cristianos».
El 30 de septiembre de 2004, el arzobispo de Lipa Ramon C. Arguelles, STL, DD, quien concedió a las revelaciones proféticas de la VVED el Imprimatur del Magisterio, escribió la siguiente carta que atestigua aún más la naturaleza sobrenatural de las revelaciones proféticas de la VVED10:
«El cardenal Joseph Ratzinger mostró una mentalidad tan abierta como la de Cristo cuando encabezó la revisión del caso de la sra. Vassula Ryden. A través del P. Prospero Grech, Consultor de la Congregación de la Doctrina de la Fe, el buen Cardenal pidió a Vassula que respondiera a cinco preguntas (ver carta fechada el 4 de abril de 2002) para aclarar algunas dificultades sugeridas en la Notificación de 1995, con respecto a los escritos de la Verdadera Vida en Dios, y sobre sus actividades relacionadas con los mismos. Las respuestas ayudarán inmensamente a algunos Tomases que dudan, y que sin embargo tienen derecho a la paz espiritual…
El Cardenal Ratzinger pidió al P. Joseph Augustine Di Noia, O.P., Subsecretario de la Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe, que proporcionara a la Sra. Ryden una copia de esa misma carta para permitirle informar a todos sobre el intercambio de cartas de aclaración. Me alegra mucho que el cardenal Ratzinger reflejase perfectamente la actitud del Santo Padre, cuya gran obsesión y probablemente la razón de su vida y la energía que manifiesta es por la UNIDAD DEL CRISTIANISMO…
No importa cuál haya sido la vida pasada de la Sra. Ryden, ella puede ser – y ya es – un instrumento de Dios en nuestros días para hacer realidad el sueño de Dios, el sueño del Santo Padre, el sueño de la Iglesia que puede ser el evento más grande de los primeros años del Tercer Milenio: ¡LA UNIDAD DE TODOS LOS DISCÍPULOS DE CRISTO! Personas como Vassula, que sufren por la unidad de los cristianos con el Santo Padre necesitan apoyo, comprensión y oración. Estoy dispuesto a darle eso, aunque sólo sea para unirme al Santo Padre, al Cardenal Ratzinger y a muchas otras almas desconocidas que desean sinceramente una renovación del cristianismo, un impulso renovado de evangelización y desean la unidad de todos los hermanos cristianos. Que María nos ayude a crecer en la VERDADERA VIDA EN DIOS». 11
2) El Imprimatur y el Nihil Obstat son ejercidos por el Magisterio de la Iglesia.
Cabe destacar que el Magisterio de la Iglesia goza de tres gradaciones de autoridad docente que los fieles cristianos deben mantener, y que suscitan respectivamente el «asentimiento de fe» (las dos primeras gradaciones de su autoridad docente) y el «asentimiento religioso» (la tercera gradación de su autoridad, por ejemplo, el Imprimatur y el Nihil Obstat del Magisterio).
De estos tres niveles de enseñanza magistral autorizada que establecen «el orden de las verdades a las que se adhiere el creyente»12 hay 1) verdades enseñadas como reveladas por Dios (depositum fidei13),14 2) declaraciones definitivamente propuestas sobre asuntos de fe y moral estrechamente relacionados con la verdad divinamente revelada,15 y 3) enseñanza no definitiva que a) ayuda a una mejor comprensión de la verdad divinamente revelada y hace explícito su contenido, b) recuerda cómo alguna enseñanza está en conformidad con las verdades de la fe, o c) protege contra ideas que son incompatibles con estas verdades 16 .
En el documento oficial del Vaticano Donum Veritatis, autorizado por la Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe, se menciona una cuarta categoría de enseñanza magisterial: la enseñanza prudencial ordinaria sobre asuntos disciplinarios.17
- A la primera gradación de autoridad magisterial pertenecen «verdades enseñadas como divinamente reveladas». Este es un ejercicio del «Magisterio supremo», 18 comúnmente conocido como el «Magisterio extraordinario” y es universalmente vinculante. Estas verdades son doctrinas de fide credenda 19 a menudo referidas como «dogmas infalibles» o «dogmas definitivos», que requieren de los fieles un asentimiento de «fe teológica»; están contenidas directamente en la Palabra de Dios y el Magisterio las ha declarado divinamente reveladas. Estas verdades son infalibles y a ellos los fieles les deben la «obediencia de la fe». 20
- Los contenidos de la segunda categoría pertenecen al Magisterio que propone «de manera definitiva verdades sobre la fe y la moral, que, aunque no sean reveladas por Dios, están sin embargo estricta e íntimamente conectadas con la Revelación». Estas verdades no están inmediatamente contenidas en el Depósito de la Fe (Depositum Fidei), sino que están enraizadas en las enseñanzas primarias del depositum fidei como verdades secundarias, u objetos secundarios de infalibilidad, que necesariamente se derivan de ellas lógica o históricamente, y que son necesarias para exponerlas fielmente. El anuncio de estas enseñanzas constituye un ejercicio del «Magisterio ordinario» 21 y son vinculantes universalmente. Estas verdades secundarias son doctrinas fide tenenda, 22 que «deben ser firmemente aceptadas y sostenidas»23 por todos y cualquiera que las rechace «se opone a la enseñanza de la Iglesia Católica».24
- La tercera categoría del Magisterio es la enseñanza no definitiva que sirve a) para ayudar a la mejor comprensión de una verdad divinamente revelada y hacer explícito su contenido, b) recordar cómo alguna enseñanza está en conformidad con las verdades de la fe, o c) protegerse contra ideas que son incompatibles con estas verdades 25 (por ejemplo, el Imprimatur del Magisterio y el Nihil Obstat).
Deseo enfatizar que estos tres niveles de enseñanza magisterial constituyen la doctrina católica26 a través de un «asentimiento de fe» o un «asentimiento religioso». El Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica enseña cómo deben recibir tales doctrinas los cristianos: «A esta enseñanza ordinaria los fieles «deben adherirse a ella con asentimiento religioso» que, aunque distinto del asentimiento de la fe,
sin embargo, es una extensión del mismo». El pasaje de Lumen Gentium 25 señala que se requiere un «asentimiento religioso (assensus religioso) de mente y voluntad» para la tercera categoría, el cual se distingue del «asentimiento de fe‟ (assensus fidei) – requerido para la primera y segunda categorías.
Mientras que tales distinciones de asentimiento enfatizan la gradación en la adhesión a la enseñanza magisterial, el Magisterio no pone menos énfasis en la obligación de todos los cristianos de someterse lealmente a la Iglesia en todas las categorías antes mencionadas de su autoridad magisterial de enseñanza: «La voluntad de someterse lealmente a la enseñanza del Magisterio sobre asuntos per se no inamovibles debe ser la regla».27
3) La Iglesia exige de los fieles cristianos «adhesión con asentimiento religioso» al Magisterio de la Iglesia, que es particularmente ejercido por aquellos obispos que enseñan en comunión con el Papa.
La razón por la cual el Catecismo Católico afirma que «el asentimiento religioso» debe ser dado por los fieles a aquellas enseñanzas oficiales, aunque no definitivas, del Magisterio ordinario (por ejemplo, el Imprimatur oficial de la Iglesia y el Nihil Obstat), se articula en la siguiente declaración del Catecismo Católico:
«La asistencia divina se da también a los sucesores de los apóstoles, enseñando en comunión con el sucesor de Pedro, y, de manera particular, al obispo de Roma, pastor de toda la Iglesia, cuando, sin llegar a una definición infalible y sin pronunciarse de manera ‘definitiva’, proponen en el ejercicio del Magisterio ordinario una enseñanza que conduce a una mejor comprensión de la Revelación en materia de fe y moral. A esta enseñanza ordinaria, los fieles «deben adherirse a ella con asentimiento religioso»28 que, aunque distinto del asentimiento de fe, es sin embargo una extensión de él.29
Aunque el Imprimatur y el Nihil Obstat pueden ser dados por el obispo local para su diócesis, no se debe perder de vista el hecho de que estos sellos oficiales, aunque se den localmente y dentro de una jurisdicción diocesana, habitualmente30 trascienden los límites jurídicos en virtud de la colegialidad episcopal y la aceptación por otros obispos de todo el mundo. A pesar de la confusión dentro de la Iglesia, predicha en varias apariciones marianas aprobadas, las siguientes afirmaciones de la Iglesia articulan la colegialidad duradera y las relaciones mutuas entre los obispos:
«Esta unión colegial (de obispos) es evidente también en las relaciones mutuas de los obispos individuales con iglesias particulares y con la Iglesia universal… Los obispos individuales, sin embargo, son el principio visible y el fundamento de la unidad en sus iglesias particulares, formadas según el modelo de la Iglesia universal, en la cual y de la cual muchas iglesias nacen como la única Iglesia Católica. Por esta razón, los obispos individuales representan cada uno a su propia Iglesia, pero todos juntos y con el Papa representan a toda la Iglesia en el vínculo de paz, amor y unidad«. 31
“El espíritu colegial (de todos los obispos) es el alma de la colaboración entre los obispos a nivel regional, nacional e internacional. La acción colegial en sentido estricto implica la actividad de todo el colegio, junto con su cabeza, sobre toda la iglesia».32
«A través de la misma consagración episcopal, los obispos reciben con la función de santificar también las funciones de enseñar y gobernar; por su naturaleza, sin embargo, éstas sólo pueden ejercerse en comunión jerárquica con el director y los miembros del colegio». 33
A la luz de lo anterior, si uno decidiera condenar públicamente las obras que actualmente llevan el sello de este Magisterio, ya sea en la mano o en la boca de un sacerdote o de un laico, las acciones de ese individuo serían consideradas por la Iglesia nada menos que «reprensibles»:
«Si bien la libertad permanece, para un miembro de la Iglesia, de rechazar una revelación privada que ha recibido la aprobación eclesiástica oficial, al mismo tiempo sería reprensible hablar públicamente en contra de ella».34
Recuerdo aquí que en la historia de la Iglesia Católica, no existe, en el conocimiento público actual ningún caso en el que una decisión positiva de Constat de Supernaturalitate (es evidente que es de origen sobrenatural) por parte del obispo local, con respecto a una revelación profética conocida a nivel nacional o internacional, se cambiara más tarde a la categoría prohibida de Constat de non Supernaturalitate (evidente que es de origen no sobrenatural) por la Santa Sede. Es cierto que, al considerar la plétora de revelaciones proféticas y apariciones reportadas en todo el mundo, los juicios positivos o negativos de la Santa Sede son raros, toman mucho tiempo y la Santa Sede a menudo guarda silencio sobre tales asuntos. Sin embargo, para evitar dejar el juicio final a cada cristiano individual, la Iglesia ofrece, como mejor curso de acción, el recurso a la seguridad doctrinal a través de la concesión del Imprimatur del Obispo y / o Nihil Obstat, que, y como se señaló anteriormente, constituyen una «aprobación» de la obra para que pueda ser «exhibida y vendida en las iglesias» 35 y «una garantía jurídica y moral para los autores, los editores y los lectores»36 de que la obra «no contiene nada contrario al auténtico magisterio de la Iglesia sobre la fe o la moral».37
También se recuerdan las cartas de los obispos que concedieron el Imprimatur y contienen el Diálogo Divino de la Santísima Trinidad, Nuestra Señora y los Ángeles con la humanidad a través de Vassula Rydén», 38 que «es un instrumento de Dios en nuestros días para hacer realidad el sueño de Dios, el sueño del Santo Padre, el sueño de la Iglesia que puede ser el
mayor acontecimiento de los primeros años del Tercer Milenio: ¡LA UNIDAD DE TODOS LOS DISCÍPULOS DE CRISTO!» 39
4) Las enseñanzas de aquellos obispos que en comunión con el Papa y ejerciendo el Magisterio40 han concedido a las revelaciones proféticas de la VVED dichos sellos de aprobación (28/11/2005 Nihil Obstat y el Imprimatur) permanecen en plena vigencia hasta hoy.
Porque el deber de interpretar fielmente la Palabra revelada por Dios es «confiado a los obispos en comunión con el sucesor de Pedro, el Obispo de Roma«41 que, aun cuando no lleguen a una definición infalible y sin pronunciarse de manera «definitiva»,42 ejercen sin embargo el Magisterio ordinario, y los fieles deben «coincidir» con sus decisiones sobre la fe y la moral. Considere la siguiente declaración del decreto del Concilio Vaticano II:
«Los obispos, cuando enseñan en comunión con el Romano Pontífice, deben ser respetados por todos como testigos de la verdad divina y católica; y los fieles deben estar de acuerdo con el juicio de su obispo sobre la fe y la moralque él entrega en el nombre de Cristo, y deben adherirse a esto con un asentimiento religioso de la mente.” 43
En la medida en que la concesión de los sellos magisteriales del Imprimatur y Nihil Obstat a las revelaciones proféticas de VVED, y que las cartas de los obispos que las concedieron expresan respectivamente una aprobación y garantía, y un juicio positivo sobre su naturaleza sobrenatural,44 y los fieles cristianos deben estar de acuerdo con el juicio de su obispo, los fieles pueden acercarse con confianza a dichos mensajes proféticos como a una auténtica revelación dada por Dios para nuestro tiempo.
5) En virtud de la concesión del Imprimatur y Nihil Obstat del Magisterio a las revelaciones proféticas de la VVED, a los cristianos se les prohíbe erigirse en jueces y condenarlos públicamente.45 Por el contrario, en la medida en que todos los cristianos deben «estar de acuerdo con el juicio de su obispo sobre la fe y la moral» y «adherirse a este» juicio y al Magisterio «con un asentimiento religioso de la mente»,46 el Imprimatur del Magisterio y el Nihil Obstat sobre las revelaciones proféticas de la VVED deben producir en los fieles cristianos dicho asentimiento religioso.
En su tratado sobre la beatificación y canonización de los respectivamente Siervos de Dios y Beatos, el Cardenal Prospero Lambertini (más tarde coronado Papa Benedicto XIV) afirmó que si bien uno no puede elegir seguir una revelación profética determinada aprobada por la Iglesia, ya que Dios nos ha bendecido con varias para elegir, uno tiene absolutamente prohibido hacerlo sin razón, sin la debida modestia y con desprecio: condenar públicamente lo que la Iglesia ha juzgado positivo, con sus sellos oficiales de aprobación, es nada menos que «reprensible»: 47
«Es posible no dar asentimiento a tales revelaciones y apartarse de ellas, siempre y cuando uno lo haga con la debida modestia, no sin razón y sin desprecio”.48
Conclusión
En estos Tiempos Finales, cuando muchas profecías bíblicas se están cumpliendo, en particular, Dan. 9,27; Mt. 24,15; 2 Tes. 2,3-13; Apocalipsis 13, se exige más atención que nunca a los pastores de Dios, los cuales están llamados a cuidar a Su rebaño con una enseñanza sana, que no sólo preserva el Depósito de la Fe de la Iglesia y la Tradición viva, sino que la desarrolla: «penetra en el significado de la Palabra revelada y la comunica a los demás». 49 Durante este tercer milenio en el que se exhorta a todos los sacerdotes a «salir hacia aguas profundas»50 y emprender una «nueva evangelización»,51 las revelaciones proféticas aprobadas por la Iglesia ocupan un papel esencial, ya que tienen un llamamiento divinamente urgente que impactará en el futuro de la humanidad y alterará la vida de millones de personas. Recordemos que cuando Nuestra Señora de Fátima predijo que muchas naciones de la tierra serían
aniquiladas si la humanidad no se convertía, lo hizo después de hacer un llamamiento urgente a la Iglesia y a la humanidad en un momento crucial de la historia. Una apelación paralela a la Iglesia y a la humanidad de hoy se descubre en las revelaciones proféticas de la Verdadera Vida en Dios, aprobadas por la Iglesia. Más importante aún, si no se escuchan dichas apelaciones, las consecuencias de este llamamiento, serán globales. Como pastor de almas, invito calurosamente a todos los cristianos de buena voluntad a meditar en las revelaciones divinas de la Verdadera Vida en Dios para su propio bienestar espiritual y para el mejoramiento de la humanidad.
Reverendo J.L. Iannuzzi, Ph. B, STB, STL, STD