July 13, 2017 by paulsimeon2014

Pope Francis dismisses Cardinal Muller as head of CDF, replaces him with liberal Jesuit prelate

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Pope Francis has dismissed Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller as Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, exactly five years since his appointment to the Office by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2012. Müller’s five-year term ended on July 2, 2017, following months of rumors that his time at the CDF was nearing an end, as he became increasingly vocal about his denunciations of attempts to change Church discipline and doctrine on marriage and the sacraments.

A Staunch Defender of the Faith

Muller is considered as one of the last remaining senior clergymen appointed by Benedict XVI to key positions in the Church leadership, and has been a vanguard and defender of the Catholic Faith against anti-Catholic currents that are sweeping it.

He has consistently spoken out against liberal bishops’ insistence on providing Eucharistic Communion to Catholics who are living in a state of mortal sin (divorced and remarried), and has defended the doctrine of the indissolubility of marriage repeatedly: “I have said it many times, and I repeat it here again,” he said in remarks made June 21, “Jesus established clearly, and without doubt, the indissolubility of valid matrimony. This is what we must preach, declare and explain to the Catholic faithful.”

Addressing the worldwide confusion following Amoris Laetitia and various dioceses using it to open up Holy Communion to those in adulterous or homosexual relationships, the Cardinal explained, “Contrition, confession and reparation are the three necessary elements for absolution. These are the immediate conditions for receiving the Holy Eucharist, Jesus Christ, who is the same divine Person who forgives us.”

He has emphasized that Amoris Laetitia must be interpreted within the context of the Magisterial Teaching of the Church, and cannot be interpreted in a way that contradicts the teachings of previous popes.

Tensions between the cardinal and Pope Francis began when Müller added his name to a letter of protest at the 2015 Synod, which sharply criticized the lack of transparency and consultation, going so far as to hint at an agenda. “A number of Fathers feel the new process seems designed to facilitate predetermined results on important disputed questions.”

In an explosive interview with the German version of Vatican Radio last October 26, 2016, Cardinal Müller said that “for the first time in the history of the Church we have the case of two legitimate living popes.” His statement on the unique situation of having two popes calls our attention in a forceful way to Blessed Anne Catherine’s prophecy on the two popes in the end times, or the time immediately preceding the Second Coming of Jesus. In that prophecy, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich warned that a false pope would emerge in the end times, and would establish a false church:

I saw also the relationship between the two popes. . . I saw how baleful (harmful) would be the consequences of this false church. I saw it increase in size; heretics of every kind came into the city (of Rome). The local clergy grew lukewarm, and I saw a great darkness…

Dismissed Within One Minute on the Last Work Day of His Term

In an interview with the German newspaper Passauer Neue Presse, the Cardinal revealed details of the meeting in which he learned of the Pope’s refusal to renew his 5-year mandate as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). The custom in the last 50 years has been to renew the prefect’s mandate at least until he reaches retirement age.

Pope Francis, Cardinal Müller said, “communicated his decision” not to renew his term “within one minute” on the last work day of his five-year-term, and did not give any reasons for it.

“This style I cannot accept,” said Müller. In dealing with employees, “the Church’s social teaching should be applied,” he added.

A Liberal Jesuit as Head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Muller’s position at the Congregation was taken by the 73-year-old Jesuit Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, who is known for liberal views on the faith. In his April 2009 book entitled “Jesus Christ, Salvation of All”, Ladaria has suggested that hell is empty. Ladaria claims, in the book that salvation in Christ is possible “for all humanity”, “The hope may arise that this salvation will indeed reach everyone.” He only confirms a mere theoretical “possibility of damnation”, but “hell is something neither wanted nor created by God”.

According to Ladaria it is “inconceivable” that salvation “is only for Christians and not for those who do not know Christ”. And: “Christians and non-Christians reach this goal by virtue of the gift of the Spirit that associates us with the unique paschal ministry of Christ even if it is through diverse paths known only to God.”

Ladaria is also accused of covering up and protecting pedophile priests who have sexually-abused minors. The Italian publication La Republicca accused Ladaria of bearing a “direct responsibility” for the abuse of Italian children.

In March 2012 Ladaria signed a document defrocking Gianni Trotta, a former priest and member of the Sons of Divine Providence, who homosexually abused minors. The matter was never made public or denounced to Italian authorities. Trotta went on becoming a coach of a junior soccer team where he continued abusing minors. In July 2016 he was sent to prison for crimes against a 12-year-old. A second trial will soon take place.

July 9, 2017 by paulsimeon2014

Pope Francis says ‘God cannot be God without man’

Last June 7, 2017, at his Wednesday general audience, Pope Francis controversially declared before the crowds in St. Peter’s Square: “God cannot be God without man.”

The Pope said:

Dear brothers and sisters, we are never alone. We can be far, hostile; we can even say we are ‘without God.’ But Jesus Christ’s Gospel reveals to us that God cannot be without us: He will never be a God ‘without man’; it is He who cannot be without us, and this is a great mystery! God cannot be God without man: this is a great mystery!

Many theologians have since spoken out, citing that the phrase by itself is dangerous and could be taken in an erroneous way.

John Paul Meenan, professor of theology at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, a Catholic college in Eastern Ontario, told LifeSiteNews (which broke the story) that the phrase “God cannot be God without man” is open to misinterpretation and is very problematic. Professor Meenan said it is not true that ‘God cannot be God without man’ in a universal sense.

Meenan was concerned about the statement because it could be taken to support a modernist heresy known as “process theology” which posits “God perfects himself by creation or grows with creation.”

Another credentialed Catholic lay theologian known to LifeSiteNews but wishing to remain anonymous explained:

Because of The Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, it is true that God remains eternally joined to mankind through the human nature of Jesus Christ, Second of the Three Divine Persons of The Most Blessed Trinity. Nonetheless, God has absolutely no actual need of mankind, our relationship with God being entirely dependent on that gratuitous superabundance of the infinite Divine Love of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons (c.130-c.208), a bishop, martyr, and Father of the Church, wrote in his famous work Against the Heresies:

In the beginning it was not because he had need of man that God fashioned Adam but so as to have someone on whom to set his blessings. For, not only before Adam but even before creation, the Word glorified the Father while dwelling in him and was glorified by the Father.

Saint Irenaeus added:

When people stand in the light, it is not they who illumine the light and cause it to shine but who are illumined and made to shine by it. Far from contributing anything at all to it, they benefit from the light and are lit up by it. This is how it is in serving God: our service contributes nothing to God for God has no need of man’s service; but to those who serve and follow him God gives life, incorruptibility and eternal glory.

Since his assumption to the papacy, Pope Francis has caused much consternation and confusion amongst faithful Catholics, with controversial statements. He previously said that most Catholic marriages are null, and that some co-habitations are a “real marriage”.

In another controversial statement, he has likewise questioned the existence of hell, suggesting that everyone goes to heaven. In the controversial papal encyclical Amoris Laetitia (297), Pope Francis wrote: “No one can be condemned forever, because that is not the logic of the Gospel!”

July 5, 2017 by paulsimeon2014

Chief exorcist Father Amorth: Padre Pio said that the third secret of Fatima was about a “false church” in the end times

Prior to his death in 2016, Fr. Gabriele Amorth had performed over 70,000 exorcisms over a span of 30 years. He founded the International Association of Exorcists in 1990.

In a recent article on the “Secret of Fatima”, Steve Skojec, the founder and editor of OnePeterFive, published for the first time in the English language words from Rome’s chief exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth (d. 2016), about Padre Pio and his knowledge of the Third Secret of Fatima. They come from a newly published book written by José María Zavala, entitled The Best Kept Secret of Fatima (El Sécreto Mejor Guardado de Fátima). Zavala interviewed Father Amorth in 2011, and was instructed to keep the interview secret until after the exorcist’s death.

Fr. Amorth personally knew Saint (Padre) Pio for 26 years, and it is from this towering figure of 20th century Catholic sanctity that he claims to have learned the contents of the Third Secret of Fatima. According to Fr. Amorth, Padre Pio said that the Third Secret pertained to the infiltration of the Vatican by Satan and the rise of a “false church” – details that are not found in the Vatican’s official publication of the Third Secret in 2000. Below we publish details of the interview with Fr. Amorth:

In the interview, Fr. Amorth relates — as he has done elsewhere — that he does not believe the consecration of the world by Pope John Paul II in 1984 was sufficient to satisfy the requirements set forth by Our Lady.

“There was no such consecration then,” he [Father Amorth] says. “I witnessed the act. I was in St. Peter’s Square that Sunday afternoon, very close to the Pope; so close, I could almost touch him.”

Pressed by Zavala as to why he so forcefully believes that the consecration was not done, Fr. Amorth replied: “Very simple: John Paul II wanted to mention Russia expressly, but in the end he did not.”

Fr. Amorth said further: “I have no doubt that the consecration did not occur on the terms required by the Virgin. But we must not lose sight of what she herself wanted to tell us through Lucia: ‘In the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph.’”

Zavala then asked about the Third Secret: “Forgive me for insisting on the Third Secret of Fatima: Did Padre Pio relate it, then, to the loss of faith within the Church?”

Fr. Gabriele furrows his brow and sticks out his chin. He seems very affected.

“Indeed,” he states, “One day Padre Pio said to me very sorrowfully: ‘You know, Gabriele? It is Satan who has been introduced into the bosom of the Church and within a very short time will come to rule a false Church.’”

“Oh my God! Some kind of Antichrist! When did he prophesy this to you?” I [Zavala] ask.

“It must have been about 1960, since I was already a priest then.”

“Was that why John XXIII had such a panic about publishing the Third Secret of Fatima, so that the people wouldn’t think that he was the anti-pope or whatever it was …?”

A slight but knowing smile curls the lips of Father Amorth.

“Did Padre Pio say anything else to you about future catastrophes: earthquakes, floods, wars, epidemics, hunger …? Did he allude to the same plagues prophesied in the Holy Scriptures?” [asks Mr. Zavala]

“Nothing of the sort mattered to him, however terrifying they proved to be, except for the great apostasy within the Church. This was the issue that really tormented him and for which he prayed and offered a great part of his suffering, crucified out of love.” [says Fr. Amorth]

“The Third Secret of Fatima?”

“Exactly.”

“Is there any way to avoid something so terrible, Fr. Gabriele?”

“There is hope, but it’s useless if it’s not accompanied by works. Let us begin by consecrating Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, let us recite the Holy Rosary, let us all do prayer and penance …”∎

by Maike Hickson, http://www.onepeterfive.com

July 1, 2017 by paulsimeon2014

Pope Benedict XVI: “The Lord Wins in the End”

In a most unusual message to five newly-minted Cardinals, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had a few short, yet powerfully-relevant words: “The Lord wins in the end.”

The pope emeritus received the new cardinals along with Pope Francis, in the presence of media cameras, which are rare for the retired pontiff. Benedict XVI received each of the new cardinals and spoke to them in their own native tongue. After speaking with each of the cardinals, he left them with highly-relevant words, taken within the context of today’s crisis within the Church: “The Lord wins in the end. Thank you all.”

These six short words have rich meaning in today’s context, and we can glean from them these important points:

First, it is an acknowledgement that the Church – and the Faith – is in the midst of a major, important struggle. Although the Church has always been beset by crises and challenges, today’s crisis far outweighs many of the past crisis. We see today bishops publicly sparring with fellow bishops, cardinals against cardinals. We see the papal encyclical Amoris Laetitia splitting the Church. Some bishops conferences have interpreted Amoris Laetitia in a heretodox manner, opening up access to the Holy Eucharist to people living in sin (divorced and remarried), redefining the Catholic understanding of hell and eternal punishment (“No one can be condemned forever, because that is not the logic of the gospel”), and many other issues. On the other side, we have loyal bishops conferences and cardinals who have remained true to the perpetual Magisterium of the Church. Five cardinals have even publicly asked the Pope for clarification amid the doubts raised by Amoris. The Church is in the midst of a creeping schism that threatens to grow wider and wider.
Second, Benedict XVI’s words give us the impression that the Lord doesn’t seem to be winning, at least at this point in time. Highly-liberal, radical bishops and cardinals have rapidly taken over key positions in Church leaderships. Faithful cardinals who are loyal to the traditional teaching of the Church have been slowly eased out. Many of the key leaders in the Pope Benedict XVI era have been pushed out of key roles, such as Cardinal Raymund Burke, and now reportedly even Cardinal Muller, Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.
The last point is that Benedict XVI gives us words of hope amid the dark clouds that we face in the Church. He is telling faithful clergy and lay faithful – do not worry, God is in control, He will always win in the end.

The times we live in are unprecedented. As Cardinal Muller said, it is the first time in history that we have two legitimate popes living.

Archbishop Ganswein, papal secretary to both Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, has called the situation of two popes a “wake up call”. During an interview, Ganswein was referred to an old prophecy that has recently gained traction in some clerical discussions: The “Prophesy of the Popes.” Also known as the “Prophesy of Malachy,” the prediction is attributed to Saint Philipp Neri – according to which, Pope Francis may be considered to be the last pope. Ganswein said:

Indeed, when looking at the prophecy, and considering how there was always a sound reference to popes mentioned in its history – that gives me the shivers,” Archbishop Gänswein admitted. Although Catholics aren’t required to accept the prophecy, “speaking from historical experience, one has to say: Yes, it is a wake-up call.

We cannot help but recall here as well Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich’s prophecy of the two popes, wherein there would be a false pope in the end times who will lead the Church into error:

I saw also the relationship between the two popes. . . I saw how baleful (harmful) would be the consequences of this false church. I saw it increase in size; heretics of every kind came into the city (of Rome). The local clergy grew lukewarm, and I saw a great darkness…

The Lord wins in the end! May the words of Benedict XVI inspire us to carry on the fight to proclaim the Truth and the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

June 27, 2017 by paulsimeon2014

Is Pope Francis Promoting a A New Kind of Cross?

Is Pope Francis looking to promote a “new kind” of Cross – one that does NOT include Jesus Christ? On numerous occasions, the Pope has used, received as a gift, and even kissed crosses whose design does not include Jesus, and which bear startling resemblance to occult symbolism. In this article, we review three of these important instances where the Pope was publicly seen with the “new” crosses.

A “Snake” Cross in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BRAZIL-POPE-WYD-CARDINALS-BISHOPS During his visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for World Youth Day on July 27, 2013, Pope Francis was seen holding a most unusual cross during a meeting with cardinals and bishops.

The Pope was likewise seen kissing the unusual cross (with what seems like a serpent’s head) during the same meeting. The original photo can still be found in Getty Images.

A Communist Cross in Bolivia

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On July 8, 2015, Pope Francis received – and subsequently kept – a “Communist crucifix” as a gift from Bolivian President Evo Morales (left). The cross was presented by President Morales to Pope Francis upon his arrival in Bolivia during his South American tour.

According to reports, Morales told Francis that the “Communist crucifix” was modeled on a design created by the Rev. Luis Espinal, a politically active priest killed in Bolivia in 1980. The Pope stopped and prayed at the site of the shooting of Rev. Espinal.

One of Espinal’s friends and fellow Jesuits, the Rev. Xavier Albo, said Espinal’s intent was for the church to be in dialogue with Marxism, and said Espinal had altered his crucifix to incorporate the Communists’ most potent symbol: the hammer and sickle. Espinal was one of the foremost proponents of Liberation Theology – a Marxist-leaning theology movement born in South America that was condemned by both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.

In an interview with the press on his way back to Rome after the trip, the Pope defended the “Communist cross” and praised Espinal:

Espinal was an enthusiast of this Marxist analysis of the reality, but also of theology using Marxism. From this, he came up with this work. Also the poetry of Espinal was of this kind of protest. But, it was his life, it was his thought. He was a special man, with so much human geniality, who fought in good faith, no? Making a hermeneutic like this, I understand this work. For me it wasn’t an offense, but I had to do this hermeneutic, and I say it to you so that there aren’t any wrong opinions.

Feast of Corpus Christi

On June 18, 2017, during the Feast of Corpus Christi, Pope Francis held another different version of the Cross without the image of Jesus Christ. Photo above shows the Pope holding the unusual Cross.

Many Catholic commentators, including priests such as Fr. Kevin Cusick, expressed serious concerns about the “new cross” that the Pope publicly carried. See below the Twitter reaction of Fr. Cusick.

“A New Form of the Cross Will be Introduced”

Both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI had never deviated from the traditional design of the Cross, which has as its center the person of Jesus Christ. This historically unique situation – of a living Pope seemingly introducing unusual, different interpretations of the Cross – reminds us of a prophecy given to Maria Divine Mercy, an Irish seer who has received numerous messages and prophecies from the Holy Trinity since 2010. Click on this article for a more comprehensive and critical analysis of Maria Divine Mercy – The Book of Truth: A Critical Review.

One of those prophecies included a prediction that “a new form of the cross will be introduced”.

In a message given on April 30, 2013 to Maria Divine Mercy, Jesus warned about the upcoming “new form of the cross” that was to be introduced by the False Prophet:

The letter is being written now to beckon all those in the service of the Catholic Church. Soon, all of My sacred servants will be informed of the changes, which they will be told are for the good of the Church.

The new rules, which will see amendments made to prayers during the Holy Mass, will seem innocent. To many, they won’t notice the significance, but it will relate to the Holy Eucharist and My Presence within It. The word ‘commemorate’ will be used and all churches will soon be stripped bare of their treasures. The taking of treasures, including gold Tabernacles – which will be replaced by those made of wood and stone – will be one of the signs that they are being gathered for the New World Religion.

Churches will be changed within their walls and this will involve the desecration of altars. The Monstrance, holding the Holy Eucharist, will begin to disappear and the days when My Holy Host is exposed will come to an end.

Cast scorn upon My Word now, and you will weep tears when these acts are brought before you. Soon, not long afterwards, the garments worn by My sacred servants, will be altered and a new form of the Cross will be introduced. The new atrocity will not be based on the simple cross. Instead it will feature, discreetly, the head of the beast.

I ask you to gather My holy Crosses now and keep them in your homes, along with Holy Water. I urge all of you to hold onto the Truth of what I have told you. Then I want you to trust in Me completely. Never believe that I Am leaving you at the mercy of the evil one. I will remain close to you at all times. I will pour special blessings on the heads of My beloved, loyal sacred servants to keep them entwined with My Sacred Heart.

June 23, 2017 by paulsimeon2014

Vatican doctrine chief: Amoris Laetitia cannot be interpreted in a way that refutes previous teachings of popes

Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, said that Amoris Laetitia cannot be interpreted in a way that contradicts magisterial teachings of previous popes and councils.

In his December 1, 2016 interview with the domradio.de, the radio station of the Diocese of Cologne, Germany, the Vatican’s doctrine chief said:

The binding declarations of the popes, of the Councils of Trent and of the Second Vatican Council and of the Congregation for the Faith on the essential characteristics of marriage and on the precondition for a fruitful reception of the Sacraments in the state of justifying [i.e., sanctifying] grace may not be pushed aside by anyone under the pretext that marriage is, after all, merely an ideal which only can be reached by a very small number of people.

Regarding Communion for “remarried” divorced Catholics, Muller cites a 1994 letter by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, which denied the possibility for bishops to permit Communion for the couples in question. The letter by Cardinal Ratzinger was a response to a 1993 Pastoral Letter of three progressive German bishops (one of them being the then-Bishop Walter Kasper) who were then already pushing for Communion for the “divorced and remarried.”

The indissolubility of marriage must be “the unshaken foundation of teaching and of every pastoral accompaniment,” Müller emphasizes.

Cardinal Müller likewise said:

The Holy Father, at the same time, wishes to help all people whose marriages and families are in a crisis to find a path in accordance with the ever-merciful will of God. We can always assume that the just and merciful God always wants our salvation in whatever need we find ourselves. But it does not stand in the power of the Magisterium to correct God’s Revelation or to make the imitation of Christ comfortable.

As a follow-up question, the interviewer asked Muller: “Would the bishops’ conferences thus then be asked to help? Francis himself, after all, writes in Amoris Laetitia that not all questions need to be clarified in Rome….”

When answering this pertinent question, the German Cardinal first explains that bishops’ conferences “are merely working groups with certain competences” and, thus, are not of “Divine Law.” He continues:

Only in fidelity to the teaching of the Apostles, to the whole of the revealed Faith, can the bishops of a conference speak, for example, about the pastoral application of Amoris Laetitia. Otherwise, the Church would disintegrate into national churches and, in the end, would atomize. The Sacrament of Marriage, however, is in Korea just as valid as it is in Germany.

When asked whether the individual bishop may make his own independent decision as a response to Amoris Laetitia, Muller responded that “Nor can the individual bishops do whatever they want according to their own private taste. They are servants, not masters of the Faith.”

Muller emphasized that marriage is not an “ideal” to which we aspire to, but rather a Sacrament founded by God Himself:

Marriage is in truth not a wishful image produced by ourselves, but, rather, a Sacrament, that is to say a reality founded by God Himself. It is an expression of the Mercy of the Creator and of the Redeemer. God does not put excessive demands upon us so that he then can show His Mercy toward us in the face of our own failure. With the help of Grace, we are able to fulfill the Commandments – among them the Sixth Commandment – and thus find peace of heart in a life in accordance with God’s will. ∎

by Paul Michaels, Veritas

June 21, 2017 by paulsimeon2014

Revisiting the Story of Medjugorje

More than 40 million pilgrims have visited Medjugorje in the last three decades – despite a previous lack of official Vatican recognition. Photo above shows a procession in Medjugorje led by several priests.

On June 24, 1981, in a small town in Bosnia-Hercegovina called Medjugorje, the Blessed Virgin Mary started appearing to six young children. Since the apparitions began, an estimated 40 million people from all over the world have visited Medjugorje. Thousands of healings and deep conversions have been reported. Even today, more than 36 years after the apparitions began, some of the seers still receive daily messages from Our Lady. Our Lady has mentioned that the apparitions in Medjugorje will be her last apparition on earth. Similar to other apparitions of Our Lady like Fatima, the apparitions in Medjugorje predict future important, world-changing events – a series of ten secrets entrusted to the seers that will be revealed very soon to mankind.

Why Did Our Lady Appear in Medjugorje?

On the third day of the apparitions of Our Lady, Ivanka, one of the visionaries, asked Our Lady why she came. She responded: “I have come because there are many true believers here. I wish to be with you to convert and to reconcile the whole world…”

Mirjana asked the Lady who she was, and the Lady responded, “I am the Blessed Virgin Mary.” The children requested from the Lady a sign to prove the apparition to those who didn’t see her. She responded: “Blessed are those who have not seen and who believe.”

After the apparition had ended, the six children began going down the hill. Marija, who was more fleet-footed, went ahead of everyone else. On her way down, suddenly she felt a mysterious force push her off to the side of the trail. Our Lady then appeared to her alone, with a bare wooden cross behind her. The Lady was very sad, and speaking through tears, said: “Peace, Peace, Peace! Be reconciled! Only Peace. Make your peace with God and among yourselves. For that, it is necessary to believe, to pray, to fast, and to go to confession.”

And thus, on the third day, the purpose of the apparitions were made clear. Our Lady had come to convert and reconcile the whole world to God.

The Ten Secrets

Our Lady has revealed ten secrets to the children – secrets foretelling future events that will occur very soon.

One of the secrets involves a “visible sign” that will be given to mankind that will appear on the site of the apparitions in Medjugorje for all the people to see. The sign will be given as a testimony, confirming the apparitions and in order to call people back to faith.

Before this visible sign is given to mankind, there will be three warnings to the world. The warnings will be in the form of events on earth. Mirjana will be a witness to them. Ten days before one of the admonitions, Mirjana will notify a priest of her choice (Fr. Petar Ljubicic), who will then fast for seven days and announce the secret to the world.

The ninth and tenth secrets are serious. They concern chastisement for the sins of the world. Punishment is inevitable, for we cannot expect the whole world to be converted. The punishment can be diminished by prayer and penance, but it cannot be eliminated. Mirjana says that one of the evils that threatened the world, the one contained in the seventh secret, has been averted thanks to prayer and fasting. That is why the Blessed Virgin continues to encourage prayer and fasting.

The Church’s Final Period of Trial

Mirjana has related an apparition she had in 1982 which sheds light on current events happening in the Church. She spoke of an apparition in which Satan appeared to her, asking her to renounce the Madonna and follow him. Mirjana rejected him, and immediately the Virgin gave her the following message, in substance:

Excuse me for this, but you must realize that Satan exists. One day he appeared before the throne of God and asked permission to submit the Church to a period of trial. God gave him permission to try the Church for one century. This century is under the power of the devil, but when the secrets confided to you come to pass, his power will be destroyed. Even now he is beginning to lose his power and has become aggressive. He is destroying marriages, creating division among priests and is responsible for obsessions and murder. You must protect yourselves against these things through fasting and prayer, especially community prayer. Carry blessed objects with you. Put them in your house, and restore the use of holy water.

How to Prepare for the Forthcoming Events

In a July 30, 1987 message, Our Lady said: “Dear children, this is the reason for my presence among you for such a long time: to lead you on the path of Jesus. I want to save you and, through you, to save the whole world. Many people now live without faith; some don’t even want to hear about Jesus, but they still want peace and satisfaction! Children, here is the reason why I need your prayer: prayer is the only way to save the human race.”

When the visionaries were asked of the secrets: “What should we do? How should we prepare? Should we be afraid?” – they gave the following answers.

Mirjana: “Our Lady’s messages here, prepare us for what is to come. She calls us to conversion now which means complete surrender to God. If we do that, we are not afraid, not even of death.”

Ivanka: “Nothing should frighten us except disobeying God’s Will.”

Vicka: “People should not be afraid if they are prepared. If we are afraid of these kinds of things, we don’t have confidence in God. Fear of this kind does not come from God. It can only come from Satan who wants to disturb us, so that we close ourselves to God and are not able to pray. With God, you can only have confidence – and strength to go through any troubles. The best preparation is to pray every day, go to Mass, and read the Bible. With prayer and penance the chastisements can be lessened. I can only say: prepare. For all eternity, you will thank God if you do.”

Marija: “This is a time of great grace and mercy. Now is the time to listen to these messages and to change our lives. Those who do will never be able to thank God enough.” ∎