Monday, August 31, 2020

Thy Will Be Done



Private revelations will always arise to vex Traditionalists. To make the terminology clear, "private revelation" has nothing to do with the number of persons that claim to have seen and/or experienced something supernatural. "Public Revelation" refers to the Divine Deposit of Revelation given to the Church for all human beings to believe, so that they may be saved. Public Revelation ended with the death of the last Apostle, St. John, in 100 AD. Private revelation refers to all communication by God (directly or indirectly) with humans after Public Revelation ended. Most private revelations concern apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Jesus Christ. From the founding of the Church to the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, only seventeen (17) apparitions of Mary have explicit or implicit Church approval.  

I've dubbed as Apparitionists those who exalt private revelations and apparitions whether approved by the Church (such as Our Lady of Fatima) or not (such as Our Lady of the Roses) over the teaching of the Church. They obsess over the alleged "true meanings" of messages (as if salvation depended on them), or even accept them to the exclusion of authentic Church doctrines in some area(s). There will always be those who claim to have private revelations in order to "correctly interpret" other private revelations, and those who claim to have unique private revelations--all post-Vatican II. In both cases, there is no hierarchy to approve or condemn them. Then there is another category; those private revelations which were reported pre-Vatican II and no final determination was passed before the Great Apostasy, and questions remain as to the authenticity of some or all of the alleged "messages." 

In this latter category is the work of one Luisa Piccarreta. Her biography is written succinctly by one Vatican II sect "priest" Bernardino Bucci on one of several websites dedicated to her and the message of "The Divine Will:"
The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta was born in Corato in the Province of Bari, Italy on April 23, 1865 and died there in the odor of sanctity on March 4, 1947.

Luisa from her very birth was given a mystical life, for example, at the age of 17 she received the Mystical Union that Saint John of the Cross, Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint Catherine of Sienna received right before they died. After this mystical Union Jesus asked Luisa if she would stay in bed and because of her “Fiat!”, He taught Luisa about the Life of the Divine Will, forming It first in her.

For the next 64 years until her death Luisa stayed in bed basically not eating, drinking or sleeping. Luisa was nourished by receiving the Most Holy Eucharist during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass daily said in her room. This special blessing was given by Pope Saint Pious (sic) X and Pope Leo XIII his predecessor. Luisa also lived on the food of the Divine Will, which Jesus said in the Gospels, “a food that you do not know of….”

During that time through great sufferings and a sublime call to holiness Jesus taught Luisa about the fulfillment of the Our Father, the prayer that Jesus taught His Apostles.

Jesus taught Luisa that now is the time for the Kingdom of God to reign on earth as in Heaven. Jesus dictated 36 Volumes of the doctrine of the Divine Will, which He gave the title “The Kingdom of the Fiat in the Midst of Creatures. Book of Heaven – The Recall of the Creature into the Order, to Its Place and into the Purpose for Which He was Created by God”, to teach Luisa how to “Live” in the Divine Will. This is different than the devotional life of the Saints which is “doing” the Will of God.

These Volumes were basically dictated in three sections: in the first section, Volumes 1-10, Jesus shows Luisa how to become a Divine Mirror of Jesus Himself. In the second section, Volumes 11-19, Jesus shows Luisa how to “Live” in the Divine Will through the Power of the Holy Spirit. In the third section, Volumes 20-36, Jesus shows Luisa how to receive the Divine Inheritance of the Father.

In humble obedience Luisa, under the constant direction of the Church, faithfully wrote all that Jesus Himself wanted her to put down on paper. This would be not only for herself but for those who would read it, so that they too could “Live” in the Divine Will as Luisa learned how to “Live” in the Divine Will, by putting into practice these “Truths” taught by Jesus and Mary.

In additon (sic) to the 36 Volumes Jesus dictated the book, “The Hours of the Passion” and Our Lady dictated the book, “Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will” to Luisa. Jesus told her Confessor, St.(sic) Annibale Maria Di Francia, through Luisa, that these 36 Volumes are to be called: “The Book of Heaven.”

Pope (sic) John Paul II canonized St. Annibale and declared him to be the Saint for our time to pray to for Vocations. (See https://bookofheaven.com/who-is-luisa/). 

There is much wrong with what "Fr" Bucci wrote which will become apparent in this post. To name but two such problems:
  • There is no proof of the miraculous happenings he claims as fact; the Church never passed definitive judgement
  • Some of her works were ordered placed on the Index of Prohibited Books by the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office in 1938 under Pope Pius XI 
The purpose of this post is to put forth the teaching of the Church regarding the purpose of private revelations, and what the Catholic position should be regarding them. I will then examine the works regarding The Divine Will written by Luisa Piccaretta, and the position of the Church concerning them.

The Meaning and Role of Private Revelations
Definition of Private Revelation and Its Usefulness
According to theologian Volken, a private revelations are heavenly and verbal manifestations of the Divine Will made to man in an extraordinary way in order to direct human activity in a particular situation of life of private persons or of humanity in general. Theologian Volken goes on to explain what this definition means in detail. Heavenly refers to the agent(s) which must be either an intermediary of God such as angels, saints, the Blessed Mother, or God Himself, as was the case with Christ's revelations regarding His Most Sacred Heart. 

Verbal manifestations means that it cannot be purely visual; something audible either to the human ear or directly to the brain must be heard. Divine Will designates the object of the revelations. The subject of the revelation is Man whether that is a singular person, several people, children, adults, clerics, laymen, etc. The manifestation is made in an extraordinary way to the recipient, not through the Magisterium.  Direct human activity in a particular situation of life means that God intervenes to help either a private person(s) or humanity in general to do something beneficial to eternal salvation given the current situation in the world. Hence, Christ sent His Mother to the children at Fatima to warn humanity about the reality of Hell (the belief in which had begun to wane substantially) and introduce devotion to Mary's Immaculate Heart as a special spiritual remedy. (See Visions, Revelations, and the Church [1961], pgs. 231-233). 

Volken reminds us that private revelations "cannot commit the Church or the Divine and Catholic Faith which has for its object the unaltered mysteries, revealed once for all time." (Ibid, pgs. 232-233). In other words, they are not part of the Deposit of Faith, and no private revelation, including those deemed "worthy of belief" by the Church, need to be accepted by Catholics. 

How Private Revelations are Abused
Volken hits the nail on the head, I believe, as to why Catholics become obsessive over private revelations. The more precious a good thing is, the more dangerous is its abuse. And revelations are a very precious things for they help us to conform our lives to the plan which God has for us in a particular situation. They are equally precious because of the way in which they act upon men. They come as a surprise and engage Man's feelings and his attention in such a way that they are effective in cases where other methods would not be. 

It is chiefly here that abuses creep in. Normally speaking, Man loves change (varietas delectat). He flees from the boredom that comes from the monotony of the actions of ordinary life. He feels the need for some new experience, some event, some sensation. In the spiritual life especially, in those periods of dryness when it becomes necessary to live by pure faith, the danger of abusing revelations is great. There are Christians who have an irresistible need to feel, to see, if possible, something staggering.  (Ibid, pgs. 257-258; Emphasis in original). This love of change and drive to experience something unique often will cause people to believe anyone who claims to have a private revelation, and it makes it equally interesting for them to try and "discern the true meanings" of approved private revelations, e.g., what did the Blessed Mother really mean when she said Portugal will always keep the Faith during her appearance at Fatima, etc. 

Another lure of private revelations is the idea of "get holy fast" spirituality that is wrongly attributed to devotions that emanate from such revelations.  I believe in the apparitions at Fatima. I wear the Five-Fold Scapular, have devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray the Rosary daily (adding the Fatima prayer at the end of each decade), and attend the First Saturday Mass whenever I can. These devotions are meant to be things that will bring us closer to God and His Mother, and I recommend them all to Traditionalists. However, there are those who treat these devotions incorrectly and in a superstitious manner. Some think that as long as they wear the Scapular and go to the Five First Saturdays, they can live like heathens, commit mortal sin with impunity, and they will go to Heaven because they have turned the devotion into some "licence to sin." 

 What are we to make of private revelations that seem good, seem to bear good fruit, but have not been fully approved by the Church? Theologian Volken gives this guiding principle which I have taken from his work and condensed as follows:

 Every revelation must be rejected a priori if its context is opposed to Church teaching. In places where the Scripture speaks most explicitly of the discernment of spirits and where it urges Christians to "try the spirits if they be of God," it gives only one criterion which is of a doctrinal nature. "By this the spirit of God is known:every spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God: and every spirit that dissolveth Jesus is not of God." (1 John 4: 2-3). That must be understood as teaching that every private revelation which does not confess Christ as God, and in anyway derogates ("dissolveth") Him by rejecting the teaching of His One True Church, is not of God and must be rejected.

An Examination of  Luisa Piccarreta's "Divine Will" Revelation
  Luisa Piccarreta's revelations can be summarized as follows:
  • There are three great eras in the Church which correspond to three great fiats (loosely "let it [Thy Will] be done)
  • The first fiat is God creating all things by His Word, and it is the "Age of Creation"
  • The second fiat was made by the Blessed Virgin Mary: “let it be done to me according to thy word" at the Annunciation, and this is the  "Age of Redemption" 
  • The third fiat will be accomplished by Luisa Piccarreta's own "let it be done to me" that is equal to both Creation and the Blessed Virgin Mary. With Luisa’s fiat, the Age of the Kingdom of the Divine Will ("KDW") has come to Earth and is available to all who will say “yes” to the Divine Will in which all of creation will be restored to a manner of life equal to that of Adam and Eve before the Fall. 
  • How is this amazing Age of KDW to come about? You must become familiar with Luisa’s writings, and fervently ask for the gift of "becoming one" with God's Divine Will. You must have recourse to Luisa’s writings. "Jesus" refers to her as the “second mother” to the Church, surpassed in sanctity only by the Blessed Virgin Mary.
  • Followers of Divine Will believe we are living now in the last days; they cite private revelations, both approved, like LaSalette, and unapproved
  • When you become one with God's Will, your actions become purely divine. The holiness achieved will make that of all the saints prior seem insignificant in comparison. KDW will "renew the face of the Earth." 
Condemned by the Holy Office
The Vatican examined all volumes of Piccarreta's writings and placed three works on the Index of Prohibited Books. The decree reads as follows:

Wednesday, July 13, 1938: In the general session of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, the most eminent and reverent cardinals charged with the defense of the faith and good morals, after obtaining the vote of the reverend consultors, have condemned and ordered inserted into the Index of prohibited books the following works written by Luisa  Piccarreta and published by others at different times in several places:

1. The Hours of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with a Treatise of the Divine Will

2.In the Kingdom of the Divine Will

3. The Queen of Heaven in the Kingdom of the Divine Will 

The following day, Thursday the 14th, of the same month and year, our most Holy Father by Divine Providence, Pope Pius XI, in the usual audience dedicated to the most excellent and reverent assessor of the Holy Office, approved the most eminent fathers' decision that had been presented to him; he confirmed it and ordered it published.

Piccarreta immediately submitted to the decision of the Holy Office. An archdiocesan bulletin concludes that anyone possessing prohibited books must have special permission to do so, or else they are to be destroyed. (See The Sun of My Will by Luisa Piccarreta and translated by Carol Glatz [2015], pgs. 254-259). 

So if the Holy Office condemned three of her works but not the others, are they safe to read?  The problems with KDW and the objections of the devotees will be considered next. 

The Problems with "KDW"
The problems with Piccarreta's writings/revelations are numerous, but they come down mostly to the following:

1. Divine Revelation and the Spiritual Status of Piccarreta. 
KDW claims that God's Will cannot be perfectly followed using the Deposit of Divine Revelation which is perfected and to which nothing can be added. Humanity can reach a height of perfection hitherto only known by Adam and Eve prior to the Fall (i.e., the State of Original Justice) and the Immaculate Virgin Mary. This brings up two immediate problems:
  • The Deposit of Revelation ended with the death of St. John, the last Apostle. According to theologian Salaverri, "We are saying that it [Divine Revelation] was completed with the Apostles, not necessarily personally, but at least temporally and virtually, so that after the death of St. John the Apostle there is then no more objective, public, and universal Divine Revelation." (See Sacrae Theologiae Summa: IB, [1955], pg. 282; Emphasis mine). 
  • It exalts Piccarreta to a greater height than St. Joseph and St. John the Baptist. Pope Pius IX in  Quemadmodum Deus states,"Because of this sublime dignity which God conferred on his most faithful servant, the Church has always most highly honored and praised blessed Joseph next to his spouse, the Virgin Mother of God, and has besought his intercession in times of trouble." In St. Matthew 11:11 we read, "Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist..." KDW even implies a certain equity between Piccarreta and the Immaculate Virgin Mary which is offensive to pious ears and blasphemous, if not heretical.  
2. Implied Pantheism.
KDW teaches that a person's will is completely taken over by that of God. Once more, two salient problems arise:
  • In Piccarreta's writing entitled Book of Heaven, pg. 29, "[A]bandoning oneself completely in my Will destroys one's own essence and causes one to re-acquire the Divine Essence..."
This teaching cannot be reconciled with the teaching of the Church.

Infallible Canons of the Vatican Council of 1870:
3. If anyone says that the substance or essence of God and that of all things are one and the same: let him be anathema.

4. If anyone says that finite things, both corporal and spiritual, or at any rate, spiritual, emanated from the divine substance; or that the divine essence, by the manifestation and evolution of itself becomes all things or, finally, that God is a universal or indefinite being which by self determination establishes the totality of things distinct in genera, species and individuals: let him be anathema.

Infallible Canon on Justification from the Council of Trent:
4. If anyone says that man's free will moved and aroused by God, by assenting to God's call and action, in no way cooperates toward disposing and preparing itself to obtain the grace of justification, that it cannot refuse its assent if it wishes, but that, as something inanimate, it does nothing whatever and is merely passive, let him be anathema.

Pope Innocent XI, Apostolic Constitution Coelestis Pastor, Condemning the Errors of Quietism:
CONDEMNED Proposition #5:
By doing nothing the soul annihilates itself and returns to its beginning and to its origin, which is the essence of God, in which it remains transformed and divinized, and God then remains in himself, because then the two things are no more united, but are one alone, and in this manner God lives and reigns in us, and the soul annihilates itself in operative being. ...

  • There is a logical corollary that if the Divine Will is only operative in a person (reminding one of the Monopysite Christological heresy) it is impossible for them to sin.

3. How Does the KDW Fit with Vatican II and the End Times?
How does the Vatican II sect and the coming of the Antichrist (whenever that might be) fit in with the "third fiat" and the Age of the Kingdom of the Divine Will? It seems that Church teaching on eschatology (the last things) goes out the window. None of this fits (or even attempts to fit) in with Church teaching regarding the Second Coming, etc. Piccarreta died in 1947 and there are no warnings regarding Vatican II which began a mere 15 years after her death. Most adherents of these private revelations are R&R or members of the Vatican II sect because (a) they have no problem recognizing Vatican II and Bergoglio, and (b) they have no problem holding contradictory and un-Catholic points of view. 

Conclusion: KDW is bad news and should be rejected as the Church has rejected it.

Objections Answered
1. Luisa Piccarreta was very holy. She submitted to the decision of the Holy Office immediately. 

Reply: I'm not questioning Luisa Piccarreta's faith or morals. Very holy people can fall victim to delusions of the mind or the devil and be subjectively blameless. The reason for the condemnation from the Holy Office was at least partially addressed.  In its edition of September 11, 1938, L'Osservatore Romano noted that "the three books covered by this decree would not have ordinarily merited particular consideration, in view of their small size and limited weight. But they were condemned because they represent a false and dangerous mysticism which is frequent in our days. The principal subject of the writings of Luisa Piccarreta is the Divine Will, conceived in an exaggerated and erroneous manner and presented in language and terminology super-abounding with inexactitudes and extravagances. The small volumes in question have already appeared in numerous editions and have been translated into other languages.... For this reason it was opportune to put the faithful on their guard.(See http://web.archive.org/web/20010725050710/http://www.petersnet.net/research/retrieve.cfm?RecNum=229; Emphasis mine). 

2. The Holy Office changed its decisions before. The Mystical City of God was on the Index and later removed. 

Reply: In 1681, the Holy Office censured the book by Mary of Agreda, and on August 4 of the same year included it on the Index of Forbidden Books. By order of Pope Blessed Innocent XI, however, the decree of condemnation was removed three months later after it was shown that a faulty French translation was at the basis for the censure.  You'd be hard pressed to find all the problems in Piccarreta's writings cured by an incorrect/inaccurate translation that wasn't caught from 1938 until 1958 when the last true pope died. Moreover, Piccarreta lived nine years after the condemnation, most probably wrote in Italian (the native language of most of the members of the Holy Office and of Pope Pius XI), and no explanation sufficient to remove the condemnation was given. 

3. The books were removed from the Index in 1966.

Reply: No. Montini, a false pope, "abolished" the Index. Piccarreta's works were never specifically removed. Moreover, even by Vatican II sect standards (very low of course), Ratzinger stated that the Index retains "moral force"--whatever that means. However, it does show that the books on it are still "frowned upon;" at least on paper. 

4. Sr/"St" Faustina's work regarding the Divine Mercy devotion was condemned by the Holy Office and was removed and given a feast day!

Reply: Yes, by a false pope (Wojtyla) which proves nothing. If anything, that just convinces me more that if the Modernist Vatican II sect likes it, it must be bad! 

5. Luisa Piccarreta's cause for beatification has been taken up by "Pope" Francis.

Reply: Yes, and if Wojtyla's approbation was bad, Bergoglio's is even worse! 

6. Can a sedevacantist read the works of KDW? We don't know if a real pope would have removed them from the Index or not.

Reply: Since we can't second guess the Magisterium, and we don't have a pope for now, we must abide by the last decisions made. Those three works stand condemned. Pope Leo XIII published Officiorum ac Munerum the most recent legislation on the Index (1897). Catholics should not read books or possess books that are on the Index. You could get a dispensation from your bishop pre-Vatican II. Since in most cases violations of the Index for a necessary reason (to further refute an error, required reading in a college course, etc) are venial sins, in my opinion, a just cause would probably excuse from sin since such dispensations cannot be had. (This is just a layman's opinion, but the Church did hold that just cause without permission was venial sin as per Pope Leo.) It is not necessary to burn the books, as this did not come from the Holy Office, nor is it required by the legislation of Pope Leo; it appears to be the declaration of a solitary bishop that was circulated and would only bind the faithful of his diocese, if such decree was made. 

I believe that smoking and chewing tobacco would be a sin today if we had a pope, given all we now know about the inherent harm of smoking, and our duty to take reasonable good care of our bodies imposed on all humans by the Fifth Commandment. However, I have NO Magisterial authority and refuse to "invent sins." I choose not to smoke and I think those who do use tobacco are foolish and inviting health problems. As to sinfulness, I cannot declare anything sinful that has not been so decided by the Church. The same logic holds for all those who wish to second guess the Church and think that a true pope would rehabilitate the works of Picarretta. You set yourself up with authority you do not possess. 

7. What about the volumes written by Piccarreta that were NOT condemned? Can we read those?

Reply: What I said above applies. If the Church has not condemned the other books, I have no authority to do so--they stand without censure. You can read them. Two points: (1) Just because the Church did not condemn them, does not mean the Church endorses them.  It is only private revelations. (2) Can you trust the writings of someone who had three works condemned? If there was a chef who made great food, but accidentally put poison in the meals of three guests, killing them, would you trust him to cook for you? How much more vigilant must we be with our souls over and above our bodies? 

Conclusion
I can't stress enough that we need to focus on what the Church teaches to fight the Vatican II sect. Private revelations should not occupy our thoughts and efforts. Yes, the Rosary, and devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus all came from private revelations. Do not forget those revelations were approved by the Church and all those devotions were complimentary to the Deposit of Divine Revelation; they did not "add anything," nor did they contradict anything. With all these beautiful and truly Catholic devotions, why bother with KDW? 

If you seek true spiritual growth, read from the great saints such as St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St Francis de Sales, and St. Ignatius Loyola, to name but four. Let the Vatican II sect members and the R&R worry about Luisa Piccarreta and her writings. They can argue over whether her works should be rehabilitated and declared worthy of belief. We need not get involved in this "Battle of Wills." 

61 comments:

  1. The controversy about visions cuts both ways: the Modernists and their operatives never seem to have a problem with false or unapproved visions - they boost the questionable and outright scandalous, such as Bayside and Medjugorge, and critize worthy apparitions like Lourdes and Fatima. I was very disturbed, once, to read a dismissal of Fatima as a "hoax". The writer, who seemed pious, told about the reports from the children of Our Lady wearing an immodest short skirt, and that the children themselves were prone to lying and were deceitful.
    Anna Katharina Emmerich is a subject of growing controversy, too. I always found her writings to be inspiring. Although I never heard anything negative from any Trad priest about her or MCOG, I dont know exactly what the Church had to say about it officially, before V2. As you say, the takeaway is always be careful and heed the findings of the True Church in this matter.
    Jannie

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    1. Jannie,
      So true. Phony apparitions and revelation will receive approval from the V2 sect because they endorse the false popes. Hence, Garabandal, Medjugorje, and even Bayside get an official (or tacit) nod of approval.

      Fatima is scorned as it speaks of Hell and Satanic infiltration of the Church in the Third Secret.

      God Bless,

      —-Introibo

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  2. Great article, and I agree that private apparitions are not the be all and end all of the Faith - but just to note that Fr. Bernardino Bucci was ordained in 1964 from what I looked up :)

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    1. @anon9:30
      Thank you for the information! I read something about him in an anonymous pamphlet (not exactly a sterling source, but he was not the focus of my post) that indicated his ordination was 1969. If it was 1964, I retract my quotes around “Fr.”— he is validly ordained.

      God Bless,

      —-Introibo

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  3. Perhaps I am too cautious but I steer clear of all "revelations" and "apparitions", etc. I have seen too much damage done by and to those who seek and obsessively follow such.

    JoAnn

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  4. Forgive my ignorance but what does KDW stand for?

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    1. @anon1:20
      “Kingdom of the Divine Will” It was explained above in this paragraph:

      The third fiat will be accomplished by Luisa Piccarreta's own "let it be done to me" that is equal to both Creation and the Blessed Virgin Mary. With Luisa’s fiat, the Age of the Kingdom of the Divine Will ("KDW") has come to Earth and is available to all who will say “yes” to the Divine Will in which all of creation will be restored to a manner of life equal to that of Adam and Eve before the Fall.

      —-Introibo

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    2. Thank you. I skimmed over that part and didn't realize it.

      Delete
  5. One of the best-remembered episodes, according to a number of witnesses, was the time that Father Annibale di Francia took the book, The Hours of the Passion, to the Holy Father, now St. Pius X (who received him privately on a number of occasions, as did Popes Benedict XV and Pius XI as well). While showing it to him (Pope St. Pius X), he was reading a few pages when the pope interrupted him, saying, “Not while standing, Father; this book should be read kneeling. It is Jesus Christ who is speaking.”

    Reference: https://bookofheaven.com/who-is-luisa/st-annibale-maria-di-francia-apostle-of-the-divine-will/

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    1. @anon1:43
      Your citation comes from a website that is maintained by proponents of Luisa Piccarreta. There is no mention of who these “number of witnesses” are, and the site accepts the Vatican II sect as the Catholic Church.

      It fails to explain why the Holy Father, St Pius X, would not immediately give his approbation to her work if he thought it to be “Jesus Christ Who is speaking.” There is also an unexplained dissonance between the alleged statement of Pope St Pius X and the PROVEN condemnation by Pope Pius XI of three of her works. For all these reasons I believe the account on the website to be false.

      —-Introibo

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    2. The website may be named "bookofheaven.com" but there is only one book of heaven, namely the Bible. Jesus speaks through the Bible and through his Church. Why is this not enough for some people? It seems man is never satisfied and is constantly seeking a human oracle like unto himself. Isn't this man trying to become God or god like in his own eyes? My 2 cents.

      JoAnn

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  6. The statements in some of these accounts of "apparitions" that liken the seer to the Blessed Mother is where blasphemy meets delusion. I am thinking, for another example, of the Diary of Sr. Faustina in which she is supposedly referred to by God Himself as the most superlative of all creatures.
    Why this stuff doesn't raise red flags I just dont know.
    Jannie

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    1. Jannie,
      To anyone with Catholic sense, the red flags go flying. Wojtyla was many things. Catholic wasn’t one of them.

      God Bless,

      —-Introibo

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  7. "Annibale di Francia was the extraordinary confessor of Luisa Piccarreta, and it was he that published her works. Annibale belonged to that array of priests who built up the Church of God with their holiness and their institutions for orphans and abandoned children. The work of these men was of great benefit to Italy and the Church, in a period when anti-clericalism was triumphant. According to Aunt Rosaria, Fr. Di Francia enjoyed the great esteem of St. Pius X who willingly granted him private audiences. It seems that St. Pius X paid great attention to Luisa Piccarreta as Fr. Di Francia submitted her writings to him before having them printed. Aunt Rosaria affirmed that after reading some of Luisa's writings, especially her famous work on the Passion of Our Lord, published under the title L'orologio della Passione, St. Pius X said to him (Fr. Di Francia): 'dear father, you must read these writings on your knees, because it is Our Lord Jesus Christ who is speaking in them.' And it was the holy Pontiff who urged Fr. Annibale to publish them." p.p. 40-41

    "Aunt Rosaria remembered that Fr. Annibale once urged all the girls and Luisa's regular visitors to read and meditate upon the work (The Hours of the Passion). In giving it to them, Fr. Annibale said, 'before having the manuscript printed, I was received in audience by His Holiness Pius X, to whom I gave a copy. Several days later, having returned to see the Holy Father for matters concerning my new Congregation, he said these words: 'Have Luisa Piccarreta's L'orologio della Passione printed immediately. Read it on your knees, because it is our Lord who is speaking in it.'" p.p. 43-44

    Both passages are taken from the book, "Luisa Piccarreta A collection of memories of the Servant of God" by Father Bernardino Giuseppe Bucci, O.F.M. The author was ordained a priest forever on March 14, 1964, in the Capuchin church of Triggiano. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop Nicodemo of Bari.

    In addition, the work "The Hours of the Passion" by Luisa Piccarreta--before being put on the index--was granted the following nihil obstat's and impramatur's:

    First Edition
    Revisione arcivescovile, Naples, February 20, 1915
    Nihil Obstat: Francesco Sorrentino (Revisore eccl.)
    Impramateur: A. Can. Laviano, V.G.

    Second Edition
    Revisione arcivescovile, Naples, 1916
    Nihil Obstat: Francesco Sorrentino (Revisore eccl.)
    Impramateur: A. Can. Laviano, V.G.

    Third Edition
    Revisione arcivescovile, Naples, 1917
    Reimpramatur: Francesco Sorrentino (Revisore eccl.)

    Fourth Edition
    Messina, August 8, 1924
    Nihil Obstat: D. Prestifillipo, SJ

    Fifth Edition
    Taranto, Curia Archiepiscopale, August 28, 1934
    Nihil Obstat: Delegato dall'Arcviesco, Giuseppe Blandamura

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    1. @anon11:21

      1. Fr Bucci accepts the V2 sect. He is an apostate.

      2. The Imprimaturs and Nihil Obstats were granted by individual bishops, not Pope St Pius X

      3. The decision of the Holy Office supersedes any prior approval. The condemnations of the Holy Office must be personally approved by the Pope. Pope Pius XI did so. I sincerely doubt Pope Pius XI would condemn something approved but his saintly predecessor!

      4. Annibale’s sainthood was proclaimed by Wojtyla, a false pope. This is no proof of heroic sanctity.

      —-Introibo

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  8. Anyone know how Fr. Cekada is doing? Thanks.

    JoAnn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joann,
      I have no updates, but if any of my readers know, please respond.

      —-Introibo

      Delete
    2. JoAnn,
      Bishop Dolan tweeted this today:
      "Fr Cekaka has been suffering very much the last few days, and we suspect stroke. He has been admitted to the hospital. Please remember him in your prayers."

      I'm keeping Fr. Cekada in my Rosary intentions (as well as the Author and the Readers of this blog) but he's going to need some better prayers - I'm in a lousy state, mind and soul-wise, and feel like my prayers cannot merit anything now. I'm sorry for this self-pity of mine, just feel like a heathen sourrounded by heathens and stuck in this misery.

      Cor Iesu Eucharisticum, cordis sacerdotalis exemplar, miserere nobis!
      Maria, Salus infirmorum, ora pro nobis!
      Sancte Joseph, Spes aegrotantium, ora pro nobis!

      Joanna S.

      Delete
    3. Joanna,
      It is when we pray during times of spiritual aridity that they can be most efficacious! Do not despair! Thank you for the update on Fr Cekada, and for your prayers directed towards my readers and me. I ask all my readers to pray for Fr Cekada and Joanna.

      —-Introibo

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    4. Joanna,
      Thanks so much for the update on Fr. Cekada. Prayers for you.

      JoAnn

      Delete
    5. JoAnn,it's not self pity,you are personally suffering.
      One of the best things we can do is humbly ask others to pray for us in times of trial and despondency.
      Also,mail a money order to a traditional chapel or drop it off personally and have a
      Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered for yourself.
      I hope you feel better soon as I'm going through bad times myself.
      God bless,
      Andrew

      Delete
    6. Thank you all for your kind words! They really mean a lot to me.
      May God, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, reward you generously for your prayers!

      Joanna S.

      Delete
  9. Do you have or can you share with us the actual decree issued from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith that Pius XI signed?

    I am asking because I have contradictory information from that which you have in your article. From Hugh Owen, in Chapter 10, pages 98-100 in his book titled "The Life and Mission of Luisa Piccarreta" says:

    {On May 11th, a priest representing the Holy Office arrived in Corato, visited Luisa, and ordered her to turn over copies of three published works based on her writings, which had been significantly edited and changed by her confessor, Fr. Benedetto Calvi. For reasons that are not clear, thirty-four volumes of her unpublished diaries were also taken. On July 13, 1938, the Sacred Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith published a decree condemning three works based on Luisa's writings: one edition of the "Hours of the Passion", an edition of selected writings from her diaries, and one edition of "The Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will". The decree did not affect the four approved editions of "The Hours of the Passion" published by Hannibal Di Francia nor other editions published after the single, condemned version. The same can be said of the editions of "The Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will" that were published prior to and after the one, condemned version. The one edition of the selected writings, edited by Fr. Calvi, is no longer extant.}

    {The decree stated: With the approval of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, the eminent and reverend cardinals who have the task of teaching in matters of faith and morals, having received the consent of the reverend consultors, condemn and order placed on the index of forbidden books, the writings of Luisa Piccarreta, **EDITED BY OTHERS** (this is my emphasis) and published at various times and in various places.}

    {It is important to note that the confiscation of Luisa's works and the condemnation contained in the decree took place without the knowledge or consent of Luisa's ordinary, Archbishop Leo, or her confessor, Fr. Don Calvi. Thus, when Luisa wrote an act of submission in response to the decree of July 13th and sent it to Archbishop Leo, the archbishop responded by telling her that it was not necessary for her to do so.}

    So, the information I am reporting here from Mr. Hugh Owen's book directly contradicts what is written in your article sir regarding exactly which books have been condemned. Your writing says all books with those said titles are condemned and Mr. Owen is saying something very different that only one highly edited version of each has been condemned.

    So which one is it? I think prudence would dictate here that without the actual decree there is a very real danger of libel here sir.

    I hope you will publish my comment and I hope you will respond to it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @anon1:33
      I publish and respond to all comments that are civil in tone and do not contain blasphemy or obscenity. Your respectful comment deserves a response.

      The decree was actually published in a PRO-Piccarreta work which I cited:

      “The Sun of My Will” by Luisa Piccarreta and translated by Carol Glatz [2015], pgs. 254-259

      Furthermore, a Vatican II sect “priest” Terry Staples, has written extensively against Picarretta and cites the decree as written in my citation—all the titles that bear that name, not just certain editions. If the decree was written as Mr. Owens suggests, it would be easy to both to refute the many articles and denounce Staples to his “bishop” for calumny.

      —-Introibo

      Delete
  10. @ Introibo Ad Altare Dei 12:10 p.m.

    Are you saying that Fr. Bucci's testimony of the first person account of what his aunt Rosaria said is inadmissible because he has been labeled by you (publicly now) as an apostate? Does that also mean that any and all apostates are incapable of ever telling the truth? Or just Fr. Bucci?

    So, 5 different Nihil Obstat's and Impramatur's over the span of nearly 20 years accounts for nothing? You do not find it the least bit odd that this particular book enjoyed all of these prior approvals by the appropriate church authorities over the span of 5 editions and then all of a sudden they are condemned? Really??? Can you name any other book that had previous Nihil Obstat's and Impramatur's and was subsequently put on the index of prohibited books?

    Have you done any research at all or do you even know about the life of Annibale Di Francia? Are you saying that just because someone has been proclaimed a saint after Vatican II means they could not have exhibited heroic sanctity in the virtues? Padre Pio? John Henry Newman?

    You write: 1. Divine Revelation and the Spiritual Status of Piccarreta.
    KDW claims that God's Will cannot be perfectly followed using the Deposit of Divine Revelation which is perfected and to which nothing can be added. Humanity can reach a height of perfection hitherto only known by Adam and Eve prior to the Fall (i.e., the State of Original Justice) and the Immaculate Virgin Mary.

    The writings of Luisa are the fulfillment of the Our Father Prayer. “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, On Earth As It is In Heaven”. This is clearly within the Deposit of Divine Revelation.

    You also write "2. Implied Pantheism.
    KDW teaches that a person's will is completely taken over by that of God. Once more, two salient problems arise: In Piccarreta's writing entitled Book of Heaven, pg. 29, "[A]bandoning oneself completely in my Will destroys one's own essence and causes one to re-acquire the Divine Essence..."This teaching cannot be reconciled with the teaching of the Church."

    This is simply not true. Anyone even somewhat familiar with Luisa's writings would immediately know how she is always trying and being instructed by Jesus to not put her will into something that is not His Will. You have again completely and totally failed to grasp the entire concept of Luisa's writings. The human will always remains. Even Christ had two wills. However, we have to constantly “give death” to our will (although it remains) so that the Divine Will may have its place. This is a true tragedy that you have not understood.

    You write: “There is a logical corollary that if the Divine Will is only operative in a person (reminding one of the Monopysite Christological heresy) it is impossible for them to sin.”

    This is true; but do you have any idea how hard it is to have the Divine Will reign in one’s soul?!?!?! If you are thinking that you just have to give a “yes” and then all is done; well, once again you have clearly demonstrated that you have either greatly misunderstood or that you have not read much of Luisa’s writings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @anon4:01
      1. “ Are you saying that Fr. Bucci's testimony of the first person account of what his aunt Rosaria said is inadmissible because he has been labeled by you (publicly now) as an apostate? ”

      Reply: Yes. Just as someone who perjured himself in court is not considered a reliable witness, so too a priest who broke his Profession of the Catholic Faith and Anti-Modernist Oath should not be believed. He is not INCAPABLE of truth-telling, but just like the perjurer, has no credibility.

      2. “So, 5 different Nihil Obstat's and Impramatur's over the span of nearly 20 years accounts for nothing?”

      Reply: Correct. I don’t care if 100 bishops approved it, the Holy Office is directly approved by the Holy Roman Pontiff who ALONE is VICAR OF CHRIST ON EARTH.
      Only he (or a true successor) can change that judgement.

      3. “ Are you saying that just because someone has been proclaimed a saint after Vatican II means they could not have exhibited heroic sanctity in the virtues? Padre Pio? John Henry Newman?”

      I’m saying that they cannot be known as saints and cannot be treated as such. I have grave reservations about Padre Pio. I outright reject Mother Teresa, and I cannot say anything for certain about John Henry Newman. Only a pope can canonize which is an infallible decree.

      4. “ The writings of Luisa are the fulfillment of the Our Father Prayer. “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, On Earth As It is In Heaven”. This is clearly within the Deposit of Divine Revelation.”

      Reply: This is quite a misreading of Scripture. According to Theologian Haydock, that quote from the Gospel of St Matthew 6: 10 means, “Those who desire to arrive at the Kingdom of Heaven, must endeavor to so order their life and conversation, AS IF they were already conversing in Heaven.” (See Commentary on New Testament, (1859), pg. 1257; Emphasis mine).

      5. You write: “There is a logical corollary that if the Divine Will is only operative in a person (reminding one of the Monopysite Christological heresy) it is impossible for them to sin.”

      This is true; but do you have any idea how hard it is to have the Divine Will reign in one’s soul?!?!?! “

      Reply: Yes, it is impossible. Christ said in St Matthew 5: 48, “Be ye perfect, as also thy Heavenly Father is Perfect.” Theologian Haydock explains we must “IMITATE AS FAR AS OUR EXERTIONS ASSISTED BY DIVINE GRACE, CAN REACH, THE DIVINE PERFECTION.” (Ibid, Emphasis mine).

      Her three works were not condemned by the Holy Office and ratified by Pope Pius XI without reason.

      —-Introibo

      Delete
  11. All one needs for salvation is contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Private messages are just that, private.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom,
      Yes. That’s not to say that their is NOTHING beneficial in APPROVED private revelations, like the Fatima devotions. You are right that even the best private revelations are just that—Private—an not necessary for salvation nor required to be believed.

      God Bless,

      —-Introibo

      Delete
  12. Private revelation seems to do more damage than good.
    The Sacred Heart of Jesus &
    Miraculous Medal are few rare exceptions.
    ~Andrew

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew,
      I agree. I would also add the Rosary and Scapular as well as the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

      —-Introibo

      Delete
    2. Introibo,

      The Divine Will seems gnostic to me am I correct, or not?? Thanks.

      JoAnn

      Delete
    3. Joann,
      In a certain sense they may be deemed gnostic, in that they claim special knowledge outside Public Revelation which makes them superior.

      —-Introibo

      Delete
    4. Introibo,
      The Divine Will seems similar to the Eastern Orthodoxy and Palamisim?

      JoAnn

      Delete
    5. Do more damage than good? So it was better off for the Catholic Church to never have approved those other private revelations in the first place?

      I think that list is far from complete, like, there's still the green scapular which is responsible for a lot of conversions, and was used by saints.

      Delete
    6. Anon @1:34 - Can you please explain why you think there is so much interest in "private revelations"? I personally just do not understand why so much interest in them. Thanks.

      JoAnn

      Delete
    7. @anon1:34
      I agree the list is not exhaustive and I would include the Green Scapular, and some other devotions if I sat down and gave it some thought. Yet consider all the people decieved by Medjugorje, Garabandal, Bayside, etc.

      As Tom points out, the devotions are wonderful and beneficial but not necessary to salvation. In this time of Great Apostasy, we now have people looking to apparitions and other private revelations for answers instead of the teaching of the Church.

      In that sense, private revelations are more dangerous.

      —-Introibo

      Delete
    8. @Introibo
      That's a great way of saying what I was trying to get across in my comment.
      God bless
      -Andrew

      Delete
    9. @Introibo,

      In that sense, I wholeheartedly agree with you.

      @JoAnn

      I was referring to those approved by the Church, or have been believed by many saints, which are so fruitful. I'm referring to those of Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe, the Sacred Heart, the Immaculate Heart, the Brown Scapular, Miraculous Medal. I personally believe it was the Miraculous Medal that led me to sedevacantism. If not, so be it. There are millions (or at least literally thousands) of other miracles as well. If, again, they weren't true, so be it. Also the fact that the revelation accurately predicted the French Revolution(s). And if St. Laboure just was so intelligent she predicted those events, again, so be it. It isn't required by the Catholic faith. I just can't deny many were led to the Faith by various means, many through private revelations. But did they say that it is required to believe them?

      I'm not referring to those not approved and have absurd theologies, like Medjugorje. I detest them.

      And I don't know why you're asking that to me btw. You're asking why people have so much interest, I don't know why'd you ask me, since I didn't say I'm one of them, and Introibo already answered why in the article above. It's mental and spiritual boredom of some people. Introibo already stated that, so I guess if you read the article... Don't mean to be rude, but I'm curious why you're curious, if you did read Introibo's article...

      Delete
    10. Introibo's reply to Tom below reflects my thinking.

      Countless popes, saints, greatly encouraged the Rosary and Brown Scapular. Maybe not "countless" in that case, but the miracles associated with them are literally countless. In that sense, extremely incredulous people who won't think on believing that despite the facts for at least a second are extremely foolish, like those who believe all the incorrupt bodies of saints were all faked. I agree with Introibo there. I too find it foolish.

      Delete
    11. Anon @10:38 - Sorry, I took you up wrong. My apologizes.
      JoAnn

      Delete
  13. All the devotions that the Church has approved from apparitions (ie rosary) are wonderful and beneficial, but none of them are necessary for salvation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom,
      Correct. However, I would add that it would be foolish in the extreme to not avail oneself of the Rosary and Scapular given how many popes officially approved and recommended them including Pope St Pius V and Pope St Pius X.

      —-Introibo

      Delete
    2. I've been told and read the Holy Rosary is the layman's
      Divine Office?True or False?
      God bless
      -Andrew

      Delete
    3. Andrew,
      In an informal sense you could say that.

      —-Introibo

      Delete
  14. Thank you so much for this clear article. I have seen protestants become obsessed with so called prophesies from private individuals, "employing themselves in nothing else but in either in telling or in hearing some new thing." The Novus Ordo parish that I left was absolutely cuckoo over Sister Faustina, Divine Mercy, and Medjugorje. People cannot seem to get enough of wild and novel ideas. I think Chesterton praised the Catholic Church (the real one) for providing the wisdom and stability that you discuss here. Thank you again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Richard,
      Thank you for the kind words my friend!

      —-Introibo

      Delete
  15. Hello Introibo. Great article as always.
    I actually do have expereincies with regarding Luisa's books and met people who encourage her writtings. Actually they're two middle aged women who happen to go with the FSSP for mass and love it and all but who they also belong to the Divine Will movement and center all their spiritual life around the 30 something books of Picarrieta. Its totally mental. Tey actually gave me a volume which of course i haven't read because i know it's balooney. We have public revelation, scrptura and tradition, we have te 7 seven sacraments, sacramentals,saints writtings,spiritual masters like St John of Avila and many other things. We don't need that bunch of nonsense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VixRu,
      Thank you for the testimony! Notice the middle aged women attend FSSP, invalidly ordained priests, in union with Bergoglio. Piccarreta never warned against Modernism—-“By their fruits thou shalt know them..

      God Bless,

      —-Introibo

      Delete
  16. Great text Introibo! God's Blessing!

    John Defensor

    ReplyDelete
  17. Another excellent article.We knew her writings to be totally false.Keep up the fine work

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello Introibo,
    I hope you can comment on this People of Priase movement/sect that Amy Coney Barrett belong to...thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @anon1:51
      "The People of Praise" movement is a ecumenical "Charismatic" Catholic (sic) sect. For more on this "Charismatic Movement" please see my post:

      http://introiboadaltaredei2.blogspot.com/2016/11/its-not-joke.html

      God Bless,

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  19. I'd love to hear more about your "grave reservations" about Padre Pio, I too have them, and I don't think it's been gone into enough or at all on proper Catholic sites. His cult needs a take down just like Sr Faustinad did. (Newman was a Liberal, a "half converted" prot,an effeminate, an Indifferencist and a two faced wheeler dealer with great PR skill among other things)

    Keep up the great work. Your work is always so fascinating and informative.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RockChicAna,
      Thank you! For more on Padre Pio, please see my post:
      http://introiboadaltaredei2.blogspot.com/2017/01/was-padre-pio-ecumenist.html

      God Bless,

      ---Introibo

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  20. I actually meant to comment though, people get so uptight about saying "oh I'm not impugning the false mystics holiness!"....this is silly political correctness. If you believe you are equal or surpass (Faustina) the Blessed Mother and your life has equal importance to the Creation you are NOT HOLY. No matter how it appears, if you can believe that you are either wickedly prideful, absolutely culpably ignorant, or downright insane. And none of that is compatible with holiness.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great article.
    What do you know about Sor Josefa Menendez and her book which contains the private revelations given to her (The way of divine love)?
    I have the book and I find it amazing... I am not an apparitionist.
    It is said that prior to be elected Pope, Cardinal Pacelli gave blessings to the work he had read, the first edition.

    ReplyDelete