Friday, March 18, 2011

Vassula Ryden the rails...


From Rorate Caeli: Patriarchate of Constantinople denounces Vassula Ryden
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[T]he Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople issued a strongly-worded decree denouncing Vassula Ryden and her works, excluding her supporters from (Orthodox) communion, and warning people from spreading her teachings her lest they incur canonical censures.
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In this spirit, and for the beneficial protection of our pious Orthodox plenitude from dangerous spiritual confusion, who do not know well matters underlying the risk of delusion, rejects from the Mother Church Vasiliki Paraskevis Pentaki - Ryden, widely known as a "Vassula", and her organization founded under the title "True Life In God" which rashly and frivolously proposes teachings based on the supposed "direct dialogue between her and the Founder of the Church Jesus Christ our Lord", and those conquered by her and the supporters of "True Life In God", which deviate arbitrarily from the God-given teaching of the Church, but also scandalize the Orthodox phronema of pious believers.
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Hence, we call upon the proponents of these unacceptable innovations and the supporters who maintain them, who henceforth are not admitted to ecclesiastical communion, not only to not be involved in the pastoral work of the local Holy Metropolis, but also to not preach their novel teachings, to prevent the appropriate sanctions under the Holy Canons. - Rorate Caeli

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The Mystic circuit.
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I wrote about Ryden before and got some flack from a couple of her supporters, one a well known priest.  Many of these people appear to be obedient yet they are adamant in their devotion of the seer and seem to be reluctant to accept the judgement of the Church in these matters.  What did I say the other day in another post about priests and bishops who look the other way when it comes to dubious revelations and apparitions?  They often dismiss the critics saying, "Well, as long as people are praying and going to Mass."  In some cases there are theologians, priests* and bishops who go along with the visionaries and promote their causes - despite the fact other bishops and Church congregations issue warnings that the movements are not supernatural, and may be false and even dangerous.
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Another situation is scheduled in the St. Cloud Diocese in the next week or so.  Outside of St. Cloud, Minnesota, in Sauk Centre is a House of Prayer established by the followers of Christina Gallagher, the Irish mystic whose work and revelations have been denounced by her Diocesan Bishop in Ireland.  Yet she is allowed to promote her messages in the St. Cloud Diocese.  These messages play to the mistrust and fears of gullible Catholics who look to Gallagher as a stigmatic in direct contact with the Blessed Virgin.  See their website here.   I spoke with the chancery in St. Cloud and the chancellor, Fr. Rolfes told me he saw nothing against the faith in their prayer meetings, and that Gallagher's priest-advisor is a priest in good standing.  He is also aware of the problems Gallagher has had with her Bishop.  The chancellor told me he intended to be present at the next meeting to see that everything was orthodox.  That's a good sign - I think.  
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Nevertheless, I'm always a bit surprised how promoters of such visionaries seem to be very skilled at explaining away CDF notices and episcopal condemnations in order to find loop holes for people of good faith to follow along and join the cult - and donate.  The practice has been tolerated with the Medjugorje phenomenon for decades.
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Photo:  Vassula's Miracle
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*Note:  One defender of Vassula Ryden, Fr. John Abberton is very busy refuting all the claims against her.  It's pretty amazing.
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H/T Pewsitters for original link to Rorate Caeli.

5 comments:

  1. "...I spoke with the Chancery in St. Cloud and the Chancellor told me he saw nothing against the faith in their prayer meetings, and that Gallagher's priest-advisor is a priest in good standing..."

    How to tell if there are real problems in your Diocese:

    1). Ask the woman in charge if she will allow the Bishop to grant you permission to have an SSPX Priest baptize a child in your Church.

    If you are placed on the blacklist and booted out of the Office, shake the dust from your sandals and leave.

    2). Ask the woman in charge if you can have a celebration of faiths with satan devil worshippers/Budhist/wiccans/Yoga Instructors (catholik yoga) Dali Lamma Harry Potter followers.

    When the Bishop asks to concelebrate, run. Fast.

    You should have run when the Chancellor told you the code words ‘Priest in good standing’…

    May God our Lord in His infinite and supreme goodness be pleased to give us His abundant grace, that we may know His most holy will, and entirely fulfill it.

    *

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am by no means a fan of the SSPX, but Pablo is right on that count. They are treated like lepers, when all manner of liberals and anyone else who denies the Church's teachings are given free reign.

    Of course, that does not mean the SSPX is right or has some sort of holy mission, just that they deserve to be treated with as much fairness and respect as anyone - and they are real priests, regardless of their differences with Rome.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Irony: Black Bart (aka Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew)is calling the Kettle black. Just look up his speeches at the ecumenist organization the WCC and see for yourself in his praise of pagan religions. It may be PC, but it isn't Orthodox.

    ReplyDelete
  4. "...that does not mean the SSPX is right or has some sort of holy mission..."

    I am not a member of the SSPX.

    They are right and do have a Holy Mission.

    I have gone to their Seminary and Monastery here in the United States and visited their Chapels in Mexico.

    They are Roman Catholic. They are sound and sane.

    Because I am poor and defend all Priests with my life if needed, the whitened sepulchers of the SSPX hate me with passion.

    There are many righteous and pious people in the SSPX, but the few bad apples have His Excellancy Bishop Fellay's ear and heart.

    There is much abuse of the grace God has given to the SSPX.

    The Novus Ordo is not alone in its problems.

    *

    ReplyDelete
  5. They have a holy mission in the sense that all priests have one. But when they depart from Rome and from the (true) teachings of the council, and from the teachings of the Holy Father, they lose me. I still believe their schism is nor justified, and never can be.

    That said, if only all priests would strive for holiness. We will not agree on the SSPX or on several other issues, but I admire your love for all priests, Pablo.

    ReplyDelete


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