But can't be fooled again.
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Not long ago, I mentioned the fraudulent case of Leo Taxil and Diana Vaughan in a post referencing impostors and deceit, and how even holy people can sometimes be fooled - if only for awhile. During the novena to the Divine Mercy while reading the testimony for the canonization of St. Therese, I came across the following in the witness of Mother Agnes of Jesus:
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"About 1894 there appeared in France a series of self-styled revelations of the secrets of Freemasonry, published by a certain Dr. Bataille (Leon Taxil) and a woman called Diana Vaughan. These accounts gripped the imagination of the French public for a while. Later they were found to be false. The Servant of God took a certain interest in them at first, but long before there was any official denial of them she told us that they were not to be believed. Her only reason for rejecting them was the fact that Diana Vaughan once spoke against episcopal authority. 'That kind of thing cannot come from God, ' she said." - St. Therese By Those Who Knew Her
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As I said before...
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Needless to say, the deception neither did harm to the Carmel or the Catholic Church, although in a way, it demonstrates to some extent how even the elect can be fooled - if possible, but only for a time. One thinks of the founder of the Legion, Marcel Maciel, and his double life; an elaborate pretense which fooled even Blessed Pope John Paul. Unlike Taxil, it doesn't appear that Maciel was attempting to mock or destroy the Church, nor did he ever declare himself an enemy of the Church; despite that, his motivation and actions remain somewhat unexplainable - only on a natural level of course.
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Even the popes and the greatest saints are not omniscient - only God. We often judge things as man judges, not as God. God alone sees the soul.
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Blessed Pope John Paul II, pray for us.
You should try engaging the Medjugorge devotees with this same post. I have serious, serious concerns with the apparition and her messages.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this situation is going to end very well for the Church.
Random Friar - they always seem to find some defense for their disobedience.
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