THERE is no doubt that there have been "apparitions" which were initially reputed to be supernatural but turned out to be hoaxes, even diabolical. And because the devil and his demons are much more intelligent than humans, there is need for God’s grace to remove the chaff from the grain.
Remember those years when a respected Filipino priest (still noted for his inspiring homilies) would promote pilgrimages to Naju, S. Korea amid reports of miraculous events surrounding alleged visionary Julia Youn who was even once photographed with her mouth wide open to show then Pope John Paul II a bleeding host on her tongue?
In 2008, Kwangju Archbishop Choi Chag-mou declared that Julia and her followers incurred latae sententiae ex-communication. In short, they were excommunicated.
In his declaration, the Archbishop said "for Christians´ healthy faith life, and the unity and communion of the Church, I declare as such, though my heart grieves."
The archbishop explained that Julia and her husband “speak as if the Holy Father approves them. They libel me, the Korean bishops and the Korean Church through their publications and the Internet."
"Therefore those clergy, religious and laity who preside at or participate in sacraments and liturgical ceremonies in their 'arbitrarily-called chapel' and 'Marian shrine' in Naju, which I have banned, incur automatic ex-communication," he declared, based on canons 1336 and 1364 of the Code of Canon Law.
There have been others towards which the Church reacted negatively. There’s the sensational case in Bayside, New York and, in the Philippines, the case in Ilocos involving one named Judiel Nieva who, I gather, is now a full-fledged transgender.
But then, there have also been cases of the miraculous which were initially frowned upon by the Church but turned out to be even spectacularly supernatural. Remember that St. Padre Pio was at one time barred by Church authorities from saying Mass in public. Or the publication The Poem of Man-God by Maria Valtorta and the Divine Mercy writings of St. Faustina Kowalska which were at one time included in the Church’s list of forbidden books but which are now hailed for their supernatural values.
Indeed, caution and deep reliance on grace must mix in dealing with the mystics of our days. Prayers and diligent research become tools for this, confident that none of self remains in the task of spreading messages from Heaven, leaving oneself as mere factotum to an urgent mandate from the Divine.
And so allow me to share more recent messages from Heaven.. On July 15, 2022, Our Lord Jesus told mystic Gisella Cardia:
“My beloved, daughter and sister, write to the world. Today, worse than the virus you have feared so much are the lust, wickedness, confusion, and selfishness that are spreading in the hearts and minds of humanity. Apostasy reigns because My consecrated do not believe in the existence of Satan and his wiles; they do not speak of sin that tears apart, passing it off as a matter of routine.
“I will come to divide good from evil. Return to Me before it is too late. You no longer follow My teachings; you tolerate evil and bow your heads to it. Those who approve of laws against those of My Father will be vomited out and will feel the burning of eternal fire. There will be chastisements for the purification of this perverse humanity.
“Make your choice. I tell you this so that you may be aware. Wake up, for the time is over. Many reject My mercy – I have shown them miracles, but they are blind and deaf. I say to the politicians: in the name of God, stop now! I will destroy your plans. Only I can decide about man’s end; your satanic plans will be swept away together with you. My Father’s justice will thunder so loudly that the whole universe will tremble. Those who follow God’s laws shall not fear, but rejoice, for the Kingdom of God is near.
“Peace be with you.” (End of quote.)
For those who would rather read messages from mystics who have passed on and have been declared blessed or saint by the Church, I am sharing starting this issue the prophetic messages as relayed to Blessed Elena Aiello. She was declared Blessed on September 14, 2011 (Feast of the Exaultation of the Holy Cross) in Piazza dei Bruzi in Cosenza, Italy. The proclamation of the Blessed was made by Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, along with Archbishop Salvatore Nunnari.
On April 16, 1954, Blessed Elena quoted Our Lord Jesus as follows:
“Behold my child, see to what ends the sins of man have reduced me. The world has lowered itself in overflowing corruption. The governments of the people have risen like demons incarnated, and, while they speak of peace they prepare for war with the most devastating implements to destroy peoples and nations. Men have become ungrateful to My Sacred Heart, and abusing My Mercy, have transformed the earth into a scene of crime.
“Numerous scandals are bringing souls to ruin particularly through the corruption of youth. Stirred up, and unrestrained in the enjoyment of the pleasures of the world, they have degraded their spirit in corruption and sin. The bad example of parents trains the family in scandal and infidelity, instead of virtue and prayer, which is almost dead on the lips of many. Stained and withered is the fountain of faith and sanctity the home.
“The wills of men do not change. They live in their obstinacy of sin. More severe are the scourges and plagues to recall them to the way of God; but men still become furious, like wounded beasts (and harden their hearts against the Grace of God). The world is no longer worthy of pardon, but only of fire, destruction and death.
“There must be more prayers and penances from the souls faithful to Me, in order to appease the just wrath of God, and to temperate the just sentence of punishment, suspended on earth by the intercession of My Beloved Mother, who is also the Mother of all men.
“Oh! how sad is My Heart to see that men do not convert (or respond) to so many calls of love and grief, manifested by My Beloved Mother to errant men. Roaming in darkness, they continue to live in sin, and further away from God! But the scourge of fire is near, to purify the earth of the iniquities of the wicked. The justice of God requires reparation for the many offenses and misdeeds that cover the earth, and which can no longer be compromised. Men are obstinate in their guilt, and do not return to God.
“The Church is opposed, and the priests are despised because of the bad ones who give scandal. Help Me, by suffering, to repair for so many offenses, and thus save at least in part, humanity precipitated in a slough of corruption and death.
“‘Make it known to all men that, repentant, they must return to God, and, in doing so, may hope for pardon, and be saved from the just vengeance of a scorned God.”
Then Elena said that Our Lord disappeared and was replaced by the Blessed Mother who said:
“Listen attentively, and reveal to all:
“My Heart is sad for so many sufferings in an impending world in ruin. The justice of Our Father is most offended. Men live in their obstinacy of sin. The wrath of God is near. Soon the world will be afflicted with great calamities, bloody revolutions, frightful hurricanes, and the overflowing of streams and the seas.”
(Part II of Elena’s messages in the next column.)