March 26, 2002
A Prayer for Intimacy with the Lamb,
the Bridegroom of the Soul
Oh Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
come and act on my soul most intimately. I surrender myself, as I ask for
the grace to let go, to just be as I exist in You and You act most
intimately on my soul. You are the Initiator. I am the soul waiting Your
favors as You act in me. I love You. I adore You. I worship You. Come and
possess my soul with Your Divine Grace, as I experience You most
intimately.
March 26, 1996
Very carefully discerned by Fr. Carter
6 years ago today
Messenger: I came to All Saints Church
before a beautiful Monstrance of gold that contained Our beloved Savior. He was
adorned in light, the altar beneath shone with the brightest light and the cross
behind was entirely silhouetted with the same celestial light. I was overwhelmed
with the presence of God and cried deeply from the awe of it all.
To be so aware of the Almighty God truly
present in His splendor and glory—to know the presence of God, to see the
glistening of the gold and the light and reflection of the cross behind Him—my
beauteous love—words do not exist to describe the rapture of a heavenly
embrace! I cry because of the immense awe within my being to know Him. God truly
present in His majesty and glory and oh, God, I behold the presence of a
heavenly court. You opened wide the heavens and lifted up the veil and I knew
You in Your splendor and glory. I behold God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
"I am the Way, the Truth and the
Life." He is the Almighty God. He shows us the celestial lights with which
He will light this earth. Many must surrender their hearts to His Heart and
Mary's heart. It is in surrendering, the Spirit will move in the hearts of men
and the light of God will shine on the darkened earth. Not with a light that you
comprehend, but a light that is divinely granted—a light beyond all lights, a
vision beyond all visions. It takes the surrender of minds and hearts to God.
The Spirit cannot move in us when we are in control. Surrender and give Him our
heart and He will make us fishers of men.
We are His apostles in the Shepherds of
Christ Movement. He is sending us out into the world to light the hearts with
His burning love. We are chosen by Him and He is giving us abundant graces to
grow in our union with Him. He will light this world with His burning love. Our
hearts must be open. We must surrender and let go and reach beyond the senses,
reach with our hearts. Pray for faith, pray for the vision of God.
Note: I cried all through this writing,
having the presence of God and being in great ecstasy to behold Him. May God
touch your heart and may His Spirit move within you. May you be filled with the
grace of God to surrender and let Him accomplish a great work within you.
And I was filled on high with His
miraculous light and He reached down and spoke within me. I was filled as never
before and knew the presence of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Note: As I finished, the bells at All
Saints Church rang at 9:00 A.M. As I began to experience the immense splendor,
the bells of 8:00 rang. Words do not express anything that I saw or experienced
or know from this ecstasy. This was the greatest and the first of three visions,
which defined clearly to me our role in the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Jesus
defines clearly the role of Fr. Carter in this great mission given to him by the
Father.
For Fr. Carter from Jesus:
Jesus speaks: To him who has eyes to see, they
will see - not with earthly vision, but with the eyes of faith, and to him who
has ears to hear, he will hear with the fluttering of the Spirit moving within
him.
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I am
the Almighty God. I say to the rocks to fall and they fall and to the grass,
grow, and it grows, and to the sun, shine, and it shines. I give to you My love
in these letters. Filled with My love, you will conquer this earth, not with
weapons and powder or force, but with fires of My love. The fire will wipe out
the hatred in the cold hearts and the earth will be covered with My celestial
light. The earth will rock and I will appear in the heavens adorned in power and
glory and the contrite hearts will be saved. I came to separate the sheep from
the goats, the light from the darkness. I come and no one pays Me heed.
To you, My beloved son, Father Carter, I
have sent you on a mission to spread this fire that will cover this earth. The
hearts of men will turn from their sick and desolate ways to hearts gentle as a
little lamb.
There will be one flock and one Shepherd
and My staff will rule over all. Hearts consecrated to Our Hearts will lead the
light across the earth. This light will be a light of intense brightness,
brighter and hotter than any light from a flame. It will be the fire of God's
love. The Spirit will move in the hearts of all consecrated to My Heart, and you
will know how fire truly spreads, for the love of God is a fire. It is vibrant.
It is encompassing. It is smoldering, burning deep within and speedily spreading
on the outside. No fire on this earth can ever describe the burning embers that
burn from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. No fire burns like the fires coming from My
Heart and hearts filled with the love from the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I have written your name, Fr. Carter, in My
Heart, never ever to be blotted out and this earth will be renewed with the fire
of God's love through you. You are My beloved priest-son, forever, according to
the order of Melchizedek. Most holy and most sacred are your hands that
consecrate the Host and write My precious newsletter for My beloved priest-sons.
You are never unguarded. You are held within the deepest chamber of My Heart,
and you will spread My love to the priest-sons of this earth.
I am Jesus. You will spread My love to all
souls on this earth. I love you with the tenderest burning love. I am Jesus,
your beloved Savior.
end of March 26, 1996 message
March 26, 2002 message continues
Messenger: March 26, 1994, 8 years ago today was the first
time I talked to Father
Carter at length
at the Faber House.
March 26, 2002 message continues
Messenger: MARY APPEARED DAILY AT
THE OLD SEMINARY
FOR 14 MONTHS
March 26, 2002 message continues
Messenger: WE MUST DO WHAT MARY SAID AT FATIMA.
March 26, 2002 message continues
Messenger:
~ October 13, 1994 ~
77th Anniversary of Mary's appearance at Fatima
The Birth of the Full Ministries
of the Shepherds of Christ
"I wish to share with you part of a message which
Jesus gave us on October 13, 1994. The message tells us about the expansion of
the Shepherds of Christ movement:
'My
beloved priest-companion, today I come to you with another mission. I am
asking you to establish Shepherds of Christ Ministries. At My request you have
already begun the priestly newsletter, "Shepherds of Christ", and
the prayer chapters, Shepherds of Christ Associates...
'I am
giving you this message on this day, the 77th Anniversary of the Great
Apparition at Fatima, because of the close connection between the Shepherds of
Christ movement and the Fatima message. The Fatima message is centered in
devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart, especially in consecration to Our
Hearts. Shepherds of Christ Ministries is also centered in devotion to Our
Hearts. I will use Shepherds of Christ Ministries as a great instrument in
helping to bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My
Sacred Heart. When this occurs, My Church and the world will be experiencing
the great era of peace promised by My Mother at Fatima.
'Today, then, October 13, 1994, the 77th Anniversary of the Great Apparition
at Fatima, marks the birth of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I pour forth the
great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the
flock.'
"Jesus has told us that Shepherds of Christ
Ministries includes: the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ,
Shepherds of Christ Associates prayer chapters, various publications,
including books, whatever else Our Lord directs us to undertake.
"As members of Shepherds of Christ Associates, you
are an extremely important part of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. You have
given great joy to the Heart of Jesus by responding to His invitation to
become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. As He draws you closer to
His Heart and to His Mother's Heart as Associates members, He will fill you
with an ever-increasing experience of His love, peace, and joy."
- From In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Newsletter of Shepherds of Christ Associates
by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J., Volume 1, No. 1, 1995. p. 2.
end of October 13, 1994 message
Apostles
of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
My dear fellow Associate Members,
Jesus is calling special apostles to join a new division of
the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Here is a message from Jesus given to Father
Carter:
My beloved
priest-companion, I am requesting that a new prayer movement be started under
the direction of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I am asking for volunteers
who are willing to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for one hour,
twice-weekly. Members of the Shepherds of Christ prayer chapters, as well as
others, are to be invited to join this movement.
These
apostles are to pray for the intentions I am giving you. For part of the hour
they are to use the prayers of the Shepherds of Christ Associates Handbook.
They may spend the rest of the hour as they so choose.
I will use
this new prayer movement within My Shepherds of Christ Ministries in a
powerful way to help in the renewal of My Church and the world. I will give
great graces to those who join this movement. The name, Apostles of the
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, is to be given to this movement.
I am
inviting My beloved Rita Ring to be coordinator for this activity.
I pour out
the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the
flock.
This is indeed a special calling for us to unite in one heart with His
Eucharistic Heart and pray for the following intentions:
-
1. For the spread of the devotion to the Hearts of Jesus
and Mary culminating in the reign
of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of
the Immaculate Heart.
-
2. For the Pope.
-
3. For all bishops of the world.
-
4. For all priests.
-
5. For all sisters and brothers in the religious life.
-
6. For all members of the Shepherds of Christ Movement,
and for the spread of this movement to the world.
-
7. For all members of the Catholic Church.
-
8. For all members of the human family.
-
9. For all souls in purgatory.
| |
1
The Mystery of Christ and
Christian Existence
|
Etymologically, the word mystery basically means that which is
secret or hidden. It was used in a religiously technical sense even
before Christianity. Mystery was used, for example, to designate certain
religious rites of pagan Hellenism, secret rites that were closed to
outsiders unless they had been properly initiated into them. In relation
to Egyptian hermeticism, the word mystery was applied to initiation into
secret religious ideas or doctrines. In reference to Christianity, God
himself is the ultimate mystery. Radically, God is completely other and
transcendent, hidden from man in his inner life, unless he chooses to
reveal himself. Let us briefly look at this inner life of God.
The Father, in a perfect act of
self-expression, in a perfect act of knowing, generates his son. The
Son, the Word, is, then, the immanent expression of God's fullness, the
reflection of the Father. Likewise, from all eternity, the Father and
the Son bring forth the Holy Spirit in a perfect act of loving.
At the destined moment in human history, God's
self-expression, the Word, immersed himself into man's world. God's
inner self-expression now had also become God's outer self-expression.
Consequently, the mystery of God becomes the mystery of Christ. In
Christ, God tells us about himself, about his inner life, about his plan
of creation and redemption. He tells us how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
desire to dwell within us in the most intimate fashion, how they wish to
share with us their own life through grace. All this he has accomplished
and does accomplish through Christ. St. Paul tells us: "I became a
minister of this Church through the commission God gave me to preach
among you his word in its fullness, that mystery hidden from ages and
generations past but now revealed to his holy ones. God has willed to
make known to them the glory beyond price which this mystery brings to
the Gentiles—the mystery of Christ in you, your hope of glory. This is
the Christ we proclaim while we admonish all men and teach them in the
full measure of wisdom, hoping to make every man complete in
Christ" (Col 1:25-28).
|
end of excerpt from Response to God's Love
March 26, 2002 message continues
Messenger:
Let's look at the 20 page Newsletter - click
on
An Overview of the Spiritual Life
Fr. Carter's writing on grace about the Church
From the
Newsletter 2001 #1
Excerpt from Response
in Christ - Chapter
3
This is also on tape and on disc recorded by Father
Mike Paranuik.
The
Christian Life of Grace
e)
Relationship with Members of the Church
There is but one true Church of Christ.
Yet this one Church has three different states of existence. There is the
pilgrim Church, the Church of this world, composed of members who have
received the grace of Christ and strive for its development. They have not yet
obtained the goal of their efforts, as have the members of the heavenly
Church, who enjoy God in eternal happiness. The Church suffering is an
intermediate state of existence necessary for those who had not achieved the
required purification as members of the pilgrim Church. Although there are
these three phases of the Church's existence, there is a profound union
existing between all the members. All these members possess the same basic
life of grace in Christ, and this common life establishes the most intimate
bonds of love. In our preceding chapter, we discussed the pilgrim Church. Let
us now consider the Church suffering and the heavenly Church.
The members of the Church suffering are those who have departed
from this life in an incomplete state of Christian development. Their
development is incomplete in the sense that grace has not fully taken
possession of them, and, as a result, they are yet closed in upon themselves
to a greater or lesser degree. They as yet cannot open themselves out in
complete love to the Triune God in the beatific vision. They must undergo a
further purification, a purification which could have been achieved upon earth
with merit. Now the purification must be achieved with no merit attached. The
pain of this purification is mixed with the certain expectation of achieving
the vision of God. We can hasten the advent of this vision for this people by
the offering of prayers and other good works. Scripture itself refers to our
action on behalf of those in purgatory in Chapter 12 of the Second Book of
Maccabees beginning with verse 38.
The members of the heavenly Church are those in whom the life of
grace has taken full possession and has reached its completion in the life of
glory. Faith now is unnecessary, as the light of glory gives the human
intellect a new strength and capacity for seeing God face-to-face. While the
Christian was a wayfarer, he received the imprint of the indwelling Trinity as
he shared in God's own life. Now in heaven that grace-life and possession of
God reaches its completion—the absolute completion is not achieved, however,
until the resurrection of the body. The divine persons give Themselves to the
beatified in a profound union far surpassing that of the indwelling of the
Trinity experienced here below.
This life of heaven is still the Christ-life, for just as we
possess a share in Trinitarian life here below as mediated by Christ, and
exercise this grace-life as structured by Him, so also in heaven is the
mediation of Christ present. In the words of Rahner, "One always sees the
Father through Jesus. Just as immediately as this, for the directness of the
vision of God is not a denial of the mediatorship of Christ as man."
13
And not only does the humanity of Christ unite the blessed to God, but also,
in some way, to the whole of creation. This is merely a completion of what is
begun here below, namely, the union with Christ in His humanity establishing
the Christian in a special relationship with God, with other men, and with the
whole of creation. We have a glimpse, therefore, of the fullness of life which
members of the heavenly Church possess.
The heavenly Church, as St. Thomas says, is the true Church.14
The Church of this earth and the Church of purgatory are, each in its own way,
reaching out in loving hope for the heavenly Jerusalem. Vatican II puts it
very simply: "The Church, to which we are called in Christ Jesus, and in
which we acquire sanctity through the grace of God, will attain her full
perfection only in the glory of heaven."15
The members of the heavenly Church can help us in living our life
of grace until we too share its fullness with them. Their power of
intercession on our behalf is but another ramification of the communal aspect
of Christianity. We are meant to help others grow in Christ. We, in turn, are
intended by God to receive aid from others—yes, from members of the heavenly
Church, as well as from those with whom we dwell here below.
Not only can we be aided by the saints' intercession, but the
example of the canonized saints can also be of great value to us. They have
concretely proved that full holiness is possible. Such an inspiration
is of real worth when we are tempted to think that Christian sanctity in its
higher degrees is impossible of attainment. Moreover, the canonized saints, in
their diversity, teach us that there are many authentic versions of Christian
holiness. They can be innovators in showing us that there are numerous
possibilities in assimilating the mystery of Christ, although the basic
assimilation remains the same for all Christians of all times. In the opinion
of Rahner this is one of the chief roles the canonized saints exert in the
life of the Church.16
NOTES:
13Karl Rahner, Theological Investigations, Vol. III
(Baltimore: Helicon, 1967), p. 44.
14Cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, In Ad Ephes., c. 3,
Lect. 3.
15Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Church,
No. 48.
16Cf. Karl Rahner, Op. cit., pp. 100-101.
March 26, 2002 message continues
Messenger: We are
bleeding with the current problems we are
facing in the Church.
Our priests are so precious to us.
We need to pray as Jesus instructed Fr. Carter.
We need to do what Mary said at Fatima.
I saw Mary every day for 14 months. Nine months daily
she addressed reaching the school children with
the rosary and the consecration.
The more deeply men live their consecration to the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
1) the more they will have peace in their hearts,
2) the more they will grow in their intimacy
with Jesus and Mary,
3) the more holy they will become,
4) they will be deep intercessors,
5) they will live more according to God's
will.
Oh I want to speak and I feel my tongue has
been tied. Mary really did appear daily July 5, 1994 -
September 5, 1995. Then when they did not listen she
appeared December 17, 1996 on the building and she still
appears today over five years later.
March 5, 2002
March 5, 2002
March 5, 2002
March 26, 2002 message continues
Messenger:
We cannot ignore the Lady of Fatima's wishes.
Many answers for peace in the world and in our hearts
have been given to us by Mary.
Mary is the Queen of Peace.
We must recognize Mary as our Mother.
I love these words in a writing I received
"How could we think Christ's last words on the cross
were not important to us? In His dying moments,
He gave us His Mother."
The first message I received from Jesus for the
priests was this one.
I Want My Priests to Come Back
Very carefully discerned by Fr. Carter
January
17, 1994 3:40 a.m.
Jesus speaks: You know I am He Who lifts you up. In
one second I can turn your feelings around and lift you up. Constantly pray to
Me. You need Me through these times. Remember, I truly died for you on the
cross. Remember, little one, I have chosen you to write to Me. Do you think I
will ever abandon you? I am a God who truly loves His people. I love you with
such ardent love. You must never doubt.
Look into My face and see My gentleness.
I am the kindest of all hearts. I am He who knows how to love with such love.
Become totally lost in My arms.
Do you think Satan will not taunt you?
Put him behind you. You are being guarded by God and His heavenly court. Walk
in My ways and the angels walk with you on your path. You are escorted on your
way and you are never alone. You are guarded as a precious treasure that is
being transported to another place.
You need to put all your cares in My
hands. You are developing true trust when you let go and let Me take over.
Keep trusting and silence the ugly prompting of Satan who wants you to worry
about useless things. Quit worrying and pray and play with your children. I am
telling you there is so much peace and grace gained by private prayer with
them. I will tend to all the details of your life. Do not worry for one
moment. Put your life in My hands. I am here, little one. Read this message
and all of them over and over again.
You need to go to the Blue Book for your
answers. Your answers are found there. I never leave your side. God is
guarding you. Just continue to have a union with Me all through the day. All
the prayer time alone with Me in one day is not enough. I want you in constant
prayer.
Turn to Me and My Blue Book. This will
help many priests to come back and sit before Me in private union with Me.
When priests come back to the tabernacle, the flock will begin to be led back
to His altar. Priests need to read these letters. They are the preachers. If
they do not value their own relationship with Jesus, if they are being led
away from Me with busyness, they will not preach the intimate love of Jesus.
They are so busy, but it is like throwing out the baby with the bath water. I
am the center and their relationship with Me is utmost.
The priests need these messages. They
need to have an intimate, close union with Me. They should be preaching
"time in front of the tabernacle." They should be preaching My
intense love for My people and how I have so much to give. Some sermons are so
complicated—yet nothing about union with Me in the Eucharist and in front of
the tabernacle.
I want My priests to come back and pray
before My tabernacle. I want them to read these messages and make Jesus the
Center of their lives. When they are led back to Jesus, they will lead the
flock home. Priests need adoration every day for at least an hour. I don't
care how busy they are. None of it matters if they are not spending time in
private prayer alone with Me. They need to come and get their supplies. They
need to quit thinking they are doing it and turn back to turning their lives
totally over to Me, to totally letting their burdens and busy lives off at the
foot of My cross and letting Me lead the way.
There is not one priest who has so much
to do that he cannot do private adoration daily. When the priest comes back to
the power in the Eucharist and the tabernacle, the congregation will turn to
God for their troubled hearts. Satan has led priests away from Jesus. They are
so busy they cannot do all their work, but this must all take second place to
praying silently before God and reading His words. These letters will help
many priests to come back and be intimate with Jesus.
All the rituals, all the upkeep of the
churches, all the little details, and the King of Glory sits alone! You have
thrown out the baby with the bath water. You are missing the boat.
I want the priests to read this message.
Where is the reverence after Communion and who has even heard it mentioned in
the church? Private union with Jesus! What an honor! I have all you need. Come
to Me and I will give you rest. I am all powerful. I have all the power. I am
hyper--vigilant over your lives. I guard you. Quit trying to do it yourselves.
Become selfless and let Me possess your souls.
Have the priests spread these messages.
Read them in church. I want adoration of the Eucharist back. I want people to
know I am God and I am coming to them in Holy Communion. I want the Blessed
Sacrament exposed. I want My churches open. Union with Jesus, the love of
Jesus, trust, faith, love for one another, love of God--I want all of these
preached from the pulpit!
I am the Alpha and the Omega. I want My
people to be led back to the center, which is Jesus. Pray for your priests.
They are under attack. If Satan can wreck the family, the priests, the
children, he has it made.
You are under attack, My beloved priests,
and you, in your busyness, are being led away from your union with Jesus.
Bring yourselves back to Me and let Me give you My love. I am indeed the
bridegroom of your souls. I wait for My beloved ones at the altar. I long for
private union with all My beloved ones.
Come to Me, all who labor and are heavily
burdened, and I will give you rest. Come and be lifted up to heights you never
dreamed possible. I am God. Put your lives in My hands. Let Me run your life.
Quit running amok. You have lost your way and are running down the wrong road.
Bring your lives back to Jesus in the tabernacle.
The world is getting farther from God
every minute. Read the messages at prayer meetings. Spread them by word of
mouth. The time you waste is valuable. These words are not meant to be saved.
Spread them here by any means possible. I want them out, I tell you! If
someone wants to read some messages, give them to them and let them read them
at prayer meetings. There is no secret here. They are from Me and I want them
out. I want you to speak. A lot of your discontent is in sitting around with
all these messages and not spreading them. Tell your friends to speak. Speak
My words here. You don't have to mention the source. Spread the messages. You
are not what is important. The messages are. You will be exposed. Don't worry
who knows, but don't spread your own story. Spread the messages. Like ripples
on a pond, the love of God will be spread throughout the land. I have so much
to give to My hurting ones. I am your God. I died for you out of deepest love.
I have come in these messages to lead you back home.
Quit worrying of details. I am He Who
runs the show. Pray for guidance every day. Spend one hour in front of the
tabernacle. You cannot do in a million years what I can do in one moment. Quit
relying on yourselves. You are only pushing buttons. When you are fixed in Me,
the right door opens. When you go it alone, you have a hard road to walk. One
hour in private adoration. Be silent or read the Blue Book. Your life will
become uplifted by My teaching and you will sail a blue sky.
Spend time in silence and some in reading
My words in front of Me. I am talking to you in these letters. What power, to
read them in front of the tabernacle! You can't go it alone. You need My help.
You need your supplies. But you must come and get them! You are following your
tail around if you do it alone. I am He Who can do all this. When you realize
My power in adoration, your lives will change. As long as you are too busy you
will have a hard time. The soul craves this union with Me.
Lead the priests back to adoration and
the people will follow. Our leaders have become too busy for adoration. This
is the key, the key to unlock the doors to the world's problems. It is found
in front of the tabernacle, at daily Mass and Communion. Do the priests ever
preach any of this? You have forgotten your center, Jesus, in the Eucharist!
All the power is found in Jesus. You have all that you need and you walk about
and decorate My churches and clean every speck of dust and repair My pews and
carpet My house and fix My organs but you walk about and miss the King of
Glory who sits there all alone! Spread the messages on the tabernacle. I want
them out!
end of January 17, 1994 message
March 26, 2002 message continues
Messenger:
On that day Jesus gave me the Prayer for Union
with Jesus.
Prayer for Union with Jesus
Come to me, Lord, and possess my soul.
Come into my
heart and permeate my soul. Help me to sit in silence with You and let You
work in my heart.
I am Yours to possess. I am Yours to use.
I want to be selfless and only exist in You. Help me to spoon out all that is
me and be an empty vessel ready to be filled by You. Help me to die to myself
and live only for You. Use me as You will. Let me never draw my attention back
to myself. I only want to operate as You do, dwelling within me.
I am Yours, Lord. I want to have my life
in You. I want to do the will of the Father. Give me the strength to put aside
the world and let You operate my very being. Help me to act as You desire.
Strengthen me against the distractions of the devil to take me from Your work.
When I worry, I have taken my focus off
of You and placed it on myself. Help me not to give in to the promptings of
others to change what in my heart You are making very clear to me. I worship
You, I adore You and I love You. Come and dwell in me now.
-God's Blue Book, January 17, 1994
March 26, 2002 message continues
Messenger:
Oh please help us get the Priestly Newsletter
Book II to our priests.
Our priests are so precious to us.
Our Church is so precious to us.
Here is a letter I wrote yesterday.
March 26, 2002 message continues
Messenger:
We must pray for our priests and the renewal
of the Church and the world as Fr. Carter was
directed by Jesus.
A writing from Fr. Carter -
The role of Private Revelation in the Church
The Role of Private Revelation
in the Life of the Church
by Father Carter, S.J.
In these our times there have been numerous reports from
around the world of events regarding alleged private revelations. Messages
from alleged visionaries and locutionists abound. Many people are at least
somewhat confused regarding how one should react to all this.
It seems appropriate, therefore, to offer some thoughts
concerning the role of private revelation in the life of the Church.
First of all, we must realize the Church recognizes that
private revelation has a role to play in the life of the Church. The Catechism
says:
Throughout the
ages, there have been so-called 'private revelations,' some of which have been
recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the
deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ's
definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period
of history.1
We would now like to offer the thoughts of some contemporary
theologians regarding this role of private revelation: Harvey Egan, S.J.,
says:
Private
revelations often presuppose the gift of prophecy. Prophetic revelations
commission the mystic to address the entire Church, or a significant portion.
He must deliver a message, plead for a particular devotion, call for
conversion and penance, warn against certain aberrations in Church
life...suggest new styles of life or spiritual doctrine, or foretell the
future. Those post-apostolic, prophetic revelations, therefore, apply the
faith in a practical way to daily Christian living.2
Jordan Aumann, O.P., observes:
There have
always been persons gifted with prophecy, as is testified by Scripture and the
processes of canonization of the servants of God. Nevertheless, private
revelations do not pertain to the deposit of faith, which consists of the
truths contained in Scripture and Tradition under the vigilance of the Church.3
Karl Rahner, S.J., offers the following regarding private
revelation:
A private
revelation as a mission to the Church signifies...an imperative which within
the context of a particular historical situation of the Church, points out a
particular course of action from among the many possible according to the
universal and public revelation as the one most urgently needing to be
realized. The new feature in such a private revelation consists therefore not
in its particular material elements but in the imperative marking and shifting
of accentuation within the possibilities of Christianity...Hence the private
revelation as a mission to the Church can be conceived as a heavenly
imperative interpretation of the particular situation of the Church at this
time; it answers the question as to what is most urgently to be done here and
now in accordance with the general principles of the faith.4
It would be wrong, consequently, to deny the existence and
proportionate importance of private revelation in the life of the Church. Such
an attitude would be in opposition to the teaching of the Church and that of
reputable theologians. Private revelation is yet another sign of God's
overwhelming love towards us. In His great love He has given us the truths of
faith as contained in public revelation. In His ongoing love for us He gives
us private revelation to aid us in the living of public revelation. We should
not, therefore, be indifferent to the role God has assigned to private
revelation in the life of the Church.
It might be well at this point to offer a description of
what occurs when a person receives an apparition and/or locution (message).
Joseph de Guibert, S.J., one of the most eminent mystical theologians of this
century, says:
A distinction
is made between corporeal, imaginative, and intellectual visions. This
distinction can also be applied to locutions. In corporeal visions and
locutions there is a real perception by the external senses; the person who is
seen or heard may be really present, or (in corporeal visions) the body which
appears may be formed in the air, or a change may be affected at the moment
the light-rays impinge on the eye, or (in corporeal locutions) a real
acoustical vibration may be produced in the ears. In imaginative visions and
locutions there is no perception by the external senses, but, rather, a Divine
action on the imagination or the internal senses...In intellectual visions and
locutions the Divine action directly affects the intellect.5
What should one's attitude be regarding alleged instances of
private revelation which have not yet been the subject of official Church
investigation- and perhaps never will be? First, one should always recognize
that the final authority regarding private revelations rests with the Holy See
of Rome, to whose judgment we should willingly submit. Secondly, one may
personally act upon these messages of private revelation if a person observes
that they contain nothing contrary to faith and morals and that they help
bring one closer to God. Our Lord has said: "...a sound tree produces
good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor a rotten tree bear good fruit." (Mt 7:17-18).
A good example of what we have just said is the situation
regarding the alleged apparitions and messages at Medjugorje. The Church's
investigation of this site is ongoing. No definitive decision has been made.
In the meantime, the Church is not forbidding the faithful to go to Medjugorje.
She is not forbidding them to personally accept the messages, presuming,
again, they contain nothing contrary to faith and morals. Millions of pilgrims
have gone to Medjugorje, including thousands of priests and hundreds of
bishops.
An outstanding example of the importance of the role of
private revelation in the life of the Church is that of Fatima. The Church has
formally approved the message of Fatima as being worthy of belief. In her July
13, 1917, message, Our Blessed Mother said:
The war (World
War I, then raging) is going to end. But if people do not stop offending God,
another and worse one will begin in the reign of Pius XI. When you shall see a
night illuminated by an unknown light (January 2, 1938), know that this is the
great sign that God gives you that He is going to punish the world for its
many crimes by means of war, hunger, and persecution of the Church and the
Holy Father.
To prevent
this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate
Heart and the Communion of Reparation on the five first Saturdays. If my
requests are granted, Russia will be converted and there will be peace. If
not, she will scatter her errors throughout the world, provoking wars and
persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will
have much to suffer, and various nations will be destroyed...
But in the
end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph, the Holy Father will consecrate Russia
to me, Russia will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted
to the world.6
There is more to the requests of Our Lady of Fatima besides
those elements contained in the above message. But these aspects of the Fatima
message are obviously critical ones.
Because enough people did not respond to Mary's requests
made at Fatima, we did have World War II and all the horrors connected with
the rise of Russian dominated Communism. Again, Fatima is a prime example of
the importance the role of private revelation can assume in the life of the
Church. Popes Pius XII and Paul VI made visits to Fatima, as has Pope John
Paul II.
- From Shepherds of Christ, A Spirituality
Newsletter for Priests by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J.
May/June 1995 Issue. pp. 3-5.
Notes:
-
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, #67, p.
23.
-
Harvey Egan, S.J., Christian Mysticism, Pueblo
Publishing, p. 311.
-
Jordan Aumann, O.P., "Spiritual Theology", Our
Sunday Visitor, Inc., p. 429.
-
Karl Rahner, S.J., Theological Investigations,
Helicaon Press, Vol. III, pp. 338-339.
-
Joseph de Guibert, S.J., The Theology of the
Spiritual Life, Sheed & Ward, pp. 355-356.
-
Our Lady of Fatima's Peace Plan from Heaven, Tan
Publishers, pp. 4-5.
end of excerpt from The Role of Private
Revelation in the Life of the Church
from Tell My People
October 27, 1996
Very carefully discerned by Fr. Carter
Jesus speaks: I am sending you, My
apostles, to spread the consecration in the churches, the schools, and the
family. Go to the churches and try to set up Shepherds of Christ Prayer
chapters. Encourage as many as possible to join the Apostles of the
Eucharistic Heart. It is in fervent prayer that the Shepherds of Christ
Movement will spread and many hearts will give themselves to Our Hearts.
Dear apostles, you must reach the
children in the schools with the rosary. Use the aves and give them the
consecration cards and the letter that I will dictate to you.
Please encourage members in the chapters
to pray the prayers with their families, especially the Holy Spirit Prayer and
the consecration prayers. These should be prayed aloud daily with the family,
either before meals or with the family rosary. The family that prays these
prayers will be united in a strong way and will withstand the attacks of the
devil.
The Church is the good grazing ground.
This is My sign to you. I am Jesus. My sign is these revelations I am giving.
From studying these revelations, you will know I am truly speaking here. I am
directing you as My apostles, to help bring about the renewal of the Church
and the world. When the stray sheep are lead back to the Church, they will be
fed with My Body. They will feast on rich pastures. They will be fed with the
Bread of Life.
The prayer chapters that form in the
church will influence the priest. They will fervently come to the tabernacle
and pray for their parish. It is absolutely essential that the associates
encourage the priest to read the priestly newsletter. When priests are living
the consecration to Our Hearts the people will be richly fed by the Eucharist
and will be receiving the great benefits given through the sacraments
administered through the holy priests. You have not tapped into the fountain
of grace that pours when a holy priest is administering the sacrament.
My grace will pour copiously and they
will feast on My life flowing through the sacraments.
Messenger: Oh, fountain of life that
flows upon the people. Give them the grace to consecrate their hearts to Thee.
And there will be one flock and one Shepherd.
Jesus speaks: They will be one in Our
Hearts and feasting on the Bread of Life with the greatest fervor and love.
Messenger: Oh, Holy Mother, the
Church, we long for the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the
Immaculate Heart. There will be holy, holy priests and His Heart will reign in
all hearts of both priests and people and the world will know the fire of His
love.
It will spread like wild fire across the
earth and souls will be filled with love and His life.
end of October 27, 1996
My love affair is with You, my crucified
Lord. I kiss Your cross and caress You tenderly. I smother You with kisses and
I know Your love.
This is love - to kiss the cross of
Christ. I cursed the darkness and the light came across the sky, ever so
gently as if it grew in intensity to a bright brilliant shade of glistening
light. And in this I beheld my Beloved. I saw His glory in the wonders of the
earth and I embraced Him, the divine, all-powerful, Almighty Lord!
He took away those things I was attached
to. I held on with a gripping hand. Oh, I cried out in pain and I heard the
words in my heart: beyond the surrender is the real gift.
Is it not after the death there is the
resurrection, after the dying, there is the glory?
Oh, my Divine Lord, I feel as if my eyes
have crusted over. I laid down on the floor and pounded my fists to the earth.
I did not see the miracle in the grass that touched my hand. I did not see the
power and the might behind the work of endless beauty. A blade of grass, you
say? Oh, yes indeed, for it lives and is not life the real miracle? For I am
not a rock, but a living creature, created in the image and likeness of God
and oh, you say, how much do you share in the life of the Divine Being? And I
say, "I share through Baptism. He, God, gives me a sharing in His divine
life!"
I pounded the earth and I cursed the
darkness. I scoffed and I complained and beyond the horizon the sun slowly
stole across the sky and the light appeared in glistening glory. The darkness
was black and the night was cold. I heard the clamor of fear in my heart. I
felt like screaming in that night and oh, I beheld the crucified Lord. He
spoke no words to me, the Holy Spirit filled my heart with light and I saw the
glory. I saw the resurrection, not with my earthly eyes, but with the
awakening of a joyous heart within.
I saw the glorified wounds, the wounds
once covered with blood, inflamed and red, gushing with deep, red blood. I saw
the glistening wounds in the hands and feet and I knew behind His robe was the
most tender of all wounds, the piercing wound to His side. It was there, the
pierced wound of His most precious Heart. It was the wound of glory, from
which His divine life would pour forth to a hungry Church. It would rain and
fall as gently as the new fallen snow. It would go across the sky like the
light and the souls would be transformed into the whitest light. The graced
soul, oh, the glory of this soul, the soul that is filled with His divine
life!
Oh, need I say more, my Lord? I see the
life in a blade of grass. I see the tiniest potato bug with its dots and
beauty and I behold the face of God. I behold life, His life, alive in us and
in the world.
Well, the night was black, as black as
black could be and the cold pierced my bones. I felt its chill go through my
entire body and I wanted to scream and it happened—He gave me an outpouring
of His life in my soul and my darkness was truly turned to light, another
light, not the light of the eyes, a light of knowing God, the joy of beholding
His heavenly embrace, the great illumination of another mystery. Oh, sweet
gifts He gives when He gives me new knowledge of Himself. Sweet gifts He gives
when, in an instant, I pray my rosary and the Holy Spirit fills my heart with
lights and the mystery lights up and I know, I just know and I experience a
great insight into God.
This is the reason for this letter, for I
laid in my bed and I wanted to cry and I was deeply afraid for the devils
pressed in as rocks poking at me and hurting my precious skin. I laid in bed
and I went into the womb of my Mother and I asked for the Holy Spirit to flood
me with His light and it came. I speak His words to you, they are the words He
gives: death-resurrection, darkness-light, sorrow-joy, suffering and pain, but
oh, the joy of His light, the joy of His glory, the sacrifice I offer to Him
that He turns into blessings and I experience His glory. It is in the death
there is the resurrection. It is in the anguishing days of lent we come to the
glory of Easter.
So, my dear brothers, I walk the road to
Calvary. I mount the cross and I die. I offer sacrifice and in the morning
when the night is done I see the glory of the resurrection. I experience His
joy in my heart.
So I went to bed and went into the womb
of my Mother and the Holy Spirit flooded me with light and I united deeply to
my precious Jesus on the cross. I knew Him and His love. I reminisced on all
the places of deepest intimacy I had shared with Him and my heart burned. I
wanted Him so close and I loved Him so much. I cried out, "I love You, I
love You, I love You." In that moment I knew and wanted only Him. He had
removed my bonds and set me free to be engulfed by His divine love. I then
knew Him as never before, the most Holy One, in this union with Jesus.
I felt my great love for God the Father.
I have been experiencing my littleness as a child and knowing my Father,
seeing myself real little and knowing my Father and wanting, as a little
child, to please Him. Then tonight I realized more His Fatherly love. I see
myself depending on Him, needing Him, crying to Him, loving Him and then I
realized His power and might and love coming to me.
So I knew in an instant. He just gives
you a light and you know, you experience—I knew, I experienced the Trinity. I
loved Them, all three Persons, so much and I loved Them as one, my heart,
being consumed with the presence of God and sharing the love of each Person—love beyond all love, and I stopped to be in this embrace, wanting it
to never end, for in this embrace I felt peace, a peace I had not felt before,
so different from the days that preceded this moment, the days of suffering
and trial.
I mounted the cross. I felt the nails
press deeply into my hands and feet. I felt the crown of thorns on my head. I
said to Him, "Oh, why, my God, if You love me, do You make it so
hard?"
And then I saw Him on the cross. I saw
His mouth with blood running from the corner of it. I saw the body of a man,
close to death. I saw His wounds, blistery and red, pouring out His precious
blood. I saw the hollowness of His cheeks and the exhaustion of a body ready
to expire in death. I saw the anguishing Lord who came to show us His way. His
way is death and resurrection. His way is pain and glory. His way is the way
to eternal life.
end of February 27, 1997
Shepherds of Christ Ministries, P.O. Box 193,
Morrow, OH 45152
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