AN OPEN LETTER to Culion SB

AN OPEN LETTER January 5, 2021 The Sangguniang Bayan This Municipality I just received you letter of denial to my request for the minutes of the public hearing in all barangays. This was upon motion of SB Astor and unanimously seconded by all members. A public documents denied to a formal request is in gross violation of Civil Service Code, Local Government Code and Public Accountability. A formal and legal action will be filed to proper authority. And I am constrained to go public of your indiscretion, prejudicial to the best interest of the public. I have all reason to believe that you want to hide your wrongdoings during the conduct of public hearing and your failure to perform a mandated duty as a public elected officials. That the public hearing for zoning ordinance is not actually a public hearing because there is no zoning ordinance to present. Instead you have allowed a certain Mr. Raymundo to present a proposal that you have envisioned behind close door, without proper public consultation that you have labeled as CLUP. Mr. Ramundo cannot be a resource person for he has been denied by the civil service as administrator for lack of experience and qualification. He cannot be your resource person to discuss CLUP for he never had profound knowledge of Culion, historically, culturally, traditionally, geographically for he is not a bonafide resident of Culion. That you have allowed others to present what must be incumbent for you as our elected official is a complete dereliction of your duty as Sangguniang Bayan. What is mandated cannot be delegated. Public hearing is a parliamentary procedure mandated to SB and not to Mr. Raymundo who represent as you insisted the executive. Public hearing is incumbent to you not to the executive. That during barangay Baldat public hearing, I have requested for copy of the zoning ordinance which was supposed agenda in the conduct of this public meeting. But you not even have the draft to present is a gross misconduct. Allowing Mr. Raymundo to abuse his authority as speaker and resource person during a public hearing and usurpation of your power as a SB. During bgy. Patag public hearing, I once again question the role of Mr. Raymundo that he cannot represent the LCE for he has been denied the position he usurp by the Civil Service. But you have insisted for his legitimacy as a resource person. Meanwhile, you have allowed the mayor to orally defamed me personally by saying.. "BUANG YAN, LISBOANG ". Making derogatory sign and remarks in public. Even saying I’m a failure, and so many things that not only insulted me but also to my whole family and clan. We have videos and record to substantiate this. And also sworn affidavit of audience during the public hearing. And during bgy. Balala public hearing, when I was duly recognized by the chair to speak. I was just trying to explain that the CLUP is not authored by anybody but by every stakeholders and represent the will of the people, their proposals, and aspiration. Not the whims and caprices of the few. And the mayor in front of the public took away the microphone from me. Forcibly and demanded I leave the public hearing. In your presence and in your exercise of a mandated authority to hold public hearing. Why allow the executive to intervene a legislative function? Why this abuse of authority happen without your exercise of duty? Mr. Raymundo has made allegation against previous administration and elected official. A grave unfounded allegations and a serious accusations. Even displaying documents against me from misuse of funds. The mayor likewise made the same allegation which are all, fabricated and unsubstantiated. They are all libelous and yet you have allowed it to happen. I am holding you accountable to all of this both legally, morally and ethically. I know you will once again ignore this as you previously did. Once again I hold you responsible for the mistakes against me, my family and my colleagues. With all due respect, I am making this letter public that people will know our grievances. Glen N. Lisboa

What is true development

Development has many equations and concepts with a common denominator of betterment & goodness. But the question lies on the difference between personal gain and the ability to develop for the good of all which is essentially a kind of development that enforced to help the weak, the poor, the powerless, the people and the environment in general.

The fact that development can also reduce the community to futility and pervert the ecology when it utilizes all the elements of forces to serve egocentric interests, like sending their political weapon and ego, through coded call of itapon sila sa basurahang kawalan. Is this a kind of noxious menace or simply a dictatorial cowardice or worst the lifestyle of meaninglessness?

The function of this kind of living is in fact the act of propelling one self over another. It is what psychologists define as ego-consciousness, the wretched form of consciousness that is vest to the animal instinct of survival... The “survival of the fittest”. Will they do anything to suppress the weak in order to survive? Are they viewing the world with the cold eyes of predators that must prevail at any cost at the expense of imbecilic and egoistic mind or simply promoting cowardice?

Then, who are the fittest in this secular world or on this secluded islands? Who are these spineless kings and queens of their own palaces & villas?

Again and again what is true development? Is it building accesses for one’s own survival while moral tradition collapses? Is it the same as making business from govt expense to build political kingdoms in the guise of community service? Or is it the reflection and innovation of growth that encounter and conquer the complexities of modern life? Can we call these courts growth?

What is development? Is it the realization of heroism, or just a way of escaping this boredom existence and at the same time endorsing apathy or torpidity from these so called imbecile fainthearted minds?

What is true development? Is it the conservation & protection of aesthetic beauty to conquer the complexity of modernity?

What is true development? Is it preserving the tangible & intangible historical treasure and the protection of natural & ecological gems, or is it their contracted roads or buildings that conceptualized ridiculous ideas of an apocryphal claims of serving the people? Is it the dawning and a call from the depths of actuality where these goodness are made to articulate the spirit of involvements? Or is it just a plain political dominion or power tripping? Why are they confusing? Why are self-proclaimed development became so disgraceful, bogus and blasphemous? Pretending like gods & serving just to lord over it?

Why is it always painful to go out there and view this kind of devolution and be lost to this abysmal void that hurt with the shameless plasticity of it all? Do we have to manipulate the people & the eco-system to gain power & wealth, to clog & cast off commonality while proclaiming this sham progress? Then we can only quest, what is this deadly greedy thing?

Why is it that their so called development seems to have lost its spirit of common sense? True development must be founded in traditional morality if not immortality..

What are great achievements and strides made of? Why does it seem that while they're announcing their self-imposed accomplishments and achievements, we only found the equal deterioration of the bayanihan spirit found in community, we detect misguided spirit of oneness and solidarity? Are these roads to perdition made of apathy & torpidity? Some kind of destruction or exploitation of our nature?

The manipulations and lies of twisted development are being revealed when money becomes the only essential commodity to feed this carnal body. If they instinctively think that they’re just serving survival instinct... then life might become unbearable, unreasonable, vexatious and sickening, so ugly, lonely and perverted. Where do we go from here?! Transforming the roads into shenanigan?

Development includes everybody and can be created through laws by the president or governor or mayor or any other leaders, as a kind of system. Yes indeed a system is a system that without which we cannot function in a civilized society. Yet some kind of system were imposed in order to create an illusion of control, like the rules of systematic corruptions inside the institution, or rather it became a shambolic regime.

But in truth the problem lies not in this kind of system or laws but in the hearts of men or women where their own system becomes the means to an end. It is a kind of system where advancement has been assigned to mere survival - creating witless die-hard minions to denounce involvement, belongingness, in place of golden calf or the idolatry of moderated greed and worst of all the obnoxious indifference & callousness.

But development is not for the foolish heart nor for those ego-conscious-mind who only serve their brute instinct where common sense and reason became irrelevant and nonsense. Please, it is not for them all!

Development should be the backbone of an institution or community or town. It must be creative & effective, it must produce good, beautiful and meaningful effect & result. Its created projects and programs must depict, capture and prove great achievements & heroism, a way of life and values like what our grandparents deed. Without them, a place may not have been existed. Gifted minds that move the course of the community’s future also know the value of development as an essential component in the promotion of the ethics of true life. Evolvement is a community canonization. It is therefore the common denominator of real & unquestionable of what truly is development; to the people, for the people and by the people… yet look around us?

Probably the reason we do not have an authentic sense of development is that we do not have the wisdom or a sense of history.

The best thing we can truly evolve is not to have more self-proclaimed developments and abuse or degrade the natural resources, but rather how to be genuinely productive and go back to the great idea that this betterment must have a true value of caring & respecting the community together with the protection & conservation of natural world or the environment.. are we unfortunately enough to lose the opportunity of reckoning at this very moment of time??!

Awaken us heavens, we pray.

Where do we go from here?

Where do we go from here?

This is the basic question that should be resolved in a direction mandated by law and this priority shall be an agreed predication. Looking back on the history of Culion we must understand the legitimacy of residents to define who were, who are the novel people that reside in this place. The place that was actually reserved for a particular kind of people. A purpose created towards a humane act, Culion was intended. It is a home for loved and cared individuals forsaken by society. A place to isolate a human bereft of a curse they never desired. It is a seclusion of a place that nobody wanted to be.

Even though, few kind-hearted people volunteered to serve these people, they were there even the whole world had forsaken them. The place was feared, maligned and misjudged. But in the end, a tragic outlook is now looming to the same people who in the beginning were just victims of circumstances to be in this island community. The self-same individuals the law intends to emancipate through the passages of R.A. 9032; the hansenites and their children, the government employees, the religious sectors, the volunteer workers and servants who dedicated their lives for a worthy cause. The ‘liberation’ of the people of Culion who once upon a time, forcibly brought here because of their misfortune of being ‘different’, together with the servants who volunteered here that they may serve these patients, our forefathers, who labored that others may live, could be disenfranchised by what is happening now. As the rightful citizen of this civic society we must be part of the decision making in the determination of why, where, what, and how much is for whom. But then again, we’ll go back to this basic question that should be resolved in a direction mandated by law, where do we go from here?

As a former Leper Colony, Culion was a national reservation that became a municipality. People are mounting their own monument at stake for their claim. But prior to that, there was massive selling of DOH given rights to buyers without regards to the actual value of land that had created a situation of speculation, intimidation and confusion among the locals. The land they gave away is now in the possession and claimed by those who know the actual value of the land. People sold their rights because of sheer ignorance, unwariness or poverty. Others took advantage of the situation to profit from their rights as a piece of paper can now be converted into cash or millions.

The law mandates the government! The leaders must ensure equitable, just and honest land distribution and reserved the land for every bonifide residents of Culion, if not the original people of Culion. This leadership must be free from any biases and conflict of interest, nor their vested interest, that their mandated authority will be for the good of the people who gave them their trust, that their rights must always be encouraged.

As a people who shared a bittersweet past, our forefathers, made sure that this place we now live will not only for us to share, but most of all for our children, they who had given their lives, that a municipality might live! The government that will be a self-determination we all dream of. These people should be part of that visioning and setting up a goal that will be good for all, as much as goodness that our fore bearer did to us. We cannot destroy all these goodness for the sake of self-imposed progress and development, that renounce the past and losing all those true development that was handed to us for the sake of a better future of our children and their children. We almost regained that paradise we now called Culion thru this virtue of independence. By all means we cannot afford to lose these God-given gifts to us. We can never forsake the past and let all the sacrifices our servant fathers did and be put in vain.

What we need now is to inform the people of the reality that is happening nowadays but at the same time not to forget the past. Maybe some would rather forget their bitter past because of that painful reality as what the movie of the old said ‘huwag mong salingin’. But in the end, no cure can heal the wounds without the pain. We need to move now and carry on with our quest for what goodness must be for all of us.

We are now challenging if not imploring this burg to ensure that Culionaires i.e. patients and their descendants, the employees who served here and their descendants who migrated that opted to stay here prior to the creation of the municipality, to reserve the land for these people!

Now tragically, people are asking for what? For whom? Do I have my share? What about me? Am I not entitled? Do I deserve a place in Culion where I was born? Am I still a stranger just like my parents who was virtually imprisoned in this island that became a dreaded place? Do I belong now, when the whole world despises us and we were forgotten here?

Currently they are measuring and zoning the land. Can we only wait? What do I know now? Am I still praying for my fair share? Will it come? Or am I forgotten again? To whom should I listen? We are mere children of Culion. Do this regime really empathizes?

We were in lost-paradise when we grew up in culion. We were a community of men isolated by our identity as a place of seclusion. But Culion is ours. We became a distinct culture isolated by stigma and became a character of our own specie. Endemic. A unique and isolated society who created its own cultural heritage who shall remain steadfast as who we are now. We cannot change because of a confused town. The government that was created for us should not dictate the will of the people, nor changed what we beautifully created that this new culture took us time to value. If changes do happen it should not stumble on a created thing that was valued by our past. The present is a power of money and connection. Do they want to subdue a norm? A value? A culture? What happen now to what our forefathers sacrificed for? Like the religious communities that not only lovingly dedicated their lives and services but still carry on what they started? Are we beholden now of a creeping culture of power and might?

The law, the culture, the norms are now in clash. Disputing each other without proper forum to decide who and what is true, and good and right.

As the plans are nearing its conclusion, we cannot but ask ourselves as people residing on foreshore areas of Culion and some other forgotten islands as well as coastal shores;

DO WE HAVE A PART OF THE LAND AS PROMISED BY R.A. 9032? DO WE HAVE A CHANCE TO OWN A PIECE OF LAND THAT SHALL DISPELL OUR STATUS AS SQUATTER IN THE LAND OF OUR BIRTH? OR AS OUR GREATEST FEAR NOW IS THIS SIMPLE QUESTION… WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Are we now the victim of maneuverings? Then our quest arise here, to whom this land must truly belong?

Dear Students of Modernity

Dear students of modernity

Today is our a new day in the school of modernity, for we are trying to learn about our town, possibly in a deeper sense of view, if not to know our true destiny on how are we going to find its significance? We must uncover some logic from all these quests, because this is the very reason why we are revealing this, in order to rediscover our mission and to go beyond this voracity, so that we can travel a meaningful journey and reveal our true identity and destiny... since we are not mere 'x' we’ve got to be a 'factor'. Could this be a treasure beyond Lamed, or more than the Tangays, beyond the issue of land? Then that could be an X-factor.

The future of 'Isla' is attractively so bright, for the place itself is a magnet for tourism, like the UNESCO Heritage Sites, the Museum, the Historic Fortress and of course the beautiful natural resources that we need to protect & preserve in order to sustain them. Who would have asked for more? Do progress slowly deteriorating the eco-friendly island where damages are going with the flow of climate change? But how can we declare progress, when this so-called ‘teachers of modernity’ are as anti-truth as their lords? Can we prevent them? How can we imitate and apply the dynamism and activism of our forefathers during the fortification of the place, as they have experienced in the past compared with what we are experiencing now or even in the future? We are hoping to see a better place in the future to stay, and wishing our forerunners will do even just a hint of betterment to free us from all these kind of menace and threats alike.

The Colony was even more advanced 50 or 60 years ago than the current system where it seems to be moving one step forward but three steps backward at the same time, like the systematic perversion that is happening as we are writing this letter. Our forefathers were advanced simply because of their brotherhood and people empowerment, the culture of bayanihan communities not to mention the family ties and their triumph against all the odds of the past. But what have we today? Why we cannot even form ourselves into one people's coalition? We can only ponder, yet these are the very reason and the essential requirement to diagnose these inevitable disorders being created nowadays.

Can we allow this to happen? Like the kind of maleficent who wants to control everybody... to perdition in the guise of reformation? As we always said, for a malevolent to triumph, it is when few good men do nothing, like a despicable primate who can’t hear, can’t see, can’t speak and cannot move. Unfortunately there are signs of victory from this kind of myopic modernity. Then we would come to an end and can only ponder to ourselves and ask this ironic question, which is better, the golden past or this so called futuristic progressivism? Look at our habitat today can you still reverse the globalization while avarice sparkly reflecting everywhere?

There are lots of issues facing our world today, and we are not isolated anymore from all these concerns: Two things; One, as what the majority are saying, if we will not dance with the music of modernity, what will our future generation be like? Is technological ignorance similar to under-educated or considered an offense against superiority or development? How can we face these glitches if we will not welcome modernization? But the big question lies on another quest, who are championing on this advancement? If we know the obvious answer, then modernity is not the problem nor progress, it could be myopic or indifference. Are they the one we called the ‘self-serving-few’ that are causing these complications? Two, if the narrow-minded-irresponsible individuals are the only one showing these symptoms, then why are we not animated by reason to revolt against these blunders? Are we insulting the capability of our very own selves? We hope 'free will' is still open in this arena and fairness still rules and reaches us in no time... then courage!

We are currently observing this kind of balancing, between the gestures of goodness on people from all walks of life, against the threat that is reigning the place. These maleficent could manipulate the rule of law so the people in this beautiful island needs to be consulted and included to design the future of our beloved town. Let us not allow these filthy few to rule, instead let the process of collaboration as well as knowledge and wisdom to win the battle for us, as the true sign of evolvement. We need to encourage and eternally thank the presence of few good men like "David" in this arena; they can make and spell out a big difference! Just like what our missionaries who never relented to teach us, Magis, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam! "For the greater glory of God"

In a logical sense of view, we never ever blamed true development or even the purpose of technologies, because this is the advancement we really need even until this very moment. The problem dwells on the confusions of our trailblazers. In our current world, which is mostly concentrating on progress while good values from our forefathers are being ignored. There lies the big difference. Our novel leaders nowadays lost these opportunities. Instead we have indifference and parodies if not sheer ignorance? They cannot even systematize our basic needs, as simple as to clean our town or our water system or waste disposal, how much more is our land. If they can only follow and respect our forefathers’ greatest achievements, then they can maximize the use of what we now called the wisdom of technology, but instead we have torpidity and indifference.

Yes there will be more programs and activities for advancement, but from what we are experiencing now it would require more miracles to achieve them rather than manipulating it. Unless we’ll be awaken by these impediment or disappointments and comprehend our true sense of development, of being eco-friendly and strengthening the principles of historical and cultural values. Then we need this kind of advocacies from our young generations as well as from our valuable and educated young professionals who will take a stand, no matter what, for the greatest good.

We are forever searching now for a courageous or Davidic individual who have a kind of heart and bravery to face all these Goliaths. We wish it any more than no other choice but do it and continually doing it, hoping to generate fruits much sweeter than the fruitage of the past. With all the help of our friends, families and communities who are the true resident in hearts and minds... imploring to remain vigilant as the nature and soul of the place. A valiant persona who can ride with this so called ‘hope’ that will hold on and cultivating the grassroots before it's too late as we are chasing and running out of time. This was our quest since time immemorial... Hmm isn't it exciting? So with the continued guidance of spirited-hearts we will continue to study, train and acquire great understanding and prudence. So our future depends on the laurels of the people mentioned above for our true destiny.

We need the grace of wisdom to continue our mission together with our high hope that needs to be balanced in order to fathom the greatness of our goals, guarding the utmost fears we are facing now, like the spinning of minds and hearts of the people in the guise of sheep's clothing while it cannot even recognize what is right and what is wrong? This is our greatest hindrance; the distortions of our moral capacity with the price tag of deceit, when truth becomes a lie and the lie became the truth? Let us be vigilant. Courage! For we are not isolated anymore, becoming the student of modernity. Transforming and enlightening ourselves, most specially the millenials, to learn from the good lessons of the past and of course the goodness of our future of true 'modernity' that we can also encounter as the spiritual quotient.

POPE FRANCIS AND THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY by Mario Pezzi

The complete text of the catechesis by Fr. Pezzi – in both written and oral versions, the latter with spontaneous comments from Kiko - is in the highly detailed account for the internal use of the “live-in.” But this summary is enough to grasp its importance.

It will not be easy for the proponents of innovation in the matter of Catholic marriage to ignore this powerful voice to the contrary.

___________



POPE FRANCIS AND THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY

by Mario Pezzi


The famous and criticized report of Cardinal Kasper is in five points, and only one of them deals with communion for the divorced and remarried, all of the others deal with the traditional doctrine of the Church. The pope once said: I am surprised that the press talks only about one point, and does not talk about the others. This is why I invite you not to pay attention to what the newspapers and television say, because everyone is pressuring the pope to be open to the world. Don't fall for it. Many times Father Lombardi has had to respond to the misinterpretation and misuse of the pope’s words.

In this catechesis we will not address the most burning issues, we will leave those to the synod fathers and to the pope, but we will talk about gender ideology, about the Christian family in the light of divine revelation, and finally about “Humanae Vitae” by Paul VI, which has been highly contested and rejected but which Pope Francis has wanted to revive.


GENDER IDEOLOGY


Pope Benedict XVI, on the occasion of his Christmas greetings to the Roman Curia in 2012, made an historic discourse, affirming that today we find ourselves before an epochal change, similar to that which happened at the time of the fall of the Roman empire and the invasion of the barbarian peoples. There is a decline in the foundations of society, of Catholic civilization.

Pope John Paul II himself said at Fatima in 1982: “What was once considered sin has now acquired the right of citizenship."

There have been many attacks against the Christian family in history. The latest virulent attack is represented by so-called "gender ideology."

Powerful lobbies are imposing this ideology as a dictatorship. Among the philosophical roots that have generated this monster that is threatening our families, especially in the schools, is Marxism.

In Marx, the notion that the essence of man is that of being able to create himself is connected to the overcoming of sexual gender and the destruction of the family.

The debate over gender then moved above all to the United States, where the idea that there are two sexes has been completely left behind. Instead of two genders there became five: male, female, gay, lesbian, and transgender. But in keeping with the anti-naturalistic approach, since man can create himself, the figure of 17 genders has been reached. There are even some today who count 51: the more the merrier.

Gender theory also reveals its Gnostic origin. The enemy for gnosis is not sex in itself, but sex as procreative, because producing children means contributing to the creative work of the wicked god.

It has been discovered that radical feminism is intimately connected to satanic worship. When Pope Francis has been asked about this aggression, he has said: it is the fruit of the devil who wants to destroy.

The myth of the transcendence of gender is also found in the Gnostic formulations of Freemasonry, which, at the highest levels of initiation, has the worship of the devil depicted with androgynous characteristics.

Gender theory implies a complete anthropological redefinition of the human essence. Man's attempt to take the place of God.

It has its historical origins in the anti-procreation planning beginning in the 1960’s, with the propaganda for contraception and abortion and the campaign for the use of the RU-486 pill.

When the episcopal conference of the United States adopted the formula "family planning,” the Vatican intervened to have it changed. Because it's misleading. The Christian is not the one who plans.

What does the Church say about this gender ideology? Pope Benedict XVI has said it, citing chief rabbi of France Gilles Bernheim:

“Man calls his nature into question. The manipulation of nature, which we deplore today where our environment is concerned, now becomes man’s fundamental choice where he himself is concerned. From now on there is only the abstract human being, who chooses for himself what his nature is to be. Man and woman in their created state as complementary versions of what it means to be human are disputed. But if there is no pre-ordained duality of man and woman in creation, then neither is the family any longer a reality established by creation. Likewise, the child has lost the place he had occupied hitherto and the dignity pertaining to him. Bernheim shows that now, perforce, from being a subject of rights, the child has become an object to which people have a right and which they have a right to obtain. When the freedom to be creative becomes the freedom to create oneself, then necessarily the Maker himself is denied and ultimately man. The defence of the family is about man himself.”


THE FAMILY IN THE LIGHT OF DIVINE REVELATION


The apostolic exhortation “Familiaris Consortio,” written by Pope John Paul II at the end of the synod on the family in 1980, still remains relevant today. And so does that beautiful post-synodal apostolic exhortation “Sacramentum Caritatis” of Pope Benedict XVI, which says: “The Eucharist inexhaustibly strengthens the indissoluble unity and love of every Christian marriage.”

Because of this, marriage is indissoluble. Pope Francis has clearly said that he is not going to change the doctrine of the Church as they say or as they want to make him say, because what God has united man cannot separate. The Church does not have the power. The conjugal bond is intrinsically connected to the Eucharistic unity between Christ the bridegroom and the Church his bride, a love that has its culminating point in the Cross, the expression of his "wedding" with humanity and, at the same time, the origin and center of the Eucharist.

There is no love without the cross. So "making love," as young people say, is pure falsehood. This is not a matter of love but of concupiscence, of attraction, etc. This is why the Church asks that there be no relations before marriage, because one comes to a certain point at which one is no longer free. I remember that at the beginning of the Way one of us came to say that he had decided to leave his girlfriend. He told Kiko and Carmen that she had threatened to kill herself, and had already made three suicide attempts, and he asked: what should I do? Kiko and Carmen replied to him: tell her she can go ahead and kill herself, God will provide. He left her, she did not commit suicide, and today he is happily married. Blackmail is easy.


RELEVANCE OF “HUMANAE VITAE"


Thanks be to God, Pope Francis inserted “Humanae Vitae” into the pre-synodal questionnaire and asked what the people think about it. It emerged that very many know nothing about it, because the priests have never presented it to them, and many of those who know about it reject it. The only ones who appreciate it are those who make a journey of faith, of Christian initiation. This is the problem, in my view, with this synod: almost no one talks about the necessity of Christian initiation. They talk only about being present for couples, helping them, forming the teachers…

On July 25, 1968 Paul VI, beatified at the end of the synod, published the encyclical “Humanae Vitae” subsequent to the efforts undertaken along with the council fathers.

Here I will cite from a recently published book about that pope, very well documented, prepared by the Paul VI Institute based in Brescia, for the cause of beatification:

“How much mud was slung on that encyclical and on Paul VI by those who wanted to impose their own vision of a liberal-nihilistic world! A deliberate climate of tension had been created a year before, when in April 1967 a document was published by the pontifical commission that John XXIII had instituted in March 1963 and that Paul VI wanted to expand so that alongside the theologians, the composers of the text, there would be the voices of demographers, sociologists, economists, physicians, and a few married couples.

“That document, confidential by nature, was published simultaneously in Le Monde in France, in The Tablet in Great Britain, and in the National Catholic Reporter in the United States. There were clear signs of coordination by a single hand that wanted to present the document as the relation of the majority, maintaining that only four of the seventy members of the commission had criticized the text, something that turned out to be false."

Having created this expectation - as they are again creating it today by saying that Pope Francis will allow communion for the remarried - everyone was expecting Paul VI to approve contraceptives, the pill, to reduce the population. So when the pope gave the final word, that every conjugal act is unitive and procreative, open to life, there was a general scandal, not only in the secular world:

“There was equal incomprehension among many Catholics, including Cardinal Suenens and various famous theologians. To these were added, with words that were disconcerting for their toughness and hostility, eighty-seven theologians of the Catholic University of Washington, the episcopal conferences of Austria and Canada, as well as several thousand German Catholics.

“What is striking is the emphasis given by the mass media to those voices of dissent, compared with the very many endorsements that came from all over the Church and that were, if not silenced, not always correctly reported by the main media outlets. Paul VI did not allow himself to be drawn into the controversy or be overcome by dismay, but exerted himself in giving the correct explanation right away with the audience immediately following the publication of the encyclical, on July 31, when he reiterated that ‘Humanae Vitae’ did not enshrine a negative statement, but was intended to be ‘the positive presentation of conjugal morality for the sake of its mission of love and fecundity, in the light of an overall vision of man, of his earthly and eternal vocation.’”

Pope John Paul II made “Humanae Vitae” the focus of the last fourteen catecheses of his whole cycle on the theology of the body, in 1984.

As for Pope Francis, you know that a few Sundays ago he celebrated the marriage of twenty-four couples. I was very careful to listen to the formula that he used. Because in the ritual of marriage there is the first formula which is the one used by the pope, but there are also others that are not as explicit. It would be interesting to see which one the priests use. Because the first formula says: 

“Are you ready to accept with love the children that God may wish to give you, and to raise them according to the law of Christ and of his Church?”

“The children that God wishes to give you”: I don’t know if all priests say that.

[KIKO: All of this is fine when there are Christian people, but when the people are not Christian they couldn't care less less about all these things. Thanks to God you have listened to us catechists who have told you what the Church says and you have been humble and have not opposed our catechesis with ideas from the newspapers. Carmen once said to the pope, years ago: What is it all about, this obsession in favor of natural methods? It seems that the Church is thinking only about how to limit children. Because in the end this was the thinking, that the Catholic family should have two children, no more. Some even within the Church still have this idea. We said to those of Catholic Action: and afterward, what do you do? After you have two children, how do you continue the conjugal act? Do you use coitus interruptus? Do you use natural methods? Do you use the pill? Everywhere it has been preached that responsible parenthood means limiting births, and the number of children has been left to the conscience of the spouses. This has been preached everywhere. But did the pope say this? No! Responsible parenthood means accepting not to limit the number of children, it means accepting the plan of God. But no one has repeated these things the pope said. Thanks to God you have been saved because you have obeyed us. You have continued to believe that the conjugal act is an act of holiness, a true sacrament. We are happy to see that even our children and grandchildren follow us in this, they have children and they are happy].


THE REASON FOR THE “HONORIS CAUSA” DOCTORATE FOR KIKO


To conclude, I cite the doctorate “honoris causa” conferred on Kiko by the pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family.

In the “Laudatio Academica", Professor José Noriega presented the three reasons why the institute decided to give this recognition, we might say, to the Neocatechumenal Way:

1. “The rediscovery of the fecundity of Baptism for the life of the couple has had one of its most significant fruits in the rediscovery of the holiness of the conjugal act between the spouses. Seeing this as one of the places where God acts, the couples of the Way have wanted to live their love with a singular openness to life, knowing that they are collaborators with God in the generation of persons."

2. “At a time of crisis and disorientation on the part of many, the unreserved acceptance of the prophetic encyclical of Paul VI ‘Humanae Vitae’ on the part of the families of the Way has been an authentic testimony for the whole Church, showing that beyond our fears or difficulties it is possible to live what the Church points out as specific to the way of holiness of the couple."

3. “The families of the Neocatechumenal Way quickly understood and adopted a form of domestic liturgy. In this way the great mission of transmitting the faith to the children has found the proper setting for the testimony of the parents. In the context of a frightful secularization of ‘vast areas of the earth, where the faith is in danger of being extinguished like a flame that no longer has fuel,’ the Way has been able to ‘make God present in a singular form’: I am talking about the great testimony of the families on mission.”

Along the Neocatechumenal Way, in catechesis, we have told you that the family has, so to speak, three altars: the holy Eucharist, the nuptial bed, and the family table where the faith is passed on to the children.

It is good to emphasize that this “Laudatio” refers to all the families of the Neocatechumenal communities, and not only to the families on mission.

As for these latter, for more than thirty years they have been giving their lives often in heroic situations to bear witness to the love of God through their presence and apostolate, in which often their children are the first missionaries who draw the estranged to the Church.

In recent years the Lord has raised up among us the missions “ad gentes”: nuclear families with many children, accompanied and supported by a presbyter, an associate, and a few sisters, which constitute a point of attraction in completely pagan or dechristianized areas. A new form of evangelization for the secularized and pagan world of today.

Echoes of bang inside

Adios my joy of sorrow; Thanx for everything t'was more than a decade living with yo as i still can't believe that i survived in those years ;) and because of that almost all my dreams had been fulfilled (except one last click the remote control flying machine up above the sky but it seems ok since i also have the down under the sea:)

My life really changed a lot there where pains n joys, ups n down was revealed yet those were the beauty of them all. they were truly great blessing in disguises and of experiences. But one thing that really touch my whole being there is the great Encounter of the Divine... My communion with the Transcendence as the real presence of goodness or the most High and the Holy One. This for me is the most meaningful and wonderful manifestation of truth and beauty amidst the sufferings and sorrows within & without in that space and time. I witnessed a whole lot of courage and humility not to mention the stupidity n angers or impatience if not craziness.

Truly it was the contradicting joys of sorrows, success of failures or the paradox of it all ;) when i decided these out it went smoothly unexpectedly. never thought of a graceful exit but i'm not sure yet since there's still greater challenge ahead all these divine comedy, the medicine of laughter n joy ;)

thank u again. u'r embedded now not only in my soul but also in my mind or my being all of these memories. The problem is that words are not enough to express how i feel that's why we'll just make it as an abstract painting on these virtual or literal canvas ;) then this void will echo a small bang inside me to lighten up the darkness or tunnel. opening another window or door or page of ventures in order to pass through these wall of prison or this golden cage in order to complete the puzzle of true life and prove its real purpose.. Scary but that was how i started all of these beautiful adventures.. therefore this for sure is another joy - or all but another eternal presence of love!

MYSTICS OF THE CHURCH

Short stories of Purgatory -A remarkable collection of visits from the souls in Purgatory to various Saints and Mystics.

“I know when you pray for me, and it is the same with all of the other souls here in Purgatory. Very few of us here get any prayers; the majority of us are totally abandoned, with no thought or prayers offered for us from those on earth” (Message from a soul in Purgatory)

Over the years of studying the lives of the mystics of the Church I have amassed a large number of eye witness accounts from various books and manuscripts of the appearances of the souls in Purgatory to a number of persons-- a good number of these accounts are not widely known, so I thought it would make a very interesting study to compile a number of shorter accounts from a variety of sources for those interested in this subject.

St Padre Pio’s visions of the souls in Purgatory

In May, 1922, Padre Pio testified the following to the Bishop of Melfi, His Excellency Alberto Costa and also the superior of the friary, Padre Lorenzo of San Marco along with 5 other friars. One of the five friars, Fra Alberto D' Apolito of San Giovanni Rotondo wrote down the account as follows:

"While in the friary on a winter afternoon after a heavy snowfall, he was sitting by the fireplace one evening in the guest room, absorbed in prayer, when an old man, wearing an old-fashioned cloak still worn by southern Italian peasants at the time, sat down beside him. Concerning this man Pio states: ‘I could not imagine how he could have entered the friary at this time of night since all the doors are locked. I questioned him: 'Who are you? What do you want?'

The old man told him, "Padre Pio, I am Pietro Di Mauro, son of Nicola, nicknamed Precoco." He went on to say, "I died in this friary on the 18th of September, 1908, in cell number 4, when it was still a poorhouse. One night, while in bed, I fell asleep with a lighted cigar, which ignited the mattress and I died, suffocated and burned. I am still in Purgatory. I need a holy Mass in order to be freed. God permitted that I come and ask you for help." 

According to Padre Pio: "After listening to him, I replied, 'Rest assured that tomorrow I will celebrate Mass for your liberation.' I arose and accompanied him to the door of the friary, so that he could leave. I did not realize at that moment that the door was closed and locked: I opened it and bade him farewell The moon lit up the square, covered with snow. When I no longer saw him in front of me, I was taken by a sense of fear, and I closed the door, reentered the guest room, and felt faint.”

A few days later, Padre Pio also told the story to Padre Paolino, and the two decided to go to the town hall, where they looked at the vital statistics for the year I908 and found that on September 18 of that year, one Pietro Di Mauro had in fact died of burns and asphyxiation in Room Number 4 at the friary, then used as a home for the homeless. 

Around the same time, Padre Pio told Fra Alberto of another apparition of a soul from Purgatory which also occurred around the same time. He said: 

One evening, when I was absorbed in prayer in the choir of the little church I was shaken and disturbed by the sound of footsteps, and candles and flower vases being moved on the main altar. Thinking that someone must be there, I called out, "Who is it?" 

No one answered. Returning to prayer, I was again disturbed by the same noises. In fact, this time I had the impression that one of the candles, which was in front of the statue of Our Lady of Grace, had fallen. Wanting to see what was happening on the altar, I stood up, went close to the grate and saw, in the shadow of the light of the Tabernacle lamp, a young confrere doing some cleaning. I yelled out, "What are you doing in the dark?" The little friar answered, "I am cleaning." 

"You clean in the dark?" I asked. "Who are you?" 

The little friar said, ‘I am a Capuchin novice, who spends his time of Purgatory here. I am in need of prayers.’ and then he disappeared," 

Padre Pio stated that he immediately began praying for him as requested, and it is not known if he had any further dealings with this particular soul. However, in regards souls in Purgatory it is very interesting to note that later in life Padre Pio once said that ‘As many souls of the dead come up this road [to the monastery] as that of the souls of the living.” Without a doubt, many souls from Purgatory visited Padre Pio seeking his prayers, sacrifices and sufferings to obtain their release.

From the manuscript of Sister M. de L.C., written from 1874-1890

To get an idea of how Purgatory is arranged, we can get a good glimpse of it from a nun from France who had died on February 22, 1871 at the age of 36, and 2-1/2 years later (in November 1873) she began appearing from Purgatory to a fellow nun in her convent, named Sister M. de L.C (name kept anonymous in the manuscript to protect the nuns identity, as the manuscript was published while the nun was still living) as related in the booklet “An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory” published by The Reparation Society of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Inc., 2002:

“I can tell you about the different degrees of Purgatory because I have passed through them. In the great Purgatory there are several stages. In the lowest and most painful, it is like a temporary hell, and here there are the sinners who have committed terrible crimes during life and whose death surprised them in that state. It was almost a miracle that they were saved, and often by the prayers of holy parents or other pious persons. Sometimes they did not even have time to confess their sins and the world thought them lost, but God, whose mercy is infinite, gave them at the moment of death the contrition necessary for their salvation on account of one or more good actions which they performed during life. For such souls, Purgatory is terrible. It is a real hell with this difference, that in hell they curse God, whereas we bless Him and thank Him for having saved us. 

Next to these come the souls, who though they did not com¬mit great crimes like the others, were indifferent to God. They did not fulfill their Easter duties and were also converted at the point of death. Many were unable to receive Holy Communion. They are in Purgatory for the long years of indifference. They suffer unheard of pains and are abandoned either without prayers or if they are said for them, they are not allowed to profit by them. There are in this stage of Purgatory religious of both sexes, who were tepid, neglectful of their duties, indifferent towards Jesus, also priests who did not exercise their sacred ministry with the reverence due to the Sovereign Majesty and who did not instill the love of God sufficiently into the souls confided to their care. I was in this stage of Purgatory. 

In the second Purgatory are the souls of those who died with venial sins not fully expiated before death, or with mortal sins that have been forgiven but for which they have not made entire satisfaction to the Divine Justice. In this part of Purgatory, there are also different degrees according to the merits of each soul. 

Thus the Purgatory of the consecrated souls or of those who have received more abundant graces, is longer and far more painful than that of ordinary people of the world. 

Lastly, there is the Purgatory of desire which is called the Threshold. Very few escape this. To avoid it altogether, one must ardently desire Heaven and the vision of God. That is rare, rarer than people think, because even pious people are afraid of God and have not, therefore, a sufficiently strong desire of going to Heaven. This Purgatory has its very painful martyrdom like the others. The deprivation of the sight of our loving Jesus adds to the intense suffering.” 

Another explanation of the levels in Purgatory from this same book:

Retreat, August 1878: “Great sinners who were indifferent towards God, and religious who were not what they should have been are in the lowest stage of Purgatory. While they are there, the prayers offered up for them are not applied to them. Because they have ignored God during their life, He now in His turn leaves them abandoned in order that they may repair their neglectful and worthless lives. While on earth one truly cannot picture or imagine what God really is, but we (in Purgatory) know and understand Him for what He is, because our souls are freed from all the ties that fettered them and prevented them from realizing the holiness and majesty of God and His great mercy. We are martyrs, consumed as it were by love. An irresistible force draws us towards God who is our center, but at the same time another force thrusts us back to our place of expiation. 

We are in the state of being unable to satisfy our longings. Oh, what a suffering that is, but we desire it and there is no murmuring against God here. We desire only what God wants. You on earth, however, cannot possibly understand what we have to endure. I am much relieved as I am no longer in the fire. I have now only the insatiable desire to see God, a suffering cruel enough indeed, but I feel that the end of my exile is at hand and that I am soon to leave this place where I long for God with all my heart. I know it well, I feel more at ease, but I cannot tell you the day or the hour of my release. God alone knows that. It may be that I have still many years of longing for Heaven. Continue to pray; I will repay you later on, though I do pray a great deal for you now.” 

Why is it that I pray for you with less fervor than I pray for others and that often I forget to recommend you? 

Do not trouble yourself about that. It is a punishment for me. 

Even if you prayed more I should not be any the more relieved. God wills it thus. If He wants you to pray more He will inspire you to do so. I repeat again, do not be worried about me. You will never see me in my sufferings. Later on, when your soul is stronger, you will see souls in Purgatory and very awful ones, but let this not frighten you. God will then give you the neces¬sary courage and all that you need to accomplish His holy will. 

Is this not a punishment? 

No, certainly not, I am here for my relief and for your sanctification. If you would but pay a little more attention to what I say. 

That is true but these happenings are so extraordinary that I do not know what to make of them; it is not an ordinary thing to hear you in this way. 

I understand well your difficulty and I am aware of your sufferings on this account. However, if God wishes it and it relieves me, you will have pity on me, will you not? When I am released you will see that I will do far more for you than you have ever done for me. I already pray much for you.

Where is Sister --?

In the lowest Purgatory, where she receives no benefit from anyone's prayers. God is often displeased, if one may speak thus, when many religious come to die, because He has called these souls to Himself that they might serve Him faithfully on earth and go straight to Heaven at the moment of death, but because of their infidelity, they have to stay long in Purgatory - far longer than people in the world who have not had so many graces.

1879, Retreat in September. We see St. Michael as we see the angels. He has no body. He comes to get the souls that have finished their purification. It is he who conducts them to Heaven. He is among the Seraphim as Monsignor said. He is the highest angel in Heaven. Our own Guardian Angels come to see us but St. Michael is far more beautiful than they are. As to the Blessed Virgin, we see her in the body. She comes to Purgatory on her feasts and she goes back to Heaven with many souls. While she is with us we do not suffer. St. Michael accompanies her. When he comes alone, we suffer as usual. When I spoke to you of the great and the second Purgatory, it was to try to make you understand that there are different stages in Purgatory. Thus I call that stage of Purgatory “great” or “worst” where the most guilty souls are, and where I stayed for two years without being able to give a sign of the torments I was suffering. The year when you heard me groaning, when I began to speak to you, I was still in the same place.

In the second Purgatory, which is still Purgatory but very different from the first, one suffers a great deal, but less than in the great place of expiation. Then there is a third stage, which is the Purgatory of desire, where there is no fire. The souls who did not desire Heaven ardently enough, who did not love God suf¬ficiently, are there. It is there that I am at this moment. Further, in these three parts of Purgatory, there are many degrees of vari¬ation. Little by little, as the soul becomes purified, her sufferings are changed.

You sometimes say to me that the perfecting of a soul is a long process and you are also astonished that after so many prayers, I am so long deprived of the sight of God. Alas, the perfecting of a soul does not take any less time in Purgatory than upon earth. There are a number of souls, but they are very few, who have only a few venial sins to expiate. These do not stay long in Purgatory. A few well-said prayers, a few sacrifices soon deliver them. But when there are souls like mine - and that is nearly all whose lives have been so empty and who paid little or no attention to their salvation - then their whole life has to be begun over again in this place of expiation. The soul has to perfect itself and love and desire Him, whom it did not love sufficiently on earth. This is the reason why the deliverance of some souls is delayed. God has given me a very great grace in allowing me to ask for prayers. I did not deserve it, but without this I would have remained like most of those here, for years and years more.”

The immense power of the Mass for the souls in Purgatory

Next, from the excellent book “Purgatory –Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints” by Father F.X. Schouppe, S.J., Tan Books, 1986 we read the following accounts which highlight the power and importance of offering holy Masses for the departed. The following is a sincere testimony from the person who experienced several visits from a soul in purgatory, and thus she provides a detailed and frank eye-witness account with regard to the facts: 

On October 13, 1849, there died at the age of fifty-two, in the parish of Ardoye, in Flanders, a woman named Eugenie Van de Kerckove, whose husband, John Wybo, was a farmer. She was a pious and charitable woman who generously gave to charity in proportionate to her means. She had, to the end of her life, a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and abstained from meat in her honor on the Friday and Saturday of each week. Although her conduct was not free from certain faults, she otherwise led a exemplary and edifying life. 

Eugenie had a servant named Barbara Vennecke, aged twenty-eight, who was known as a virtuous and devoted girl, and who had assisted her mistress in her last sickness, and after Eugenie’s death, she continued to serve her master, John Wybo, the widower of Eugenie. 

About three weeks after her death, the deceased appeared to her servant under circumstances which we will now relate. It was in the middle of the night; Barbara slept soundly, when she heard herself called distinctly three times by her name. She awoke with a start, and saw Eugenie before her, sitting on the side of her bed, clad in a working dress, consisting of a skirt and short jacket. At this remarkable sight, Barbara was seized with astonishment. The apparition spoke to her: “Barbara," she said, simply pronouncing her name. “What do you desire, Eugenie?" replied the servant. 

Power of the Mass for souls in Purgatory

‘Please take," said the mistress, “the little rake which I often told you to put in its place; stir the heap of sand in the little room; you know to which one I refer. You will find there 500 franks; use it to have Masses said, two francs for each Mass, for my intention, for I am still suffering." “I will do so, Eugenie," replied Barbara, and at the same moment the apparition vanished. After awhile she fell asleep again, and reposed quietly until morning: 

On awaking, Barbara thought that maybe it was all just a dream, but yet she had been so deeply impressed, so wide awake, she had seen her old mistress in a form so distinct, so full of life and she had received from her lips such precise directions, that she could not help saying, “This cannot have been a dream. I saw my mistress in person; she presented herself to my eyes and she surely spoke to me. It is no dream, but a reality." 

She therefore immediately went and took the rake as directed, stirred the sand, and drew out a purse containing the sum of five hundred francs. 

In such strange and extraordinary circumstances the good girl thought it her duty to seek the advice of her pastor before spending the 500 francs on having Masses said, and went to relate to him all that had happened. The venerable Abbe R., then parish priest of Ardoye, replied that the Masses asked by the departed soul absolutely must be celebrated, but, in order to dispose of the sum of money, the consent of the husband, John Wybo, was necessary, since the money was found in his house. The latter willingly consented that the money should be employed for so holy a purpose, and the Masses were celebrated, being given two francs for each Mass. 

We call attention to the circumstance of the Mass donations, because it corresponded with the pious cus¬tom of the deceased. The fee for a Mass fixed by the diocese at that time was a franc and a half, but during her lifetime Eugenie-through consideration and charity for the clergy, many of whom were quite poor- always gave two francs for each Mass that she made offerings for. Thus the extra 1/2 a frank Mass offering that she normally made was an act of charity and additional financial support for the priests who celebrated them. 

Two months after the first apparition, while Masses were still being said for Eugenie’s intentions, Barbara was again awakened during the night. This time her chamber was illuminated with a bright light, and her mistress appeared before her with a radiant smile, beautiful and fresh in appearance as in the days of her youth, and was dressed in a robe of dazzling whiteness—“Barbara," she said in a clear voice, “I thank you! For I am now delivered from the place of purification.' Saying these words, she disappeared, and the chamber became dark as before. 

The servant, amazed at what she had just seen, was full of joy, and she soon spread the remarkable story to everyone about the town . This apparition made the most lively impression upon her mind, and she pre¬serves to this day the most consoling remembrance of it. It is from her that we have these details, through the favor of the venerable Abbe L., who was curate at Ardoye when these facts occurred. 

This is but one of the many stories in regards to the power and efficacy of the Holy Mass wherein the Son of God Himself offers Himself upon the altar for the forgiveness of our sins, for it is a fact that of all that we can do in favor of the souls in Purgatory, there is nothing more powerful and precious than the offering of immolation of our Divine Saviour upon the altar. Besides being the express doctrine of the Church as manifested in her Councils, there are many mirac¬ulous facts, properly authenticated, which leave no room for doubt in regard to this point. 

In evidence to this we now provide another incident, related by the historian Ferdinand of Castile. From 1324-1327 there was at Cologne two Dominican Religious of distinguished talent, one of whom was Blessed Henry Suso (1295-1366). They shared the same studies, the same kind of life, and above all the same desire for sanctity, which had caused them to form an close friendship. 

When they had finished their studies, seeing that they were about to be separated to return each one to his own convent, they agreed and promised one another that the first of the two who should die should be assisted by the other for a whole year by the celebration of two Masses each week--on Monday a Mass of Requiem, as was customary, and on Friday that of the Passion, in so far as the Rubrics would permit. They promised each other that they would do this, gave each other the kiss of peace, and left Cologne. 

For several years they both continued to serve God with the most edifying fervor. The priest religious whose name is not mentioned was the first to be called away, and Father Suso received the news with sentiments of resignation to the Divine will. As to the contract they had made, time had caused him to forget it. However, he prayed much for his friend, imposing new penances upon himself and many other good works, but he did not think of offering the Masses which he had promised a number of years previously. 

One morning, while meditating in retirement in the chapel, he suddenly saw appear before him the soul of his departed friend, who, regarding him with tenderness, reproached him with having been unfaithful to his word from which he had a perfect right to rely upon with confidence. Blessed Suso, surprised, excused his forgetfulness by relating the many prayers and mortifications which he had offered, and still continued to offer, for his friend, whose salvation was as dear to him as his own. 

"Is it possible, my dear brother;' he added, "that so many prayers and good works which I have of¬fered to God do not suffice for you?" "Oh no," dear brother, replied the suffering soul, "these are not yet sufficient. It is the Blood of Jesus Christ that is needed to extinguish the flames by which I am consumed; it is the Holy Sacrifice which will deliver me from these frightful torments. I implore you to keep your word, and refuse me not that which in justice you owe me." 

Blessed Suso hastened to respond to the appeal of the suffering soul; he contacted as many priests as possible and urged them to say Masses for his friends intentions and, to repair his fault, he celebrated, and caused to be celebrated, a large number of Masses that very same day. On the following day several priests, at the request of Father Suso, united with him in offering the Holy Sacrifice for the deceased, and he continued his act of charity for several days. 

After a short time the priest friend of Suso again appeared to him, but now in a very different condition; his countenance was joyful, and he was surrounded with beautiful light. "Thanks be to you, my dear friend” he said “behold, by the Blood of my Saviour I am delivered from my sufferings. I am now going to Heaven to contemplate Him whom we so often adored together under the Eucharistic veil." 

Afterwards, Blessed Suso prostrated himself to ‘thank the God of infinite mercy, because he now understood more than ever the inestimable value of the Mass.’ 

Eugenie von der Leyen

Modern apparitions to Eugenie von der Leyen (1867-1929)

As to Saints and Blesseds, so far we have shared stories from St Padre Pio and Blessed Henry Suso. But there are many more canonized Saints who have been great helpers of the suffering souls. The most well known and recognized are St John Macias (who was known to have released literally thousands of souls from Purgatory during his holy lifetime), St. Augustine, St. Dom¬inic, St. Francis Xavier, St. Victor, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Nicolas of Tolentino, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Catherine of Genoa, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Gregory the Great, St. Odilon of Cluny, St. Francesca Romana, St. Bridget of Sweden, St. Ambrose, St. Bonaventure, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Efraim, St. Peter Damian, St. Francis de Sales, St. Catherine of Genoa, and in modern times the recently canon¬ized saints Gemma Galgani, St. Padre Pio, and St Faustina Kowalska, to name but a few.

Since many of the stories of Purgatory from the above mentioned Saints are well known, the emphasis here is to provide the lesser known and nonetheless fascinating stories from sources and individuals not widely known or read, because in His infinite mercy, history is full of “everyday” persons whom on occasion God has permitted to assist the souls in Purgatory. I will say however that the one notable thing about such occurrences is that seers of souls from Purgatory are often reported to be especially good and pious persons, which is logical, for God permits a soul to appear so that it can be released from Pur¬gatory, or at least, that its suffering be greatly lessened, and a pious, compassionate person is more likely to respond to its requests by the offering of fervent sacrifices, sufferings and prayers which are the means which help the poor souls. In other words, such souls are “saintly” persons, without of course ever becoming canonized Saints.

One such soul is Eugenie von der Leyen (1867-1929) who kept a diary of the appearances of the souls in Purgatory to her. Eugenie was a well educated woman of high German nobility; in fact Eugenie bore the title of princess and lived in the ancestral castle at Waal, Bavaria, Germany. By order of her confessor, she kept diary of her contacts with the poor souls, which after her death was handed over to Bishop Eugenio Pacelli, who later became Pope Pius XII.

The Shepherd named Fritz –From the diary of Eugenie von der Leyen, 1923.

June 11, 1923. At awakening, a long grayish form over me, completely nebulous; I can't say whether man or woman, but unsym¬pathetic; I am very frightened. 

June 14. The phantom was already in my room when I wanted to sleep. Then I said my evening-prayer aloud, during which it came very near to me. If it hadn't been for his arms, it rather would seem a walking tree-trunk. It stayed perhaps twenty minutes, then came back at four o'clock. 

June 16. It was very bad. It shook my shoulder. That is a horrible moment. I struck him and said: "You may not touch me!" Where¬upon it withdrew in a corner. At my push, I didn't feel a body, it was like a humid, warm towel. I believed I couldn't stand such terror any longer. 

June 18. Again this horrible thing; it wanted to clasp my neck. I prayed in fear and took the particle of the Cross [a holy relic she possessed] in my hand. Then it remained with me, staying upright and big before me. It didn't answer questions." then it went out through the door, which it left open. 

June 19. I can recognize now that it is a man; he was only there for a short while.

June 21. The horrible man more than an hour during the night, went back and forth continuously. He has disheveled black hair and horrific eyes. 

June 22. This man from one o'clock until past five with me, it was very bad. He repeatedly bowed over me and sat down at my bedside. I really wept for fear, then prayed the "hours" so that I didn't need to see him. Then he went again back and forth and moaned horribly. Now it seems to me I must know him, however I cannot find out who it is. I have become very cowardly, for many times it is really a decision for me to go to my room in the evening. Yet ordinarily I am able to fall asleep very well. 

June 24. He came back, seized me at my shoulder. I said: "Now tell me what you want and then don't come back." 

No answer; he went again through the room a couple of times and then was gone. My rest however was completely destroyed. At six in the morning he came back. In daylight he even looks more horrific, makes a disgusting impression, belongs to the dirtiest category of ghosts who have already come. I said: "Don't disturb me, I want to prepare myself for holy Communion!" Then he drew very near to me and lifted his hands imploringly. I was so sorry for him that I promised him a lot. Then I said: "Can't you speak?" Whereupon he shook his head. "Do you have much to suffer?" Now he moaned terribly. I gave him much holy water" and then he was gone. 

June 27. He was there again, in the night. Seems to know me; I racked my brains as to who he might be. He is very unsympathetic.? 

June 29. He was again in the room when I went to bed. It could be the murdered shepherd Fritz. I asked him at once, but he didn't react. I prayed with him, during which he fixed his eyes on me so angrily that I was really frightened. I asked him to go and then he went indeed. 

June 30. He came very briefly; his moaning waked me up. 

July 1. Again, I really believe it is shepherd Fritz. However his face is so black that I have difficulty recognizing him. But figure, nose, and eyes are wholly "he," as I saw him so many times in life. 

July 2. He came back, didn't look so terribly wild anymore and stayed not for a long time. I addressed him as "shepherd Fritz," which he apparently found quite natural. 

July 3. He came very briefly. I asked: ''Are you the murdered shepherd Fritz?" Then he said distinctly: "Yes!" 

July 4. He came to me in the morning, looked sadly at me and went away soon, answered nothing, too. 

July 5. Now it struck me that everything about him is clearer. During prayer, he made the Sign of the Cross. 

July 6. I am very happy for he can speak now. I asked him: "Why do you always come to me?" He: "Because you have always prayed for me." (That is right, for I had always been sorry for the poor fellow; he always looked so particular, even as a boy.) I: "Then what saved you?" He: "Insight and repentance." I: "Weren't you dead immediately?" He: "No." I: "Will you be released soon?" He: "Not by far." Then I gave him permission to continue coming to me, if it does him well. How remarkable it is, that someone who was so rude in life speaks like that when separated from his body. Now I am not frightened by him anymore, and would like to help him as best I can. How merciful is the good Lord! 

July 8. He came very briefly. 

July 9. He came at 6:00am and by doing so woke me up. Otherwise I had overslept. I: "Is it so important for you that I go to holy Mass?" He:"That way, you can help me a lot."

July 11. Only came very briefly. 

July 12. We prayed together," then I: "Then what do you have to suffer?" He: "I am burning!" Then he came up to me and before I could defend myself, he pressed a finger on my hand. I was frightened so much and it hurt me so much, that I screamed. Now I have a red burn which I hope will heal soon. It is a very strange feeling, to have this visible mark from the other world.

July 24. Shepherd Fritz and the other one came two times in the night, all silent, but [the new one] not very pleasant. 

July 29. Nothing special to mention. Now these two are coming every night. The new one looks horrible, while shepherd Fritz becomes ever more bright!! 

August 10. Shepherd Fritz drew so near to me again, but looked very friendly. So I said to him, "Don't you have to suffer so much anymore?" He: "No." and I: "Can you pray for me yet?" He: "No." and I: "Where are you then all the time?" He: "In the forlornness." I: "Will you still come often to me?" He: "No." and I: "Why not?" He: "I am not allowed to any more!" and I: "Have I been able to help you?" He: "Yes." Then he was gone…. 

To close this remarkable account, Father Sebastian Wieser, Eugenie's parish priest and confessor, comments: 

“The behavior of this apparition is like the echo of his earthly life. I have known shepherd Fritz well -he was like a "billygoat" in the parish. In him, the greatness of the mercy of God really manifests itself. Rarely did he come to church. He had an only son, who in school became well known for his meanness, falsehood, and deceptions and caused many troubles to his teachers and those in authority over him. When the boy had to be punished at school, the father pulled out all the stops of his indignation over the schoolmaster and priest. I prophesied at that time that someday the father himself would get a beating from this only son! 

When this son was seventeen years old and was big and quite strong, he beat his father to death at around midnight .... Nobody knew if Fritz was dead immediately or if he came to for a moment. The latter seems to have been the case. The murderer had knocked him down in the hay-barn and abandoned him to his fate. Only in the morning was the dead man discovered ....On the sixth of July he states that: "…insight and repentance" have saved him from damnation! On the twelfth day of July he says, "I am burning!" and presses a finger on the hand of the princess, which leaves a red burn which I have seen myself.” –Father Sebastian Wieser

Another modern account: St Gemma Galgani obtains the relief of a soul in Purgatory

The final account in this article will go to the webmasters favorite Saint: St Gemma Galgani (1878-1903). It is taken from the excellent book“The Life of St Gemma Galgani” by Venerable Father Germanus Ruoppolo C.P.:

"Gemma knew by Divine inspiration that in the Convent of Passionist Nuns at Corneto [Italy] there was a Religious Sister very dear to God who was near death. She asked me about it, and on my answering that it was so, she at once began to implore of Jesus to make that particular Religious expiate all her faults on her deathbed, so that breathing her last she might enter Paradise at once. Her prayer, at least in part, was heard. The Sister suffered greatly and died in a few months. Gemma told those in her home of it in order that they might pray for the deceased, and she gave her name, Maria Teresa of the Infant Jesus, as she was not known in Lucca. After her death, this soul appeared to her full of sorrow, imploring her help as she was undergoing great torments in Purgatory for certain defects.

Nothing more was needed to set all the fibers of Gemma's heart in motion. From that moment she gave herself no rest: she fervently offered prayers, tears and loving petitions to Our Lord.

"Jesus, save her," she was overheard to exclaim. "Jesus, take Maria Teresa to Paradise without delay. She is a soul that is most dear to Thee. Let me suffer much for her; I want her to be in heaven." 

And during this time Gemma writes the following in her Diary:

"It was around 9:30 and I was reading; all of a sudden I am shaken by a hand resting gently on my left shoulder. I turn in fright; I was afraid and tried to call out, but I was held back. I turned and saw a person dressed in white; I recognized it was a woman; I looked and her expression assured me I had nothing to fear: "Gemma," she said after some moments, "do you know me?" I said no, because that was the truth; she responded: "I am Mother Maria Teresa of the Infant Jesus: I thank you so very much for the great concern you have shown me because soon I shall be able to attain my eternal happiness."

 

The extraordinary mystic, St Gemma Galgani

All this happened while I was awake and fully aware of myself. Then she added: "Continue still, because I still have a few days of suffering." And in so saying she caressed me and then went away. Her countenance, I must say, inspired much confidence in me. From that hour I redoubled my prayers for her soul, so that soon she should reach her objective; but my prayers are too weak; how I wish that for the souls in Purgatory my prayers should have the strength of the saints'."

And the dear victim of expiation suffered without ceasing for sixteen days, at the end of which God was pleased to accept her sacrifice and to release that soul. This is how Gemma herself told me of it:

“Toward half-past one it seemed to me that the Blessed Mother herself came to tell me that the holy hour I was making was drawing to an end. Then almost immediately I thought I saw Sr. Maria Teresa coming toward me clad as a Passionist, accompanied by her Guardian Angel and by Jesus. Oh, how she was changed since the day I first saw her! Smiling, she drew close to me and said: "I am truly happy, and I go to enjoy my Jesus forever." She thanked me again. Then she made sign of bidding me good-bye with her hand, several times, and with Jesus and her Guardian Angel she flew to Heaven. It was about half-past two o'clock in the morning.”