Still Running Off at the Keyboard

APARITIONS

Approved and unapproved. Lots and lots and lots of apparitions. Something from the spiritual world is leaking into our visible world in increasing events. There are only three possibilities. God, angels, and man. Too many appear to be ungodly. Mankind and the visible world is not likely the source unless the visionaries are seeing people who have passed beyond the grave, such as the Blessed Virgin and the saints or those souls who will spend eternity in hell. In Catholic cosmology, angels, both good and bad, are all that is left to appear.

Unity Publishing has investigated apparitions and has this to offer from Fr. Peter Joseph in regard to discerning what people may be seeing.

Matt C. Abbott reports on an apparition that turned out to be false, proven false by prophecies that did not come true.

Several times in recent blogs I've linked the false apparition that provided the impetus for Paris occultist Jules Doinel's Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, or as he calls it in his first homily "the Church of the Paraclete". This homily was given August 18, 1890, "in the ninth year of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit."

In Covington, Kentucky, an area of the country out of which the EarthSpirit Rising Conferences originated, there is a center called "Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center." This center arose in response to the so-called "Batavia Visionary" to whom "the Blessed Mother of God began appearing as Our Lady of Light" according to their website. This apparition gave her permission to change the name of the facility established to commemorate the apparition to "Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center," located in Norwood, Ohio.

Father Joseph tells us that in discerning spirits, "God is never the cause of things that are useless, futile, frivolous, or impertinent. When his spirit moves a soul it is always for something serious and beneficial." He tells us that "there is nothing of precipitation, lightness, exaggeration, or impetuosity; all is well balanced, edifying, serious, and full of calmness and peace."

Look at the picture of Our Lady of Light. It is almost child-like. As I compare it with the picture of Our Lady of Fatima that hangs above my computer, I find that the picture lacks gravity, and is full of "lightness" and "frivolity." But more to the point look at the prayer. It's a jingle for a 3-year-old. There is simply nothing speaking of the gravity of heaven in that prayer. Compare the wording to the Magnificat. By comparison it is shallow and trite to the extreme. Additionally there is that rainbow circling the flaming heart that is so reminiscent of the ouroboros for anyone who has studied the occult.

It would appear the apparition has not been approved, judging by the statement of permission to publish on the website.

A detailed chronology of the apparition's history can be read here, where you can read that Fr. Donald Rinfret, Fr. Leroy Smith, Fr. Lawrence Sweeney, Fr. Frank Kenney, and Fr. Edward Carter have all been involved in promoting this apparition and Center. Fr. Joseph Bruemmer is President of the Center according to their July 2005 Newsletter.

Ironically, the Center is located in what once was the diocesan seminary building, the place where priests once were, but no longer are trained. I find that especially ironic. The "new priests" of Roman Catholicism have taken over the real estate.

The Center offers "Our Lady of Light Books" through "Our Lady of Light Publications." There you can purchase books by additional visionaries who, one would presume, are also connected with the Center.

You can also purchase tapes and CDs. I was particularly surprised to find this priest's offerings. Fr. Kenneth J. Roberts is best known for his book PLAYBOY TO PRIEST. That autobiography is offered on six audio tapes (click his name to see the offerings). Some of you will remember Fr. Roberts from this DallasNews.com story by Brooks Edgerton, where you can read that

He reached out-0f-court deals this spring with victims of four priests: Mr. Kos, the Rev. Kenneth Roberts, the Rev. Michael T. Flanagan and the Rev. Patrick J. Lynch.

And

The Rev. Kenneth Roberts
Two brothers have litigation pending. They are from the St. Louis area, where the Dallas Diocese sent Father Roberts in the late 1960s after concluding that he had abused a boy here. Another claim, from a Dallas-area man who did not file suit, was settled recently. Earlier, at least three other men were compensated. All allege child abuse except one, a young cleric who said he was abused as a young adult when he consulted Father Roberts about entering the priesthood. A spokeswoman has said Father Roberts denies some charges and can't respond to others, because they date to a time when he suffered alcohol-related blackouts. Medical records show that he has acknowledged at least one incident of abuse; he has not been criminally charged. Father Roberts is now affiliated with Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in the Cincinnati suburb of Norwood, where officials say he helps with nonministerial tasks. Bishop Grahmann has suspended him from ministry but not sought to remove him from the priesthood.

If he has been suspended from ministry and is to help with "nonministerial tasks," why are his books and tapes being promoted by a ministry that wants to be seen as Catholic and holy?

Remember one of Fr. Peter Joseph's cautions in the article linked above for discerning apparitions? Under the subheading "Signs of the diabolical spirit", Fr. Joseph cites Fr. Aumann's "other signs" including "Uncontrolled passions and strong inclination to sensuality, usually under the guise of mystical union".

There is more of interest in this movement. Fr. Carter, who is pictured on the Center's website, and who has since died, is said in his biography to have been ordained a Jesuit, received his doctorate in theology from Catholic University of America, taught theology at Xavier University, authored 14 books on spirituality and gave numerous retreats and talks on the spiritual life. He was a lifelong devotee of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and founded and edited Shepherds of Christ Newsletter directed to all the priests of the United States and the English speaking world. He was theological consultant to Our Lady of Light Foundation and Shepherds of Christ Ministries, a movement he founded which is dedicated to the renewal of the spiritual life. He was one of the original members of the board of trustees of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center.

"Fr. Carter and Rita Ring are the only messengers for the Shepherds of Christ Movement." It appears from the website that the movement is associated with the image on the side of a building in Clearwater, Florida. Scroll down and look at the picture of Jesus on the cover of the "Blue Book." I have seen those same eyes in occult websites. Those are the eyes of the Gnostic Jesus.

Apparently Jesus is into songwriting for the Shepherds of Christ Ministries. And such songs--troubadour songs about love and sentimentality--and the visionary is told to "Sing My songs of love" at this website. One of them was written for singing at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center.

It came as no surprise at all to find Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center discussed favorably at Yoganandaji.org. The Gnostic Jesus would be appropriate for such a website which is dedicated to love and brotherhood in an Oriental tradition. But what is one to make of the statement about the Center here: "We are a Service Organization, Interfaith, Nonreligious"? Do they market themselves as Catholic in Catholic circles, and as nondenominational/nonreligious in noncatholic circles?

Calving Patterson also got messages from Mary at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in Norwood. And there are more visionaries, including Ellen Sartori and Mary Rettig. According to the descriptions the Holy Spirit appears, as does St. Michael the Archangel, the Miracle of the Sun, Mary, Jesus and Joseph. Heaven, it would seem, is providing a plethora of phenomena. On March 20, 1997 Mary appeared as the Sorrowful Mother and as Our Lady of Fatima. On another day she appeared as Our Lady of the Rosary. And again Our Lady of Light turned into Our Lady of Fatima. This Mary of the Holy Spirit Center, it would seem, is a shapeshifter. We even learn at this website that Mary has blonde hair.

On September 18, 1993, Medjugorje is mentioned.

The history of the founding of the Norwood center is given in the obituary for Gerald Ross, who was its founder, another visionary who began his visionary career in Medjugorje. His books were published through Our Lady of Light Foundation.

There is a forest of red flags associated with this ministry. It lacks Church approval. Why, then, is the Diocese of Souix City promoting it on their website?

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!