BEST PRINTED IN "SMALLEST" SETTING ON YOUR BROWSER
The Lord says:
"These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me." (Is. 29:13)
THE URBAN MYTH - POPE URBAN VIII, THAT IS!!!
Most (if not all) promoters of private revelation add a Declaration or Disclaimer along the following
lines:
His Holiness, Pope Urban VIII (1623-44) declared:
"In cases like this (apparitions), it is better to believe than not to believe, for, if you believe, and it
is proven true, you will be happy that you have believed, because Our Holy Mother asked it. If you
believe, and it should be proven false, you will receive all blessings as if it had been true, because
you believed it to be true."
Now! NONE of them - that's right, NONE of them provide the actual source of the alleged quotation.
None! It is just like saying that Baron von Trapp said: "Mary Poppins is addicted to strawberry jam,"
and then expecting people to believe you!
How can the alleged quote be justified, when the source document is not cited for verification? The
spoken word goes in one ear and out the other, frequently in a different form and with a different
sense.
Why do the promoters parrot (simply) other parrots?
Can ANYONE produce a reference for the claim in a verifiable document?
And, even if it is true - does it possess the same authority, for example as (and I paraphrase) Pope
Urban VIII's advice to Mr Gallileo that it would be better if HE did not believe?
Matt Cunningham, Mother of God Forum kindly supplied the following:
"I've been trying to get someone to verify this alleged quote for years on this list. One thing about
that quote, it seems to run somewhat contrary to the Catholic Encyclopedia's entry for Pope
Urban VIII, which I post below:"
He reserved the beatification of saints to the Holy See and in a Bull, dated 30 October, 1625,
forbade the representation with the halo of sanctity of persons not beatified or canonized, the
placing of lamps, tablets, etc., before their sepulchres, and the printing of their alleged miracles
or revelations. [Emphasis added, F.J.L.]
However, a clue may be obtained by inspecting ROMAN CONGREGATION
DECREES PROHIBITING CERTAIN WORKS RELATIVE TO MESSAGES ATTRIBUTED TO THE BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY AT LA SALETTE, where we see specifically in the Decree of 21st December,
1915, relative to "THE SECRET OF LA SALETTE.:
Moreover, let people be subject to the sanctions given both by Pope Leo XIII
through the Constitution of the offices and responsibilities against those who
publish books dealing with religious things without legitimate permission of
superiors and by Urban VIII through the decree "Sanctissimus Dominus Noster"
given on 13th March 1625 against those who publish asserted revelations without
the permission of ordinaries. However, this decree does not forbid devotion
towards the Blessed Virgin under the title of Reconciliatrix commonly of La
Salette.
So! We observe the following points:
Specified in the Decree on the Secret of La Salette;
- People are to be subject to the sanctions of both Popes Leo XIII and Urban VIII, viz.
- Leo XIII's "Constitution of the offices and responsibilities against those who publish books
dealing with religious things without legitimate permission of superiors"
- Urban VIII's decree "Sanctissimus Dominus Noster" given on 13th March 1625 against
those who publish asserted revelations without the permission of ordinaries.
- The "decree does not forbid devotion towards the Blessed Virgin under the title of Reconciliatrix
commonly of La Salette."
To put it as bluntly as possible: Devotion to the Blessed Virgin of La Salette is permitted;
Publishers of books or pamphlets on the matter are subject to permission of superiors;
Publishers or promoters of unapproved asserted revelations are subject to Popes Leo XIII and
Urban VIII's sanctions.
Not only that, but, in a Decree of May 9, 1923 "THE APPARITION OF THE VERY HOLY VIRGIN OF LA SALETTE"
was condemned and placed on the Index of forbidden books. This is the very same book that the present day
apparitionists promote in defiance of Pope Piux XI - and every pope from him to Pope John Paul II; for
the prohibiting Decrees have never been revoked or withdrawn, and according to Cardinal Ratzinger, still retain
their moral force.
The next thing for me to do is to obtain copies (preferably an English translation) of Pope Leo XIII's Constitution, and
Pope Urban VIII's "Sanctissimus Dominus Noster" given on 13th March 1625.
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