Letters

Persecution (letter)

George F. Simpson

Contents - Feb 2000 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference - Michael Gilchrist Legionaries of Christ: new order for a new millennium - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World The comunità: a new form of monastic life for Australia - Peter Westmore Defending the faith against secularism and relativism - Bishop Kevin Manning Sydney’s Centre for Thomistic Studies upholds Catholic truth - John Young Lay teachers: backbone of the Catholic system - Tom Kendell Tom Monaghan: the tycoon who sold his assets to serve the Church - Patrick Ward Books: 'Rome Reshaped: Jubilees 1300-2000' by Desmond O’Grady - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: ‘Darkness Visible: A Christian Appraisal of Freemasonry’ by Walton Hannah - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: ‘Hidden Way: The Life and Influence of Almire Pichon’ by Mary Frances Coady - Mary O'Neill (reviewer) Books: ‘Invisible Crown: A Story of Dorothy von Flue’ by Michael McGrade - Michael Davies (reviewer) Books: 'A Victorian Convert Quintet' by Michael Clifton - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Letters: Catholic survey (letter) - Joe Lopez Letters: Holy buck-passing (letter) - Arthur Negus Letters: Enneagram (letter) - Fr Reg Smith Letters: Missing ‘glue’ (letter) - Joseph Taylor Letters: The Jesuits (letter) - Felix Moore Letters: Rockhampton (letter) - Franklin J. Wood Letters: Conflicting views (letter) - Joseph Said Letters: Abortion (letter) - Patrick V. Healy Letters: God’s love (letter) - Louise Howell (Dr) Letters: Persecution (letter) - George F. Simpson Letters: New women’s magazine Canticle (letter) - Genevieve S. Kineke Reflection: Private revelations: "Keep to what is countenanced by the Church" - Fr Peter Joseph

Frances McEniery (November 1999 AD2000) does not mention how the Magnificat Meal Movement victimised her. Any open-minded visitor will recognise Our Lady's Shrine at Helidon as a holy site. The residents' lives of prayer, fasting, penance and loving obedience to the Holy Father are an inspiring example, as is the reverence at Mass and the various ceremonies.

The Movement's founder, Mrs Debra Geilesky, has been subjected to continual persecution, including attempts on her life, since she started to boldly proclaim the revelations of Our Lord. Despite, and probably because of these persecutions, the Movement has flourished and is now established in over 70 countries.

The continuous persecution is one of the factors that convinced Fr Rene Laurentin that the Movement was worthy of his investigation. "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you" (John 15:20). Father Laurentin is an expert on visionaries and private revelations, and author of 150 books. I saw a videotape of his address endorsing the Movement that he made after travelling from Switzerland to conduct his investigation.

The actual number of members is unknown, as there are no application forms, joining or annual fees. The Movement exists mainly on donations and sales from the book shop, but there is no pressure on anyone to give. The attitude to financial management is that if members concentrate on God's work, the Lord will provide.

The aims of the Movement are to promote Eucharistic Adoration and the honour of the Blessed Mother in all her titles, but especially as Mary, Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix of all God's graces and Advocate. This title was foreshadowed in Lumen Gentium (57- 62), and the Holy Father has expressed his desire to shortly proclaim it. Some of the papal teachings on this matter are contained in the weekly editions of L'Osservatore Romano (16.10.96, p. 2; 8.10.97, p. 11).

I do not judge or criticise Bishop Morris, although he is a long-standing opponent of the Movement. His secret investigation appears to have breached the laws of natural justice, however, by not calling for evidence from those involved. It is noteworthy that a similarly flawed investigation led to the lengthy ban that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith placed on Blessed Sister Faustina's Devotions to the Divine Mercy.

GEORGE F. SIMPSON
North Blackburn, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 13 No 1 (February 2000), p. 19