Does anyone know anything about Maria Simma and what the Church has to say about her?

-- D Joseph (newfiedufie@msn.com), July 16, 2004

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-- D Joseph (newfiedufie@msn.com), July 16, 2004.

What a coincidence, I was just given a small book last week, "the Amazing Secret of the Souls in Purgatory - an Interview with Maria Simma" by Sister Emmanuel of Medjugorje. Great reading.

For what it's worth, Maria and Sister Emmanuel both mention the fact that Maria has the full support and encouragement of her local priest and of the bishop of her diocese. (Has or Had? The book was written in 1997, and Maria was 82). But they don't mention the Vatican.

Besides this, I've never heard any other mention of support or non-support.

My own doubts come from this: Maria seems to say that at the moment of death, you make your choice to go to purgatory (and eventually heaven), or to go to hell. It doesn't seem to matter whether you're in a state of grace or mortal sin at the time; at least, this isn't made clear in the book. It seems you can repent right after you die, and receive absolution from God. (Notice I use the word "seems" because I'm not sure I'm interpreting her words correctly) Nor am I sure whether this is in line with the teachings of the Church.

The main point of the book is that we should pray, as often as possible, for the souls in purgatory. And the Church agrees with this, at least.

Interesting to note that Maria says the worst sins are those of pride, hostility, slander, and lack of charity.

-- JoeJeff (soon2b@catholic.com), July 16, 2004.

If your interpretation of her words is correct, then her words are in direct conflict with teaching of the Church. The opportunity for repentence ends at the moment of death (it may end earlier than that if a person is unconscious for a time before death - in a coma for example). If a lifetime wasn't sufficient time for repentence, then there is no chance to do after death what a person resisted doing for a lifetime.

"... it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27)

Judgement, not repentence.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), July 16, 2004.

Incidently, Maria Simma recently passed ( April or May 2004). She lived in Austria.

-- Jennifer (jrabs@jrabs.com), July 16, 2004.

Paul, that's exactly what I thought. But then I started wondering if someone had changed the Teachings or something. There have been so many changes lately, it's hard to keep up with...

I'll be back with a quote, so you can see what I mean. BRB

-- JoeJeff (soon2b@Catholic.com), July 16, 2004.

Got it. Here it is:

Q: "Maria, I would like to ask you: at the moment of death, is there a time in which the soul still has the chance to turn towards God, even after a sinful life, before entering into eternity - a time, if you like, between apparent death and real death?"

Maria's answer: "Yes, yes, the Lord gives several minutes to each one, in order to regret his sins and to decide: I accept or I do not accept to go see God. There we see a film of our lives..."

It's that "apparent" as opposed to "real" death that I'm finding tricky.

Maria also says "God gives to everyone during his earthly life, and at the hour of his death, sufficient grace for conversion, even after a life spent in darkness. If one asks for forgiveness, sincerely, of course one can be saved."

On the other hand, Maria acknowledges that once a soul is in Purgatory, it's too late for them to earn merits on their own to get themselves out. That's why we have to pray for them, and offer our sufferings on their behalf.

I'd like to know what you think about this. (About the quoted stuff, I mean)

(Thanks, Jennifer, for the info.)

-- JoeJeff (soon2b@Catholic.com), July 16, 2004.

"It's that "apparent" as opposed to "real" death that I'm finding tricky."

A: Yes, me too. I accept that a person can be "apparently dead" without being "actually dead", as shown by the number of "clinically dead" patients who are resuscitated and live. But I doubt that a person who is "apparently dead" is in any condition that would allow for repentence. Repentence is a conscious, rational process, so I don't see how an unconscious person could repent.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), July 17, 2004.

There have been so many changes lately, it's hard to keep up with...

I am not aware of any doctrinal differnces. Which ones are you refering to?

-- Hugh (hugh@inspired.com), July 17, 2004.

Hugh, I'll rephrase myself:

There have been so many changes in the Church lately, that it often seems as if the Teachings themselves have been changed.

Example: Many Catholics don't talk about Purgatory anymore. Some even say there is no such thing. Why is this? Are they making a personal choice to believe what they want and to reject what they don't like? Or is the Church now officially teaching that there is no Purgatory?

BTW, I know where the Church stands on Purgatory. The above is merely an example. Also, I understand that Doctrines do not change; however, unless you know whether any given matter is doctrinal or merely normative, how do you know whether a contradiction of Doctrine is actually a contradiction?

-- JoeJeff (soon2b@catholic.com), July 17, 2004.

"Are they making a personal choice to believe what they want and to reject what they don't like?"

A: Yes, they are. But the teaching of the Church regarding Purgatory has not changed in the slightest. The doctrinal truth of the Church never changes. You cannot change truth, except to untruth, and Christ promised that the Holy Spirit would guide His Church to "all truth". And so He does, until the end of time.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), July 17, 2004.

When speaking of "apparent" death, she is referring to a physical death that is "upon you" or about to occur. "Real" death is just that.....the actual, physical death.

She is saying that God grants individuals a chance at repentance right before they enter eternity.

Purgatory exists and is an unchanging doctrine that the Church still teaches. Even though the homilies remain silent on the subject and many folks prefer not to talk about it, the souls there still cry out.

-- John Kenneth Webber (jwebber95@msn.com), August 26, 2004.