Have any of you read True Life in God by Vassula Ryden?

What do you make of it?

-- Hugh (hugh@inpsired.com), August 04, 2004

Answers

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-- bump (bump@bmp.bmp), August 04, 2004.

NOTIFICATION ON VASSULA RYDEN (6 October 1995) Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Many bishops, priests, religious and lay people have sought an authoritative judgement from this Congregation on the activity of Mrs. Vassula Ryden, a Greek Orthodox residing in Switzerland, who in speech and in writing is spreading in Catholic circles throughout the world messages attributed to alleged heavenly revelations.

A calm, attentive examination of the entire question, undertaken by this Congregation in order to "test the spirits to see whether they are of God" (cf. 1 Jn 4:1), has brought out-in addition to positive aspects - a number of basic elements that must be considered negative in the light of Catholic doctrine.

In addition to pointing out the suspect nature of the ways in which these alleged revelations have occurred, it is necessary to underscore several doctrinal errors they contain.

Among other things, ambiguous language is used in speaking of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, to the point of confusing the specific names and functions of the Divine Persons. These alleged revelations predict an imminent period when the Antichrist will prevail in the Church. In millenarian style, it is prophesied that God is going to make a final glorious intervention which will initiate on earth, even before Christ's definitive coming, an era of peace and universal prosperity. Furthermore, the proximate arrival is foretold of a Church which would be a kind of pan-Christian community, contrary to Catholic doctrine.

The fact that the aforementioned errors no longer appear in Ryden's later writings is a sign that the alleged "heavenly messages" are merely the result of private meditations.

Moreover, by habitually sharing in the sacraments of the Catholic Church even though she is Greek Orthodox, Mrs. Ryden is causing considerable surprise in various circles of the Catholic Church. She appears to be putting herself above all ecclesiastical jurisdiction and every canonical norm, and in effect, is creating an ecumenical disorder that irritates many authorities, ministers and faithful of her own Church, as she puts herself outside the ecclesiastical discipline of the latter.

Given the negative effect of Vassula Ryden's activities, despite some positive aspects, this Congregation requests the intervention of the Bishops so that their faithful may be suitably informed and that no opportunity may be provided in their Dioceses for the dissemination of her ideas. Lastly, the Congregation invites all the faithful not to regard Mrs. Vassula Ryden's writings and speeches as supernatural and to preserve the purity of the faith that the Lord has entrusted to the Church.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), August 04, 2004.

A friend of mine told me a few weeks ago he read that her closest confidants are discrediting her, and that she's beginning to "fall off the edge."

I wouldn't even bother looking any further into her story, she's a wacko, and she needs help.

Brian

-- Brian (Brian@Brian.com), August 04, 2004.

I don't know of the person of whom you speak or her writings my comment is simply this: Brian I love the empathic and loving response of calling a fellow human being a wacko. Very charitable. You may be right in that she may be disturbed and need some help, I do not dispute that since I do not know what she has said or enough about Catholicism to spot the errors. But wacko! Please!

-- Anglican Christian (sharon.guy@ntu.ac.uk), August 05, 2004.

I have heard about her and even seen her once invited in a Catholic charimatic retreat center. From what I heard, she seems to have a very simplistic and personal approach to God. Otherwise, I do not know much about her or sure about her theological errors. I was thinking maybe she was sign from God, but now I keep my fingers crossed. What is to be noted is that many genuine manifestations in the Church too had to undergo such rejection, suspicion, and even excommunication, e.g. Fatima, Fr. Padre Pio, and St. Athanisius.

May God confirm the truth!

-- Leslie John (lesliemon@hotmail.com), August 06, 2004.

I have read the whole set of volumes; it is so inspiring and it helps make a person to become more spiritual than religious. If you are a person with a balanced perspective visit the ptlig.org website and enjoy meditating its pages. i enjoyed reading the Fruits or testimonies. Anybody who would really wangt to say anything about Vassula should objectively read this website first.

-- Richie (dbrich@mekeni.ph), August 16, 2004.

I have seen Vassula when she visited my city. She struck me as a very devoted and spiritual person. Very humble yet articulate. Spoke from her volumes which I have not been motivated to finish the first as I have doubts. May God guide us all on our spiritual journeys and bless Vassula to fulfill the will of God

-- angeliki (angeliki@yahoo.com), September 02, 2004.