From Israel To Italy

My home internet has been down for three weeks now (How did I survive such an ordeal? Ninja Skills). So, part 2 took a little longer than anticipated. Thank you dear precious readers for not abandoning us during the dog-days of summer.

This article-testimonial is getting very interesting. In this next section, Mr. Scudder writes about the Mary of Rome visiting the States. In other words, Mr. Scudder identifies the seduction of the Roman Mary and deviation from the Scriptures that “she” brings. Read on:

MARY BECOMES THE FOCUS

Many Catholic Charismatics have migrated to Mary, whom they see as the Holy Spirit’s more interesting spouse¹ The Catholic Charismatic fellowship at Dayton University reported to the news media that since their ‘experience’ they have been giving more devotion to Mary. In the statement nothing was said about Christ.

That does not mean that we do not honor Mary at all for her physical part in the birth of
Christ but we cannot venerate her more than the Scriptures allow or make her in any way spiritually responsible for our salvation.

Contrary to popular expectations, the sign of tongues that Catholics recieved brought back to Catholicism those who had fallen away, reviving their idolatrous practices. Some typical comments from Catholic charismatics illustrate this:

“Our devotion to Mary was filled with sanctification.”

“The sacramental life of the church has become richer in meaning.”

“I came to a better understanding of the eucharist as a sacrifice, and I came back to frequent confession.”

“At that time I discovered a profound devotion to Mary.”

Is the spirit that is active in the Roman Church, the Holy Spirit? In speaking of Him, Jesus said, “He will guide you into all truth”. This is the particular characteristic of the Holy Spirit. It is characteristic of an evil spirit to lead one into only part of the truth.

Now, one of the most marked effects of the Catholic charismatic movement is to lead its followers into part-truth, part-error as, for example: spontaneous prayer AND the rosary; the adoration of Christ AND the Holy Sacrament; reading the Bible AND the veneration of Mary.²

There are several testimonies from people who had been baptised by the “Holy Spirit”, one while reciting his rosary, another while singing a hymn at mass, and yet another while on her knees praying to the Holy Virgin. These testimonies are quite sufficient to prove that the spirit who baptised these people is in contradiction with the Scriptures and cannot, in any way, be the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit consists, not of doubting His work, but of attributing such error and such dreadful idolatry to His divine person. To quote Charles Foster, “When the experience of the Holy Spirit is put before doctrine and salvation, seduction is certain…”

Read the above portion of his article twice. This is a well-written evaluation with very little to argue with…

Part 3 (Universalism) in a few days…

1. At first, my (Rob’s) experience was that the Romans had added Mary as a 4th person of the Godhead to make a Quadernity. However, the more I looked into this “addition” the more I realized that it was a “substitution” where the Holy Spirit was fully replaced. [back]
2. This is an excellent point! I wouldn’t qualify this solely among Catholic Charismatics but among Catholics in general. The spontaneous prayer part wouldn’t be allowed “outside” the sacred building called the Church. [back]

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