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Vassula Rydén

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Vassula Rydén
Born
Vassiliki Claudia Pendakis

(1942-01-18) January 18, 1942 (age 82)
Cairo, Egypt
OccupationAuthor
Children2

Vassula Rydén was born in Egypt on January 18, 1942 into a Greek Orthodox family.[1] She has composed messages she claims to have received from the Christian God in a series of books called True Life In God.[2] There are currently over 107 Notebooks [1] compiled in 12 Volumes of the True Life in God series, which have been translated by volunteers into over 40 different languages.

Biography

Rydén, the daughter of Greek parents established in Egypt, was born on January 18, 1942 in Heliopolis on the outskirts of Cairo. She started school in Egypt, and then at the age of 15, she emigrated to Europe.[1]

In November 1966, she married a Lutheran man in the city of Lausanne, Switzerland, at a Greek Orthodox Church. She later got divorced in Sweden in November 1980. In June 1981, she married her current husband, Per Rydén, a Swedish Lutheran, at the registry office. On October 31, 1990, she regularized her union in the Greek Orthodox Church and celebrated her religious marriage in Lausanne.[3] Vassula has two adult sons.[1][4]

Claims of visions

Rydén is best know for her writings entitled “True Life in God”, which is a compilation of nearly 2000 messages she claims to have received from the Christian God since the year 1985 when she was living in Bangladesh. While she was writing a grocery list, she reports to have suddenly experienced a light electrical feeling in her right hand and, at the same time, an invisible presence. She says she felt led by this presence and, permitting her hand to be guided, she wrote a line in a very different style from her own with the words: "I am your guardian Angel and my name is Daniel."[5]

She claims that she has been called to transmit to the world the messages she receives.[5] People[who?] who have studied her case believe that God through her message seeks to consolidate his church, especially by bringing it into unity, which is the main theme of her books.[5] The True Life in God messages have been translated by volunteers into more than 40 languages and have widespread distribution and readership.


Scientific and Theological Analysis

Rydén had never received any catechetical instruction, or theological formation.[2] Rydén believes that the Christian God chooses those otherwise incapable of such achievements so as to leave no doubt that it is his power at work.[5][6] Investigations of Rydén’s works include that of Mariologist Theologian Father Rene Laurentin, who has called Rydén "the most authentic mystic living in the world today."[7] and has since written two books on Rydén and her claims.

Laurentin made a investigative study of Rydén’s case in accordance with the Criteria of Discernment laid down by Rome.[3] He documents his experience and findings in the two books he wrote about Rydén’s case.[3]"Qui Est Vassula?" (Who is Vassula?)[8] and in numerous articles.[9][10][11]

Earlier Supernatural Phenomena

In the introduction to the French edition of her book “My Angel Daniel”,[12] she tells how Satan had persecuted her since the age of six with terrifying nightmares. At the age of 10-12, she had dreams in which she saw Jesus and the Virgin Mary, including what she refers to as her “spiritual marriage with Jesus”. Later, during her teenage years, she says to have seen, on several occasions, the souls of dead people surrounding her. But none of these experiences led her to a spiritual transformation since she went on with her life, indifferent to religious matters until 1985.

Her Mission

Rydén has been invited to several countries to give her “testimony” and to pass on the message she has received. According to the official True Life in God website, she has been invited to more than 900 meetings in 75 countries.[13][14][15]

Christian Unity

One of the strongest elements in these messages is the gravity of the division between churches and the urgency of the work for unity of the Church and the importance of the ecumenical movement.[16]

Therefore, in addition to delivering the message, she also believes she has been called by God to promote Christian Unity.[17] She and many volunteers organize ecumenical pilgrimages every two years where Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, clergy and lay people of all faiths gather and “practice unity” without making distinctions among each other.In 2001, she was invited, along with other speakers, to an official symposium on ecumenism by the International Bridgettine Centre of Farfa to speak on Ecumenism and Spirituality.[18] Her presentation was entitled: God’s Calling to His People.

The ecumenical aspect of Rydén’s mission attracts interest and attention.[19][20] She has been invited to speak and to share the True Life in God message by all Christian denominations – Orthodox, Catholic,[15][21] and Protestants alike. There are many references to the Pope in the messages she records where he is often referred to as Peter. In his book, John Paul II – A Dictionary of His Life and Teachings, Fr. Michael O’Carroll, in the section on Rydén notes: "This is the first time in nine hundred and forty years that an Orthodox writer has publicly championed the cause of the Roman Pontiff and his universal primacy."[22]

She was invited by Fr. Ion Bria, of the Romanian Orthodox Church working for the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Geneva,[1] and by Metropolitan Daniel of Moldavia and Bukovina, to assist at the Congress organized by the World Council of Churches on Christian Spirituality, held in Iasi; her proposal for discussion of the unification of the dates of Easter was accepted by the closing general assembly.[23]

In 2009, she was invited to speak, along with three other speakers, at the Christian Unity conference “United in Christ” at Namur, Belgium.[24] The conference took place in the Namur diocese of Bishop Andre-Mutien Leonard, who attended the conference[25] and led the celebration of the concluding Eucharistic Liturgy. Reporting later on the gathering on December 6, 2009, he stated: "And from Vassula Rydén’s message, I acquired the conviction that in order to reconcile the Christian East and West, it is crucial to decide upon a common date for Easter."[26]

Prophecies of Rydén

Rydén has recorded many prophetic messages. “Scriptures are being fulfilled; I am giving you the Signs of the End of Times.”[27] Ryden states: "The True Life in God messages are not prophecies of doom and gloom. God gives them to us in these times of mercy to shape us up; they are a call out of the sublime Love of God. God will not allow us forever to offend His Holy Name and live godless. This is the reason why He comes, in His mercy, to give us many warnings." There are over 20 prophecies regarding Russia in Russia and Romania.[1][28][29]


Commentary on the Prophetic Nature of the True Life in God messages from theologians and writers

Fr. René Laurentin stated in his book that: "The messages that Vassula conveys are prophetic messages."[3] Theologian Dr. Niels Christian Hvidt commented: "Few other contemporary mystics exhibit the prophetic charism as does Mrs. Rydén, and she is certainly one of the most debated modern mystics.[5][3] This does not necessarily mean that she is not authentic; rather … it is one of the traits of prophecy: The prophets are never popular."[30] In an article written about Vassula titled "Fascinated by mysterious Jesus blogs", the Norwegian news network "På Høyden" mentioned that: "This female mystic is different from many other “modern prophets” in that she is orthodox and that many of her revelations concern Jesus, and not the Virgin Mary."[20]

Writer Jacques Neirynck wrote in "The Vassula Enigma" that: "The least we can say about Vassula is that she fulfils the paradoxical conditions specific to prophets: a life of prayer, giving priority to one’s duty over contemplation, absence of ostentation, lack of previous theological or simply religious formation, disinterestedness, the feeling of having to communicate a message and of being a simple instrument, soundness of answers to classical pitfalls, refusal to enter into controversy in the face of attacks, vigorous calls for the unity of the churches, unshakable fidelity to the pope. And then what is difficult to express in words: approachability, kindness, serenity, the kind of regal calm of a woman certain of the love of God which nothing can take from her."[1]

Howard Dee, former Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican in 1986-1990 stated that: "A strong correlation is to be found between the messages of Fatima and Akita and those given to Vassula."[31]

Beth Myriam

Inspired by a claimed vision of Mary (mother of Jesus), Ryden initiated the Beth Myriam (Mary’s House) project to feed the poor in 1998. Volunteers from local True Life In God Prayer Groups run the Beth Myriam charity houses which provide free meals to those in need in the local community.[32] On March 27, 2002, Vassula recorded a specific message regarding the continued establishment of the Beth Myriams. There are currently 23 Beth Myriams worldwide.[17]

This work began in the Holy Land and over time other Beth Myriams were established in other parts of the world. Some Beth Myriams have evolved to also provide clothing and basic education for the poor.[33][32]


Churches' Stance on Rydén

As with anyone claiming to receive messages from a God, Rydén’s writings have been the object of much questioning and arguing for and against the authenticity of her experience. Unusual to her case, however, is the extent to which the Catholic Church has engaged in dialogue with a non-Catholic, Orthodox alleged mystic. The Catholic Church took a negative stance. The situation was slightly modified after a lengthy dialogue that took place from 2000-2004.

In 1995, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) issued a Notification on the True Life in God writings of Rydén.[34][4] The Congregation studied the written daily conversations which she said she had with Jesus and, on October 6, 1995, issued a Notification in response to many Catholic bishops and faithful that had written for guidance regarding Rydén’s spiritual writings. The Congregation stated that the “attentive examination of the entire question” had brought up “a number of basic elements that must be considered negative in the light of Catholic doctrine” as well as “several doctrinal errors”. It also questioned the “suspect nature of the ways in which these alleged revelations have occurred” and considers 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”. The Notification concludes by requesting “the intervention of the Bishops” to prevent the dissemination of Mrs Ryden’s ideas in their dioceses and “invites all the faithful not to regard Mrs Vassula Ryden’s writings and speeches as supernatural”.

In November 1996, following a series of declarations from Ryden’s supporters affirming that the Notification was not a valid document, the Congregation issued a press release, stating that the Notification “retains all its force” and “was approved by the competent authorities and will be published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, the official organ of the Holy See”.[35]

Interview with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

In 1999, Theologian Dr. Niels Christian Hvidt interviewed the then president of the CDF, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - now Pope Benedict XVI. In his interview Hvidt raised the question as to whether the 1995 Notification on Rydén’s writings was a condemnation. Cardinal Ratzinger replied, "You have touched on a very problematical issue. No, the Notification is a warning, not a condemnation. From the strictly procedural point of view, no person may be condemned without a trial and without being given the opportunity to air their views first. What we say is that there are many things which are not clear. There are some debatable apocalytpic elements and ecclesiological aspects which are not clear. Her writings contain many good things but the grain and the chaff are mixed up. That is why we invited Catholic faithful to view it all with a prudent eye and to measure it by the yardstick of the constant faith of the Church."[5][5]

When asked by Hvidt if the procedure to clarify the question was continuing, Ratziner answered: "Yes, and during the clarification process the faithful must be prudent, maintaining a discerning attitude. There is no doubt that there is an evolution in the writings which does not yet seem to have concluded. We must remember that being able to set oneself up as the word and image of interior contact with God, even in the case of authentic mysticism, always depends on the possibilities of the human soul and its limitations. Unlimited trust should only be placed in the real Word of the Revelation that we encounter in the faith transmitted by the Church."[5][6]

Dialogue between Vassula and the CDF

After a request was made by Rydén in 2000 to the aforementioned congregation (the CDF), the then Cardinal Ratzinger invited Rydén, in 2002, to answer five questions about her messages and its relation to the Holy Bible and Sacred Tradition. Rydén sent her replies to the Congregation later that same year. At the end of this dialogue, the former president of the CDF, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - now Pope Benedict XVI, formally requested that Rydén publish the full correspondence between herself and the CDF in the published TLIG books. Later still, the Cardinal wrote a letter, dated July 10, 2004, to five episcopal conferences who had been negative about Rydén and her writings indicating that she had given "useful clarifications regarding her marital situation, as well as some difficulties which in the aforesaid Notification were suggested towards her writings and her participation in the sacraments". The whole process was concluded with a private audience between Rydén, the then Cardinal Ratzinger and Dr. Niels Christian Hvidt who had first requested the dialogue in 1999.

At the end of 2004, the True Life in God Association published a booklet titled “Clarifications with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith” presenting the written dialogue and suggesting that the Notification was no longer valid.[36] Fr. Geoffrey Attard states in The Catholic Times: In a publication entitled True Life in God – Clarifications with the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, who is a promoter of Rydén’s good cause, had this comment to make in September 2004 after the Congregation’s removal of any suspicion regarding Rydén’s writings: "I am extremely happy that Cardinal Ratzinger perfectly mirrors the attitude of the Holy Father whose great obsession, and probably the reason for the life and energy he manifests, is the Unity of Christianity."[37] The booklet was distributed by the local True Life in God associations to Catholic clergy worldwide.[38]

In 2005, the True Life in God writings were granted a Nihil obstat by Bishop Felix Toppo S.J. (India) and Imprimatur by Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles (Philippines), both long-time supporters of Ryden's cause.

Many critics were surprised by what seemed to be a full approval of Mrs Ryden’s writings. Seeking confirmation, an ex-member of Mrs Ryden’s association wrote to the Episcopal Conference of Switzerland (who was one of the 5 Episcopal conferences who had been informed of the dialogue) asking for confirmation. In a letter dated February 23, 2005, the Secretary General answered that “The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith maintains all it's reservations regarding the writings and actions of Mrs Ryden”.

In September 2005, the spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland warned people against going to Mrs Ryden’s conference in Edinburgh. Referring to the 1995 Notification, he said Rydén "certainly did not" operate with the approval of the Church and that "the advice to Catholics is not to attend her gatherings due to the suspect nature of her alleged revelations, which contain doctrinal errors."

In January 2006, the Cathedral of Los Angeles (USA) withdrew its invitation to play host to a conference where the main speaker was Mrs Ryden. The withdrawal was approved by the archbishop of Los Angeles Card. Roger Mahony. Mgr. Kostelnik, pastor of the Cathedral, explained in a press release that the organizers had assured him that Mrs Ryden’s writings had “been cleared by the Vatican”, but that he had discovered that those assurances were “a serious misrepresentation of the current Vatican view of Mrs Ryden’s speeches and writings” and that the 1995 and 1996 Vatican statements cautioning Catholics against following Ryden remained “in full force”.[39]

Finally, in a letter dated January 25, 2007, the new Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, William Cardinal Levada, following continued requests for clarifications on the writings and activities of Rydén, wrote to the Catholic hierarchy around the world stating that her writings should be seen as her own personal meditations and that Catholics should not take part in prayer groups established by Ryden.[40]


Ongoing TLIG Support from members of the Catholic clergy

As a result of the continued confusion and apparent conflict with previous statements from the CDF, many Catholic clergy, including Bishops and Cardinals, have chosen to continue their support for Rydén and even promote TLIG. Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, in a statement he made to his Archdiocese dated June 2009, said regarding Rydén that he been she has been called by Jesus.[41]

Fr. Attard believes Pope Benedict himself is inspired by Rydén’s writings in the cause of Christian unity: "However, I would like to consider the possibility that Pope Benedict’s enthusiasm for the ecumenical cause may stem from, among other sources, his friendship and ongoing interest in the writings of a Greek Orthodox woman who for the past two decades has been experiencing intimate revelations from Jesus which she puts to paper and which are now even published in book form in various languages. The more I read from Vassula’s writings and the more I hear Pope Benedict’s plea for Christian unity, the more I come to believe that His Holiness may be finding Vassula’s writings quite inspirational for the cause of Christian unity and ecumenism."[37]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g The Vassula Enigma, 2003, by Jacques Neirynck, ISBN 1-883225-30-2
  2. ^ a b When God Talks Vassula Listens Phoenix New Times, December 5, 1996, by Peter Gilstrap
  3. ^ a b c d When God Gives a Sign, 1993, pages 33-34 by René Laurentin, ISBN 1-883225-14-0
  4. ^ True Life in God, Volume 1, Original Handwriting Edition (Notebooks 1-16), Second Edition 2004-2005, page V, ISBN 0-9631193-3-8
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Christian Prophecy – the Post Biblical Tradition, 2007, pages 111,112,112,116 by Dr. Niels Christian Hvidt, ISBN 978-0-19-531447-2
  6. ^ Volume 3 Original Handwriting Edition,(Notebooks 29-41), 1991, page 24, by Vassula Rydén, ISBN 0-9631193-5-4
  7. ^ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-191120914.html
  8. ^ Qui Est Vassula?, 1994, Rene Laurentin, ISBN 2868393659
  9. ^ Stella Maris Magazine, Issues: November 1993; December 1993
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ Chretiens Magazine, Issue Nos: 43(Sept. 1991); 54(Oct. 1992); 60(Oct. 1993); 64(April 1993) [2]
  12. ^ Vassula Ryden, MON ANGE DANIEL, Editions du Parvis, Hauteville (Suisse), 2001, pp. 28-30.
  13. ^ True Life in God Program to be Jan. 25, Geneseo Republic, USA, January 16, 2009; Claudia Loucks, Page A9
  14. ^ The Echo, Ireland, September 1, 2005, Page 36
  15. ^ a b Galway Advertizer, Ireland, October 10, 1996, Bernadette Fallon, Page 16
  16. ^ The Voice of Delhi, July 2005, Vol XV No 7, by Bishop Anil Couto, pg17
  17. ^ a b Vassula Comes to the Monastery, Published 2005, ISBN 0-948108-13-4
  18. ^ http://www.farfa.info/library/pdf/program_2001.pdf
  19. ^ Vassula, Un Charisme Oecumenique pour notre Temps (Vassula, An Ecumenical Charism for our Times), 1995, by Fr. Ferdinand Umana Montoya, ISBN 2-88022-071-8
  20. ^ a b Fascinated by mysterious Jesus blogs På Høyden, Norway, January 5, 2007, By Eli Kristine Korsmo
  21. ^ Mass for peace and unity held in Palace Inquirer.net, May 13, 2008, by Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
  22. ^ John Paul II – A Dictionary of His Life and Teachings, 1994, by Fr. Michael O’Carroll CSSp, ISBN 0-9519973-8-6
  23. ^ Vassula and Rome, Published 1996, ISBN 1-899228-03-9; Author: Michael Dore, page 22
  24. ^ http://s1.e-monsite.com/2009/06/28/56851043flyer-namur-5-6-dec-en-ver-1-word-2-pdf.pdf
  25. ^ http://martinmanou.e-monsite.com/rubrique,welcome,86240.html
  26. ^ L'Appel Du Ciel March 10, 2010, Page 5
  27. ^ True Life in God Volume 3, Original Handwriting Edition, (Notebooks 29-41), Vol 3, 1991, page 44, by Vassula Rydén, ISBN 0-9631193-5-4
  28. ^ Vassula of the Sacred Heart’s Passion, 1993, pages 1-2,119-133 by Fr. Michael O’Carroll CSSp, ISBN 0-9519973-3-5
  29. ^ Bearer of the Light – Vassula ,“Mediatrix of Divided Christians”, 1994, Chapter 6, by Michael O’Carroll, CSSp, ISBN 0-9519973-6-X
  30. ^ Cattolica Conference, Italy, September 18–21, 1998 (The Gifts of the Holy Spirit at the Threshold of the Second Millenium) Presentation: Prophecy and Revelation, by Dr. Niels Christian Hvidt [sic?]
  31. ^ Howard Dee, former Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican in 1986-1990, Presentation – True Life in God Volume 6, Original Handwriting Edition (Notebooks 29-41), 1991, page VII, by Vassula Rydén, ISBN 0-9631193-9-7
  32. ^ a b Rajdhani Nepali National Daily, 27 June 2010
  33. ^ http://thirdworldorphans.org/gpage10.html
  34. ^ Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, NOTIFICATION ON VASSULA RYDEN (6 October 1995), published in Acta Apostolicae Sedis AAS 88 (1996) 956-957; OR 23-24.10.1995; EV 14, 1956-1957; LE 5618.
  35. ^ http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFRYDN2.HTM
  36. ^ http://www.tlig.org/downloads/en/cdf.pdf
  37. ^ a b Is Pope inspired by writings of an Orthodox seer? No, 613(5895), Page 12, U.K., July 17, 2005, by Fr. Geoffrey Attard
  38. ^ True Life in God Newsletter, English edition, circulated by email by the tlig website, January 29, 2005.
  39. ^ Larry B. Stammer. L.A. CATHEDRAL DISINVITES CHRISTIAN UNITY EVENT, Los Angeles Times, January 10, 2006. http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/vassula.htm
  40. ^ http://www.infovassula.ch/tligchurchposition.htm
  41. ^ Cardinal Napier meets Vassula Rydén, www.zulumissions.org

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