Two highly intelligent women hundreds of miles apart asked me in the past few days why other highly intelligent people get caught up in false seers, such as Maria Divine Mercy and Vassula Ryden.
I have come up with several thoughts on this.
The first, is that discernment and knowledge of holy things are gifts of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. We have the ability to sort out good from bad, truth and falsehood.
However, we can easily lose discernment because of one thing-deep, unconfessed sin in our lives.
Discernment is lost when one refuses to repent of sin. Now, the sin must be serious, like embezzlement or heresy. Sin can be rooted in bad lifestyle choices, such as cooperating in contraception. Being a freemason leads one into deeper sin and one would lose discernment, as does adultery, homosexual activity, and so on.
That seemingly holy and very active Catholics refuse to leave prayer meetings based on false teaching or refuse to stop reading or giving money to fraudulent so-called visionaries may very well indicate the refusal to leave sin.
One person I know involved in following false revelations is an Irish person who hates the English. I have told some Irish acquaintances of mine that no hatred can be fed if one wants to be holy. Hatred and prejudice would cause a loss of discernment.
One may have be involved in New Age activities, like going to a New Age counselor, of which there are many in England. Such activity as seeking out false and even heretical forms of counseling would lead to a loss of discernment. And, what about the counselors who are Catholic themselves and are involved in things condemned in Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life? It is here linked again on the title.
Or, one may be dating without getting an annulment first, or one may be fudging on one's taxes and so on.
Sin leads to darkness of the intellect and will.
Sin opens the door to stupidity. And, following false seers is so stupid, one may lose not only discernment, but one's immortal soul.
There is only one way to salvation and that is through Christ, Who gave us the Catholic Church for clarity and the means of salvation-the sacraments, Tradition and Revelation.
If you are not obeying the directives of local bishops, or the CDF regarding false seers and if you are not examining statements with the CCC and other teaching of the Catholic Church, you are endangering your immortal soul.
Read, study, think, reflect, act.
2 Peter 2
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you lying teachers, who shall bring in sects of perdition, and deny the Lord who bought them: bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their riotousnesses, through whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their perdition slumbereth not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but delivered them, drawn down by infernal ropes to the lower hell, unto torments, to be reserved unto judgment:
5 And spared not the original world, but preserved Noe, the eighth person, the preacher of justice, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.
6 And reducing the cities of the Sodomites, and of the Gomorrhites, into ashes, condemned them to be overthrown, making them an example to those that should after act wickedly.
7 And delivered just Lot, oppressed by the injustice and lewd conversation of the wicked.
8 For in sight and hearing he was just: dwelling among them, who from day to day vexed the just soul with unjust works.
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly from temptation, but to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be tormented.
10 And especially them who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government, audacious, self willed, they fear not to bring in sects, blaspheming.
11 Whereas angels who are greater in strength and power, bring not against themselves a railing judgment.
12 But these men, as irrational beasts, naturally tending to the snare and to destruction, blaspheming those things which they know not, shall perish in their corruption,
13 Receiving the reward of their injustice, counting for a pleasure the delights of a day: stains and spots, sporting themselves to excess, rioting in their feasts with you:
14 Having eyes full of adultery and of sin that ceaseth not: alluring unstable souls, having their heart exercised with covetousness, children of malediction:
15 Leaving the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity,
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| Irish Immigrant Memorial in Davenport, Iowa thanks to Wiki; a memorial to those who suffered prejudice |
16 But had a check of his madness, the dumb beast used to the yoke, which speaking with man's voice, forbade the folly of the prophet.
17 These are fountains without water, and clouds tossed with whirlwinds, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved.
18 For, speaking proud words of vanity, they allure by the desires of fleshly riotousness, those who for a little while escape, such as converse in error:
19 Promising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the slaves of corruption. For by whom a man is overcome, of the same also he is the slave.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of justice, than after they have known it, to turn back from that holy commandment which was delivered to them.
22 For, that of the true proverb has happened to them: The dog is returned to his vomit: and, The sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.
