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(We only post Correspondence with consent/permission of the writer)
There are several lengthy Correspondence letters regarding Father Mitch Pacwa’s article, one compiled by F. John Loughnan and another by Ronald L. Conte Jr. Please click on the Correspondence: link above for these three extensive replies.
Please accept our apologies, we had a computer mishap and lost several months of Correspondence
07/29/08
Dear friends,
This YouTube video of an Italian TV program was recently made available over the internet. I have made a translation of it which follows below. It is certainly important to know that the priest who is speaking has the approval of the Pope. Padre Livio Fanzaga is the founder and president of Radio Maria Italia, the private Catholic radio station which has spread around the world--and "answers only to the Pope", that is, the radio station is under the Pope's immediate protection and has no other figure as intermediary. Here in Italy, Radio Maria has virtually beaten out the other popular "normal" radio stations that the young people listen to. This brief clip gives a taste of what Radio Maria offers on a daily basis--and with such resounding success. Enjoy!
Mrs. Di Matteo
PS--Radio Maria is wholly funded by donations from the listening public; it receives no Church or government funding, except that which is given to all non-profit organizations in Italy, by law.
Medjugorje: Mary's Plan for Salvation
("Medjugorje: il piano di salvezza di Maria")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FGLIDANt80
From Italy's prime-time TV program "Top Secret", which aired January 16th, 2008 on channel 4 ("Rete 4")
The interview is with Padre Livio, founder and president of Radio Maria in Italy
Padre Livio "If we connect the points of the most important apparitions of the Madonna [in Europe], a big "M" forms, a sign that is like Mary's signature written across Europe---it gives a sense of Her protection over this continent".
Moderator: For over 20 years Padre Livio Fanzaga has been the director of Radio Maria, the Catholic radio most listened to in the whole world and which grew on the wave of fervor that came out of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin at Medjugorje to which Padre Livio is profoundly tied. He recounts his story in his latest book, "Why I Am a Christian". But that which he discusses with us during our meeting goes well beyond Medjugorje. According to this very great expert on Marian apparitions, the Madonna has appeared in Europe over the last two centuries following a very precise plan. In order to get some idea of it, it is enough to have a chronological look at the places of the various apparitions which form the virtual M of Mary on our continent. We begin in Paris. In 1830 in a convent in Rue du Bac, Mary manifests Herself to Sister Catherine Labouré in order to announce that a very great danger is eminent, "But I shall be with you" assures the Blessed Virgin. 16 years later in 1846 it is the turn of La Salette, a small town in the French Alps. The Madonna appears to two little shepherd children and announces that if her people will not submit themselves [to the commandments of God], She will be forced to let fall the heavy arm of God. Mary returns in 1858 at Lourdes. To little Bernadette, the Virgin, who appears to her in a grotto, asks that penance be done for the [sins of the] world. The encounters proceed. In 1871 at Pontmain in Brittany, during the peak of the war with Prussia, the Virgin entrusts to a group of children the formula for obtaining peace, "pray" [She exhorts them]. Five years later in a small town in the middle of France, Pellevoisin, the Blessed Virgin heals and converts Estelle Faguette and says, "I have come for the conversion of sinners". And in 1917 at Fatima in Portugal the Blessed Virgin returns to speak once again to mankind. To the shepherd children, Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco She reveals three secrets and asks that penance be done in order to avert a divine punishment. And again--the Madonna appears to five children 1932 in a small town in Belgium at Beauraing, and in the following year to Mariette, a girl from a poor family from a village in the Ardenne. In 1947 at Rome, the Virgin appears to Bruno Cornacchiola and his three children, inside a cave in a locale known as "Tre Fontane". From being a Seventh Day Adventist he converts to Catholicism. And then in Syracuse in 1953, the Madonna doesn't speak but cries tears from a statue. And then, the latest apparition of Mary in Europe, still not officially recognized, at Medjugorje in 1981 where She reveals 10 secrets and asks for prayer and fasting; and finally in Civitavecchia in 1994 where a statue of the Madonna of Medjugorje cries tears of blood. A long journey that has lasted almost two centuries in order to bring one message:
Padre Livio: "In all Her apparitions, in the modern ones, the ones that can be dated from Rue du Bac, in 1830--the Miraculous Medal-- up to today, the basic message, the themes of the messages are basically identical--that is: faith, conversion, prayer. There is a thread that ties all these apparitions together, this is the era of Mary, the era of the apostles of Mary, the era of Her battle against the beast.
Moderator: Why is Mary's "signature" on Europe?
Padre Livio: It's on Europe for many reasons. Foremost because as I said Europe is the Christian continent, it is the continent that gave birth to Christian civilization, and at the very same time Europe has witnessed a growing apostasy from the time of the French Revolution up to the present--it has seen a growing apostasy away from Christianity which started first among the intellectual groups or political groups and then progressed to the point of infecting a large portion of the masses of simple believers for which reason we find ourselves facing today the mass phenomenon of de-Christianization. As John Paul II said, mankind is at a fork in the road, we have truly come to a fork in the road between life and death. The Madonna is here in order to help us win this battle and in order to secure peace for the future of mankind.
Moderator: In all the apparitions, the message of the Virgin seems clear: mankind is in danger and the only way to save it is through prayer, penance and fasting.
Padre Livio: I believe that one day--and in Heaven we will know--what we escaped, what we left at our backs, what we were spared on account of the fasting of the followers of Mary.
Moderator: Another recurring element in all the manifestations of the Mother of God is that Her messages, of such urgent importance and relevance for all humanity, are entrusted to simple, humble people, almost always children or adolescents. At Fatima, as also at La Salette and at Medjugorje the Madonna asks, at least for a period of time, that Her message remain a secret. Why?
Padre Livio: Yes, there is without a doubt a strategy behind the use of the secret. Why the Madonna uses this strategy is surely for pedagogical reasons. However, I would like to underline the fundamental difference there is between the secrets of Medjugorje and the secrets of Fatima; that is, in brief, that secrets of Fatima were revealed after [the apparitions]. The secrets of Medjugorje instead will be revealed only one at a time and three days before each one is set to occur. So, what does this mean? First of all this means that they are particularly important because in this way it can be immediately verified if the secret has been realized. They are, how can I say, they give one the assurance that the world is not in the hands of who knows what kind of evil and destructive force but rather something is in the works that God has preordained, something in any event which will save us.
Moderator: But this danger--what is it going to be?
Padre Livio: Well, I did a two-hour long interview with the seer Mirjiana who is the principal one [with regard to the secrets] but she didn't. She says that the secrets regard the world and the Church. Anyway, in my opinion, they won't have anything to do with strange phenomenon. In my opinion the danger is a nuclear holocaust. This, in my opinion, is the greatest danger.
Moderator: But the message of Medjugorje, can it be considered the final one?
Padre Livio: The Madonna said very clearly at Medjugorje that these are Her last apparitions on the earth and that She has come for the last time to invite mankind to "convert" (1). this time it's not like at Fatima where the Madonna had been able to say, "If you don't convert there will be another war [WWII] worse than this one [WWI]" but back then there was not the potential for nuclear destruction that there is now. A war now would mean the end of the world, the world in flames. This time, either the Blessed Virgin is going to win or if the devil wins he'll destroy the world.
Footnotes:
1) "convert" means a conversion of heart, a return to God, to prayer and to penance.
End
10/10/07
Dear Valtorta lovers,
So much good news with Maria is happening:
Lessons on Paul's Letter to the Romans is now available in English and is advertised on MariaValtorta.com. I hope to have a supply of these new books very soon. The Beatification Ceremony for Blessed Father Gabriele Allegra will probably happen at the end of this year, to mark the 100th anniversary or his birth in Sicily. David Murray's Sunday Gospels with the writings of Maria Valtorta are now heard round the world (Free Audio On-Line), at Valtorta.org. I wonder what his next project is. Dummy me just noticed that in the imprimatur letter of Bishop Roman Danylak for Brother Chrysostom's website, that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict), had admitted in private letters that there is no moral or doctrinal error in Maria's "Poem of the Man-God". This is such earth shattering news that I just put up a nice photo of Pope Benedict with a link to Brother Chrysostom's Imprimatur letter. Every attack of the few but vocal anti-valtortians is being swept away. Of course, even if 10 popes told them to read it, some still wouldn't. We must pray for them and love them as Jesus in the Gospel (including Maria's) insists. Merry Christmas! I mean this sincerely, especially as we have to endure so many grotesque Halloween displays before All Hallow's Eve of All Saints Day, (and yes, we have David Murray's voice doing the readings for All Saints Day on the Sunday Gospels page for November 1).
Enjoy
Steve (Valtorta.org)
10/2/07
Dear Webmaster,
Thank you so much for your wonderful site. Two co-workers and myself have been utilizing information provided therein as a means for persuading others in Catholic Forums. Occasionally I get discouraged, as much of it seems to fall on deaf ears. Do you have any suggestions that would be helpful in propagating these divine revelations?
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
It almost seems that the Spirit of God draws certain people to these Heavenly works. The Chief Priests, Doctors of the Law, Pharisees and Scribes obstinately refused to believe in the Messiah, even in the face of astonishingly powerful miracles. Jesus cured the blind, lepers and raised the dead in their presence, yet they could not believe, and even plotted against Him. Nevertheless many people of goodwill did believe. The sheep know the Masters voice. When dealing with Medjugorje believers, simply mention Our Holy Mother’s confirmations given to the visionaries. This is very well documented via EWTN, publications and even video-taped interviews. When confronting those affiliated with the Marian Priest Movement, there are many confirmations of the Poem in Father Stefano Gobbi’s locutions. Followers from both these groups will quickly and easily recognize Our Holy Mother’s voice when reading the Poem. Dave Webster’s article proves factual authenticity beyond any doubt. The Imprimaturs from Pope Pius XII, Archbishop Soosa Pakiam M. of Trivandrum, Archbishop George H. Pearce, and Bishop Roman Danylak prove that there is nothing against faith or morals.
God Bless
9/16/97
Hi!
Radio Maria in Italy has been presenting the works of Maria Valtorta for many years. Their nation-wide listening public in Italy is around 3 million strong, and both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict have made very public their support, appreciation and encouragement for this excellent and punctiliously faithful Catholic radio station. There are many Cardinals and Bishops who participate on a regular basis, and this certainly would not happen if there were even just a hint of something controversial in any of the many program offerings. The founder and president of the radio station is Padre Livio Fanzaga. He himself was once skeptical about the works of Maria Valtorta. I don't know what it was though that convinced him. Anyhow, Radio Maria is pretty much all over the globe now, and in the course of some 25 years, the Vatican and two Popes have found nothing at all to criticize about the many programs that have been devoted to the works of Maria Valtorta. Radio Maria is tremendously influential among the faithful, and for this reason, the Vatican for sure keeps a close eye and attentive ear on the radio's programming. But it must be said that even in the Vatican, Radio Maria is as popular and well-loved as in any other place in Italy."
Catherine Di Matteo
Latisana (UD), Italy
6/1/07
Dear Sir,
A friend told me of your web site and it is really excellent. The material on it is overwhelming, there is so much. I would like to offer one suggestion. I'm 80 years old and I find the contrast of the print with the back ground very difficult to read, especially with the very small print. The black and the blue blend together and it is very hard to stay with the proper line. Is it possible to create a web site with a greater contrast, similar to the Bardstown web site. If you go to the 101 Foundation website, notice how easy the black on white part of their web site stands out and is so easy to read. Also Valtorta Publishing.
Best regards,
Edward F.
Phoenix, Arizona
Dear Edward,
Thank you for your kind feedback. Sure, I'll try some changes to make it easier to read. I'll e-mail you when I made the changes, then please let me know if it is better for you. I'll keep at it till you find it easier to read.
God Bless
Dear Sir,
Thanks for your prompt reply. You have so much info on your web site. Wow! Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks, Edward
Hi Edward,
Thank you for your kind comments on the site. I changed the contrast and increased the size of the Fonts to make the site more visual. Please let me know if this helped.
God Bless
Dear Sir,
Much appreciated, that is much better.
Thanks, Edward
