For a couple years now, this author has been tracking a quasi-religious group from South America, which calls itself the Association Mary, Mother of the Divine Conception (referred to as "AM" going forward). Since its start in 2012, the group has quickly grown and evolved into a "religious order" - the Grace Mercy Order - as well as, other satellite organizations. Normally, I wouldn't care much but the AM has three members - a male and two females - who claim to be "Divine Messengers"; alleged visionaries who receive messages from such personages as Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph. In addition, members of their order dress like Catholic monks and nuns (the women's garments are similar to Mother Teresa's nuns)... and they openly incorporate traditional and familiar Catholic devotions and imagery in their practices and messages (e.g. the Rosary, the Divine Mercy, the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary, etc.). So what's the problem then?
Simple - the group is NOT Catholic. The AM admits this fact in its website by stating they are "a religious association without ties to any established religion". Despite this clear description of what their association is all about many people - Catholics and non-Catholics - are mistaking them for Catholic because of how the AM outwardly portrays itself. I know this because at least two church-friends of mine excitedly texted YouTube videos to me of the AM messengers receiving "apparitions". It was their text messages, along with a strong impulse from the Holy Spirit, which prompted me to post this blog to make people aware.
alleged apparition.
The AM's movement of "spiritual evolution" has substantially expanded in recent years and has spread to other parts of the globe, including the USA. More people are being exposed to their messages and teachings, largely in part due to their various online and social media presentations, which are very well-organized and professionally produced. However, when one carefully reads their messages, their teachings closely allign with New Age and pagan eastern philosophies rather than orthodox Catholic/Christian doctrine. Below is just a snippit from a lengthy message, from among many others, that the AM visionaries claim to have received from Mary:
"Beloved children, who in these last eleven years spoke and shared with you the Love of God, comes from a peculiar Source that was created by the Ultraterrestrial Universe before the Material Universe existed. In that Source, the Divine Essence, of Who later would be Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was gestated, conditioned and lovingly prepared to carry forward the great mission in the humanity. This Ultraterrestrial Source of the Spiritual Universe, was characterized by its highest level of purity, of love and for its immaculate essence.
The Father, after the fall of the Project of His first children, Adam and Eve, He thought to create a way and a sufficiently pure, immaculate and humble Consciousness, which with Her invincible Love could embrace all human error and convert it through forgiveness and the sublime Maternity. It was thus that the Creator Fathers, the Archangels, received the request of God and, in the elevated Celestial Universes, each Archangel began to contribute with the best of Themselves, so that the Feminine Essence, which would emerge from the Creative Source, would come to Earth to begin as soul and divinity with Her special mission. The Sacred Source of the Feminine Energy was translucent by means of the Principle of Maternity."
Did you notice the odd words included in the message? If one is solidly grounded in the Faith, it's easy to spot the questionable terms - "Ultraterrestrial Source of the Spiritual Universe", "Creater Fathers", the "Divine Essence, of Who later would be Mary", "Consciousness", "Feminine Essence", "Creative Source", etc. - mixed in with the familiar Christian ones. Having researched New Age philosophies and practices in the past, I immediately recognized these terms as common verbiage used in such non-Christian philosophies. Therefore, in my personal opinion, it's a major red flag; a strong indication that these messages are not from heavenly sources.
The group's depiction of "Mary, the Mother
of the Divine Conception of the Trinity"(???),
a bizarre title allegedly revealed by Mary
to one of the AM messengers.
Going back to the friends who texted me links to the AM videos, one is a very devout woman - a daily communicant - who's been to the Church-approved Marian shrines of Lourdes and Fatima, as well as the unapproved site of Medjugorje. Her situation tells me that if a person like her could easily be confused by the AM and their messages, there are many, many other Catholics out there who could be misled too. It's a cause for great concern.
And what is further disturbing to me is one of the so-called visionaries has recently been touring various Catholic shrines in Europe - the Divine Mercy in Krakow, Fatima, Garabandal, La Salette, Lourdes, Medjugorje, etc. - and receiving "apparitions" and "messages" at such places. It appears to be a calculated effort to legitimize and/or associate the AM messengers/messages/movement with the more well-known apparitional shrines frequented by pilgrims.
of the Mass (note the familiar Divine Mercy
image in the background).
In closing, Catholics beware of this association! It all goes to show that not all purported apparitions - past and present - are authentic and divine. The truth is - there are reported apparitions occuring today that are outright hoaxes (e.g. the exposed false visionary of Argyle, Texas) or diabolic counterfeits; the devil's way of "aping" genuine revelations of Jesus, Mary, and the Saints in order to sow confusion and draw people away from the one true Church founded by Jesus. Holy Scriptures warn us:
“Beware of false prophets, which come
to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves. Ye shall
know them by their fruits.”
~ Matthew 7:15-16
or
“Satan disguises himself as an
angel of light.”
~ 2 Corinthians 11:14
Given the above biblical passages, it's imperative that we know our Church Teachings better; carefully discern; and closely adhere to the guidance of the Church. Yes, this author does personally believe in a few unapproved Marian apparitions such as Tre Fontane, Montichiari-Fontanelle, and Medjugorje... but the messages given at these places are sound in doctrine and their respective shrines enjoy tacit approval from Church authorities: Tre Fontane and Montichiari-Fontanelle have Church-sanctioned chapels onsite where the Sacraments are allowed by their local bishops; in Medjugorje, the Archbishop Henryk Hoser - a special Papal Envoy to the shrine - officially stated in 2017: “The devotion to Medjugorje is allowed. It’s not prohibited and need not be done in secret.” ***
I commend the people involved in the AM for their various charitable and humanitarian endeavors, but earnestly pray for them to the Holy Spirit and to Our Lady to be enlightened about the sublime truths of the Catholic Faith... as well as the dangers of New Age and occult practices.
With the above being said, here's one more passage from the Bible to seriously consider:
“But though we, or an angel from Heaven,
preach any other gospel unto you than that
which we have preached unto you, let him
be accursed.”
~ Galatians 1:8
*** IMPORTANT UPDATE: The apparitions at Montichiari-Fontanelle have been approved by the Church in July 2024 and Medjugorje received approval in September 2024.
