The Vatican has warned Catholic bishops around the world to monitor carefully a secretive traditionalist sect which prays to angels to combat demons. Opus Angelorum, which means "the work of angels" in Latin, was founded by an Austrian housewife who died in 1978. She claimed to have identified the angels and demons who were battling for the control of human beings. The Church said some members of the sect were carrying out "activities that disturb the ecclesiastical community". 'Possessed' The BBC's David Willey in Rome says Opus Angelorum first attracted the attention of the Vatican 30 years ago, after the death of its founder, a woman from the Austrian Tyrol called Gabriele Bitterlich. Bitterlich claimed to have been in contact with an archangel and to have written down the names of hundreds of angels and demons, our correspondent says. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote The Congregation has learned that very discreet propaganda in favour of this wayward movement... is taking place†End Quote The sect - which operates mainly in German-speaking Europe, Brazil and India - claims that women who have had abortions are possessed by the devil. The activities of Bitterlich's followers, including dozens of Catholic priests and nuns, eventually attracted the attention of the Vatican which ordered an investigation, our correspondent adds. According to a letter sent by the head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in 1992 members of Opus Angelorum agreed to follow the doctrine of the Church in return for official recognition. "In particular, [its] members were not to make use of the 'names' of angels derived from the alleged private revelations attributed to Mrs Gabriele Bitterlich and they were not to teach, spread or make use of the theories originating from these alleged revelations," Cardinal William Levada said. "Furthermore, they were reminded of the duty to follow strictly all liturgical laws, in particular those relating to the Holy Eucharist." However, several members of the sect, including some priests, "have not accepted the norms given by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and seek to restore what, according to them, would be the 'authentic Opus Angelorum'", the letter warned. "The Congregation has learned that very discreet propaganda in favour of this wayward movement, which is outside of any ecclesiastical control, is taking place, aimed at presenting it as if it were in full communion with the Catholic Church." Our correspondent says Opus Angelorum has no known connection with the best-selling novel, Angels and Demons, written by Dan Browne, who has been criticised by the Vatican for his fictional works involving superstition in the Catholic Church. If you a modern, liberal christian looking down your 'enlightened' nose and shaking your head, can't you see that this is how ridiculous ALL the superstitions in the bible are. There is simply no evidence for anything supernatural FULL STOP.
Religion & Spirituality - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
That's a bit of a long rant dear. Do you expect people to read it to the very end? You seem positively religious in your zeal. http://trifter.com/europe/ireland/islands-off-the-coast-of-ireland/
2 :
Silly Christians and there weak gods.
3 :
The Catholic church follows many unbiblical practices; why should one more matter??
4 :
Any one who follows not the teachings of Jesus will not be called as Catholic. They are all rejectors.
5 :
Stupidity is non-denominational.
6 :
Opus Sanctorum Angelorum (English: "Work of the Holy Angels"), more commonly known as Opus Angelorum (English: "Work of the Angels"; German: "Engelwerk"), is a Roman Catholic association which promotes devotion to angels. "(It) is a public association of the Church in conformity with traditional doctrine and with the directives of the Holy See. It spreads devotion to the Holy Angels among the faithful, exhorts them to pray for priests, and promotes love for Christ in His Passion and union with it." The association is active particularly in Austria, where it originated, and in Germany, but also in Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, India, the Philippines, Italy and the United States. The association was founded in 1949 by a group of priests and seminarians in Innsbruck, Austria, to seek the aid of the angels in support of the Church and the priesthood and for the salvation of souls. The association drew inspiration from the accounts that Gabriele Bitterlich (1896-1978) gave of her private revelations. She claimed to have received visions of the angels, including their names and their functions. Some of Mrs Bitterlich's followers were circulating sensational theories of "spiritual warfare" between angels and demons, based on her writings. In view of the controversy over these theories, Cardinal Joseph Höffner, Archbishop of Cologne, wrote on 1 December 1977, shortly before the death of Mrs Bitterlich, to ask the Holy See to institute an enquiry. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith carried out the requested investigation and responded on 24 September 1983 with a letter, known by its incipit, Litteris diei, which laid down: 1.) In fostering devotion to the Holy Angels, Opus Angelorum must respect the teaching of the Church and of the Holy Fathers and Doctors. In particular, it is not to spread a form of devotion to the Angels using the "names" derived from the alleged private revelation attributed to Mrs Gabriele Bitterlich, nor may it use those names in any prayers of the community. 2.) Opus Angelorum is not to demand or even propose to its members what is called the Promise of Secrecy, although with regard to the internal affairs of the Opus Angelorum, it is lawful to maintain the discretion that befits members of the Church's institutes. 3.) The Opus Angelorum and its members will strictly observe the norms of the liturgy, especially regarding the Eucharist. This holds in particular for the so-called "Communion of Expiation". This was followed up by a decree of 6 June 1992, which repeated the contents of the 1983 letter and, in view of incorrect interpretation and application of that letter, laid down the following rules: 1.) The theories originating from the alleged revelations of Mrs Gabriele Bitterlich concerning the world of the angels and their personal names, groupings and functions cannot be taught or in any way, whether explicitly or implicitly, be used in the organization and structure of the Opus Angelorum, such as its worship, prayers, spiritual formation, public or private spirituality, ministry and apostolate. The same rule holds for any other Church-approved institute or association. 2.) The various forms of acts of consecration to the angels used in the Opus Angelorum are prohibited. 3.) Also prohibited are the so-called distance administration of the sacraments and the insertion into the Eucharistic liturgy and the Liturgy of the Hours of texts, prayers and rites directly or indirectly related to the aforesaid theories. 4.) Exorcisms may be carried out only in line with the Church's norms and discipline on the matter, and with the use of formulas approved by the Church. 5.) A Delegate with special faculties, appointed by the Holy See, will in contact with the bishops oversee and promote the application of these norms. He will also clarify and determine the relations between the Opus Angelorum and the Order of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross. The Delegate chosen was the Dominican priest, Father Benoit Duroux, who handed over to another Dominican priest, Father Daniel Ols, in March 2010. On 31 May 2000, a revised form of the Act of Consecration to the Angels was approved by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In the year 2002, a female branch of the Canons Regular, which is known as the Sisters of the Holy Cross, was established in Innsbruck. In the following year, 2003, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life granted definitive approval to the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Coimbra, a religious institute originally founded in 1131 and, after becoming defunct in the 19th century, refounded in 1977, receiving the formal approval of the Holy See in 1979. To it, in accordance with canons 677 §2 and 303 of the Code of Canon Law, the care of Opus Angelorum movement is committed.
