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Newsletter of the District
of Asia
Jul
- Dec 2003
Discovery
of the Secret of La Salette
1)
A Book Review
By
Father Dominique Bourmaud
Fayard Publications
(France) have recently published (in April 2002) a book entitled
Discovery of the Secret of La Salette, by Fathers René
Laurentin and Michel Corteville, intended for the general public
on a subject taboo to modern Catholics. It concerns nothing less
than an elucidation on the question of the authenticity of the
Secret of La Salette, known especially in its last version, the
longest, that of 1879 which had received the imprimatur of
Bishop Zola, bishop of Lecce in Italy. The reason of this book
is actually to summarize and popularize another book printed in
2000, an enormous thesis of more than a thousand pages, of Father
Michel Corteville, La grande nouvelle des bergers de la Salette
(The great news of the shepherds of La Salette (the second
part which concerns the Order of the Mother of God remains to
be published). It is he who, in October 1999, discovered the original
Secrets given to Pope Pius IX in 1851, buried for more than one
century in the Vatican archives. This thesis was written to defend
the divine authenticity of the Secrets.
Father Laurentin
is an avant-garde theologian very involved in the ecumenical charismatism,
that of Medjugorje, inter alia. Obviously, his signature on such
a book is not there to reassure us first of all. It is true that
the book smells skepticism as regards the supernatural order.
On one hand, Laurentin is right to bring the Secret of La Salette
close to that of Fatima, but on the other, his interpretation
follows the official Vatican version of Cardinal Sodano. However,
in order to do that, he must denature the precise details of Fatima
(p.149 and 158), and draws from it the conclusion that the Secret
of La Salette is prone to the same elastic interpretation. This
is because, according to him, prophecies are necessarily ambiguous.
For Fr. Corteville, they are confusing because they imply a symbolic
and apocalyptic theology. Laurentin likes to qualify with melodramatic
comments Father Combe's books (Diary over the last years of Mélanie;
the Secret of Mélanie and the present crisis).
These reserves
being said, it goes without saying that the Episcopal imprimatur
given to the book of a well known Marian theologian who defends
La Salette and its Secret will give a hard blow to the modernists,
like Fathers Delehaye and Stern (p. 37), to the French episcopate
in general, and particularly to the Fathers of Salette who cannot
suffer the authentic Secret.
After the
account of the apparition of September 19, 1846, this book presents
to the general public the recent discovery of the Secrets of Mélanie
and Maximin written for Pius LX in July 1851. Then, it presents
the eight preserved writings of the Secret (three by Maximin,
five by Mélanie) by explaining why it had to be gradually developed.
Among them, the only writing
which is presently untraceable is that of Mélanie written in 1861,
but it is a tiny loss since we have the final and final Secret
of Mélanie published in Lecce in 1879.
A whole
chapter is dedicated to show the psychological and supernatural
balance of the Seers, and particularly of Mélanie who has been
dragged in the mud so much as to be finally rejected by French
ecclesiastics. Was Mélanie a masochist? An egocentric person?
Anti-Semite? Twenty one successive testimonies throw all the light
wanted on the bitterly discussed question of Mélanie's stigmata.
Another
part lets some famous defenders of La Salette speak out — Veuillot,
Verlaine, Bloy, Maritain, Massignon, Claudel, Don Bosco, St John
Mary Vianney, St Peter Julien Eymard, Popes Pius IX to Benedict
XV.
The final
chapter speaks of the Rule of the Order of the Mother of God.
But of all chapters, the most enthralling, if not the most important,
is that which offers an interpretation of the Secrets, and raises
the discussed question of the coincidence of the Antichrist with
the end of the world. Many documents coming in support of this
powerful work, with a rich chronology of the facts, makes it possible
to easily navigate in the history of La Salette.
2) The first two writings of the Secret of La Salette for Pope
Pius IX
(July 3-6,
1851)
The two
writings of July 1851 agree on the essential, but differ in their
developments and even their tonality: the secret of Maximin is
shorter, simpler, and less serious. Mélanie is concerned to be
understood by the recipient, and 'not to cause him too much sorrow',
as she said, but this did not prevent the tears of Bishop de Bruillard.
1. Maximin's
Secret, July 3 1851
Maximin
wrote his Secret at the bishop's palace, in front of Bishop de
Bruillard's people, perfectly unconcerned, on July 3 in the evening.
He was asked to rewrite it again because of spots of ink. The
soiled autograph was burnt. Lastly, Mr. Dausse handed the Secret
to Bishop de Bruillard, to be sure of its importance before affixing
his own seal to it, and to send it to the pope. The sealed envelope
was countersigned by two witnesses, at 7.00pm.
Maximin's
original Secret.
Click to enlarge (80K)
In the
thesis (of Fr. Corteville), the Secrets are published in a rigorously
exact way, line by line, with the punctuation and spelling mistakes
of the young shepherds, for who writing in French was an exploit.
For this book intended for a large audience, we present the literal
edition, but with the spelling, the punctuation and the lay-out
which make it more readable.
Like
all the prophecies, this one is a call to vigilance. It warns
for the future, without satisfying curiosity. The seers interpret
as they can the picturesque terms that they know not. They extrapolate,
confuse the logical and temporal plans (like St Paul the Apostle
in the epistle to the Thessalonians).
| Le
19 septembre 1846, nous avons vu une belle Dame. Nous n'avons
jamais dit que cette dame fut la Sainte Vierge mais nous
avons toujours dit que c'était une belle Dame.
Je
ne sais pas si c'est la Sainte Vierge ou une autre personne.
Moi, je crois aujourd'hui que c'est la sainte Vierge.
Voila
ce que cette Dame m'a dit:
"Si
mon peuple continue, ce que je vais vous dire arrivera plus
tôt , s'il change un peu, ce sera un peu plus tard.
La
France a corrompu l'univers, un jour elle sera punie. La
foi s'éteindra dans la France: trois parties de la France
ne pratiqueront plus de religion, ou presque plus, 1'autre
la pratiquera sans bien la pratiquer. Puis, après [cela],
les nations se convertiront, la foi se rallumera partout.
Une
grande contrée dans le nord de l'Europe, aujourd 'hui protestante,
se convertira: par l'appui de cette contrée toutes les autres
contrées du monde se convertiront.
Avant
que tout cela arrive, de grands troubles arriveront, dans
l'Eglise, et partout. Puis, après [cela], notre Saint-Père
le pape sera persecuté. Son successeur sera un pontife que
personne [n'] attend.
Puis
après [cela], une grande paix arrivera, mais elle ne durera
pas longtemps. Un monstre viendra la troubler.
Tout
ce que je vous dis là arrivera dans l'autre siècle,
[au] plus tard aux deux millle ans."
Maximin
Giraud
(Elle
[m'] a dit de le dire quelque temps avant).
Mon
très Saint Père, votre sainte bénédiction à une de vos brebis,
Grenoble,
le 3 juillet 1851. |
On
September 19, 1846, we saw a beautiful Lady. We never said
that this lady was the Blessed Virgin but we always said
that it was a beautiful Lady.
I
do not know if it is the Blessed Virgin or another person.
As for me, I believe today that it is the Blessed Virgin.
Here is what this Lady said to me:
"If
my people continue, what I will say to you will arrive earlier,
if it changes a little, it will be a little later.
France
has corrupted the universe, one day it will be punished.
The faith will die out in France: three quarters of France
will not practice religion anymore, or almost no more, the
other part will practice it without really practicing it.
Then, after [that], nations will convert, the faith will
be rekindled everywhere. A great country, now Protestant,
in the north of Europe, will be converted; by the support
of this country all the other nations of the world will
be converted.
Before
all that arrives, great disorders will arrive, in the Church,
and everywhere. Then, after [that], our Holy Father the
Pope will be persecuted. His successor will be a pontiff
that nobody expects.
Then,
after [that], a great peace will come, but it will not last
a long time. A monster will come to disturb it.
All
that I tell you here will arrive in the other century, at
the latest in the year two thousand."
Maximin
Giraud
(She
told me to say it some time before.)
My
Most Holy Father, your holy blessing to one of your sheep.
Grenoble,
July 3,1851. |
 |
|
|
Mélanie's
original Secrets.
Click to enlarge (80K)
2. Mélanie's Secret, July 6,1851
She wrote
the Secret a first time, on July 3, in Corenc, at the Sisters
of Providence. She sealed it at 10.00 am, and it was carried at
the Bishop's House. The following day, she said she had not expressed
herself well on the misfortunes which were to befall to two cities
(Paris and Marseilles): they appeared simultaneous, whereas they
were successive. Canon Rousselot made her rewrite her Secret,
on July 6, then the engineer Dausse led her to the Bishop's House,
where Bishop of Bruillard read the document before sealing it.
| J.M.J.
secret
que m'a donné la Sainte Vierge sur la Montagne de
la Salette le 19 septembre 1846
Secr[e]t
Mélanie,
je vais vous dire quelque chose que vous ne direz à
personne:
Le
temps de la colère de Dieu est arrivé!
Si,
lorsque vous aurez dit aux peuples ce que je vous ai dit
tout à 1'heure, et ce que je vous dirai de dire encore,
si, après cela, ils ne se convertissent pas, (si on ne fait
pas pénitence, et si on ne cesse de travailler le dimanche,
et si on continue de blasphémer le Saint Nom de Dieu),
en un mot, si la face de la terre ne change pas, Dieu va
se venger contre le peuple ingrat et esclave du démon.
Mon
Fils va faire éclater sa puissance! Paris, cette ville souillée
de toutes sortes de crimes, périra infailliblement.
Marseille sera détruite en peu de temps. Lorsque ces choses
arriveront, le désordre sera complet sur la terre. Le monde
s'abandonnera à ses passions impies.
Le
pape sera persecuté de toutes parts: on lui tirera dessus,
on voudra le mettre à mort, mais on ne lui pourra rien,
le Vicaire de Dieu triomphera encore cette fois[-là].
Les
prêtres et les religieuses, et les vrais serviteurs de mon
Fils seront persécutés, et plusieurs mourront
pour la foi de Jésus-Christ.
Une
famine règnera en même temps.
Après
que toutes ces choses seront arrivées, beaucoup de personnes
reconnaîtront la main de Dieu sur elles, se convertiront,
et feront pénitence de leur péchés.
Un
grand roi montera sur le trône, et règnera pendant quelques
années. La religion refleurira et s'étendra par toute la
terre et la fertilité sera grande, le monde content de ne
manquer de rien recommencera ses désordres, abandonnera
Dieu, et se livrera à ses passions criminelles.
[Parmi]
les ministres de Dieu, et les Epouses de Jésus-Christ, il
y en a qui se livreront au désordre, et c'est ce qu’il y
aura de [plus] terrible.
Enfin,
un enfer règnera sur la terre. Ce sera alors que l’Antéchrist
naîtra d'une religieuse: mais malheur à elle! Beaucoup
de personnes croiront à lui, parce qu'il se dira venu du
ciel, malheur à ceux qui le croiront!
Le
temps n'est pas éloigné, il ne se passera pas deux fois
50 ans.
Mon
enfant, vous ne direz pas ce que je viens de vous dire.
(Vous ne le direz à personne, vous ne direz pas si
vous devez le dire un jour, vous ne direz pas ce que cela
regarde), enfin vous ne direz plus rien jusqu’à ce
que je vous dise de le dire!
Je
prie Notre Saint Père le Pape de me donner sa sainte bénédiction.
Mélanie
Mathieu, bergère de La Salette
Grenoble
6 juillet 1851
J.M.J.+ |
J.M.J.
secret
which the Blessed Virgin gave me on the Mountain of La Salette
on September 19, 1846
Secr[e]t.
Mélanie,
I will say something to you which you will not say to anybody:
The
time of the God's wrath has arrived!
If,
when you say to the people what I have said to you so far,
and what I will still ask you to say, if, after that, they
do not convert, (if they do not do penance, and they do
not cease working on Sunday, and if they continue to blaspheme
the Holy Name of God), in a word, if the face of the earth
does not change, God will be avenged against the people
ungrateful and slave of the demon.
My
Son will make his power manifest! Paris, this city soiled
by all kinds of crimes, will perish infallibly. Marseilles
will be destroyed in a little time. When these things arrive,
the disorder will be complete on the earth, the world will
be given up to its impious passions.
The
pope will be persecuted from all sides, they will shoot
at him, they will want to put him to death, but no one will
not be able to do it, the Vicar of God will triumph again
this time.
The
priests and the Sisters, and the true servants of my Son
will be persecuted, and several will die for the faith of
Jesus-Christ.
A
famine will reign at the same time.
After
all these will have arrived, many will recognize the hand
of God on them, they will convert, and do penance for their
sins.
A
great king will go up on the throne, and will reign a few
years. Religion will re-flourish and spread all over the
world, and there will be a great abundance, the world, glad
not to be lacking nothing, will fall again in its disorders,
will give up God, and will be prone to its criminal passions.
[Among]
God's ministers, and the Spouses of Jesus-Christ, there
will be some who will go astray, and that will be the most
terrible.
Lastly,
hell will reign on earth. It will be then that the Antichrist
will be born of a Sister, but woe to her! Many will believe
in him, because he will claim to have come from heaven,
woe to those who will believe in him!
That
time is not far away, twice 50 years will not go by.
My
child, you will not say what I have just said to you. (You
will not say it to anybody, you will not say if you must
say it one day, you will not say what that it concerns),
finally you will say nothing anymore until I tell you to
say it!
I
pray to Our Holy Father the Pope to give me his holy blessing.
Mélanie
Mathieu, Shepherdess of La Salette, Grenoble, July 6, 1851.
J.M.J.+ |
(From Découverte
du secret de La Salette, R. Laurentin et M. Corteville, Fayard,
2002, pp. 46-49)
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