In my humble and pious opinion as a faithful Roman Catholic theologian, the claimed private revelations to Ernest Rutaganda (formerly of Rwanda, Africa, currently residing in Toronto, Canada) are not true private revelations from Heaven. A list of reasons and examples follows.
- Background Information
Ernest Rutaganda was born in Zaire and lived for a long time in Rwanda, Africa. He currently lives in Toronto, Canada. He was born on June 24, 1960. He is an accountant by profession. English is not his first language.
He claims to have had a dream in 1983 in which he met Mary and Jesus. Mary had a star on her forehead along with 72 stars. Jesus was 12 meters high. Afterwards, he converted to Catholic Christianity. He has publicly stated that he wrote down all his sins in three workbooks with 12 pages each (36 pages); then he went to confession and read all the pages to the priest, which took a long time.
For refusing to obey the government's orders to stop holding prayer meetings in his home (where people came in great numbers daily from 1988 to 1990), he was imprisoned from March 12 to December 12 of 1990, in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. While in prison, he claims to have received private revelations from Jesus in the form of seven messages.
After getting out of prison, he claims to have received a message from Jesus telling him to leave the country immediately. He did not leave until after being told by Eugenie (one of the claimed visionaries of Kibeho) that she too had received a message saying that he must leave the country. He went to Burundi in March of 1991, where he lived for 9 months. By 1993, he had made his way to Canada. In late 1995, he went back to Burundi and married. He later returned to live in Canada. He was legally separated from his wife in 1999, and he was legally divorced as of January 23, 2009.
He seems to have no official web site. Information was obtained from the following sites:
http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/rafaelmarie/RosarygloryGodFather.html
http://www.nsclub.net/broadcasters/rutaframe.html
http://www.greatdreams.com/sacred/dire_jesus3.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/rafaelmarie/erutagandastbridgetpromises.html
http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/ernestr.htm
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/rosaryworks/Rosaryfather_.html
and by e-mail from rafaelmarie, the webmaster of the first site listed above, and by e-mail from Ernest Rutaganda directly.
- False Prophecy About World War III
Ernest claims a message from Jesus which said that World War 3 would occur in the late 1990's, with the year 2000 being a particularly bad year for that war. He also claimed that three fourths of the world's population would be killed in that war (http://www.greatdreams.com/sacred/dire_jesus3.htm).
"I said that Third War will start, and the year 2000 will be the key year where all the bad thing will start to happen. The war which started in EUROPE(Kosovo)in 1998 was the beginning of the Great war, that war was supposed to worsen in the year 2000, but was alleviate by ours Bless Mother and postpone by our Lord Jesus."
Ernest Rutaganda (e-mail of 9 May 2007 to raphaelmarie)
There are a number of reasons why this is a false prophecy. First, the third world war did not occur in the late 1990's, nor in the year 2000. Second, the regional conflict in Kosovo never brought the world anywhere near a world war. The former Yugoslavian republics had no ability to wage a world war, and they were applying their limited military resources fighting one another. Third, although his quote above specifically mentions Kosovo, his original prediction did not mention Kosovo, nor were there any other specifics, except an incorrect date and an exaggerated and false description of a war that did not occur. Fourth, false private revelations generally have vague predictions. They avoid specifics so that they can avoid being wrong. And on whatever few points they are specific, these generally turn out to be false. Such is the case with the messages of Ernest Rutaganda.
Fifth, and most importantly, God knows the whole future with absolute certainty. To say otherwise is to deny the dogma that God is all-powerful and all-knowing. God knows all our future free will decisions and prayers and sacrifices as well as our future sins. So a true private revelation from God cannot contain predictions which change, as if God has changed His mind. Jesus is the Son of God, and Mary has the Beatific Vision of God, so neither Jesus nor Mary can be mistaken about the future. God does not decide to do one thing, and then change His mind and postpone it. This claim that events predicted in claimed private revelation can be alleviated or postponed is merely a commonly-used excuse when such false private revelations are wrong in their predictions.
Sixth, at Medjugorje, the Virgin Mary said: "The third world war will not take place." (message of July 12, 1982). But Ernest Rutaganda claims that, in 1990, Jesus said there would be a third world war, and that later Jesus and Mary alleviated and postponed it. The words of the Virgin Mary in true private revelation are of God. God cannot contradict Himself. It is not possible for God, nor for Mary, to keep changing their minds about such a major event as a third world war.
Most false private revelations come from fallen angels (devils). These fallen angels do not know the future at all. They have no ability to foresee the future, and they do not have the Beatific Vision of God. Because they are ignorant of the future, they must make guesses at future events in order to give a false prophecy, and they must make excuses when their false prophecy fails. This is why the predictions of false private revelation fail to occur, not because the event was postponed, but because the authors of such messages do not know the future at all.
- False Prophecy About Future Popes
Ernest Rutaganda claims that there will be only two more Popes before Jesus Christ returns, that both of these will not be good popes, and that one of these will be an evil antipope associated with the Antichrist. In his prophecy, there will be no more good Popes on earth before Christ returns.
Jesus has said to me that after John Paul II there will be two popes. After those two popes it is Jesus who will direct the church and it is at that time that He will reign over this earth…. I want to tell you that Jesus has told me to inform all the Christians that when Pope John Paul II leaves the pope that will come will allow the priest s to get married and he will change a lot of things in the liturgy of the church. That pope, that will push the priests to get married, you must not accept him. He will be a false pope. You will see this with your own eyes. And this is what is so terrible, Jesus has said to me that during the reign of this pope (the one promoting the marriage of priests) there will be some priests opposed to marriage. But a large number will accept getting married…. The two popes after Pope John Paul II will not be good popes.
http://www.greatdreams.com/sacred/dire_jesus3.htm
Ernest Rutaganda also wrote, in an e-mail directly to me (dated 10 May 2007):
After Jean Paul II, we will have two more Pope and one of the two, will work openly with the Anti-Christ. According to Jesus, this is how we will know the Anti-Pope
1. Any Pope who will accept the nuns to become priest and to have boyfriends(because only the priest and the Pope represent the 12 apostles of Jesus, and no women was among the 12 )
2. A Pope who will ask the priests to get married( a priest represent Jesus in this world and Jesus was not
married)
3. A Pope who will approve abortion
4. A pope who will approve homosexual marriage
5. A pope who will try to change to change the traditional teaching of the church. So far I did not
see anything bad from the Pope we have. But I continue to be vigilant and wait.
There are numerous reasons why the above prediction is a false prophecy.
First, an antipope is someone who falsely claims to be the Pope, but is not the Pope. An antipope is not a validly-elected Pope who decides to teach heretical or false doctrines. A validly-elected Pope can never be an antipope. It is not possible for any validly elected Pope to become a heretic and to use his role as the Shepherd and Teacher of the Universal Church to teach heresy. For when a Pope teaches infallibly, his teaching cannot err, and when he teaches non-infallibly, even then, any errors can never be such as to lead the faithful away from the path of salvation, nor such as to contradict definitive past teachings of the Church.
Second, the Pope after John Paul II, namely Pope Benedict XVI, is a good and faithful Pope who has not contradicted past teachings of the Church. Although Rutaganda predicted that the Pope after John Paul II would "push the priests to get married," Pope Benedict has reaffirmed celibacy for priests. Therefore, this prediction by Rutaganda is false.
Third, even a hypothetical very liberal Pope would not give an "approve abortion," nor "approve homosexual marriage," nor try to change the traditional teaching of the Church. This prediction is undermined by the fact that the vast majority of the Cardinals, who elect the Pope and who are typically considered for the office, are conservative faithful Catholics. And even the most liberal of the Cardinals would not teach or approve of such things.
Fourth, the claim that the next two Popes after John Paul II would "not be good popes" is offensive to the office of the Supreme Pontiff and to the Church as a whole. The current Pope is clearly a good Pope, faithful to Church teaching and concerned with the pastoral care of souls. There is no basis for claiming that the next Pope would not be a good Pope also. Such claims are baseless calumny against the leader of the true Catholic Christian Faith.
Fifth, the idea that either the current Pope or the next Pope will cooperate with the Antichrist (to attempt to teach falsehoods and harm the Church) is a clear example of the kind of anti-papalism found in many false private revelations. Other false private revelations have made similar claims. Such predictions are schismatic in that they tell Catholics not to follow and not to obey a current or future validly elected Pope.
Sixth, there cannot be only two more Popes until the end of the world, because so many true prophecies in Sacred Scripture and in true private revelation to the Saints and Blesseds have not yet occurred. Also, the events predicted by the Book of Revelation would take very many years to unfold; they could not be fit into the space of two papacies. For more on this point, see this article:
http://www.catholicplanet.com/future/antichrist-timeline.htm
- The Penalty for Schism in Canon Law
There are many false private revelations which are claiming that the current Pope or the next Pope will be an antipope who should not be followed. There are various versions of this error, but the end result is that the faithful are being encouraged to refuse to submit to the teaching and authority of the current, or a future, validly-elected Pope: they are being encouraged to commit the sin of schism from the Church.
Canon Law prescribes automatic excommunication (latae sententiae) from the Church for the offense of schism.
Canon 751: "Heresy is the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him."
Canon 1364 §1: "an apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic incurs a latae sententiae excommunication."
The messages and claims of Ernest Rutaganda clearly state that either the current Pope or the next Pope will teach heresy, and promote mortal sins, and assist the Antichrist. He does not dispute the fact that the current Pope was validly-elected. He claims that a validly-elected Pope can become an antipope by beginning to teach heresy. And he is clearly and unequivocally teaching that the faithful should refuse to submit to either the current or the next Supreme Pontiff, and that they should break from union with the Bishops and priests who are obedient to him. He is, in effect, preparing the faithful to commit the sin of schism from the Church. And there are several other false private revelations which are teaching the same sinful nonsense.
- False Teachings About The Antichrist
Very many false private revelations claim that the Antichrist is in the world today. Generally, the false prophecies speak about the Antichrist as if he were in the world today, but working in secret. They usually do not name him. One false private revelation claims that Pope Benedict is the Antichrist. Some others claim that the current Pope, or the next Pope, will be an evil antipope helping the Antichrist. They are vague as to the dates of when various predicted events will occur. Whenever they are specific as to the dates, these turn out to be false. Typically, they say that the Antichrist will take over the Church in some way, so that people will have to follow whichever visionary or locutionist is making this claim, rather than following the Pope and the Bishops.
Here are some quotes from Ernest Rutaganda on the Antichrist:
Very soon, because time is short, the anti-christ will make his appearance. There are very few years left. It is possible it will be within the next five years, maybe less. You will see how he is going to reign. I want to tell you one thing, the anti-christ has started to work. He's started his work very secretively, hiding himself, but he has not made his public appearance.
…
The anti-christ already has his adherents who are preparing his road. They will attack you first with the number 666. You will see the number 666 in clothing to get you used to the number. You will become so accustomed to seeing this number that when the anti-christ will make his appearance he will be able to captivate you that much more readily.
…
I want to tell you one thing that the anti-christ has already started his work secretly in such a way that you will see the number 666 in clothing and they will give you booklets and tickets. It is to get you accustomed to these numbers so that when the anti-christ will come you will accept this number. Be careful because the anti-christ will continue during the war and even after the war. We must not let him trick us; we are in the process of living the apocalypse.
http://www.greatdreams.com/sacred/dire_jesus3.htm
First, the idea that the number 666 will be used in clothing is absurd.
Second, the claim that 'they will attack you first with the number 666' is contrary to the teaching of Scripture about this number. In the Book of Revelation, before the name OR the number of the Antichrist is used to control buying and selling, a severe and worldwide set of events occurs first:
[Revelation 13]
{13:1} And I saw a beast ascending from the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon its horns were ten diadems, and upon its heads were names of blasphemy.
{13:2} And the beast that I saw was similar to a leopard, and its feet were like the feet of a bear, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave his own power and great authority to it.
{13:3} And I saw that one of its heads seemed to be slain unto death, but his deadly wound was healed. And the entire world was in wonder following the beast.
{13:4} And they worshiped the dragon, who gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying: "Who is like the beast? And who would be able to fight with it?"
{13:5} And there was given to it a mouth, speaking great things and blasphemies. And authority was given to him to act for forty-two months.
{13:6} And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and those who dwell in heaven.
{13:7} And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given to him over every tribe and people and language and nation.
{13:8} And all who inhabit the earth worshiped the beast, those whose names have not been written, from the origin of the world, in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain.
{13:9} If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
{13:10} Whoever will be led into captivity, into captivity he goes. Whoever will kill with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the patient endurance and faith of the Saints.
Only after all of these events does Sacred Scripture say that the number of the beast (the Antichrist) or his name is used:
{13:17} so that no one may buy or sell, unless he has the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
{13:18} Here is wisdom. Whoever has intelligence, let him determine the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
So it is not true that 'they will attack you first with the number 666.' The set of severe worldwide events in verses 13:1-10 must occur first, before the number is ever used or devised. And all this is in the distant future.
Third, there are numerous reasons why the Antichrist cannot be in the world at all today, reasons why the time of the Antichrist, as described in Sacred Scripture, is in the distant future. See this article for a detailed explanation:
http://www.catholicplanet.com/future/antichrist-timeline.htm
- False Teachings about the Father, Jesus, and Mary
As is common in other false private revelations, the Persons of the Trinity are portrayed as if they had human limitations and weaknesses.
There was a time, a date, that God wanted to punish the world but Jesus came before God the Father. "If you punish the world, if you send calamities, they will die in sin, and I will lose their souls to Satan. And so the Eternal Father replied I am tired of the sins of the people, I have to destroy the world. So Jesus begged again.
http://www.greatdreams.com/sacred/dire_jesus3.htm
God is all-knowing and all-powerful. Therefore: It can never be the case that God establishes a time and date, and then is talked out of it. It can never be the case that God the Father wants to punish the world, but then Jesus gives Him a reason for not destroying the world. It can never be the case that God the Father, who is eternally unchanging, gets tired or frustrated or fed up. It can never be the case that God the Father is less wise and less reasonable and less merciful than Jesus, such that Jesus has to convince Him not to destroy the world. The above quote implies that God the Father is not all-knowing and all-powerful and unchanging and ever merciful, and that Jesus is greater than the Father. The quote continues:
Jesus wanted to come to some of the countries to give an example that the blessed Virgin returned to the hand of her son. And she said to Jesus "Do not forget that you gave them to me as my children as you were dying on the cross. You must not punish them. Let me first inform them." And it is for that reason that the blessed virgin has been appearing to so many countries in the world. To warn us that the Lord is about to punish the whole unless we change and mend our ways. And for the time being the Blessed Virgin is saying she is getting very tired holding the arm of her son. And so the Blessed Virgin is saying I will leave you (to) Jesus and the Eternal Father and they will come and correct your sinfulness. Because you the people of the world have refused all my warnings. It is for this reason because the people of the world have refused to convert and return to God, to change their ways, and to stop offending our Lord Jesus, and now the world will be punished.
http://www.greatdreams.com/sacred/dire_jesus3.htm
Here the disorder of presenting Jesus as if He were more merciful and more reasonable than the Father is extended further. Now Mary is presented as if she were more merciful than Jesus, and as if she must convince Jesus to take the more merciful course of action. She is also portrayed as stopping the Father and Jesus from doing what they will. Notice, too, that the Holy Spirit is not mentioned in this quote. An interaction is presented between three persons which pertains to salvation, but the three are Father, Son, and mother, not Father, Son, and Spirit. And Mary is presented as if God does her will and she thwarts God's will.
To the contrary, the Church teaches that Mary always does the whole will of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is unchanging and all-knowing and all-powerful. Mary's plan is nothing other than God's plan. And Mary's will is less than God's will. God is more merciful than Mary. God is greater than Mary. But these messages say otherwise.
- Math and Date Problems
Ernest claimed that "a majority" of people on earth would die from a famine in the "first chastisement." A majority is certainly more than 50%. And then Ernest claimed that in the second chastisement three fourths of humanity would die from the third world war. Three fourths is 75%. Then he claims that subsequent chastisements (the reign of the Antichrist, volcanoes, oceans enveloping "many countries," many, many, many earthquakes) will kill many more persons. Then he says that Jesus will return, apparently to a depopulated world.
And these are the chastisements that are awaiting us: Jesus has said that the majority of people here on earth will die because of famine caused by the sun. That's the first chastisement.
The second one, will be the third world war that will destroy three quarters of humanity. And I want to tell you one thing. Pray! Because I know that in 1991 Jesus had revealed to Me "I give you seven years to convert to return to God, to confess your sins and to stop offending my Sacred Heart. Because in the year 1998, 1999, and 2000 come you will no longer know how to confess because there will be so much suffering and pain. I can assure that many, many will be killed.
…
After this you will see the anger of Jesus. Jesus will show that he truly is God. The volcanoes will erupt with lava, the oceans will swell and envelop many countries. There will be many, many, many earthquakes.
…
I also want to tell you in 1998 is the time when the cataclysms will become more prominent, like the earthquakes. What I'm saying 1998 there is a cataclysms all over the world. It is true that already these things are beginning but in 1998, 1999, and especially 2000 there will be many terrible things happening.
http://www.greatdreams.com/sacred/dire_jesus3.htm
The first problem is that if more than 50% of humanity die in the famine, then 75% cannot die in the subsequent third world war. On the other hand, if more than 50% are killed (leaving behind less than 1/2), and then one assumes that the 75% killed are from those left over (leaving behind 1/4), the 6.5 billion inhabitants of the planet would be reduced by more than 87.5% (leaving behind less than 1/8). Then there are, supposedly, many subsequent calamities which kill many more persons. And the Antichrist kills many Christians. Then Jesus returns to destroy the Antichrist and his followers. So, then who is left alive? Does this sound like God's plan to you?
The second problem is that the famine was predicted to occur before the third world war, and the third world war was supposed to happen before the year 2000. But the vast majority of the world's population has survived. And the various extreme calamities he predicted for 1998, 1999, and 2000 did not occur. His excuse then is to say that the whole plan was postponed by Jesus. Apparently now Ernest has no idea what will happen when. Well, that seems about right.
Very soon, because time is short, the anti-christ will make his appearance. There are very few years left. It is possible it will be within the next five years, maybe less. You will see how he is going to reign.
http://www.greatdreams.com/sacred/dire_jesus3.htm
More than a decade ago, in the 1990's, Ernest was saying that there were only a few years left, maybe five years, before the Antichrist would reign. But his messages also said that a famine would kill a majority of the earth's inhabitants before the Antichrist began to reign. Supposedly, he would rise to power during the third world war, then have his reign of terror afterward, but the war did not occur. Many years later, none of this has occurred. And he has no new dates for when such things would happen. This lack of true knowledge about the future of the Church and of the world is typical of false private revelation.
- Rosary to the Glory of God the Eternal Father
False private revelations often present new devotions, as a way of binding the faithful to their messages and their visionary. But the new devotions add nothing truly new to the devotions of the Church. Consider that, when God first gave the Rosary itself (in its original version) to the Church through Mary, this was a new devotion and of great value to the faithful. Then when Jesus gave the Divine Mercy Chaplet to Saint Faustina, this was also a truly new and truly beneficial devotion. But when false private revelations present a new devotion, it is at best a mere rearrangement of already existing prayers and devotions, which contains nothing truly new, and it is at worst a way to bind the faithful to a false prophet.
Such is the case with the so-called Rosary to the Glory of God the Eternal Father:
This Rosary was taught to Eugénie Nyirimbabazi in Kibeho, Rwanda, Africa, on November 28, 1986, by God, the Eternal Father…. This same message was also part of the seven messages given to Ernest Rutaganda, while he was in prison because of his faith, in Kigali, Rwanda, in 1990, when Jesus told him to fight the temptations of the Antichrist.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/rafaelmarie/RosarygloryGodFather.html
Notice that this version of the Rosary is connected with two different false visionaries, and with the false claim that the Antichrist is in the world today.
Why should we recite this rosary at 3:00 p.m. and at 3:00 a.m.?
This rosary should be recited in order to console both the Eternal Father and Our Lord Jesus Christ because of the numerous sins that are being committed at 3:00 pm, the very hour when Our Lord Jesus Christ expired. Because of all these sins, God the Father feels that He could destroy the world….
http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/rafaelmarie/RosarygloryGodFather.html
Again, we see that the Father and Jesus are portrayed as if they had human weaknesses. This Rosary is supposedly to console the Father and Jesus. Also, the Father is portrayed as if He would destroy the world because of His feelings, but consolation of these feelings supposedly prevents him.
The claim is made that, while praying this version of the Rosary, the devotee is to meditate on the "15 sorrowful mysteries that Jesus suffered on Holy Thursday." This is a reference to the so-called "15 secret tortures and sufferings of Jesus" which are refuted in this article:
http://www.catholicplanet.com/apparitions/15-tortures.htm
There are five promises which are supposedly granted to anyone who prays this version of the Rosary:
1.) The Eternal Father will protect him against the temptations of the Antichrist which is soon to come to sway and deceive humanity.
2.) Whoever prays this Rosary will be exempt from the fire of Purgatory because he will have completed his purification on earth.
3.) Whatever good is asked for concerning the soul will be granted.
4.) Whoever prays this Rosary, is in fact praying for the whole world, and for the souls of Purgatory and therefore will receive many graces for himself and these souls.
5.) If half of humanity practices this devotion, the Eternal Father promises to save the rest of the world, then all souls in Purgatory will have completed their purification and be taken to heaven.
The first claim contains the false prediction that the Antichrist will arrive soon. This claim is only associated with false private revelations.
The second claim contradicts all that the Church teaches on the need for temporal atonement or punishment for sin. Even praying the true Rosary, rather than this weak imitation, with its 20 mysteries does not grant a sure exception from atonement for sin in Purgatory. So a weakened and distorted version of the true Rosary cannot grant this extravagant claim. If a person sins venially prior to death, and does not atone for that sin, he goes to Purgatory. If a person sins mortally and repents prior to death, but does not atone for that sin, he goes to Purgatory. Praying a weakened and distorted version of the Rosary cannot nullify these truths of the Catholic Faith.
The third and fourth claims are true of any prayer at all. It is not specific to this prayer. It adds nothing to what is already true for any sincere prayer.
The fifth claim contradicts free will and the teaching of the Church on salvation. It is as if this promise nullifies the ability of the free will to sin seriously and to refuse to repent, thereby losing salvation. It is as if this promise were saying that, if enough persons practice this new devotion, the Father will contradict all that Jesus taught on salvation and all that the Father planned concerning salvation, and will take away free will in order to save all.
This greatly weakened and very distorted version of the Rosary has no Hail Mary prayers at all!
The main part of the prayers consists of the following:
"Merciful God" Prayer ^ Once.
"Glory be" Prayer ^ Twelve times.
"Come Holy Ghost" Prayer ^ Once.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/rosaryworks/Rosaryfather_.html
The 12 mysteries which are considered during this prayer are as follows:
1. The creation of the world by God
2. The sending of prophets by God into the world
3. The sending of "the Holy Ghost and The Angel to The Blessed Virgin Mary, to inform Her that She would Give Birth to a Saviour"
Notice in this third mystery, that the Holy Spirit is only sent in order to inform the Virgin Mary. No mention is made in this 'mystery' of the Incarnation of Jesus by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary.
4. The Birth of Jesus "in poverty"
5. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
6. The Baptism of Jesus
7. The preaching, healings, and miracles of Jesus
8. The forty days that Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert
Notice that this eight mystery is out of order. The Gospels tell us that Jesus spent forty days in the desert fasting prior to the beginning of His preaching, healing, and the various miracles of His Ministry. Also, the false claim is made that Satan tempted Jesus throughout the forty days, whereas the Gospels say that Jesus was tempted briefly, by Satan, but then Satan left Him and He was ministered to by Angels. (Mt 4:11).
9. The agony of Jesus in the garden, and the crowning with thorns, and "the incessant blows He endured"
Notice in this ninth mystery that three different events are combined, the first occurring Thursday evening in the garden of olives, the second occurring Friday, midmorning, and the third is apparently a reference to the scourging, which occurred before the crowning with thorns.
10. The carrying of the Cross by Jesus and His suffering on the Cross and His death
11. "the Resurrection of JESUS, His ascension into Heaven, and the descent of The Holy Ghost to the Apostles"
Notice that these two mysteries (10 and 11) combine five different mysteries from the true Rosary. Also, Pentecost is described, incorrectly, as merely the descent of the Spirit on the Apostles, not also on many other believers from many nations gathered at Jerusalem.
12. "The Mother of Thy Son was taken into Heaven and glorified"
This last mystery combines the Assumption and the crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven. Notice that this claimed devotion is merely a distortion and a reduction of the true Rosary. The 20 mysteries of the true Rosary are reduced to 12; the Hail Mary is entirely omitted; several mysteries of the true Rosary are abbreviated into one mystery; the Incarnation is ignored; and there are other errors (as stated above).
Although this new version of the Rosary is a greatly weakened version, with no Hail Marys, and with various errors incorporated into it, the promises of this devotion are extravagant and exaggerated, claiming to exceed the benefits of the true Rosary. The faithful would be well advised to pray the 20 mysteries of the true Rosary (joyful, luminous, sorrowful, glorious) and to avoid this perverse version of the Rosary along with its false promises.
- Claimed Error in the Prayers Revealed to Saint Bridget
Ernest Rutaganda claims a message from Jesus saying that the true private revelations to Saint Bridget contain an error, that of not requiring the prayers revealed to Saint Bridget to be prayed every day without exception:
This prayer must be prayed for the whole year without interruption. Even if you miss one day before you can complete the entire year you have an obligation to start…. The wrong Message added to the prayer of Saint Brigit is the following: Question: Must one recite the prayer every day without interruption to obtain the privileges? Answer: One should miss saying them as few times as possible; but if for a serious reason one is obliged to miss them, one doesn't loose the privileges attached to them, as long as one recites 5480 prayers during the year.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/rafaelmarie/erutagandastbridgetpromises.html
To the contrary, the Answer given to Saint Bridget was one of mercy, truth, and reasonableness. God would not take away the promises He gave to Saint Bridget if one of the faithful missed saying the prayers for only a few days out of the year.
But the absolute strictness of saying these prayers every day, which is claimed in the messages to Ernest Rutaganda, is not in accord with the Mercy of God. The idea that if you miss saying the prayers for even one day, that you have to start all over again, is merciless and senselessly rigid. Therefore, this 'correction' of the prayers revealed to Saint Bridget is itself incorrect.
Conclusion
Ernest Rutaganda's claimed messages from Jesus contain: the false teaching that the Antichrist is in the world today, the false teaching that Jesus will return for this generation, the false teaching that a validly-elected Pope can become an antipope by teaching heresy and promoting evil, the promotion of a severely distorted version of the Rosary which contains no Hail Marys and which distorts or omits numerous mysteries of the Faith, the contradiction of a true private revelations to Saint Bridget, and the portrayal of God the Father as if He had human weaknesses and as if He were not all-knowing, all-powerful, and unchanging. So, for all of these reasons, it is abundantly clear that the messages to Ernest Rutaganda are not from Jesus and not from Heaven; his claim to have received private revelation is false.
by Ronald L. Conte Jr.
May 12, 2007
