Church rejects 'mystic' Gisella Cardia, 'Countdown' favorite

This apparition was a favorite of "Countdown to the Kingdom" authors. They posted their own story by Peter Bannister which objects to aspects of the investigation. The finding of theological errors in Cardia's case is similar to the finding in Luisa Piccarreta's case, which resulted in the Vatican's suspending her cause for beatification.

This story below is from the National Catholic Register.


Bishop Rules on Supposed Apparitions of Virgin Mary in Italy
In his decree, the Italian prelate explained that the messages of the supposed Marian apparitions contained “numerous theological errors.”

Walter Sanchez Silva/CNA/Aci Prensa World March 9, 2024

After an investigation by a group of experts, “fervent” prayer and “attentive discernment,” an Italian bishop has decreed that the alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Trevignano Romano, a town about 30 miles northwest of Rome, are not supernatural.

A statement issued March 6 by the Diocese of Civita Castellana explained that “the bishop of Civita Castellana, Marco Salvi (...) after an appropriate period of careful discernment, having listened to the testimonies coming from the (diocesan) territory and making use of a commission of experts, made up of a Mariologist, a theologian, a canonist, a psychologist and with the outside advice of some specialists, having considered the figure of Mary in the Tradition of the Church and in the living faith of the people of God, after fervent prayer, decrees the events in question to be non-supernatural.”

The Events in Trevignano

Bishop Salvi’s decree states that the events occurred in 2016 when Gisella Cardia, née Maria Giuseppa Scarpulla, reported alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary, Jesus and God the Father, which purportedly took place in Trevignano Romano in the diocese of Civita Castellana.

These events reportedly began after Cardia and her husband Gianni brought back an image of Our Lady of Peace from Medjugorje in 2014.

According to Cardia, the image not only weeps blood but also multiplies food and a message is given on the third day of each month, as happens on the 25th with the visionaries of the supposed apparitions of the Virgin in Medjugorje.

Cardia, who created a non-profit association that accepts donations, and whose chapel was closed by the Trevignano city government, has brought together numerous faithful and priests for prayer meetings, even though the Church did not authorize them.

All of this, which later became known as the “Trevignano events,” gained notoriety in 2023, the year in which Salvi was installed as bishop of Civita Castellana.

On April 14, 2023, the bishop published a statement asking the faithful not to attend the events Cardia was holding.

In addition, the Civitavecchia prosecutor's office opened an investigation for fraud against Cardia and her husband that same year, and the mayor of the town ordered the demolition of the chapel where her followers were meeting.

Theological Errors in the “Apparitions”

In his decree, the Italian prelate explained that the messages of the supposed Marian apparitions contained “numerous theological errors.” He prohibited priests from celebrating “the sacraments or leading events of popular piety” that connect “directly or indirectly with the events of Trevignano Romano, whether on the grounds of the ‘Madonna di Trevignano ITS’ Association or in other private, public and ecclesial places.”

The decree also prohibited priests from “going to the place of the apparition, or encouraging the faithful to believe that there is any ecclesial recognition.”

Bishop Salvi also imposed on Gisella Cardia, her husband Gianni “and all the persons of various capacities involved in the events of Trevignano, respect and adherence to the decisions of the diocesan bishop, in addition to the availability to complete a path of purification. and discernment, which promotes and maintains ecclesial unity.”

The Bishop also made it clear that “the title of ‘Madonna di Trevignano’ (Our Lady of Trevignano) has no ecclesial value and cannot be used as if it had one, not even in the civil sphere.”

The prelate also warned the faithful of the obligation to “refrain from organizing and/or participating in private and/or public meetings (of prayer and/or catechesis) that take for certain and indubitable the supernatural truth of the events of Trevignano or events pressuring the diocesan bishop to modify his legitimate decisions regarding these same events.

 

A "mystic" wearing that kind of clothing during an Apparition???

 

What times we are in!

 

Countdown to the Kingdom has a section detailing its novel idea of "True Magisterium." That idea was based in part on the now-discredited revelations of Gisella Cardia, below. The church has not ruled on the other seer upon whom they rely, Pedro Regis, although a well-known theologian and exorcist, Fr. François-Marie Dermine, raised concerns over Regis' use of automatic writing in taking down his 4,921-plus messages.

Daniel O'Connor used the term "True Magisterium" in a recent video, in which he urged viewers to ignore the ruling of a Vatican cardinal suspending the cause of Luisa Piccarreta. O'Connor argued the cardinal held liberal views, which--in O'Connor's mind--made his judgement in Piccarretta's case suspect. In essence, members of the Magisterium who meet a set of criteria set out in a Countdown article belong to the "True Magisterium." Seemingly, Countdown argues we don't need to be faithful to those cardinals and bishops who do not measure up to their standard.

Does the recent rejection of Gisella Cardia's messages undermine the belief in True Magisterium?
What are the implications of Countdown followers continuing to use a standard based on one false apparition, and another unapproved one?

The article below is taken from the Countdown website:


What is the “True Magisterium”?

In several messages from seers around the world, Our Lady constantly calls us to remain faithful to the “true Magisterium” of the Church. Just this week again:

Whatever happens, do not depart from the teachings of the true Magisterium of the Church of My Jesus. —Our Lady to Pedro Regis, February 3rd, 2022

My children, pray for the Church and for holy priests that they would always remain faithful to the true Magisterium of the faith. —Our Lady to Gisella Cardia, February 3rd, 2022

Several readers have reached out to us over the past year regarding this phrase wondering what exactly is meant by “the true Magisterium.” Is there a “false Magisterium”? Is this referring to people or a false council, etc.? Others have speculated that it refers to Benedict XVI, and that the papacy of Francis is invalid, etc.


What is the Magisterium?
The Latin word magister means “teacher” from which we derive the word magisterium. The term is used to refer to the teaching authority of the Catholic Church, bestowed on the Apostles by Christ,(1) and transmitted over the centuries through apostolic succession. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states:

The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome. —n. 85

The first evidence of this magisterial authority being passed on was when the Apostles chose Matthias to be the successor to Judas Iscariot.

May another take his office. (Acts 1:20)

And as for perpetual tradition, it is evident from all kinds of monuments, and from the most ancient Church history, that the Church has always been governed by bishops, and that the apostles everywhere established bishops. —An Abridgement of Christian Doctrine, 1759 A.D.; reprinted in Tradivox, Vol. III, Ch. 16, pg. 202

Of this teaching authority, the most important point is that a pope and those bishops in communion with him are essentially guardians of the Word of God, of those “traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours” (St. Paul, 2 Thess 2:15).

…this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith. —CCC, n. 86

The pope isn’t an absolute sovereign, whose thoughts and desires are law. On the contrary, the ministry of the pope is the guarantor of the obedience toward Christ and His word. —POPE BENEDICT XVI, Homily of May 8, 2005; San Diego Union-Tribune


The Types of Magisterium
The Catechism refers to primarily two aspects of the Magisterium of the apostolic successors. The first is the “ordinary magisterium”. This refers to the ordinary manner in which the Pope and bishops transmit the faith in their daily ministry.

The Roman Pontiff and the bishops are “authentic teachers, that is, teachers endowed with the authority of Christ, who preach the faith to the people entrusted to them, the faith to be believed and put into practice.” The ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him teach the faithful the truth to believe, the charity to practice, the beatitude to hope for. —CCC, n. 2034

Then there is the “extraordinary magisterium” of the Church, which exercises the “supreme degree” of Christ’s authority:

The supreme degree of participation in the authority of Christ is ensured by the charism of infallibility. This infallibility extends as far as does the deposit of divine Revelation; it also extends to all those elements of doctrine, including morals, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, explained, or observed. —CCC, n. 2035

Bishops do not, as individuals, exercise this authority, however, ecumenical councils do(2) as well as the Pope when he is infallibly defining truth. What statements of either are considered infallible…

…becomes clear from the nature of the documents, the insistence with which a teaching is repeated, and the very way in which it is expressed. —Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Donum Veritatis n. 24

The teaching authority of the Church is exercised most frequently in magisterial documents such as apostolic letters, encyclicals, etc. And as said previously, when the bishops and Pope are speaking in their ordinary magisterium through homilies, addresses, collegial statements, etc. these are considered magisterial teaching as well, so long as they teach what “has been handed on” (ie. they are not infallible).

There are important caveats, however.

The Limits of the Magisterium
Using the present pontificate as an example…

…if you are troubled by some statements that Pope Francis has made in his recent interviews, it is not disloyalty, or a lack of Romanita to disagree with the details of some of the interviews which were given off-the-cuff. Naturally, if we disagree with the Holy Father, we do so with the deepest respect and humility, conscious that we may need to be corrected. However, papal interviews do not require either the assent of faith that is given to ex cathedra statements or that internal submission of mind and will that is given to those statements that are part of his non-infallible but authentic magisterium. —Fr. Tim Finigan, tutor in Sacramental Theology at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh; from The Hermeneutic of Community, “Assent and Papal Magisterium”, October 6th, 2013; http://the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.co.uk

So what about current affairs? Does the Church have any business addressing these?

To the Church belongs the right always and everywhere to announce moral principles, including those pertaining to the social order, and to make judgments on any human affairs to the extent that they are required by the fundamental rights of the human person or the salvation of souls. —CCC, n. 2032

And again,

Christ endowed the Church’s shepherds with the charism of infallibility in matters of faith and morals. CCC, n. 80

What the Church does not have the authority to do is pronounce authoritatively on necessarily the best way to conduct affairs pertaining to the social order. Take the matter of “climate change”, for instance...

The rest is available on the Countdown website, https://www.countdowntothekingdom.com/what-is-the-true-magisterium/

 

Disturbing. Very disturbing. What is the poor Catholic in the pews supposed to do? They absolutely should not be creating their own magisterium. This is what Luther did! How can they not see that??? For myself i mean to stay away from any unapproved apparitions/locutions period. And any websites that promote them.. The swamp is too deep and twisted now. This latest set of locutions out of Texas just brought it all back to me when they decided to forgo the bishop's permission. What a clever ruse of the enemy. Justification by personal judgement against the bishop. Very dangerous. Judging a bishop's fitness to rule on an apparition is not in our wheelhouse as they say. Dangerous!!!
We are truly walking a tightrope. Getting pulled from the right and the left.

 

My interest in all these seers is near zero at this point. I know the faith and we all generally know what is coming, just not the precise timing. Analysing why I had interest over the years, it seems more to do with a desire for knowing what is coming or inside knowledge only revealed to these seers. So unhealthy and distracting, for me anyway. It pulls my faith and personal relationship with Christ outside of myself too much so the Spirit pulls me back and away from all these seers.

I don't have to skill set to decern infinite massages coming out daily and don't trust those that think they do. I'll stick with the Bishop or Cardinal even if they are trying to suppress an authentic revalation. God will get the messages approved if He wills it. Obedience is vital to following God's Will becuase it shows trust in Him even when it may feel totally wrong. I am a rebel by nature so it's a challenge especially when so many Sheppards are corrupt and have no decernable supernatural faith.

 

So well said! Thank you.

 

Thank you for bringing up the Texas group and messages. People seem to be leaping out of the Barque of Peter left and right, diving into waters filled with sharks.

 

For anyone who wishes to take at face value the critical article posted on Countdown by Peter Bannister, the claims Bannister makes are not new. They were refuted in a relatively recent thread on MoG, https://motheofgod.com/threads/gisella-cardia-fake.19538/

What is upsetting to me is that Bannister does not acknowledge the public scandal associated with the seer in his article. Apparently Gisella Cardia and her husband disappeared right after they were accused of fraud (it's dealt with in the thread). And there are other things he ignores.

Anyone can make a plausible case cherry-picking evidence.

 

Re the immodest clothing of Gisela Cardia, ive often felt that C. Watkins was also dressed immodestly on her various videos. Yes. true, she lives in California, but still, she did not take enough care to dress modestly. (I think she slowly improved over time).

Re the true Magisterium, well Tucho's Document "Feducia Supplicans" cannot, in my opinion, be considered true. We must reject it. And frankly, he needs to go.

He is false. His Document is false.
And who appointed him to visit this disaster upon us ??? Enough said.

 

That document was not taught in unison with the bishops throughout the world. Many, many bishops rejected it.

 

The Bishop dressed in white

 

Sorry for my last post. Im struggling with negativity at the moment. It got the better of me. I should not have criticised Christine W. for her dress sense... Ive committed sins in the past, of that nature, too, and it was by going to Latin Mass that I learned about dress code.(For which Im very thankful.)

 

I get it.

 

Thank you for your honest correction. C Watkins does dress modern, but also modest.

 

and Padre Pio taught women to dress appropriately during confessions...

 

It's so sad. But it teaches me a little humility. I was inclined to think Gisella was the real deal. Was I ever wrong.

I know there are grave difficulties in the Church at the moment, but the proper thing for us to do , as good Catholics, is to be obedient to the voice of the Church in this field . Otherwise frankly what are we going to do? Where are we going to go? Make it all up as go along, each of us his/her very own authority?

Matthew 23:2

Woes to Scribes and Pharisees
1Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples: 2 “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.…

 

In Proverbs 3 it talks about leaning not unto your own understanding

 

Thank you for posting this, MMM: I know the faith and we all generally know what is coming, just not the precise timing. Analysing why I had interest over the years, it seems more to do with a desire for knowing what is coming or inside knowledge only revealed to these seers. So unhealthy and distracting, for me anyway. It pulls my faith and personal relationship with Christ outside of myself too much so the Spirit pulls me back and away from all these seers.

This is exactly right. It reminded me of a post from member Frodo from 2019:

http://marie-juliejahenny.blogspot.com/2018/04/115-various-prophecies-promise-of-great.html

June 28, 1880

"In those years,” says Satan, “I will make many revelations. (I.e., False revelations through apparitions that are actually demonic.) It will be impossible to expose my language. I will imitate all too well the words of Christ and His revelations. By loading these souls, I want a lot of pious priests to be lost, to mislead them deeply into all these things. I also want to lose many souls (the same way) who are not priests.

If I can not lose these souls, I will (make them) lose their reputation at least, I will make them charges of heavy slander, I will make them denounce up to the point of counsels of human laws."

(Observations / Notes: in the years when Satan creates great confusion in the Church, he will cause many false apparitions to occur to mislead even the zealous and faithful with high-sounding mysteries. It will be difficult to tell the difference between a false message from the true ones as Satan will mimic how Our Lord and Our Lady speak.

The demon will try to mislead the faithful by several ways. First, by the false messages of course, but also by having us waste precious time trying to discern which are the true apparitions from false ones, when we should be concentrating on the true messages already given and approved that always say the same thing: stop sinning, go to confession, change your life, pray for sinners, pray the rosary and go to Mass. Basically, stop being Catholics in name only and live your faith. The real messages are very simple, we should not be looking for novelties and trying to discover “new secrets” of heaven.

Satan will also create confusion as those who believe the false messages in faith, not out of malice, will defend them, and in the process, further the confusion. They will either destroy their own reputations, or those of others who try to oppose the false apparitions. Satan is very crafty and knows how to manipulate people and create disunity.)

 

This sounds so much like AI. A false god and false humanity.