Thursday 19 September 2013

Roman Catholicism and the worship of the dead X : Saint from Malta kept both mummified and in wax

Saint from Malta kept both mummified and in wax

http://ivarfjeld.com/2013/08/31/saint-from-malta-kept-both-mummified-and-in-wax/  

The Catholic Church has kept two bodies of Gorg Preca. One is his true bones, and one a body embalmed in wax. The “saint” is kept above the altar.
A wax dummy is kept for display above the skeleton looted from the grave.

The beautification of the Maltese “saint” George Preca raises a lot of interesting questions.
The Catholic priest died in 1962, and was buried. 38 years later, the corpse was exhumed. The grave was opened on 7th of July 2000. His skull and bones had to be examined. First 10 months later, on Wednesday 9th of May 2001, Pope John Paul II beautified Dun George Preca. Beautified, but still not canonized and declared a saint.
Six years later, The Maltese priest was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI. The canonization was announced on 3rd of June 2007.
We need to investigate this matter, and look at some pictures.
To keep a corpse for examination over seven years before final sainthood, requires a lot of balsam and chemicals. Unlike the body of Don Bosco, the remains of George Preca has been kept as it looks. And since the sight is not pretty at all, I guess the Catholic Church on Malta decided to make another body of the saint. A body made of wax.
If the original remains now had been reburied, few people would be able to misunderstand. But since the Church keeps both the bodies for display, there might be a need for some additional explanations.
The skull and bones of the exhumed Maltese saint.
The official photo of the shrine and saint looks very different from the true remains.
Pope Paul II came and prayed in front of the waxed saint.
While the skull and bones are kept in a glass mounter for veneration and adoration: The embalmed copy is kept above the altar. In the same Shrine.  And one picture shows both the bodies being kept behind the alter. One visual, and the other hidden.
Late pope John Paul II came to Malta to bow before an pray to the wax figure. The rest of the Maltese has done the same before the corpse that was removed from the grave.
It is not easy to understand that both these bodies can be “holy”. And if both the bodies are “holy”, we need to ask the Vatican how many copies of dead persons their Churches are permitted to make?
While the waxed saint is adored by the Pope, the skull and bones are venerated by the Papal faithful.
A Maltese lady pray to the remains of the Roman Catholic priest.
The true remains of the priest above, looks very different from the wax figure kept for adoration.
A faithful Catholic is about to kiss the dead body of the priest in 1962.
The head of the saint has changed after 38 years in the grave. Was this priest really buried with his hat on?
In regards to statues, we know the answer. There are thousands of idols of the same saint’s in Catholic Churches all over the World.
Another interesting side of the remains of this saint, is that the Church has kept a sample of his blood. I guess that sample was taken from the Hospital who treated him prior to his death.
This is the contained and kept blood of the maltese priest.
A Catholic on Malta is told to kiss the container with blood from a deceased priest.
The drops of blood is kept in a container, and Maltese Catholics are supposed to bow down and kiss the container with “holy blood”.  It this is not idol worship and blasphemy, than nothing can ever be.
Let see what the official website explains to us, about the body of this supposed to be “holy man”.
The remains of the Venerable Mgr. Gorg Preca, exhumed on Friday 7 July 2000, from the crypt under the chapel of the Society’s headquarters in Blata l-Bajda, were found remarkably well preserved, 38 years after his death.
I do not agree that this body was “found remarkably well preserved”. But the readers can look at the pictures and judge for themselves.
Last published: 28.05.2011
Written by Ivar

19 Responses to Saint from Malta kept both mummified and in wax

  1. txlady706 says:
    OT
    I don’t know of any other way to reach you so I’m just going to put this in a comment here:
    Iran – In charge of OPEC – Masoud Mirkazemi, to chair the 12-nation organization during 2011
    http://txlady706.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/iran-in-charge-of-opec-masoud-mirkazemi-to-chair-the-12-nation-organization-during-2011/
  2. Melanie says:
    I am beside myself in complete and utter disgust. How on earth was this disgusting example of “incorruptible” allowed to be canonised/sainted or whatever??? And the BLOOD!! If this isnt a deep affront to the one true God of all I dont know what is!The bible attests in many places to there being power in the blood and how blood of wrongful death can cry out from the ground. Sorry I dont have the lines here but I know what I have read.This act of veneration of the blood is a filthy blasphemous display from Satan himself .
    I could just cry and cry and cry.
    Jesus come soon.
    • Gloria says:
      Melanie,
      I believe as we are so close to Christ’s rapture and coming, the end days will be even more horrendous with people believing in such falsehoods like these, and openly practicing there love for it.
      God Bless.
  3. Melanie says:
    Hey Gloria
    Yes Sis
    I believe you are right- we aint seen nothing yet.
    Blessings
    Mel
  4. tom says:
    whitewashed sepulchures full of dead mens bones ( and wax )
    • ivarfjeld says:
      Dear Tom.
      Shalom, and welcome to this site.
      You wrote:
      whitewashed sepulchures full of dead mens bones ( and wax )
      My reply:
      Its amazing. There seems to be no difference between the Roman Catholic Church and Madam Thussauds in London….
  5. Dan Reed says:
    I do think they should really cover his face for dignity in my personal opinion I also think having a real like wax figure which buried underneath that is the real remains I personally think that is not right it should be one or other not both or even a look alike of this person u don’t find 2 repicias in the vatican or anywhere else. yeah u can find wax figures of various saints where ether lived or where they spent most of their live etc and maybe the real remains is in some cathedial elsewhere but never one one look a like and the real remains below a wax figure of that person looked like before they died! I think malta has taken this situation a step too far I say. I don’t know why people are startled by this person blood being on display and the gold canister its in is being kissed because samples of John paul’s seconds blood that was taken prior to him passing away has been given to Poland to Krakow where Pope john paul was born and where he lived most of his life until he became a cardinal then transferred to the Vatican to serve the pope before him then he became pope up till he died. so I don’t why people are getting hype about it where john pauls 2nd bloods on display. what’s wrong with blood on display and then kissing the cannister its in in the hope a miracle may happen also what’s to bring hope a miracle may happen for them? I think reading some extracts of some john pauls 2nds books I think he would of liked to have gone to be buried in Poland really and if that could not happen then his heart which quite understandably vatcan said no to this because he was too special too so many people for his to be taken out and sent to poland so they sent the next was the sample of blood so at least the polish have now got a bit of their beloved pope their in their homeland now may pop john paul rest in peace amen
  6. JamesLesser says:
    The use of relics has some, although limited, basis in sacred Scripture. In 2 Kings 2:9-14, the prophet Elisha picked up the mantle of Elijah after Elijah had been taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. With is, Elisha struck the water of the Jordan, which then parted so that he could cross. In another passage (13:20-21), some people hurriedly bury a dead man in the grave of Elisha, “but when the man came in contact with the bones of Elisha, he came back to life and rose to his feet.” In the Acts of the Apostles we read, “Meanwhile, God worked extraordinary miracles at the hands of Paul. When handkerchiefs or cloths which had touched his skin were applied to the sick, their diseases were cured and evil spirits departed from them” (19:11-12). In these three passages, a reverence was given to the actual body or clothing of these very holy people who were indeed God’s chosen instruments—Elijah, Elisha and St. Paul. Indeed, miracles were connected with these “relics”—not that some magical power existed in them, but just as God’s work was done through the lives of these holy men, so did His work continue after their deaths. Likewise, just as people were drawn closer to God through the lives of these holy men, so did they (even if through their remains) inspire others to draw closer even after their deaths. This perspective provides the Church’s understanding of relics.
    The veneration of relics of the saints is found in the early history of the Church. A letter written by the faithful of the Church in Smyrna in the year 156 provides an account of the death of St. Polycarp, their bishop, who was burned at the stake. The letter reads, “We took up the bones, which are more valuable than precious stones and finer than refined gold, and laid them in a suitable place, where the Lord will permit us to gather ourselves together as we are able, in gladness and joy, and celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom.” Essentially, the relics—the bones and other remains of St. Polycarp—were buried and the tomb itself was the “reliquary.” Other accounts attest that the faithful visited the burial places of the saints and miracles occurred. Moreover, at this time we see the development of “feast days” marking the death of the saint, the celebration of Mass at the burial place and a veneration of the remains.
    After the legalization of the Church in 312, the tombs of saints were opened and the actual relics were venerated by the faithful. A bone or other bodily part was placed in a reliquary—a box, locket and later a glass case—for veneration. This practice especially grew in the Eastern Church, while the practice of touching cloth to the remains of the saint was more common in the west. By the time of the Merovingian and Carolingian periods of the Middle Ages, the use of reliquaries was common throughout the whole Church.
    The Church strived to keep the use of relics in perspective. In his Letter to Riparius, St. Jerome (d. 420) wrote in defense of relics: “We do not worship, we do not adore, for fear that we should bow down to the creature rather than to the Creator, but we venerate the relics of the martyrs in order the better to adore Him whose martyrs they are.”
    Here we need to pause for a moment. Perhaps in our technological age, the whole idea of relics may seem strange. Remember, all of us treasure things that have belonged to someone we love—a piece of clothing, another personal item, a lock of hair. Those “relics” remind us of the love we share with that person while he was still living and even after death. Our hearts are torn when we think about disposing of the very personal things of a deceased loved ones.
    During the Middle Ages, the “translation of relics,” meaning the removal of relics from the tombs, their placement in reliquaries and their dispersal, grew. Sadly, abuses grew also. With various barbarian invasions, the conquests of the Crusades, the lack of means for verifying all relics and less than reputable individuals who in their greed preyed on the ignorant and the superstitious, abuses did occur. Even St. Augustine (d. 430) denounced impostors who dressed as monks selling spurious relics of saints. Pope St. Gregory (d. 604) forbade the selling of relics and the disruption of tombs in the catacombs. Unfortunately, the popes or other religious authorities were powerless in trying to control the translation of relics or prevent forgeries. Eventually, these abuses prompted the Protestant leaders to attack the idea of relics totally. Unfortunately, the abuses and the negative reaction surrounding relics has led many people to this day to be skeptical about relics.
    In response, the Council of Trent (1563) defended invoking the prayers of the saints and venerating their relics and burial places. “The sacred bodies of the holy martyrs and of the other saints living with Christ, which have been living members of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit and which are destined to be raised and glorified by Him unto life eternal, should also be venerated by the faithful. Through them, many benefits are granted to men by God.” Since that time, the Church has taken stringent measures to ensure the proper preservation and veneration of relics. The (No. 1190) absolutely forbids the selling of sacred relics and they cannot be “validly alienated or perpetually transferred” without permission of the Holy See. Moreover, any relic today would have proper documentation attesting to its authenticity.
    The Code also supports the proper place for relics in our Catholic practice. Canon 1237 states, “The ancient tradition of keeping the relics of martyrs and other saints under a fixed altar is to be preserved according to the norms given in the liturgical books” (a practice widespread since the fourth century). Many churches also have relics of their patron saints which the faithful venerate upon appropriate occasions. And yes, reports of the Lord’s miracles and favors continue to be connected with the intercession of a saint and the veneration of his relics.
    In all, relics remind us of the holiness of a saint and his cooperation in God’s work. At the same time, relics inspire us to ask for the prayers of that saint and to beg the grace of God to live the same kind of faith-filled live.
    • ivarfjeld says:
      Dear James Lesser
      Shalom.
      Jesus makes it very clear that he is not condemning the office of scribes and Pharisees’. He was not saying that we should throw out the idea of an organized clergy. He had a great respect for their office.
      My reply:
      Matthew 23:29-34
      “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!
         “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
      (end of scriptures)
      Jesus called hypocrites for snakes.
      The worst hypocrites among us, are Roman Catholic priests. They know the truth, but mock the truth. Telling us that the Bible can not be understood by not-ordained priests, the World of God not followed the way the Bible is written.
      Roman Catholic Priests serve “The Holy Father”, the Pope. The Pope is the man of lawlessness, who has taken the name Jesus used exclusive for His Father in Heaven.
      Roman Catholic Priests also demands that Catholics call them “father”, even though Jesus says no Spiritual teacher shall claim to be the “father of the flock”.
      Paul says I have been like a father to you. Not THE Father, or “the Holy Father”.
      Roman Catholic priest are like the snake in the garden of Eden. They say “have God really said”, and spread poison into the mind of Catholics. The Catholics are told not to believe in the written Word of God, but rather the Papal dogmas and Cannon Law.
      Unless you repent, you will surely not escape the fire of Hell.
    • ivarfjeld says:
      Dear James Lesser.
      Shalom.
      You wrote:
      In all, relics remind us of the holiness of a saint and his cooperation in God’s work. At the same time, relics inspire us to ask for the prayers of that saint and to beg the grace of God to live the same kind of faith-filled live.
      My reply:
      How can you ask for prayer, to a 400 year old skeleton?
      Should not this skeleton be buried, and not be looted from the grave?
      The Roman Catholic priests are wicked men, who are tomb robbers. They enter the grave, and take bones, skulls and corpses with them into the Church. Such priest demands that Roman Catholics must treat skulls as “Holy items”, bow down to them, adore and venerate them.
      How can you defend priests, who take corpses up from the grave, and ask a skeleton for prayers? How can you ask a rotten corps for prayers?
      The religious practice of Roman Catholics display them as spiritual sick people, who live in bondage to a death cult. They worship the dead, and seek council of the dead.
      Please take a deeper look into this death cult, and pray that Roman Catholics will be able to leave this horrible religion, that leads people towards the eternal flames of Hell.
      • JamesLesser says:
        A passage in the New Testament which may refer to a prayer for the dead is found in 2 Timothy 1:16-18,
        which reads as follows:
        “May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me (the Lord grant to him to find the Lord’s mercy on that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well.”
        As with the verses from 2 Book of Maccabees, these verses refer to prayers that will help the deceased “on that day” (perhaps Judgement Day, see also end times). It is not stated that Onesiphorus, for whom Saint Paul prayed, was dead, though some scholars infer this, based on the way Paul only refers to him in the past tense, and prays for present blessings on his household, but for him only “on that day”. And towards the end of the same letter, in 2 Timothy 4:19, Paul sends greetings to “Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus”, distinguishing the situation of Onesiphorus from that of the still living Prisca and Aquila.
        Among Church writers Tertullian († 230) is the first to mention prayers for the dead, and not as a concession to natural sentiment, but as a duty: The widow who does not pray for her dead husband has as good as divorced him. This passage occurs in one of his later Montanist writings, dating from the beginning of the 3rd century. Subsequent writers similarly make incidental mention of the practice as prevalent, but not as unlawful or even disputed (until Arius challenged it towards the end of the 4th century). The most famous instance is Saint Augustine’s prayer for his mother, Monica, at the end of the 9th book of his Confessions, written around 398.
        And what about funeral services which a prayer service for the Dead and we prayer for who lost a love one…..these are all acts of prayers for one another in this life to the next!
        Prayers for the dead form part of the Jewish services. Are Jewish brothers and sisters pray for the dead! The prayers offered on behalf of the deceased consist of: Recitation of Psalms; Reciting a thrice daily communal prayer in Aramaic known as “Kaddish” which actually means “Sanctification” (or “[Prayer of] Making Holy”) which is a prayer “In Praise of God”; or other special remembrances known as Yizkor; and also a Hazkara said either on the annual commemoration known as the Yahrzeit as well on Jewish holidays.
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  8. Hulda says:
    what is wrong with these people?
    It is incomprehensible that Catholics do not see themselves,
  9. Pacfic says:
    Shalom Ivar,
    I appreciate you pointing out the ugliness of the catholic church. It is so sad to see people are led astray by this type of demonic worship. I hope these people will see that they are participating in pagan worship. A dead body cannot do anything for. I pray God will judge the catholic church.
    • Kay says:
      Many have written here about how they cannot understand how Catholics canNOT see how wrong this is. I was a catholic as recent as 4 months ago…just before accepting Jesus as my Savior I felt physically ill & felt a warm anxiety over my body. Once I gave my heart/soul to Jesus & vowed to worship ‘no gods beside Him’, I was purged of this bondage. Catholics buy into so much that they do not see the evil; it is very sad & we need to pray for them & love them. It is not easy for them to 1)contemplate leaving Mother Church, & 2)let alone actually embracing the road of departure-I can attest it is no easy route. But I can attest to know Jesus so intimately makes it worth it. He is no small gift. Thank you, Jesus!
      • Dulcis says:
        Kay, I find it interesting that you left the Catholic Church – the one founded by Christ, and the only church in which Jesus is present in the form of the Eucharist He instituted – and you NOW know Jesus more intimately. How could any ‘knowing’ of Him be more intimate than receiving Him in Holy Communion?
        Were you an actual practicing Catholic who had received the appropriate Sacraments? Your post conveys some grave misunderstandings about the Catholic Church, and it saddens me to see you promote such slander and untruth, especially in that your claim to a Catholic heritage adds a credibility to your words for those reading this who are already laboring under negative misconceptions/outright untruths against the Catholic faith.
  10. James says:
    Thanks for this article on St George – not the rubbish you wrote, revealing complete misunderstanding of the veneration of Saints, but the images of the sacred remains and where to find the shrine. Thanks to you we know where to go when we go to Malta tomorrow. I notice when someone defended praying to the Saints you speak of praying to the remains – you (deliberately?) ignore the difference. No one is praying to the remains, but to the Saint whose remains are being venerated. I will pray for you when I pray at the shrine: may you come to see the truth of Catholicism, the beauty of the Catholic faith and define yourself as a Christian and not a “protester”.
    • ivarfjeld says:
      Dear James.
      Shalom.
      You wrote:
      No one is praying to the remains, but to the Saint whose remains are being venerated.
      My comment:
      I do not know if you ever will be interested to read the Bible. The Bible is the basic instruction of the Christian faith.
      The Bible explains, that its a grave sin to pray for, or to the departed souls.
      Are you interested in the Bible verses, that expose your priests as liars?
      If so, I might be able to help and guide you. Kindly let me know.
  11. Teresa Pace says:
    The Pope just honoured our respect that is all. He did pray to Dun Gorg Preca but not as in the wax statue but the image the statue represents. He didnt worship Dun Gorg he just prayed to him for intercession with the Lord like we intercede with the Lord. When we intercede that doesnt make Jesus any less than a mediator we were told to intercede…Now the saints in heaven are continuing this job but in heaven. If you wish scriptures I can quote from the Book of revelations. Can get you a full article as well full of scripture more detailed and more well explained than I just have explained