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VICTIM SOULS NEWSLETTER
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Num. 1 Jan. 31, 2022
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Through Mary and with Mary
The Roman Catholic Apostolic Church will Triumph
Under the Cross of Christ
EDITORIAL
Christ Requests Our Help
Since 1969, Our Lord gave public and universal messages to the Portavoz (messenger) of Jesus in Mexico (Maria Concepcion). The messages were spread in many countries and had good effects at that time. There are still persons who want to know more about these sacred words, and our Lord's request for prayers, reparation and sacrificing our own will, in order to do God's will, who desires to save sinners from perdition.
The purpose of this newsletter is to serve as a reminder of Our Lord's words to Maria Concepcion, and also to spread short articles about Marian apparitions and Catholic spirituality, writings of saints and other authors, especially about victimhood and how we can help to save souls. The apparitions given at Fatima, La Salette and other places, harmonize perfectly with what Our Lord revealed to the Portavoz. It is good to review all these words, to learn them better and to gain new insights into these divine truths.
Conversion of Pranzini
During the summer of 1887, French newspapers were filled with the story of Henri Pranzini, convicted of the brutal murder of two women and a child. To the outraged public, Pranzini represented all that threatened the decent way of life in France. In July and August, Therese of Lisieux (age 15) prayed hard, and wept bitter tears, for the conversion of Pranzini, so his soul could be saved, yet Pranzini showed no remorse. At the end of August, the newspapers reported that just as Pranzini's neck was placed on the guillotine, he had grabbed a crucifix and kissed it three times. Therese was ecstatic, and believed that her prayers had saved him. She continued to pray for Pranzini after his death.
Is Victimhood Really Necessary?
In September of 1917, Our Lady said at Fatima: "Pray and make sacrifices for sinners, because many souls go to hell, because there is no one who prays and makes sacrifices for them."
If Therese of Lisieux had been lazy and indifferent, Pranzini would have died in mortal sin, and would have suffered the torments of the damned, body and soul, for all eternity, without hope of relief.
The salvation of certain souls really does depend upon our actions, even small actions. If someone remains indifferent to these request of Our Lord and our Lady, for reparation, prayer, etc., then his or her decision will have definite effects, usually very bad effects, upon himself and upon others. Our actions and decisions, even small ones, have an effect upon the lives of others. Perhaps we will not see these effects until eternity.
If you have to be with an unpleasant person, or suffer an illness, or a failure, or disappointment, or misery or humiliation, please think about the passion of our Lord and how he suffered so much, in order to save us. By uniting our small sufferings and trials to those of Christ, we can help him. Our Lord said to Josefa Menendez, "I am the great Victim, and you are a very little one."
When enough persons pay attention to these heavenly requests, many graces of conversion will be obtained, and Our Lady will triumph, as she promised us at Fatima in 1917. What happiness and joy for those who paid attention to these heavenly words.
May it be for the glory of God
Note: "suffered the torments of the damned, body and soul". According to Catholic doctrine, at the end of time all bodies will arise from their graves and be reunited to their souls. (John 5, Daniel 12).
Amen, amen I say unto you, that the hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. ----- Wonder not at this; for the hour cometh, wherein all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And they that have done good things, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life; but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. -- John 5:28
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Legion of Little Victims: Its Origin, Development and Consummation
In 1895 St. Therese of Lisieux wrote: "I entreat thee to choose, in this world, a legion of little victims." Her weakness was not an obstacle: "I am but a weak and helpless child, yet it is my very weakness that makes me dare to offer myself, O Jesus, as victim to Thy love." (Autobiography, p. 100). "In olden days pure and spotless holocausts alone were acceptable to the omnipotent God. But the law of fear has given place to the law of love, and love has chosen me, a weak and imperfect creature, as its victim. Is not such a choice worthy of God's love? Yes. In order that love may be fully satisfied, it must stoop even unto nothingness." (Autobiog., p. 100). "I am too little for great things, and my folly it is to hope that Thy love accepts me as VICTIM; my folly it is to count on the aid of Angels and Saints, in order that I may fly unto Thee with Thine own wings, O my Divine Eagle!" (Autobiog., p. 201). "In the year 1895, I received the grace to understand how much Jesus desires to be loved. ... I think that if my Divine Master should find souls offering themselves as victims of holocaust to His love, He would consume them rapidly; He would be well pleased to suffer the flames of infinite tenderness to escape that are imprisoned in His Heart." (Autobiography, p. 72) After St. Therese's death, her desires were granted.
Peter d'Airelle, who in 1913 offered his own life, to save his father, was part of the legion of little victims. Jacinta Marto, Francisco Marto, Lucia Albobora, Josefa Menendez, Faustina Kowalska, Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Padre Pio, and others, formed part of this group. Other souls were Alexandrina Costa, Rose Ferron, and Rhoda Wise. Rose Ferron suffered the pains of the crown of thorns, for the sins of schismatics, thus obtaining their conversion. There were many others, whose names will not be made known until the Day of the Great Judgment. There are members who are unknown and who will remain unknown. (God wants victim souls to be hidden; they do not speak about themselves.) If some, such as Padre Pio, become known to the public, it is only because God himself wishes it thus, but the majority remain hidden. Jacinta Marto suffered greatly, and died alone, at the end of her short life, to save the souls of sinners. St. Maximilian Kolbe laid down his life, so that another man might live. (John 15:13)
Saint Therese of Lisieux requested this legion of Our Lord, just before she died. Her last lines in her autobiography were as follows: "I entreat thee to let thy divine eyes rest upon a vast number of little souls; I entreat thee to choose, in this world, a legion of little victims of thy love."
Our Lord is now seeking little victims, who will help to save the souls of sinners from perdition. "Hereby we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." First John 3:16.
Our Lord said to Sister Josefa Menendez on June 12, 1923: "To make reparation for the crimes of the world, I will choose victims who will obtain pardon, for there are in the world many whose desire is to please Me."
His Appeal Is Addressed To All
He addressed his appeal to the following groups: "My appeal is addressed to all: to those consecrated in religion and those living in the world, to the good and to sinners, to the learned and the illiterate, to those in authority and to those who obey." (Our Lord to Josefa Menendez: June 12, 1923)
In 1925 St. Therese of Lisieux was canonized in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, by Pope Pius XI. Present at her canonization was Saint Padre Pio; his presence there was due to a miracle, since he never left his monastery at San Giovanni Rotondo. By his presence there, he was endorsing the spirituality taught by St. Therese, that sanctity consists of doing small actions with great purity of intention. In the same year, 1925, Theresa Neumann of Konnersreuth, in Bavaria, received her special vocation with a vision of St. Therese, her patron saint.
After 1925, Our Lord continued making known his requests to others, in particular, to St. Faustina Kowalska (died 1938). St. Faustina wrote: "During the third probation, the Lord gave me to understand that I should offer myself to Him, so that He could do with me as He pleased. I was to remain standing before Him as a victim offering." (Diary, 135). After 1938 he continued addressing other souls.
In 1969 Our Lord gave public and universal messages to the world, through a Mexican nun whom He called His messenger. He commanded her to make his words known, so that every individual could offer reparation to Divine Justice.
She was Maria Concepcion Zuniga, a nun belonging to the community of the Franciscan Minims of the Perpetual Help of Mary, located in the Villa de Guadalupe in Mexico City, near the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, on a property named the garden of the Immaculate Virgin of Guadalupe.
The sisters were founded in Zamora, Mexico, in 1942, by Maria Concepcion Zuniga Lopez, with the approval of the diocesan bishop. In this city the young order (pious union) grew and flourished considerably. Through certain trials permitted by Divine Providence, the community was dissolved in 1951, and was re-established in Chilapa, state of Guerrero, in 1964, with the permission of the bishop and of the sacred congregation of religious in Rome. (She made a special trip to Rome in 1963: See "My Best Book.") In 1967, the sisters moved to Mexico City.
When Maria Concepcion received the command to spread the words, the nuns published them in their monthly magazine "Estrella." They were translated and spread in various countries, accomplishing much good.
"Without love, deeds, - - - - - -
even the most brilliant,
count as nothing."
Story of a Soul, Chapter VIII
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus
and the Holy Face
Doctor of the Church
St. Therese's Little Way
Quote of Saint Therese
I KNOW that He loves the Prodigal Son, I have heard His words to St. Mary Magdalen, to the woman taken in adultery, and to the woman of Samaria. No one could frighten me, for I know what to believe concerning His Mercy and His Love. And I know that all that multitude of sins would disappear in an instant, even as a drop of water cast into a flaming furnace.
It is told in the Lives of the Fathers of the Desert how one of them converted a public sinner, whose evil deeds were the scandal of the whole country. This wicked woman, touched by grace, followed the Saint into the desert, there to perform rigorous penance. But on the first night of the journey, before even reaching the place of her retirement, the bonds that bound her to earth were broken by the vehemence of her loving sorrow. The holy man, at the same instant, saw her soul borne by Angels to the Bosom of God. This is a striking example of what I want to say, but these things cannot be expressed.
[Story of a Soul, Ch. 11, p. 96. by St. Therese]
A Legion of Faithful Servants
In 1932 Our Lord said to Madre Concepcion Zuniga: "If My children enfolded in the bosom of My Church suffer from the oppression of their enemies, it is because their works are not sufficiently pure to achieve liberty and triumph.
There are some just souls, My daughter, but they do not compensate for the impure. There is a lack of works of sanctity that would make Divine Justice pour out a copious shower of blessings on My children and on My enemies, to reconcile both in the love of My Heart. That is why I want victim souls! I want the Work so longed-for by My Heart!"
On another occasion in the same year he said: "With this legion of faithful servants, with the dissemination of the offering of victims in the world, the works of sanctity of just souls, through the merits of My Redemption, will succeed in increasing. And, before My Justice, this will be a way to repay the debts of the wickedness of humanity and to obtain many graces before Judgment day comes.
For when it comes, I, the merciful Victim now, will then be an inflexible judge of justice without appeal."
In 1969 he continued making his appeals, stating that men were provoking him with the seven capital sins, and that it was urgent for there to be atonement and reparation.
Our Lord requested her to seek a legion of little victims. The Church has always had such souls. In the past they were usually cloistered nuns or monks in convents or monasteries, or hermits in the wilds of deserts and mountains, and their sufferings and sacrifices drew down from God the mercy the sinners of their times needed so greatly. But never have there been so many people living in sin as there are today. That is why Our Lord is now seeking souls from among ordinary laypersons living in the world. In 1923 he said to Sister Josefa Menendez, that he was addressing his appeal to everyone (June 12, 1923). When the legion of little souls grows and increases, Divine Justice will be changed into love and pardon, and many sinners will be converted. The group of little victims represents the fulfillment of Scripture: "Hereby we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." First John 3:16. "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21.
Approval of the Church
St. Therese was canonized in 1925. Sister Josefa Menendez' writings were approved by Pope Pius XII in 1938. St. Faustina Kowalska was canonized in 2000. The book Legion of Victim Souls, by Maria Concepcion Zuniga, was granted an Imprimatur by a Mexican bishop in 1966.
IMPRIMATUR: Fidel de Santa María Cortez Perez, bishop of Chilapa, Mexico.--We extend a blessing to the souls who present themselves as victims, by offering their works and sufferings to Divine Justice, in reparation for the sins of mankind. --July 3, 1966
NIHIL OBSTAT: Pbro. Carlos Guevara (Censor): Judgment of the Censor: "The doctrine of victimhood is sound, through its quotations from the Psalms and the New Testament. The souls with vocations will find in this pamphlet sound reasons for agreeing to be victims." --Iguala, Guerrero,
March 27, 1966
Testimonials (from letters received)
(Names are not given; privacy is protected.)
Re: Japanese translation of Legion of Victim Souls: "The way of perfection, the summit of an atoning soul, the essence of the gospel: I'm just overwhelmed. It is as if seeing obviously the way of the saints." --- Mrs. N., Tokyo, Japan
"It is as if I were learning for the first time the truths of my faith." --- Mr. C., Massachusetts, USA
Re: Penitential Rosary: "After praying this rosary, now I understand how much Jesus suffered for us on the cross." --- Mr. K., Nigeria
We now have 96 victim souls in the U.S.A. Usually when I present the victimhood to a person, they say: “This is what I have been praying and searching for.” “I have done consecrations to Our Blessed Mother and Jesus, in many forms, but this is truly giving myself completely to Jesus." ---Mr. W., Pennsylvania, USA
"I'm one of the million people who have been inspired by Madre Concepcion Zuniga: her simplicity, compassion, and her love for Jesus. I also want to share her life with others for inspiration. I have also a friend who suffers a serious disease in the hospital, and I want to share with him the prayer, for an intention of healing. May I please have a prayer card?" --- Mr. N., Mindanao, Philippines
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The Descent of Christ into Hell
by Mary of Agreda
“There are many other things which Jesus did; which if they
were written every one, the world itself, I think, would not be able
to contain the books that should be written." (Jn. 21:25) The following
passage is taken from the Mystical City of God, by Mary of Agreda.
These were the occupations of the heavenly Queen during a part
of the Sabbath. At the approach of evening she again retired, leaving
the Apostles now renewed in spirit and full of consolation and joy in
the Lord, yet also full of grief for the Passion of their Master. In her
retirement during this evening the great Lady contemplated the
doings of the most holy soul of her Son after it left the sacred body.
For from the first the blessed Mother knew that the soul of Christ,
united to the Divinity, descended to limbo in order to release the holy
Fathers from the subterranean prison, where they had been detained
since the death of the first just man that had died in expectance of the
advent of the Redeemer of the whole human race. In order to speak
about this mystery, which is one of the articles of faith pertaining to
the most sacred humanity of Christ our Lord, it seemed best to mention
that which has been given me to understand about this limbo and
its situation. I say then, that the diameter of the earth's sphere, passing
through the center from one surface to the other, measures 2,502
leagues; and from the surface to the center, 1,251 leagues; and ac-
cording to the diameter is to be calculated the circumference of this
globe. In the center is the hell of the damned, as in the heart of the
earth. This hell is a chaotic cavern, which contains many darksome
dwellings for diverse punishments, all of them dreadful and terrible.
All of these together form a vast globe like a huge round jar, with an
opening or mouth of vast expansion. In this horrible dungeon filled
with confusion and torments were the demons and all the damned,
and shall be there for all eternity, as long as God is God; for in hell
there is no redemption. [Matthew 25:41; Apocalypse 20:10]
To one side of hell is purgatory, where the souls of the just are
purged and where they cleanse themselves, if they have not satisfied
for their faults in this life, or have not departed from this earthly life
entirely free from the defects incapacitating them for the beatific
vision. This cavern is also large, but not so large as hell; and though
there are severe punishments in purgatory, they have no connection
with those of hell. To the other side is limbo with two different divi-
sions: The one for the children, who die unbaptized and tainted only
with original sin, without either good or bad works of their own elec-
tion. The other served as a retreat for the just, who had already satis-
fied for their sins; for they could not enter heaven, nor enjoy the
vision of God, until the Redemption of man was accomplished, and
until Christ our Savior should open the gates of heaven, closed by the
sin of Adam. This cavern is likewise smaller than hell, and has no
connection with it, nor are there in it the pains of the senses like in
purgatory. For it was destined for the souls already cleansed in pur-
gatory, and implied only the absence of beatific vision or pain of pri-
vation; there also stayed all those who died in the state of grace until
the death of the Redeemer. This is the place to which Christ's soul
descended with the Divinity, and which we refer to in saying that He
descended into hell. For the word "hell" may be used to signify any
of the infernal regions in the depths of the earth, though commonly
we apply it only to the hell of the demons and the damned. This is the
most notable meaning of this word, just as "heaven" ordinarily
signifies the empyrean, the habitation of the saints, where they are to
dwell forever, while the damned remain forever in hell. The other
parts of hell have also the more particular names of purgatory and
limbo. After the final judgment heaven and hell only are to be in-
habited, since purgatory shall become unnecessary, and since even
the infants shall be transported to another dwelling-place.
To this cavern of limbo then the most holy soul of Christ our Lord
betook himself in the company of innumerable angels, who gave
glory, fortitude and Divinity to their victorious and triumphant King.
In accordance with his greatness and majesty they commanded the
portals of this ancient prison to be opened, in order that the King of
glory, powerful in battles and Lord of virtues, might find them
unlocked and open at his entrance. At their command some of the
rocks of the passage were rent and shattered; although this was not
really necessary, since the King and his army were immaterial spir-
its. By the presence of the most holy Soul this obscure cavern was
converted into a heaven and was filled with a wonderful splendor;
and to the souls therein contained was imparted the clear vision of the
Divinity. In one instant they passed from the state of long-deferred
hope to the possession of glory, and from darkness to the inaccessible
light, which they now began to enjoy. All of them recognized their
true God and Redeemer, and gave him thanks and glory, breaking
forth in canticles of praise saying: "The Lamb that was slain is
worthy to receive power and Divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and
honor, and glory and benediction. Thou hast redeemed us, Lord, in
thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue and people, and nation; and
hast made us to our God a kingdom and priests, and we shall reign on
the earth (Apoc. 19:12). Thine is, O Lord, the power, thine the reign,
and thine is the glory of thy works." Then the Lord commanded the
angels to bring all the souls in purgatory, and this was immediately
done. As if in earnest of the human Redemption they were absolved
then and there by the Redeemer from the punishments still due to
them, and they were glorified with the other souls of the just by the
beatific vision. Thus on that day of the presence of the King were
depopulated the prisonhouses of both limbo and purgatory.
But for the damned in hell this was a terrible day; because by the
disposition of the Most High all of them were made to see and feel
the descent of the Redeemer into limbo, and also the holy Fathers and
the just were made witnesses of the terror caused by this mystery to
the demons and the damned. The demons were yet terrorized and
oppressed by the ruin which they had undergone on Mount Calvary,
as related above; and when they heard (according to their manner of
hearing and speaking) the voices of the angels advancing before their
King to limbo, they were confounded and terrified anew. Like
serpents pursued, they hid themselves and clung to the most remote
caverns of hell. The damned were seized with confusion upon
confusion, becoming still more deeply conscious of their aberration
and of the loss of salvation, now secured to the just. As Judas and the
impenitent thief had so recently and signally shared this misfortune,
so their torments were greater; and the demons were the more highly
incensed against them. Then and there the infernal spirits resolved to
persecute and torment more grievously the Catholics, and chastise
more severely those who should deny or repudiate the Catholic faith.
For they concluded that these merited greater punishment than the
infidels, to whom it is not preached.
Of all these mysteries and of other secrets, which I cannot men-
tion, the great Lady of the world had a clear knowledge and vision
from her retreat. Although this knowledge, in the higher parts of her
being or in her soul where this knowledge originated, caused her
exquisite joy; yet she did not permit it to overflow in her virginal
body, in her senses or inferior faculties, to which it should naturally
have been communicated. On the contrary, when she felt that some of
this joy overflowed to the inferior parts of her being, she besought the
eternal Father to retard this overflow; for she did not wish to permit
such enjoyment to her body, as long as that of her divine Son rested
in the grave and was not yet glorified. Such a careful and faithful love
was that of the blessed Mother toward her Son and Lord, that she
strove to be a living, true and perfect image of the deified humanity
in all respects. Attending thus minutely to the smallest particulars, she
was rejoiced exceedingly in her soul, while she still felt the sorrows
and depression of her body, in imitation of the state of Christ our
Savior. During this vision she composed songs of praise magnifying
the mysteries of this triumph and the most loving and wise
providence of the Redeemer, who as an affectionate Father and
omnipotent King wished, in his own person, to take possession of the
new reign, given to him by the Father, and who now rescued his
subjects by his own presence, in order that they might commence
immediately to enjoy the reward merited for them. For these reasons,
and others recognized by her in this sacrament, she rejoiced and
glorified the Lord as his helper, and as the Mother of the Conqueror.
Chapter 26. The Resurrection of Christ our Savior, and his apparition to his
most Blessed Mother, in company with the holy Fathers of limbo.
Taken from The Mystical City of God, the Life of the Virgin Mary,
by Venerable Sister Mary of Jesus of Agreda (1602—1665)
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The Work of Atonement is the highest consecration that one can make, to surrender oneself to Jesus in doing His Divine Will.
Requirements to Become a Victim-Soul
• Daily Mass
• Monthly Confession
• Morning Offering
• Daily Rosary
• Own personal devotions
• Should wear Miraculous Medal, and a Brown Scapular.
Benefits of Victimhood
• Victim-Souls never see Purgatory, they will see Heaven
• Special Graces from the Blessed Mother and Her Son
• Receive greater merits for prayers and Holy Masses
• You become the apple of the Father's eye, because you desire to imitate His Son
• Victim-Souls united with victimhood, are holding back the great chastisement
• The purpose of victimhood is to release suffering souls from Purgatory, and to save sinners from the horror of eternal condemnation.
Note: If you cannot attend Mass daily, then as often as possible. If you cannot obtain a Miraculous Medal or brown scapular, then use whatever Catholic sacramentals are available in your area.
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Edited by Charles Reed.
May it be for the glory of God
Laus Deo
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