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The following excerpts are from the book "What I Saw In Rome".
.by J A Kensit in 1922.
Catering to the sinful bodies of men.
The monk Tetzel was dispatched through Europe to hawk "indulgences" or pardon for sins. So shamelessly was this business carried forward that the monk declared his indulgences to be efficacious both for sins already committed and sins to be committed.
The fraudulent sale of pardons, however, had enriched greatly the Church's treasury, and St Peter's was duly completed at the approximate cost of 15,000,000 pounds sterling. This great ecclesiastical pile, with its giant dome, stands therefore as a monument to a wicked falsehood.
If ever money was raised by false pretenses, this is one of the most shameless examples.
Peter's shrine and bones are accompanied by 87 perpetually burning lamps, but to gain entrance and look upon the casket and bones you must be prepared to pay handsomely should you desire the privilege. Rome reaps a rich harvest out of these bones (if they are indeed Peter's): a harvest she manages to garner all the year round.
Brings to mind Jesus throwing out the money changers doesn't it.
During Holy Week the numbers resorting to the Confessional Boxes are so large, that it is sufficient to get a tap on the head from a priest manipulating a long wand from his Confessional Box - an easy way, indeed of getting rid of sin's awful burden!
Vatican City has nothing externally to impress the eye ... but once inside, however, everything conveys the idea of massive grandeur. The libraries, the picture galleries, the museum, and the halls of sculpture are all thrown open to the public on payment ... the treasures of marble, alabaster, canvas and manuscripts are in value beyond calculation.
This is a mere sampling of how this "great city" merchandises its wares to the slaves of its system. But how is this magnificent "city" maintained?
"Peter's pence" supplies the answer. In nearly every church is found a replica of the statue of Peter. The original of which is in St Peter's. This replica may be found on the top of money boxes, and all offerings put into these boxes go direct to the up-keep of the Papal Headquarters. The prayer to St Peter, which we have faithfully translated from the Italian should be noted. It reads:
"O, St Peter, Chief of Apostles, confirm us in our faith, give us eternal salvation, impart to the Church and Roman Pontiff peace and triumph."
To all who make a suitable offering and kiss THE IMAGE, 300 days' indulgence is granted. Who would not make a purchase on such easy terms? the devotee is duped indeed, but on the duplicity the Vatican grows rich.
Again, a sample of how this "city" merchandises to the sinful temptations of man ... merchandising in the SOULS of men.
Next the author describes the "Holy Stairs'. The marble of the stairs is now enclosed in wood, yet no one is allowed to ascend except upon their knees ...an inscription in several languages is placed at the bottom of the steps advising all the faithful that:
"An indulgence of nine years applicable to the souls in purgatory is granted to those who perform this pious custom."
No image appears anywhere unless accompanied by the money chest. We must have seen thousands kiss, adore and genuflect before images in the various churches, and then deposit the money in the provided box.
It is little wonder that in Italy the business of purgatory is pushed with all possible vigor. In Naples we bought a model of the Souls In Purgatorial Flames.
If, however, it is to be believed that the agonized souls are in flames, one must seek some method for their release. Rome answers the pang of the living concerning their dead by the instrument of the "MASS".
"Every Mass celebrated at this High Altar of this Church liberates one soul from Purgatory."
So, by models, pictures, notices and preaching the people's sympathies are drawn forth to support the Papal idea that their priests in the Mass have the means of releasing from Purgatorial horrors. The Mass is to be PAID for.
Purgatory is today as much "the priests pick-purse" as when it was so labeled by good Bishop Latimer.
The one purgatory which the Word of God knows is:
"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son purgeth us from all sin."
Has anything changed?
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unctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> The following excerpts are from the book "What I Saw In Rome".
.by J A Kensit in 1922.
Catering to the sinful bodies of men.
The monk Tetzel was dispatched through Europe to hawk "indulgences" or pardon for sins. So shamelessly was this business carried forward that the monk declared his indulgences to be efficacious both for sins already committed and sins to be committed.
The fraudulent sale of pardons, however, had enriched greatly the Church's treasury, and St Peter's was duly completed at the approximate cost of 15,000,000 pounds sterling. This great ecclesiastical pile, with its giant dome, stands therefore as a monument to a wicked falsehood.
If ever money was raised by false pretenses, this is one of the most shameless examples.
Peter's shrine and bones are accompanied by 87 perpetually burning lamps, but to gain entrance and look upon the casket and bones you must be prepared to pay handsomely should you desire the privilege. Rome reaps a rich harvest out of these bones (if they are indeed Peter's): a harvest she manages to garner all the year round.
Brings to mind Jesus throwing out the money changers doesn't it.
During Holy Week the numbers resorting to the Confessional Boxes are so large, that it is sufficient to get a tap on the head from a priest manipulating a long wand from his Confessional Box - an easy way, indeed of getting rid of sin's awful burden!
Vatican City has nothing externally to impress the eye ... but once inside, however, everything conveys the idea of massive grandeur. The libraries, the picture galleries, the museum, and the halls of sculpture are all thrown open to the public on payment ... the treasures of marble, alabaster, canvas and manuscripts are in value beyond calculation.
This is a mere sampling of how this "great city" merchandises its wares to the slaves of its system. But how is this magnificent "city" maintained?
"Peter's pence" supplies the answer. In nearly every church is found a replica of the statue of Peter. The original of which is in St Peter's. This replica may be found on the top of money boxes, and all offerings put into these boxes go direct to the up-keep of the Papal Headquarters. The prayer to St Peter, which we have faithfully translated from the Italian should be noted. It reads:
"O, St Peter, Chief of Apostles, confirm us in our faith, give us eternal salvation, impart to the Church and Roman Pontiff peace and triumph."
To all who make a suitable offering and kiss THE IMAGE, 300 days' indulgence is granted. Who would not make a purchase on such easy terms? the devotee is duped indeed, but on the duplicity the Vatican grows rich.
Again, a sample of how this "city" merchandises to the sinful temptations of man ... merchandising in the SOULS of men.
Next the author describes the "Holy Stairs'. The marble of the stairs is now enclosed in wood, yet no one is allowed to ascend except upon their knees ...an inscription in several languages is placed at the bottom of the steps advising all the faithful that:
"An indulgence of nine years applicable to the souls in purgatory is granted to those who perform this pious custom."
No image appears anywhere unless accompanied by the money chest. We must have seen thousands kiss, adore and genuflect before images in the various churches, and then deposit the money in the provided box.
It is little wonder that in Italy the business of purgatory is pushed with all possible vigor. In Naples we bought a model of the Souls In Purgatorial Flames.
If, however, it is to be believed that the agonized souls are in flames, one must seek some method for their release. Rome answers the pang of the living concerning their dead by the instrument of the "MASS".
"Every Mass celebrated at this High Altar of this Church liberates one soul from Purgatory."
So, by models, pictures, notices and preaching the people's sympathies are drawn forth to support the Papal idea that their priests in the Mass have the means of releasing from Purgatorial horrors. The Mass is to be PAID for.
Purgatory is today as much "the priests pick-purse" as when it was so labeled by good Bishop Latimer.
The one purgatory which the Word of God knows is:
"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son purgeth us from all sin."
Has anything changed?
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