The Manager of “God’s Farm” in Wilyabrup is excited by the prospect of promoting the private revelations of Italian mystic Mother Eugenia Ravasio at a Retreat Day on August 4.
Betty Peaker, who has held many retreats and prayer days at her idyllic southwest property, believes the messages received by Mother Eugenia from God the Father in 1932 (and given an imprimatur by Cardinal Canisius Van Lierde of Rome in 1988) encapsulate the spiritual essence of her own ministry over the past 25 years.
“Mother Eugenia’s messages have really resonated within my heart,” Betty told The Record. “Her call to celebrate God as a God of love and not fear is one that needs to be embraced by every single person,” she said.
Mother Eugenia was born in Bergamo, Italy in 1907 to a peasant family and received minimal education.
At age 20, she entered the Congregation of Our Lady of the Apostles, became Mother General of the Order at 28 and, in 12 years of missionary activity, opened over 70 centres – each with an infirmary, school and church – in the remotest spots of Africa, Asia and Europe. She was also renowned for her work amongst those afflicted with leprosy. She died in 1990.
Over two days in 1932, Mother Eugenia claimed to have received a series of messages from God the Father in Latin, a language with which she was not familiar. She later recorded her apparitions in a book referring to God as a loving Father.
“He wants to be loved by all as their Father, Creator and Saviour. God the One, true Author, avowed Himself the Father of all, tender of all fathers,” she wrote.
In another part of the message, Mother Eugenia said that God had “instructed His plan, His desire to be known, loved and honoured with a special devotion feast day under the title ‘Father of all Mankind’ on the first Sunday in August”, which is why Ms Peaker is initiating the Retreat day on her property.
“It will be a wonderful day,” she said. “Father Brian Morgan, who has also felt an affinity with these messages, will celebrate Mass and I’m sure will deliver inspired talks.”
The imprimatur signifies that, in the Cardinal’s opinion, the messages contain nothing against faith and morals, but does not certify the messages were received from God the Father.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the official authority for approving private revelations on behalf of the Catholic Church, has not approved Mother Ravasio’s messages as authentic, nor issued an opinion on them.
As in all private revelations, Catholics are not required to believe the messages of Mother Eugenia Ravasio. The decision regarding the authenticity of private revelations is left to the conscience of the individual.
The Retreat Day will begin with Mass at 10.30am and conclude at 3.30pm. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to Betty Peaker on 9755 6212.