Catholic Church in Puerto Rico

The Catholic Church in Puerto Rico is part of the worldwide Catholic Church in communion with the Pope in Rome.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, seat of the Diocese of Ponce.

Present situation

Religious breakdown in Puerto Rico (2010)[1]

  Catholic (69.7%)

  Protestant (25.1%)

  Other Christian (1.9%)

  Other (1.4%)

  Irreligious (1.9%)

The CIA World Factbook reports that 85% of the population of Puerto Rico is Catholic, with the remaining 15% divided among Protestantism, Islam, and Judaism. However, the CIA report provides no date or source for the data; it may be outdated. Some sources, including Pew Research Center, put the Catholic percentage at approximately 70%.[2] An Associated Press article in March 2014 stated that "more than 70 percent of whom identify themselves as Catholic" but provided no source for this information (they may have used the 2010 Pew Research data).[3]

However, in a November 2014 report, with the sub-title Widespread Change in a Historically Catholic Region, Pew Research indicated that only 56% of Puerto Ricans were Catholic and that 33% were Protestant; this survey was completed between October 2013 and February 2014.[4]

When discussing Catholicism in Puerto Rico, Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves of San Juan offered this comment in 2007. "Its deepest roots are Latino ... U.S. rule began in 1898, at the end of the Spanish–American War, but indigenous, African and Spanish cultures "shaped its identity for 400 years" and that influence "cannot be undone overnight”. The shift from Spanish to U.S. rule brought a wave of anti-Catholic sentiment that led to the prohibition of the processions that are a mainstay of Latin American religious practice, as well as government policies that prohibited schools from teaching in Spanish. Since the approval of the Puerto Rican Constitution in 1952, popular religious traditions such as processions and festivals honoring communities' patron saints have taken root again.[5]

There is also an Byzantine Catholic community of the St. Spyridon Parish in Trujillo Alto under the jurisdiction of Archbishop Roberto González Nieves.[6]

Marian apparitions

Elenita de Jesús our Shekinah by Puerto Rican artist and art therapist Tamara Liz, LMHC

Puerto Rico has its own Marian apparition of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, though it has not yet been officially recognized by the Vatican, as this is a process that takes many years to be verified.[7][8][9] When these events get approved by the Vatican, it will make the apparition of Elenita de Jesús the only continuous apparition of Our Lady.

Elenita de Jesús

Identity and names

Elenita de Jesús, known to locals as "Our Mother", revealed her identity to the community, she affirmed: “I witnessed the death of Jesus”, “I am the mother of all men”, “I am the Mistress of all peoples”, “I am the one who suffered a lot when Jesus died on the cross”, and “I am the Queen of Heaven and Earth.” When Elenita was asked who she was, she often responded “I am your Mother”. She called those who approached her “children” without exception. Many called her “Our Mother” or simply “Mother.” “Elenita de Jesús” could be translated as “Little Light of Jesus”. Other names she went by were Mother Elena, Mamita Elena, and Mother Elenita. There were also people who referred to Our Mother as “La Santa” and many referred to her as the Virgin Mary. The only name Our Mother did not approve of was ‘misionera.’

An affidavit made on February 2, 1985 made by Felificado Pérez de la Torre, a local lawyer and State-certified notary public, Don Bernardo del Valle (one of the disciples of Our Lady of San Lorenzo), said that it was during a sermon in Caguas that she asked to be called Elenita de Jesús. Del Valle served as guardian of her house in the self-sufficient compound founded by Our Mother in La Santa Montaña.

Misconceptions (even within the Church) and Masonic cover-ups tried to bury her identity, which is why they changed the last name in Elenita de Jesús's death certificate.[10] However, journalist Vionette Negretti disproved many misconceptions (some reported by Father José Dimas Soberal) by finding the official documents (birth and death certificate) of the person they tried to pass Elenita for, Elena Huyke; they were obtained by Dutch genealogist Mathijas Vonder. Said documents and others issued by the Spanish authorities prove that Elena Huyke was born in Curaçao in 1847, she arrived in Puerto Rico with her family and lived in the municipality of Arroyo, per the Spanish census of 1870. She returned to Curaçao with her father in 1880 and died in Curaçao in 1925. Elena Huyke left Puerto Rico 19 years before Our Mother arrived at The Holy Mountain and died outside Puerto Rico 16 years after the burial of Our Mother.[11]

Activities and miracles

In those days only the wealthy could afford to be married or to baptize their children, which is why Our Mother would use the donations received to lead pilgrimages to neighboring churches so that the children would be baptized and couples could be married. She would round up couples living together and take them all to have marriage ceremonies on the same day.

Our Mother showed power over movement, time, elements, nature, sickness, sun, sound, matter, gravity, control over the laws of physics, and malignancies in the presence of her disciples, priests and the crowds who attended her sermons. Some of her miracles include multiplication of food, turning the taste of extremely sour fruits into ones of great sweetness, and transmuting herself several times into a dove. She appeared and disappeared among people as a ray of light, made herself invisible only to some selected people three times, stopped the movement of the sun, separated the waters of overflowing rivers to cross from one riverbank to the other. She levitated in countless occasions, and could exercise control over the fauna. She could talk to animals, they obeyed her. She also was aware of the thoughts and actions of those around her. She could foretell future events and hear peoples prayers to her. Our Mother also disappeared frequently, but she would always return.

Evidence

Detail of Elenita de Jesús our Shekinah by Tamara Liz

Although many have tried to discredit the events relating to the Apparition of Elenita de Jesús, she left evidence that cannot be contested. Elenita gave her followers detailed instructions to do post-mortem, among those was to collect her blood-which was saved for many years, until 2013 when a DNA test proved not only Our Lady's existence but her archaic genealogy.[12]

In 1935, Félix Rodríguez Tirado—a resident of Patillas who testified that Our Mother had told him that God had sent her to talk about salvation to all—was digging in the area where Our Mother spilled her blood. He planned to place a monument there. Then he found some pieces of cloth with the blood of Our Mother. He was so strongly impressed by the fact that the blood was still fresh—25 years after the burial—that he pulled them out quickly and buried them again in a nearby place about three or four feet deep.

In 2013, Gerardo González Rosario, a resident artisan from the San Salvador, neighborhood of Caguas, and grandson of the disciple Alberto Rosario Galarza—who was part of the group known as Soldiers of Our Mother—signed an affidavit before a lawyer attached to the Commission of Civil Rights of Puerto Rico, Joel Ayala Martínez. In the document he indicated that in 1984 he had received orders from Our Mother to go to Santa Montaña, which he did. Following her precise instructions, he found the jars containing the blood spilled in 1909 that were buried back in 1935. To his surprise, he discovered that the blood was still fresh. After removing the bottles—while preparing to bury them again where instructed—he asked permission to take a piece of blood-stained cloth for himself. With permission granted by Our Mother, he placed them in a small glass jar that he closed with a cork and carried away his pocket. González Rosario did not reveal to anyone what happened until he again received instructions from Our Mother in 2013, this time ordering him to show the blood sample he had kept hidden since 1984.

On January 9, 2013, David Ortiz Angleró, actor, speaker and former president of the Association of Producers and Artists of Shows (APATE), visited the residence of Mr. González Rosario in the San Salvador neighborhood of Caguas. Angleró had in front of him and in full view—from 9:45 A.M. until noon—the transparent glass bottle containing the blood of Our Mother. By affidavit signed on March 2, 2013 before Commissioner Joel Ayala Martínez, Agleró indicated that the blood still remained liquid, and had the color of red apples. In addition, from the glass container—although it was closed—emanated a strong scent of roses. The statement of Mr. Angleró was officially certified in accordance with the laws of Puerto Rico.

On February 12, 2013, a sample of the blood was extracted under strict aseptic conditions to prevent contamination. The blood—still in a liquid state: fresh—was taken to the Advanced DNA Identification Center to perform a mitochondrial study, remaining all the time under the supervision of González Rosario.[12] The study of the sample was carried out by the owner of said laboratory, Dr. Gilberto Aponte Machín, in the presence of twelve witnesses of various professions and trades, all of impeccable reputation. All of that was duly recorded according to law. The witnesses observed the moment when the bottle was opened, as well as the strong, identifiable and penetrating fragrance of roses that lasted until it was closed. They also attested to the immutability of the blood, which remained in a liquid state and of a bright scarlet red color during the 27 minutes that the extraction of the sample lasted. Six of the witnesses photographed the procedure with digital cameras. Two of them took videos of the examination room while the procedure was in progress.

The scientists attempted to determine:

1. if the liquid substance in the glass container was actually human blood,
2. the sex of the person to whom it belonged, and
3. the ancestry of the subject through DNA analysis.

The officially certified result of the analysis, dated February 28, 2013, indicates beyond any doubt that the blood extracted from the bottle under the custody of Mr. González Rosario comes from a woman and that the associated probability of that person being Puerto Rican is 1 in 577 million trillion. By way of reference: the estimated population of the Earth is around 7.1 billion people, or 7,100,000,000 human beings.[12]

The Holy Mountain

Adding to this body of evidence is the presence of the Holy Spirit at the sacred site the Holy Mountain (Santa Montaña),[7][8] visited by religious groups and persons of faith[13] and protected by the Diocese of Caguas. The Holy Mountain (Santa Montaña), is located at an altitude of 2,226 ft above sea level, in the Espino neighborhood of the municipality of San Lorenzo, is a locality near where the municipalities of San Lorenzo, Patillas and Cayey meet.[7] On 1954 by mandate of the government of Puerto Rico for all official purposes, including cartography, Cerro Las Peñas (The Stones Hill) was named Cerro de Nuestra Madre (Our Mother's Hill).[11] The Our Lady of Mt Carmel Diocesan Sanctuary is located at the top of La Santa Montaña in Puerto Rico. It was built and dedicated in 1985 by the bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Caguas, Monsignor Enrique Hernández Rivera.

As years went by, a spring that Our Mother made appear among the stones was sold out. The disciples who lived in the farm implored her to intercede to bring up another spring. Our Mother again caused water to surge between the stones, this time on the western slope of the mountain. She called that water “a balm for all my children.” She also promised that the spring would never dry up.

Prophecies

The prophecies that Our Mother left us are documented in the book by Fr. Jaime Reyes. O.P. La Santa Montaña de San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico y el Misterio de Elenita de Jesús 1899-1909.[8]

1. When those who climbed the Mountain do not put oil in the lamp— the one I left below by one of the gates—the Mountain will be darkened.
2. My work will be forgotten, but little ones will start it again and great ones will finish it with great splendor.
3. The Mountain will fall, but it will rise again with more strength.
4. When I am gone the Mountain will go back into darkness, but eventually people will climb up the Mountain like ants.
5. When I leave, the Mountain will fall, but eventually it will blossom like a rose.
6. The Mountain will shine again with a holy man at the Santa Peña (Holy Rock).
7. When I am gone, men will come who will continue my mission.
8. A road will pass through the Mountain.
9. Those who are in trouble, climb the Mountain, that will be salvation for many.
10. Water will be scarce, but the Spring of the Mountain will always have its balm. When water dries up in other places, there would be no lack of it in the Mountain.
11. The Mountain will have a village and people will come from everywhere to the Little Town of Dawn.
12. Many pilgrims will climb here in 70 to 80 years.
13. If Puerto Rico were to sink, the Mountain will not sink.
14. The Mountain is in front of Jerusalem, where God shed His Blood. [NOTE: The spot where Elenita asked the jibaritos to build her hut is at an elevation (2,226 ft) slightly below Mt Calvary (2536 ft)]
15. At the end of time the Mountain will be dressed in blue. Some will try to reach it but they won't be able.
16. At the end of time the crows will return to the mountain.
17. The Mountain is the place where the living and the dead are judged.
18. When Abdón del Valle brought a letter from Elenita to the Bishop of Puerto Rico, the prelate responded negatively and Elenita said that she would see the Bishop and the priests go up the mountain without being called; that those who heard her did not see who she was.
19. The priests will not believe in me, but I await them on the mountain.
20. When the Bishop will go up the Mountain, it will be already the end of time, or the world would have little time left.
21. Priests will sleep on the Mountain.
22. In the end of times, the Pope will come to the Mountain.
23. I will appear as a white dove in the Mountain and in the house of my people.
24. I will travel and I won't be buried until three days have passed.
25. I will come to take those who are mine.
26. I will always be in the mountain: Some will not see me but they will feel my presence.
27. I will return to the Mountain for the End of the World.
28. The Virgin of Dawn will come to the mountain.
29. The Little Town of Dawn (el Pueblecito de la Aurora) will grow here.
30. The Little Town of Dawn will come in about 80 years.
31. The Little Town will be as far from the Great Day as the mouth is from the nose.
32. There will be few priests.
33. Churches will be closed but you must pray at their doors.
34. False prophets will come that will want to conquer the Catholic religion.
35. Time will come when you will place the Three Divine Persons on the door.
36. In the End Times, her portrait will come to the Mountain, the end will be near.
37. A good government will come but others will not be like it.
38. Women will vote in elections.
39. A political party will raise that will be very difficult to defeat.
40. A political party will raise that will corrupt Puerto Rico.
41. Puerto Rico will be Communist for 48 hours and many will suffer.
42. Country will be town and town will be country. Where thorns grow the land will be cleared and where the land is clear thorns will grow.
43. There will be green leafy land without fruit.
44. No one will want to work the land.
45. Women will take the jobs from men.
46. Puerto Rico will have many highways.
47. There will be businesses one on top of another.
48. There will be plenty of food.
49. Money will come to your homes, bless it and use it.
50. There will come a time when there will be no need to use money.
51. Men will flee from women.
52. There more light there is, the darker it will be.
53. The valleys of Puerto Rico, will be pasture for fish.
54. Sea waters will flood Yabucoa.
55. Arroyo and Guayama will burn.
56. Men will walk up in the air.
57. Men will travel in carts without oxen and on headless horses.
58. When men talk to each other without seeing each other, the end will be near.
59. There will be too much clothing.
60. Hospitals will be so full, that they will give poison to patients as medicine.
61. There will be houses made of iron.
62. The 20th century will be the century of light.
63. There will be no respect.
64. There will be neither parents for children nor children for parents.
65. There will be a war in which they will toss children to make them fall on bayonets.
66. Parents will kill their children.
67. Families will be unknown.
68. Women will chase after men.
69. Women will dress like men.
70. Women will walk around naked.
71. Men will die like animals.
72. Blessed those who have their mind by 60, many who live longer won't have it.
73. Governments will not agree with each other.
74. There will be universal war.
75. I will appear at the end of times but even so the priests will not believe.
76. The last stage of the world. Communism will govern many countries.
77. When you see people moving like ants not settling anywhere, be prepared because the arrival of Christ is near.
78. When the sea roars three times and a Cross appears, that is the end of the end times.
79. The last sign before the end is a Cross that will appear in the sky.
80. Three days before the Judgment, water will be denied; it will be heard but not seen.
81. Sunday and Christmas Eve will be the end of times. Remain in prayer

List of dioceses

• Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico
• Diocese of Arecibo
• Diocese of Caguas
• Diocese of Mayagüez
• Diocese of Ponce
• Diocese of Fajardo-Humacao – erected March 2008

San Juan bankruptcy

On January 11, 2018 Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of San Juan filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, stating that the current pension plan was unworkable and applied for a new plan which has an estimated $10 million in assets and $10 million in liabilities.[14] On March 27, 2018, local Judge Anthony Cuevas issued an embargo against the Archdiocese of San Juan which would remain in effect until they could find $4.7 million to pay for the teachers pension.[15] It was also ruled that the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico was a single entity and that the embargo would apply to all the suffragan dioceses of the Archdiocese of San Juan.[16][15] On August 30, 2018, the Archdiocese of San Juan filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, noting that they were unable to find the $4.7 million.[17] Federal Judge Edward Godoy protected the Archdiocese under Chapter 11, paralyzing the seizure of assets and helping them avoid the owed retirement payments.[16] However, it was also ruled that the bankruptcy would apply to all the other Catholic dioceses in Puerto Rico.[16]

Episcopal conference

The bishops in Puerto Rico form the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference (Spanish: Conferencia Episcopal Puertorriqueña). [18][19] The episcopal conference allows the bishops to set certain norms for all of Puerto Rico, including the form of the liturgy.

See also

• List of the Catholic bishops of the United States

References

1. "Demography - Puerto Rico". Pew Research. Pew Research, DC. January 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
2. "Demography - Puerto Rico". Pew Research. Pew Research, DC. January 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
3. Associated Press (March 12, 2014). "Catholic Church and Puerto Rico officials at odds in widening sex abuse investigation". FOX News. FOX News. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
4. "Religion in Latin America". Pew Research. Pew Research Center. November 13, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
5. "Catholic Church in Puerto Rico is looking to rekindle faith, regain identity, archbishop says". Archived from the original on 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
6. Puerto Rico Welcomes First-Ever Eastern Catholic Parish
7. https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/mysticalmountaininsanlorenzo-1225156/
8. http://www.nuestramadre.org/libro-padre-jaime.pdf
9. http://www.nuestramadre.org/historia.html
10. http://www.nuestramadre.org/images-historia/image012.jpg
11. https://casorosendi.wordpress.com/2018/03/19/our-lady-of-mount-carmel-in-puerto-rico/
12. http://www.nuestramadre.org/images-historia/image020.jpg
13. http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/isla/nota/aldescubiertolassietemaravillasdesanlorenzo-992049/
14. https://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/desktop/document/Catholic_School_Employees_Pension_Trust_Docket_No_318bk00108_Bank?1538261392
15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-09-30. Retrieved 2018-09-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
16. https://pasquines.us/2018/09/27/federal-judge-decides-that-bankruptcy-filing-applies-to-all-of-puerto-ricos-roman-catholic-churches/
17. https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/san-juan-archdiocese-files-bankruptcy-over-teacher-pensions
18. Conferencia Episcopal Puertorriqueña (C.E.P.). GCatholic.org website. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
19. Cheney, David M. "Catholic Church in Puerto Rico". Retrieved 2009-07-27.

External links

• Conferencia Episcopal Puertorriqueña (C.E.P.). GCatholic.org website