(7) Paul Rolland, Night Watchman, Night Watchman Ministries:
And the (7) beast was taken, and with him the (7) false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he (5) deceived them that had received (5) the mark of the beast, and (5) them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into (7) a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (777), (555)
And (5) the devil that deceived them was cast (7) into the lake of fire and brimstone, where (7) the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented (7) day and night for ever and ever. (777)
Paul Rolland | Night Watchman | Night Watchman Ministries | (5) Pope Francis and Mystery Babylon – Both (7) the Religion and City of the Beast
The (5) False Prophet Calls Up ‘INCLUSIVITY’; Vatican considering ‘(5) Mayan rite’ of Mass after (5) Mexican bishops overwhelmingly approve it
The ‘Mayan rite’ contains various pagan elements and new liturgical offices, including a ‘principal’ and ‘incensor’ who take on roles of the priest.
Michael Haynes Mon Jul 31, 2023 – 2:32 pm EDT
VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) –– Mexico’s Catholic bishops have overwhelmingly approved and sent to Rome their proposals for a Mayan rite of the Mass, which incorporates lay leadership and apparent elements of idolatry. LifeSite has received a copy of the text now being examined by the Vatican, and presents elements of it below.
ACI Prensa reported on July 25 that the Mexican Bishops’ Conference has submitted its proposals for an “indigenous” liturgical adaptation of the Mass to the Vatican’s Congregation (now Dicastery) for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (CDW).
The emeritus bishop of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi, described the proposed rite as “advancing the progress of inculturation of the Church in the native peoples and of taking responsibility for the celebration of Holy Mass with some elements of these cultures.”
Arizmendi is one of the chief proponents of the initiative, and—as LifeSite’s Dr. Maike Hickson has reported—Arizmendi’s record of overseeing the ordination of female deacons and formulating an indigenous rite of the Mass has received notable support from Pope Francis.
He added that “the creators of these initiatives are the same Indigenous people of San Cristóbal de Las Casas.”
Arizmendi told ACI Prensa that he had responsibility for writing the text and presenting it to the bishops before they voted to approve it.
The proposed liturgical changes were then approved almost unanimously by Mexico’s bishop, who voted 103-2 in favor during the April 2023 plenary assembly. Arizmendi also stated that the country’s bishops extended the proposals to “all the native peoples of the country,” rather than just to those of the San Cristóbal diocese.
READ: The new Mayan rite of Mass encouraged by Pope Francis is replete with pagan idolatry and symbolism
Joining Arizmendi in promoting the endeavor to the other Mexican bishops was the cardinal’s successor in the Diocese of San Cristóbal—Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar. Aguilar also joined Arizmendi in presenting the proposals to the Pope and the CDW, stating that the Vatican had received the proposals “favorably” when they were delivered to the CDW in June.
LifeSiteNews contacted the CDW asking for further information about the Vatican’s decision and when it might be expected, but did not receive a reply by time of publication.
The proposal’s presentation to Rome comes shortly after the Mexican bishops conducted their ad limina visit to the Vatican in February, meeting with Pope Francis and the various curial departmental prefects. At the time, the bishops announced that they wished to send a proposal of such a new rite in May to Rome for approval.
Dr. Maike Hickson has extensively reported on the developments of the proposed “Mayan” rite of the Mass. (See HERE and HERE). She noted that a Mayan rite has already been practiced in the Diocese of San Cristóbal, as it has been approved by the Mexican bishops’ conference. Just as with the Amazonian rite, Pope Francis has signaled his support of the liturgical changes, Dr. Hickson noted.
In March, Cardinal Arizmendi provided LifeSite with a copy of the official draft of the new Mayan rite of Mass that was presented to the bishops’ conference. Dr. Hickson reported extensively on the text.
As Hickson reported, the proposals include numerous elements of lay promotion in the liturgy, including the two liturgical offices of a “principal” and an “incensor.” A rubrical outline of the proposed Mayan rite is thus provided in the image below, with the “principal” and the “incensor” taking key prominence, and the “principal” at times appearing of equal or greater importance than the priest.
Details of ‘principal’ from text examined by Vatican
Arizmendi has now been gracious enough to provide LifeSite with the official version which has been submitted to the Vatican, noting that “we now await the response of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. We hope that everything proposed will be approved in Rome.”
The proposals do not differ too greatly to those sent to LifeSite in March, albeit they have been slightly summarized for the CDW’s perusal. The text focusses on the precise liturgical actions the new lay offices would involve, rather than giving the wider details and theological-style explanations about the new roles which are contained in the more expansive version written in March.
Interestingly, in the version now submitted to Rome, the “principal’s” duties remain the same as in the version LifeSite saw in March and which the Mexican bishops approved, but the process of summarizing the details for the CDW’s perusal has removed from this version the description that the “principal” will be either male or female. Instead, no stipulation about the sex of the principal is given.
The celebrating priest serves as the one to introduce the lay “principal” to the congregation. The proposed formula is “Brethren, with hearts well disposed, guided by the Principal, let us pray together to God.”
LifeSite’s translation of the text is provided in the image below, which details the “principal’s” liturgical duties.
Details provided in the more expansive, March version of the text note the high importance given to the “principal.” Such a person is described as follows:
the liturgical office of principal is conferred on the person, male or female, who is a moral authority in the community, who guides his people in prayer and faith. He is the one who guides and gives advice on the life of faith, religious traditions and also takes care of the good performance of the work of those who have a ministry of service in the Christian community. Within the liturgical celebrations its function is to guide the people, at the invitation of the one who presides over the celebration, in moments of community prayer.
The March text also noted that the role of the “principal” will “become even more relevant during the period of absence of the clergy in our diocese.”
The “principal” can be either male or female and would be chosen by the parish, before being confirmed by the local bishop.
Incensor assuming priest’s role
While the role of the “incensor” might sound akin to the role of the thurifer, it is fact a combination of the roles of the thurifer, the deacon, and the celebrating priest.
As such, the “incensor” will not just hold the thurible but will be responsible for incensing the cross, the altar, and the sacred images—an action that is proper to the priest or a deacon if a deacon is assisting the priest in a solemn Mass.
Notably, the “incensor” again assumes the duties of the priest (or deacon in a solemn Mass) by incensing the Gospel book, as well as the Offertory incensing, which includes censing “the offerings, the altar, the cross, the priest and the people.”
Liturgical ‘ritual dance’
As already highlighted by Dr. Hickson, the new Mayan rite does include a form of “ritual dance” which is described as being a “thanksgiving after Communion,” although it can be done “as a Prayer of the Faithful, or as an Offertory offering” the text notes.
The priest introduces the dance, which “is performed with a ritual dance (light movements of the body), accompanied by local instrumental music.” However, after introducing the dance, the priest once more cedes his ground to the “principal,” who calls upon musicians to lead the music.
“The community prays by dancing with light movements of the body,” the text notes.
At the close of the dance, the priest issues the customary final prayer and blessing for Mass.
What is not present in the text sent to the Vatican
In March, Cardinal Arizmendi told LifeSite that “in the Mayan rites that we propose in the Mass, there is nothing of animism, polytheism, etc., of the ancient Mayas. The rites that we propose have a Catholic base, but developed by these new peoples, who have Mayan origins, but who have distanced themselves from the ancient Maya.”
While much of the essence of the March 2023 draft remains in the text now being examined by Cardinal Arthur Roche’s dicastery, certain elements are notably absent: as already mentioned, the current draft sent to the Vatican does not contain any of the explanation or theological style language used in the March draft.
But other aspects are also missing, such as the suggestion that the “principal” might engage in the pagan practice of praying to the four directions of the earth. “On special occasions,” the March draft says, “this prayer can be realigned by invoking God from the four cardinal points.” To invoke God from the four cardinal points implies in the Mayan tradition polytheism: the four directions of the earth—north, west, south, east—are traditionally connected with gods.
While these lines are not mentioned in the Vatican’s version, what is contained is the note that the candles used during the prayer “can be of the same white color, or of different colors, according to the directions of the universe.”
Indeed, widely removed from the current text are the overtly pagan descriptions of many of the actions which are nevertheless still being performed. The “ritual dance,” for example, was referenced in the March text thus: “the feet caress the face of Mother Earth, making light movements. The face of God is greeted by moving to the four directions of the universe.”
Such lines were not present in the current text sent to LifeSite.
However, the question must be raised as to why such lines are absent. Should Mexico’s bishops wish to create a pagan-style Mayan rite, then removing any problematic language from the text sent to the Vatican would be very recommended in terms of achieving their goal.
Presuming the CDW does indeed approve the proposed liturgy, then the liturgical actions—based on, and drawn from, pagan actions—will still be present in the liturgy, regardless of whether the CDW has examined the pagan-style theological language in the March draft or not. Such a liturgy would then be at the liberty of the individual cleric involved, who would feel at ease incorporating the wider, accompanying pagan aspects of the rituals which the Vatican would have approved.
While no date for the Vatican’s decision on the document has been given, its approval should not be unexpected. The Undersecretary of the CDW—Bishop Aurelio García Macías—was heavily involved in drawing up the rite.
He told local media in March that the process was “a personal enrichment for me because I believe that the local experience of San Cristóbal de Las Casas has discerned, has been able to study, reflect and can be enriched with the universal experience of the Catholic Church.”
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(7) Paul Rolland, Night Watchman, Night Watchman Ministries:
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be (7) ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: (7) for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? (7) and what communion hath light with darkness? (777)
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7’ Paul Rolland, Night Watchman, Night Watchman Ministries:
Evil mankind (6) + evil beast/antichrist (6) + evil false prophet (6) = 666 (a literal number represented by the number 6, repeated three times in a linear row.)
666
The infamous, “Mark of the Beast” and “number of his name is 666” imagery is no different than any of the other generalized, descriptive terms that John the Apostle used, while in his banishment on the Isle of Patmos. Rev. 13:17-18 is probably the most symbolic, well known and most poorly understood two verses in the book of Revelation, and in the entire Bible. “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred, threescore and six (666).” (Emphasis added).
(6) The Number of an Evil Man:
Verse 13:18 clearly states that 666 (6) is a number of a man … not a number of an angel, not a number of Satan (which is ‘5’), Devil, serpent or dragon, nor of any kind of reference to Babylon (city) or Mystery Babylon (false religion). The reference is literally to man (mankind), the beast/antichrist (a literal, physical man) and the false prophet (a literal, physical man). Each of them is judged to be extremely evil and each is therefore assigned a number of six (6) to represent the imperfection, sinfulness and evilness of man, before God. Combining the number of each type of man leads to 666, this (6) number represents the totality of evil, of the three men. ‘7’ The number three (3) denotes intensity and emphasis. The fact that the number six (6) is repeated three (3) times emphasizes the most intense evil that mankind, antichrist, and the false prophet (6) collectively possess during the tribulation period. Evil doesn’t come any worse, or more intensely than this. Period. When the bible states an important reference to someone or something, the word ‘7’ of God is very specific and literal. There should be no confusion. To understand why the number six (6) represents evil, Verse 13:18 (6) tells us to “count” his number
But how can they call on him (Jesus Christ) to save them unless they believe in him (Jesus Christ)? And how can they believe in him (Jesus Christ) if they have never heard about him (Jesus Christ)? And how can they hear about him (Jesus Christ) unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14
In His Service,
Night Watchman
Paul Rolland
Night Watchman Ministries
Make Your Decision for Christ NOW!!!!!!! Time is Up!!!!!!!
Jesus Christ’s Offer of Salvation:
The ABCs of Salvation through Jesus Christ (the Lamb)
A. Admit/Acknowledge/Accept that you are sinner. Ask God’s forgiveness and repent of your sins.
. . . “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).
. . . “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10).
. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8).
B. Believe Jesus is Lord. Believe that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be; that He was both fully God and fully man and that we are saved through His death, burial, and resurrection. Put your trust in Him as your only hope of salvation. Become a son or daughter of God by receiving Christ.
. . . “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:15-17). For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).
C. Call upon His name, Confess with your heart and with your lips that Jesus is your Lord and Savior.
. . . “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10).
. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (John 1:8-10).
. . . “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (John 2:2).
. . . “In this was manifested the love of god toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:9, 14-15).
. . . “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:8-10).
. . . “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
. . . “Jesus saith unto them, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).
. . . “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 1:16).
. . . “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts: 4:12).
. . . “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:4-6).
. . . “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
. . . “But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12).
True Church / Bride of Christ Spared from God’s Wrath:
Romans 5:8-10. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
Romans 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 1:10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 5:9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 8:35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Jeremiah 30:7. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.