Centers of Counterfeit Light (Life and Love)?

J.M.J. + O.B.T. + M.G.R.*

In what is arguably his magnum opus, G.K. Chesterton opens The Everlasting Man (1925) with an eye opening sequence of word images that detail how one may possibly relate to (and judge) the phenomenom of Christianity (i.e., Catholic Christianity). He says that there are three viewpoints and I paraphrase them as follows: 1) the one who never left a home on a hill (the Church) and appreciates it from the intimate, warm inside; 2) the one who wills to and leaves home and is far enough away to observe with cold detachment, a panorama from a world view---to look back at what was home to see it truly "from the outside;" 3) the one who stays so close (a goal hanger in soccer is a good analogy) existing in the shadow of the home on a hill, or in the valley between high points, one who can only relate (and judge) from a position of relative blindness, what appears to be reality.

I mention this because I recently visited The Centers of Light website  http://www.centersoflight.org/  via SpiritDaily, and was deeply troubled by what I "experienced."  Why?  Well it was just one more gut-wrenching example of the New Age counterfeit which threatens to seduce the faithful by its proximity to the True Church.  Just one more esoteric/gnostic community that claims the high ground of Christian mysticism (and many of its most recognizable symbols), but forgets or ignores the fact that the mystic tradition of the Church is Christ-centered, implies suffering, and requires fidelity to the truth of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. John of the Cross

St. Sharbel

St. Padre Pio

St. Faustina Kowalska

are true Catholic Christian mystics!!!

All five of these mystics (although in all humility they never claimed they were) lived lives fully grounded in Christian theology as they embarked on a mystical journey toward personal intimacy with God. (Purgative-Illuminative-Unitive). The New Age Counterfeit maintains that there is no need for an overarching and anchoring theology and it offers healing/peace/well-being as opposed to Jesus Christ, His Cross and suffering for eternal reward. This is pure nonsense.

Go to to this site to "experience it yourself" and don't forget to view the sidebar video [A Transformational Path] of the gnostic "priestess" and "priest"  complete with Roman collars. 

Sadly, these New Age mystics are more than likely former baptized Catholics who resemble what G.K Chesterton describes as "the worst judge of all:"  

...the ill-educated Christian turning gradually into the ill-tempered agnostic, entangled in the end of a feud of which he never understood the beginning, blighted with a sort of hereditary boredom with he knows not what, and already weary of hearing what he has never heard.

Sincerely yours in Jesus and Mary,
Mike Rizzio, SOLT

Imitate Mary
Become like Jesus
Live for the Triune God

Seek the Light of Our Lord Jesus Christ
See you on the High Ground!

* - J.M.J. + O.B.T. + M.G.R. stands for: Jesus, Mary and Joseph;
O Beata Trinitas; St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael