Dear brothers and sisters, dear friends, in gratitude and praise to the Triune God and in the
joy of our salvation freely granted through the Blood of the Lamb, I rejoice in this
opportunity to present my testimony to you, as I remember His promise, “Whosoever
therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in
heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)
God's Word declares, “the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly,
and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). This of course
refers to the priests ‘after the order of Aaron,’ but at various times it has also been true of
priests of the Roman Catholic Church when awesome grace truly sets men right with God.
The Reformers, many of whom sealed their faith with their blood, were reclaimed in triumph
by sovereign grace out of the Roman Catholic Church. Knowing this strengthened me
against the doubts and fears that accompany our frail humanity. The Holy Spirit truly
translates us from darkness to the kingdom of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Spirit
of the living God does this by the faith that is derived from the Holy Scriptures, and not from
man-made traditions and reasoning.
In giving an account of my life my intention is to present a perception of events
without embellishment or exaggeration. I am merely going to tell the truth. In mentioning all
those years that I spent in monastic seclusion my sole purpose is to show you how the Lord
brought me out of darkness into His light, and how He delivered me from the power of Satan,
from death to life.
Here are just a few dates: I was born in 1917 and entered the monastery in 1928. You
will notice that I was just eleven years old. In those days the Roman Catholic Church took
boys before puberty, to what was a secondary education in a monastic setting. I was
ordained a priest in 1942, and by the grace of God I was born again in 1959, after thirty-one
years of spiritual bondage.
No doubt you have quite a few questions in mind, or perhaps just one: Why did I
leave the priesthood and the Church of Rome? It was not for personal reasons or for motives.2
pertaining to my own happiness, but because of the Word of God. Before answering, I need
to tell you about the spiritual atmosphere that I lived in, and about monastic life.
How I came to enter the monastery
In my boyhood I wanted to be a physician, supposing that physicians knew all about
illnesses and how to cure them, and could prevent people from dying. However, one day our
country physician died, which amazed me to such an extent that I changed my mind. Being
far from wealthy, but eager to get an education, from age eleven onwards I attende d a
Catholic boarding school run by Franciscan friars.
Please follow me now for a few minutes, as I tell you what it was like for us as young
boys. We rang at the monastery door, and a bearded Capuchin friar ushered us in. Whatever
we were carrying was stored in a numbered locker. The monastery door closed behind us,
and from now on, we were to consider we had no mind or wills of our own, all was subject to
the authority of the Superior of the monastery.
Here in the monastic boarding school I received five years of secondary schooling, cut
off from my family and from the rest of the world. Most of the time the air was thick with
false piety and what passed for the Gospel was a mere code of conduct. In this monastic
boarding school, austere traditions were the only thing anyone knew about. Throughout the
years I spent there, I found no peace. I was continually plagued with queries and doubts. If I
ever shared these doubts with anybody, the only answer I obtained was, “it is of the devil.”
So I fell into the habit of keeping all my thoughts to myself.
Later on I was transferred to the normal monastery, to begin my novitiate. The
novitiate is a time of preparation and testing for those who wish to become friars. Then we
were obliged take the threefold vow of obedience, chastity, and poverty. This I did at the end
of my first year. Franciscans have three knots in their rope girdles, symbolizing this threefold
vow.
As a seminarian, I already had to reckon with the fact I had no will of my own, all the
more so now that I was a friar having taken the threefold vow. My name was changed to that
of “Brother Matthias”. I wore a monastic habit, and I was tonsured. Even in winter I walked
barefooted in sandals. There was no comfort whatsoever in our rooms that were called cells.
We used to rise at midnight and go down to church to sing the tradition prayers of the
Church. Almost daily I had to fast from food, wear a hair shirt, and to flagellate myself,
supposedly to atone for my sins. There is not enough time to expand on these matters; suffice
it to say that I had no inner peace from those sacrifices and mortifications. I fervently longed
to be freed from this state of spiritual bondage.
After three years of philosophic studies, I was obliged to renew my vows, which then
bound me for life to the monastery.
I studied theology for four years and was ordained a priest on July 12, 1942. Those
were fourteen long years of learning experiences and struggles, never to be forgotten. The
rigid discipline and the isolation in a closed environment very soon turned me into a slave. I
mechanically walked in the way that had been mapped out for me, no longer wondering
whether it was the right path for me.
During my novitiate, I had begun to wonder whether the monastic life was really
God's will for me. At that time I thought, should I continue? Would it be good to drop
everything and go home again? I let my superiors know about my inner struggles. They
would reply, “Stay where the Lord has put you, all else is of the evil one.” Having been well
schooled in obedience, I would always say, “yes”, although in bitterness. I accepted my.3
superiors’ counsel and plodded on. But God, who searches our hearts and sees the innermost
parts within us, had already heard my cry and was already preparing my deliverance. “I
waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1)
My life as a priest
To a certain extent, studying philosophy and being transferred to another monastery in
another city helped to moderate my doubts. My problems however increased tenfold as I was
to be ordained a priest. My superiors, who knew about my inner struggles, sent me to a
highly secluded monastery to be indoctrinated or brainwashed as we say today. What with all
the shame that I underwent, (at the time of the Second World War) my utter isolation, my
fear of finding myself in an even worse situation, like it or not, I allowed myself to be
ordained a priest.
My ordination marked the beginning of a new phase in my life. Being a priest
enabled me to establish contacts with all sorts of persons. After the death of my parents and
the end of the war, I became a teacher, one who heard confessions of sins, and a hospital
chaplain in various locations. But the peace of God still evaded me and my soul was still
restless. After having been a Capuchin friar for twenty-one years, I joined the Minor
Monastery of Franciscans order, whose rules are less strict than those of the Capuchins. I
was transferred to the Franciscan monastic province of Rome itself.
This seemed all new and wonderful at first. I thought I had found a haven of peace,
but how wrong I was! All my doubts surfaced again and I was continually misunderstood.
After serving for five years teaching in a secondary school in Rome, I was sent into exile in
the secluded monastery of “Sezze Romano” in the province of Latium. Strangely enough, in
one way I lacked nothing, yet at the same time I lacked everything. Everything ran like
clockwork, our daily schedules, our programs, teaching students, Mass, and hearing
confessions. Such was my run-of-the-mill existence in Latium.
Radio, television and movies were of the greatest importance in our monastery, which
was filled with the world and its lusts. Theoretically, I had renounced the world and its
temptations, but now I felt myself gradually sinking into sin and on my way to hell.
Elsewhere, outside the walls of the monastery there were also, diocesan, or what are called
secular priests. These so-called “servants of God” were of questionable morals, lovers of
money. They took money for so-called blessings both within and outside of the Church.
Their flocks idolized these priests, who paraded images and relics before them and raised
Mary and the Papacy to god-like status. These priests advocated indulgences and all sorts of
false doctrines.
From darkness to light
In the isolation of the monastery, a sort of upheaval took place within my spirit.
Seemingly God was forcing me to examine my own life in the light of the Holy Scriptures, as
the Lord Himself when He prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
(John 17:17) It became clear to me that so far, instead of actually studying God's Word, I
had merely dissected a few passages, which at first sight could be used to support Roman
Catholic theology. I understood how limited and distorted my study of the Bible had been. I
had only studied disconnected fragments. The light of God, and the whole counsel of God
were lacking, and I had a false concept of salvation. So far, pagan philosophy and sophistry
had been foremost. We had twisted and hijacked the Word to make it fit the teachings of the
Roman Church..4
From perdition to salvation
In God's Word it is written, “The Lord knoweth the m that are his” (2 Timothy 2:19).
Jesus has said, “I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts” (Revelation 2:23). “The Lord
also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9). “He
knoweth them that trust in him” (Nahum 1:7). The great day of revelation when I received
help and light from above came to me quite unexpectedly. It was on an April morning in
1958. Owing to a slight hitch I postponed Mass from 6.30 am until 7.00 am. I went up to my
cell again and tried to find a musical program on the radio. In His love, the Lord God led me
to Radio Monte-Carlo. I listened to a beautiful hymn and a powerful, Spirit-inspired message
on the subject, “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 3:6-7). At
the end of the message came the announcement: “You have been listening to “Radio
Risveglio”, then the address of the ministry was given.
I am unable to describe exactly what happened that morning. But I do know that from
then onwards, I sensed new life welling up within me. I wrote to “Radio Risveglio”, and they
answered. Through our exchange of letters, I understood for the first time the message of
salvation, which was completely new to me. To put it in a nutshell, I felt powerfully moved
to serve God according to His Word in the Scriptures in sincerity and righteousness.
Thoughts about my past now filled me with disgust. The staff of “Radio Risveglio” sent me a
New Testament. This became my favourite book for daily reading and meditation.
Shortly afterwards I was able to have a personal contact with “Radio Risveglio”, to
share my problems and open my heart. In September that same year, the Lord intervened
providentially, allowing me to obtain a passport, which was quite unusual for a friar. This
passport enabled me to travel to Lugano, where the “Radio Risveglio” is based. In my
monastic garb, I took part in their services. In this atmosphere of brotherly love I realized
that all my years of liturgical ceremonies, man-made traditions and fine philosophical and
theological arguments did not quench my spiritual thirst. Only the Word of God can meet
our needs, provided it is accepted and obeyed unreservedly, for God's Word alone is the
Truth.
Three days later I returned to the monastery, but this time had a Holy Bible with me.
For a while, I led as it were a double life. On one hand, I had a meaningless, ritualistic, rut-like
existence, conforming to the environment I still had to live in. On the other hand, I had a
life of genuine communion with God, dedicated to studying and meditating on His Word. I
kept comparing the Roman Catholic doctrines and practices with the Written Word to find
out whether or not I was in the truth.
Out of bondage and into freedom in Christ
Brothers and sisters, do you suppose I should have continued to live in the darkness
once I had seen the light? Should I have persevered in error although the truth was staring me
in the face? Never! I do not think you would have advised me to stay where I was; you
would have very likely extended your hand and helped me to leave this prison as quickly as
possible, wouldn't you? Thus I had to change course and turn towards Jesus Christ, so that
He alone would be my Saviour, my Master, my Lord, and my all. This new direction had
begun when I first listened to Radio Monte-Carlo. However, for all practical purposes, the
distinctive new direction began on February 4, 1959 when, without the least regret, I left my
monastic order and the Roman Catholic Church.
I spent the night preceding my departure writing my spiritual testimony, declaring that
I was leaving behind error and lies in order to embrace the truth of the Gospel. Then as I left.5
my cell in the morning, the enemy tried to hold me back, using all sorts of arguments. But an
inner voice told me: “Be brave and act.” So I celebrated my last Mass. I ate my last meal with
the other monks, and after having slipped my written testimony into the superior's mailbox, I
took the train to Lugano, where I met up with the team from Radio Risveglio. Several
months later the Lord opened a door for me, in fact within this very same organization. Thus
I was now able to proclaim Salvation via the mass media, which I did up to my retirement
and also afterwards. Now I invite you to look at several points of the teachings of the Church
of Rome.
The Papacy
When I set out to examine the doctrines of the Church of Rome in the light of the Bible, I
started at the top, that is the Papacy, by reading the biographies of the Popes in the Catholic
Encyclopaedia (which undoubtedly “adjusted” a few facts). I nevertheless learned that the
existence of some Popes is uncertain and that the chronological placement of others is
unknown. This Encyclopaedia also describes the bloody combat others engaged in to attain
the papal throne. Still others were condemned as heretics by their successors; several of them
led a corrupt life. After reading all this, I asked myself the following question, “Could the
Papacy have been instituted by God?” Obviously the response was no.
From an early age I was taught, and, sad to say, subsequently taught others, that the
Bishop of Rome is also the “Pope,” in other words Peter's successor at the head of the Church
and the representative of Christ on earth, that he is “infallible”, and t hat we owe obedience to
him as we do to God. But do the Holy Scriptures confirm these teachings? Not at all!
The Church of Rome claims to have an uninterrupted chain of Peter's successors on the papal
throne, but freely acknowledges the impossibility of proving that Peter ever set foot in
Rome. There is not a single verse in Scripture that alludes to his going to Rome. The
doctrine of “apostolic succession” received a fatal blow during the Western Schism (1378 -
1417) when for thirty-nine years there were two and even three Popes at the same time, who
were excommunicating each other. It was and remains unknown who was the real ‘Pope’.
Where there are two or three Popes, there is no longer one real Pope. The Pope calls himself
the “Vicar of Jesus Christ”. But does his character resemble that of the Saviour in any way?
Did Christ ever condemn those who did not recognize him as King of Heaven to go to prison
or burn at the stake? Were those who did not receive Him given a death sentence? What a
difference between His thoughts and those of His so-called vicars!
And what about papal infallibility? Did the Pope become infallible on July 18, 1870,
the day he proclaimed this in Vatican Council I? In the light of history and, more
important ly, of Holy Scripture, no one is infallible. Jesus prayed for the Apostle Peter to
remain faithful, but he never guaranteed Peter would be infallible. At Antioch in the early
days of the Church, Paul condemned Peter's attitude, as the Apostle wrote, “when Peter was
come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.” (Galatians 2:11)
The Apostle Paul condemned Peter's attitude, permanently invalidating in advance the
modern doctrine of so-called papal infallibility.
Baptism
Baptism should testify to the faith and repentance of the person who has converted to Christ.
Indeed, Jesus said to his disciples, “And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:15-16). Clearly faith should precede baptism,
as baptism has no value unless it is accompanied by faith. This is why Philip responded to
the Ethiopian eunuch who asked to be baptised, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou
mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts.6
8:37). And then the Bible tells us: “They went down both into the water, both Philip and the
eunuch; and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:38). The Book of Acts also tells us that the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, after having heard Peter's first sermon, “were pricked in their heart,
and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts
2:37-38). This passage shows us that faith and repentance are necessary to obtain forgiveness
of our sins. Now in the Church of Rome and others as well, babies are baptized, in spite of
what the Bible teaches. A little baby is unaware and can neither believe nor repent. In
addition, the verb “baptize” means, “immerse”, not “sprinkle.” Thus the only baptism, which
can be called as such, is baptism by immersion (Matthew 3:16 and John 3:23).
The Mass
According to the Roman Catholic Catechism,
“The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: ‘The
victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then
offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different.’ ‘And since in this
divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in
a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and offered in an unbloody
manner…this sacrifice is truly propitiatory.’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church Second Ed.
Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1994, 1997) Para. 1367)
Let us take a closer look at this. First observation: Jesus Christ, in offering Himself as a
sacrifice to the Father for the redemption of the world, put an end to the sacrifices required by
the law up to this point. (See Hebrews 10, verses 1 to 18). Second observation: Jesus Christ
offered Himself once and for all by one sacrifice and He entered the Most Holy Place once
and for all by His own Blood, having obtained eternal redemption. (See Hebrews 9:12) Third
observation: The sacrifices of the Old Covenant were usually characterized by the shedding
of blood. Hebrews 9:22 says that “without the shedding of blood there is no remission.”
Thus how could it be that in the Mass Jesus would sacrifice Himself again, but without blood,
for our purification? Fourth observation: We know and believe that our sins were atoned for
at the Cross (Isaiah 53:3, 1 Corinthians 15:3, Galatians 1:4, 1 Peter 3:18). For this reason, we
do not need additional sacrifices because “where remission of these is, there is no more
offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:18).
Furthermore Rome teaches that as soon as the priest pronounces the sacramental words, “This
is my body . . . This is my blood,” a wondrous miracle takes place: the altar becomes
Calvary; the host becomes the physical body of Christ and the wine becomes the actual blood
of Christ, such that in all it has become the actual person, Jesus Christ. The priest who is
officiating performs a sacrifice and the faithful become his collaborators. We recalled just
above that according to Scripture Jesus offered Himself once for all; He put an end to blood
sacrifices: He entered into the Most Holy Place with His own blood, and He is now seated at
the right hand of God forever. (See Hebrews 10:12). Now then, how can we reconcile the
physical presence of Jesus in His body upon millions of altars in the millions of hosts which
are consecrated daily throughout the world with the fact that He is eternally at the right hand
of God? How can all those “Jesuses” spring up like mushrooms at the command of a priest?
Only once did the Word become flesh. The Church of Rome insists that “Under the
consecrated species of bread and wine Christ Himself…is present in a true, real and
substantial manner: His Body and His Blood, with His soul and His divinity. Even in each
part of each species, after it has been divided, Christ is present in whole.” Can we accept that
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Almighty, could become a plaything in the hands of a
priest? How preposterous!
Mary.7
It is written in the Word of God: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any
likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the
Lord thy God am a jealous God.” (Exodus 20:4-5). We read in 2 Kings 18:4 that Hezekiah,
the King of Judah doing that which was right in the eyes of God “removed the high places,
and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that
Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it”. In other
words, Hezekiah destroyed these things because the people, totally lacking discernment, were
given over to idolatry. Apparently these divine commandments are unknown in the Church
of Rome. In fact, her temples and sanctuaries are overflowing with statues, paintings and
other religious images, as was the Pantheon of ancient pagan Rome. Furthermore, she
worships the “saints” and especially Mary, “Queen of angels, prophets, apostles, heaven,
earth and sea . . . Mother of God, dispenser of all grace . . .” among other titles. But shall we
look at this in the light of the Holy Scriptures, which is the only rule of Christian conduct?
Here are several truths: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). “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). Jesus
Himself told us: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). “I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
“If ye ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14). These words are so clear that we
have no choice but to listen. Unfortunately the Church of Rome has turned a deaf ear and
directed people along a different path, sending them away from the truth. Yes, Mary, for the
Church of Rome is most certainly an idol. They have made her into the almighty, the
mistress of heaven and earth. According to the teaching of Rome, all grace is dispensed only
by Mary's hand, and all those who are saved owe their salvation to their “divine Mother.”
Rome also teaches that Mary was conceived without sin, that she was born holy and
immaculate, and that she ascended into Heaven, that she is equal to Christ incarnate, and is in
some regards superior to Him, being His mother. All these teachings are false and
blasphemous: they contradict the Word of God. Concerning the veneration of Mary, I have
analyzed and examined the titles attributed to her, the high places and sanctuaries consecrated
to her, the alleged apparitions, and the dogmas concerning her. I have found nothing but
idolatry, legends, paganism and superstitions. What a contrast with the simplicity of the
Gospel! And what a twisting of the truth! The Holy Scriptures' absolute silence concerning
Mary's supposed all-powerful, dominating role, both in Heaven and on earth, is sufficient
proof that only One should be worshiped, that there is only one Intercessor, that only One is
the Saviour, He whom God in His great love gave for our salvation: our Lord Jesus Christ.
Indulgences
Another teaching of the Church of Rome in opposition with the Holy Scriptures concerns the
“indulgences,” that is to say (according to Catholic theory) the total or partial remission of
sins already forgiven. The Church of Rome claims to have received the power from Jesus
Christ to dispense as she sees fit the overabundant atonement (in other words, merits) from
Jesus, Mary and the saints, which make up what she calls “the treasury of indulgences.” In
1552, the Council of Trent made this a point of their “doctrine of faith.” All who deny the
existence of this authority within the Catholic Church, or who declare indulgences useless,
are anathemized, in other words, cursed. The bone of contention is found in the fact that the
Catholic Church accepts a temporal punishment (in purgatory) or an eternal punishment (in
hell) after death, depending upon whether the sin is venial or mortal--but the Gospel makes
no such distinction. The Catholic Church does indeed teach that the blood of Jesus washes
away our sin and frees us from eternal punishment, but by virtue of the “power of the keys”.8
granted to the Church, the Church has some say in the matter, and there is a temporal
punishment to be satisfied by the believer either on earth or in purgatory. By affirming this,
the Church has placed herself above God. Scripture clearly tells us that, “the wages of sin is
death” (Romans 6:23). Thus there is no basis for distinguishing between “mortal sin” and
“venial sin.” But Scripture does affirm that, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Furthermore,
the Apostle Paul assures us that there is now “no condemnation to them who are in Christ
Jesus” (Romans 8:1). This does not mean that we will be spared the consequences of our sins
in our life here on earth. What then are we to make of indulgences? If the Church of Rome
prides herself in possessing this power, whether over the living or the dead, why does she not
use it to instantly free all the souls she sent to purgatory to work out their temporal
punishment? The teaching of the Bible rules out the existence of a “treasury of indulgences”
the Church can dip into at her discretion. Christ alone is the sole propitiatory sacrifice for the
forgiveness of our sins (1 John 2:2 and 4:10). God alone has the power to forgive sins. Even
the Pharisees recognized this in Jesus’ time, it is God who is offended when man sins, and
only He as God can forgive sins.
However, the Christian, in his turn, is exhorted to forgive when he has been wronged. Jesus
taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one who is indebted to us”
(Luke 11:4). These two acts, God's forgiving us, and the Christian forgiving others, are
absolutely free; but through the use of indulgences the Church of Rome has transformed the
remission of sins into a highly lucrative business we can only call simony.
The Catholic Church and the Bible
I could list more false doctrines of the Church of Rome, but I believe what I have explained
so far is largely sufficient to demonstrate to any honest person capable of objective evaluation
that the Catholic Church, although she considers herself the only true Church, has wandered
terribly far away from the teachings of the Bible, that is, from the truth.
According to the Church of Rome, the Bible remains a closed book. No one has the right to
read any version other than one containing their official notes and bearing the bishop's
imprimatur. When boxed up within a monk's cell, one spends a great deal of time reading and
meditating just about everything except the Word of God. Under these circumstances, the
darkness thickens and obscures the spirits of those who should be enlightening the flock they
have been entrusted to serve. We all know that Christ alone is the Light of the world and the
Light of our consciences. If we don't allow Him to manifest His splendour through His
Word, and His Word alone, we will remain in the darkness.
Let us bless the Lord for the grace He bestowed on us in giving us His written word, and for
the free, direct and unlimited access we have to this source. Let us thank Him for guiding us
by His divine Word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As if the Gospel were
not sufficient, the Church of Rome adds Tradition along with its precepts and laws, and
monastic orders along with their rules and vows. The monk is thus surrounded--or more
precisely, bound by an endless number of duties, obligations and restrictions. He is truly a
slave headed toward death. It must be very difficult for those who have not lived in a
monastery to realize exactly what I came through. Try to imagine how it would feel to be on
death row and then to be suddenly set free instead of being executed. Indeed, after so many
erroneous teachings, false interpretations, so much twisting of the Word of God, after all that
we were forced to say and do (for we had to operate under duress), the day when the grace of
God revealed the light and exposed the error was the day I came back to life! The Church of
Rome gives no assurance of salvation; she makes people live in doubt, in uncertainty, merely
“hoping”. She affirms and teaches that the Word of God is insufficient; that it is necessary to.9
add Tradition and the Pope's teachings. Moreover, she insists that grace flows from Mary,
and she makes “saints” into mediators between God and us. In this system, anyone can earn
their salvation by “good works,” mortifications, indulgences, etc. Anyone enlightened by the
Bible is capable of verifying for himself the absurdity of this teaching, which inevitably leads
to spiritual death and the rejection of the true sacrifice of Christ. Indeed, belonging to the
Church of Rome actually amounts to dwelling in death: the death of salvation by grace, the
death of the Word of God (deemed insufficient) and the death of the once and for all perfect
sacrifice of Christ, since this sacrifice must be daily repeated in the mass. It is even the death
of our earthly life, for the more we do penance, the more we supposedly work our way up to
heaven… What an aberration!
Beware of deceptive appearances
Nowadays the Church of Rome displays an outward show of sincerity. She justifies her cruel
acts of the past; although appearing Christian, she has not changed in the least. She continues
to extol the worldly aspects of the Papacy, and retains those doctrines, which originated in the
darkest centuries of Christian history. This Papacy is indeed the same as that which
dominated the world during the Reformation, and which was denounced in the past by men of
God willing to risk their lives. Papal Rome's tactic is to take on the appearance which best
serves her intentions, but this ever-changing chameleon has always kept its pois onous venom.
Some doctrines blocked me for thirty years. Without realizing it, I had been bound from
infancy by these “doctrines of demons”, to borrow an expression used by the Apostle Paul.
Papal Rome binds us, whereas Christ frees us. Papal Rome blinds us, whereas Christ
enlightens us. Papal Rome cultivates doubt, whereas Christ gives us assurance. Papal Rome
leads to perdition, whereas Christ leads to eternal life. Rather than remaining on a negative
note, I wish to point out that the most important part of my story is how I passed from death
to life. One and only one road leads to Heaven: Jesus. Only one door opens into Heaven:
Jesus. Only one key opens this door: The Cross of Jesus. Only one Name has been given to
men through which they may be saved: Jesus. There is only one Mediator between God and
men: Jesus. This is the only Gospel, the Gospel of grace, the real Gospel.
Postscript
Forty-seven years after my conversion, I still rejoice in the grace of God that saved me.
In summing up this account, which is too brief, I can assert with the Apostle Paul: “There is
therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus… For the law of the Spirit
of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law or sin and death” (Romans 8:1).
“Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are
before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.
(Philippians 3:13-14). “To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion.10
and power, both now and ever” (Jude 25). The Apostle Paul writes to the Christians in
Corinth: “For the love of Christ constraineth us…” (2 Corinthians 5:14). His whole life is a
marvellous example of the fervour and love, which led him to spread the good news of
salvation. Well, this same love for Jesus is what leads me today to ask you a question: Is one
of you still groping about in the darkness of the Church of Rome? Does one of you have
doubts about his salvation? Now is the time to face the facts and renounce false Catholic
doctrine and to yield once and for all to Christ's love, because only He is the Way, the Truth,
and the Life. Dear reader, you have read my testimony and followed the account of my
spiritual struggles and my subsequent discovery of the truth. Maybe you are still in darkness;
maybe you are still hesitating. I urge you to tear down this wall separating you from God and
to choose Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Apart from Him there is no salvation.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name in heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). May you answer the call Jesus Christ is
extending to you today, maybe for the last time. The Lord says, “This is the work of God,
that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29) How one is to come to God as a
sinner is made abundantly clear in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The man
who cried out, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” (Luke 18:13) went back to his house
justified. For true assurance and peace with God, stand on the Lord’s promises, “For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” ( Romans 10:13)
I urge you to believe on Him the Lord Jesus Christ today, and in return, you will find peace
and the joy of belonging to Christ, and these will remain with you until He comes to take you
to reign with Him forever. (2 Timothy 2:12)
Nino Tirelli
Although he is almost ninety years old, Nino is still active in his Evangelical church. He is
no longer an elder, but is still in charge of his church’s newsletter. Some time after he began
to work for Radio Risveglio, Nino married the secretary of the station. Nino and Alice have
two children, a daughter who is married and living in the United States, and a son. His
address is: Nino Tirelli, Perrière 22, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland

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