Church's View On Katya Rivas: A Bolivian Spiritual Icon

Catalina Rivas, also known as Katya or Catia, is a thrice-married woman from Cochabamba, Bolivia, who now lives in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. She is said to receive messages from Jesus, Mary, and angels, and to have experienced stigmata. She has the approval of her bishop, René Fernández Apaza, who has given his imprimatur to her messages. However, some people, including a few Catholic theologians, believe that she is a pious fraud. They claim that she has plagiarized the work of other Catholic authors and that her messages portray Jesus in a worldly manner, not befitting of the Savior of the world.

The Church's approval of Katya Rivas

Katya Rivas, also known as Catalina or Catia, is a Bolivian woman who claims to have received messages from Jesus, Mary and angels. She also claims to have stigmata, or the wounds of Jesus Christ. She has written several books, which she says were dictated to her by Jesus, Mary and angels, and has received an official imprimatur from the Catholic Church.

Rivas has the approval of her bishop, René Fernández Apaza, who has given his imprimatur to her messages. He has also given his blessing to a bleeding, weeping statue, claiming it is worthy of veneration. He has even asked the Vatican to declare it a Signum Dei, a Sign of God.

Rivas also has the support of other prominent figures within the Church, including Jesuit theologian Miguel Manzanera, and Dr. Ricardo Castañón Gómez of La Paz, Bolivia, a former atheist and keen observer of pious frauds.

However, not everyone in the Church is convinced by Rivas. One Catholic theologian has written that in his opinion, her messages are false and not from Heaven. He cites various reasons for this, including the fact that she associates with other false prophets, uses worldly language and ideas, and presents a different message from the true Gospel. He also points out serious doctrinal errors in her teachings, such as the false claim that the Antichrist is in the world today and that Jesus will return for this generation.

Overall, while Rivas has gained significant approval and support from some within the Church, there are also those who are sceptical and believe her to be a pious fraud.

Katya Rivas' alleged stigmata

Catalina "Katya" Rivas, a thrice-married woman from Cochabamba, Bolivia, is known for her alleged stigmata and the messages she claims to receive from Jesus, Mary, and angels. These messages, which she refers to as "dictations from Heaven," are said to be conveyed in various languages, including Spanish, Greek, Latin, and Polish. While Rivas does not sign her name to these messages, referring to herself instead as "the servant of God" or "the secretary of God", they have been transcribed and distributed as photocopied books.

The alleged stigmata and messages have garnered Rivas a following worldwide and led to the formation of international religious movements such as the Apostolate of the New Evangelization and The Great Crusade of Love and Mercy, for which she is considered the spiritual mother. However, there is also significant skepticism and criticism surrounding her claims.

Rivas' stigmata were featured in a 1999 Fox Network special, "Signs from God: Science Tests Faith," which intended to scientifically examine her experiences. The program sparked debate, with some viewers believing it provided evidence of authenticity, while others remained unconvinced or criticized the investigation as lacking thoroughness and objectivity.

The Catholic Church has not officially recognized Rivas' stigmata, and there are varying opinions within the Church. While she has gained the approval and support of some clergy members and theologians, others have distanced themselves from her or expressed skepticism. The Church typically refrains from making official pronouncements on such matters while the visions or phenomena are ongoing.

Some critics attribute the stigmata to self-infliction, and there have also been allegations of plagiarism regarding the messages she claims to receive. It has been noted that some of her writings bear a striking resemblance to previously published works by other authors.

Katya Rivas' alleged messages from Jesus

Catalina "Katya" Rivas is a thrice-married woman from Cochabamba, Bolivia, who now lives in Mexico. She is known for her alleged stigmata and "messages" from Jesus, Mary, and angels. These messages are said to be dictated to her not only in Spanish but also in Greek, Latin, and Polish.

Rivas does not sign her name to her "messages," instead referring to herself as "la sierva de Dios" (the servant of God) or "la secretaria de Dios" (the secretary of God). She also does not claim authorship of her books, saying they are "channeled" from God. Her books are sold as photocopies and do not have a publishing house.

Because of her alleged stigmata and "messages," Rivas has gained a following and is considered the spiritual mother of international religious movements such as the Apostolate of the New Evangelization (ANE) and The Great Crusade of Love and Mercy. She has received approval from her bishop, René Fernández Apaza, who has given his imprimatur to her "messages."

However, there is skepticism and criticism surrounding Rivas' claims. Some believe she is a pious fraud, citing instances of plagiarism in her work and questioning the authenticity of her stigmata.

"Listen, My child. Just like Bolivia is on My mind and in My Heart, I want to be in the thoughts and hearts of the Bolivians, of each Bolivian… I wish for the fire of My love, present in the Eucharist, to be the one that consumes your hearts and brings you to Me."

"This Eucharistic love will be the salvation of Bolivia and on behalf of the world. Therefore, I want the day to come when the Eucharist will be exposed daily in all the parishes of Bolivia, beginning with a daily Mass. It is your apostolic work and mission to increase the devotion and worship of My Eucharistic Heart: fountain of Love, Peace, and Truth…"

"Anyone who feels their soul inflamed towards the Eucharist and cannot keep that burning love to themselves must transmit it to others. They will have a home next to My Eucharistic Heart: the shining and bright diamond of infinite Love."

"If today this sowing would find fertilized soil in souls duly prepared, it would give the crop what is necessary for humanity’s salvation. I would come among men and reign with them immediately."

"This happiness is in the inexhaustible fountain of My Heart, resurrected and present alive in the Eucharist, a luminous beacon for the soul who navigates without course or port. There the soul will never be able to sink if she is disposed to allow herself to be tied up by the bonds of My Love and Charity without limits, for the immense love for the salvation of souls."

Katya Rivas' alleged plagiarism

Katya Rivas, also known as Catalina or Catia, is a thrice-married woman from Cochabamba, Bolivia, who now lives in Mexico. She is known for her alleged stigmata and her "messages" from Jesus, Mary, and angels, which are written in languages she does not speak, such as Greek, Latin, and Polish. These "messages" are published as books, which she does not claim to have authored, instead referring to herself as "the servant of God" or "the secretary of God".

Rivas has been accused of plagiarism by José Prado Flores and Salvador Gómez of Guadalajara, Mexico, whose book "Formacion de Predicadores" (Training Preachers) bears a striking resemblance to Rivas's "Renovacion Evangelica" (Evangelical Revival). According to Prado Flores, his book, co-authored with Gómez, was written several years before Rivas claimed to have received similar messages from God. In addition, Rivas's work contains examples specific to Mexico, indicating that she copied directly from the original text.

Despite these allegations, Rivas has gained credibility due to the approval of Bishop René Fernández Apaza of Cochabamba, who has given his imprimatur to her "messages". She has also received support from Jesuit theologian Miguel Manzanera and Dr. Ricardo Castañón Gómez of La Paz, Bolivia.

In defence of Rivas, Catholic Priest and Psychologist Father Omar Huesca of Miami argues that it would be difficult for someone without theological training to memorise or express such theological truths with simplicity and directness. He also notes the lyrical quality of the writings, resembling poetry or rhyming prose. Ron Tesoriero, a lawyer and documentary filmmaker from Sydney, Australia, who has filmed Rivas writing, asserts that she does not refer to any other material or book while writing. He invites anyone to critically examine the method and content of her writing through his film recordings.

Katya Rivas' followers

Katya Rivas, also known as Catalina or Catia, has followers all over the world. She is considered the spiritual mother of two international religious movements: the Apostolate of the New Evangelization (ANE) and The Great Crusade of Love and Mercy.

Rivas' followers include her bishop, René Fernández Apaza, who has given his imprimatur to her "messages", and asked the Vatican to declare a bleeding, weeping statue she is associated with a Signum Dei, a Sign of God. She also has the support of Jesuit theologian Miguel Manzanera, and Dr. Ricardo Castañón Gómez of La Paz, Bolivia, who is known as a former atheist with a keen eye for pious frauds.

Rivas' followers also include Mike Willessee, who hosted a documentary about her, and Alastair Thompson and Michael Cain of Catholic PewPoint, who wrote positively about the documentary.

Rivas' followers are drawn to her because of her alleged stigmata and her "messages" from Jesus, Mary, and angels, which are said to be channeled. The "messages" are written in Spanish, Greek, Latin, and Polish, and are sold as photocopied books.

However, not everyone is convinced by Rivas. Some, including a Catholic theologian, believe her messages are false and not from Heaven. They point to instances of plagiarism in her writings, and claim that her portrayal of Jesus speaking in a worldly manner is not befitting of the Savior.

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