Starting at a very young age, Vassula Ryden experienced terrifying nightmares, which she attributed to Satan. Between the ages of ten and twelve, she had mystical experiences, including what she describes as a spiritual marriage to Jesus. During her teenage years, she saw on several occasions the souls of dead people surrounding her, and afterwards, she became indifferent to religious matters.¹

Toward the end of November 1985, while living in Bangladesh, Vassula claims that an invisible being contacted her and identified himself as her “guardian angel.” This entity manifested its power by moving Vassula’s hand without her being able to control it, forming words and drawings. By this means, Vassula started to receive “messages” for about four to six hours per day.

Three months later, Vassula experienced a brief encounter with another being, who identified himself as “God the Father.” The “guardian angel” then submitted her to a purification week, which was followed by another visit from an entity who identified himself as “Jesus.” This entity also moved Vassula's hand to create messages so they could communicate, calling the messages True Life in God. Other entities have also intervened, including the Blessed Mother, Michael the Archangel, and Saint Padre Pio.²

The writings, which consist of several hundred pages, have been translated and published in 40 languages and are promoted throughout the world. Vassula maintains that the method in which she receives the messages is not from the occult practice of channeling or the New Age practice of automatic writing, but that the messages are actually coming from heavenly sources.

On October 6, 1995, the Catholic Church issued warnings against Vassula's writings by publishing a Notification from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in which several negative elements and serious theological errors were pointed out.³ If Vassula Ryden's messages were actually coming from heavenly sources, they wouldn't be filled with serious theological errors that needed to be condemned by the Catholic Church.

On January 25, 2007, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith addressed an internal communication to all the Presidents of the Bishops' conferences around the world reconfirming the negative doctrinal judgment of the 1995 Notification regarding Vassula Ryden's writings, and advised the faithful not to participate in True Life in God messages, writings or prayer groups.⁴

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's document reads as follows:

For more information please visit True Life in God - Vassula Ryden.