November 2025 – Page 41 – Antipope John XXIII

A solemn Catholic image depicting the 1959 elevation of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación shrine in Táriba, Venezuela, to a minor basilica by John XXIII. Traditional Catholic symbolism and piety are emphasized.

Solacium ac levationem (1959.10.23)

amdg / 2025-11-10

The Latin document under review is a brief act by John XXIII conferring the title and privileges of a minor basilica on the Marian shrine of “Nuestra Señora de la Consolación” in Táriba, in the diocese of San Cristóbal in Venezuela. It praises the people’s Marian devotion, invokes the consoling intercession of the Blessed Virgin, recalls the image brought by missionaries as a focal point of piety, and solemnly decrees, with typical curial formulas, that the church be elevated to the rank of minor basilica with the attached rights and privileges.

Traditional Catholic abbey in Australia with monks venerating the Blessed Virgin Mary of Good Counsel and Saint Benedict.

Apostolic Letters

BEATAM MARIAM VIRGINEM «A BONO CONSILIO» (1959.10.21)

amdg / 2025-11-10

The document under consideration, issued in 1959 under the name of John XXIII, is a Latin apostolic letter declaring that the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title “of Good Counsel” and Saint Benedict, Abbot, are to be the primary heavenly patrons of the abbey nullius of New Norcia in Australia. It recounts local devotion, petitions by the monastery’s ordinary, and, invoking “apostolic authority,” formally designates these patrons with the liturgical honors due to principal patrons, nullifying any contrary provisions.

This seemingly pious act, however, is already a juridical and symbolic consolidation of the emerging conciliar usurpation: it appropriates authentic Catholic devotions and saints as ornamental camouflage for a nascent, counterfeit authority preparing the revolution of Vatican II.

Saint John Bosco stands solemnly in a traditional Catholic church, surrounded by Colombian youth workers in vocational training, highlighting his patronage and spiritual guidance over them.

Apostolic Letters

Iuventutis praeceptorem (1959.10.16)

amdg / 2025-11-10

The document, issued by John XXIII on October 16, 1959, designates Saint John Bosco as heavenly Patron of all Colombian young trainees and workers (“los Aprendices Colombianos”) of the SENA system, extending to them liturgical honors and privileges proper to patronal titles. It presents this act as a pastoral encouragement for youth formation through professional training placed under Don Bosco’s protection, in continuity with a similar decision of Pius XII for Italian youth workers.

A reverent image of the Marian image 'Beata Maria Virgo de Guadalupe d'Estremadure' in a traditional Catholic church setting with a bishop kneeling in prayer.

Apostolic Letters

Respice Stellam (1959.09.09)

amdg / 2025-11-10

The Latin text known as “Respice Stellam” (9 September 1959) is a brief act by John XXIII declaring the Marian image “Beata Maria Virgo de Guadalupe d’Estremadure” as “principal heavenly Patroness” of the Diocese of La Basse-Terre et Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and titular of its cathedral. The document clothes this decision in traditional-sounding Marian devotion, invokes St Bernard’s “Respice stellam,” and uses solemn canonical formulae to ascribe liturgical rights and privileges to this title of Our Lady within that local church.

A reverent Catholic scene of the Minor Basilica of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus in Anzio, Italy, with pilgrims in traditional attire praying before the reliquary containing her relics.

Apostolic Letters

Rosas Caelitus (1959.07.23)

amdg / 2025-11-10

The document entitled “Rosas Caelitus” is a brief Latin decree in which John XXIII, at the very beginning of his usurped reign, confers the title and privileges of a Minor Basilica upon the church dedicated to St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus in Anzio (Antium), praising its architecture, treasures, the veneration of the saint’s relics, and the devotion of the faithful who frequent this sanctuary, especially in gratitude for her perceived protection during wartime, and then, invoking his supposed apostolic authority, declares the elevation irrevocable and nullifies any contrary attempt.

This apparently pious exaltation of a Marian-style “little way” sanctuary, issued by the architect of the conciliar revolution, is in reality a juridical and symbolic brick in the construction of the neo-church: a saccharine cultic shell masking the quiet displacement of the true reign of Christ the King and the true authority of the Catholic Church by a counterfeit “spirituality” preparing the way for Vatican II’s apostasy.

Traditional Catholic basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad in Antequera, Mexico, with a solemn Latin Mass and devotees in prayer.

Apostolic Letters

Religionis domicilium (1959.07.17)

amdg / 2025-11-10

The document attributed to John XXIII, titled Religionis domicilium (17 July 1959), grants the title and privileges of a Minor Basilica to the church of the Sorrowful Virgin Mary, known as “Nuestra Señora de la Soledad,” in the Archdiocese of Antequera (Mexico), appealing to its antiquity, Marian devotion, and the prior coronation authorized by St. Pius X as signs of Catholic piety and growth in “Marian religion.” It clothes this act in solemn juridical language, invoking “apostolic authority” to extend all rights and privileges attached to basilicas.

Zacatecas Cathedral, Minor Basilica, baroque architecture, Marian devotion, traditional Catholic worship.

Apostolic Letters

Meritis celebratur (1959.07.17)

amdg / 2025-11-10

The Latin text attributed to John XXIII, “Meritis celebratur,” decrees that the cathedral church of Zacatecas, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is elevated to the rank of a Minor Basilica, praising its baroque architecture, long-standing popular devotions, sufficient clergy, and fitting liturgical furnishings, and then conferring upon it all rights and privileges of churches bearing that title.

Bishop Franz Hengsbach kneeling in prayer before the Golden Madonna of Essen, symbolizing traditional Catholic devotion amidst conciliar compromise.

Apostolic Letters

Essendiae in urbe (1959.07.08)

amdg / 2025-11-10

The document issued in Latin under the name of John XXIII on July 8, 1959, titled “Essendiae in urbe,” declares that the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the titles “Mother of Good Counsel” and “Our Lady Golden Madonna” (Domina Nostra Aurea, “Goldene Madonna”), is established and confirmed as the principal heavenly patroness of the Diocese of Essen. It describes Essen as a busy industrial city, points to the ancient veneration of Our Lady there (linked to the historic abbey and its abbess), recalls that Pius XII erected the diocese and entrusted it to Our Lady, and, at the petition of Bishop Franz Hengsbach, it solemnly confirms Mary under these titles as the patroness of the whole diocese, with all liturgical rights of a principal patron.

A Passionist priest in traditional habit kneeling in prayer before a crucifix with a faded manuscript of 'Salutiferos Cruciatus' (1959) on a wooden table in a dimly lit chapel.

Apostolic Letters

Salutiferos Cruciatus (1959.07.01)

amdg / 2025-11-10

The document “Salutiferos Cruciatus,” attributed to John XXIII and dated 1 July 1959, is an apostolic letter approving the revised Rule and Constitutions of the Congregation of the Passion (Passionists). It recalls the founding charism of St. Paul of the Cross, notes prior papal approvals (Benedict XIV, Clement XIV, Pius VI), describes adaptations made after the 1917 Code of Canon Law, and now “confirms” a further aggiornamento of the Rule “ad huius aetatis rationem accommodatas” (“adapted to the conditions of this age”), abrogating all previous norms not contained in the new text.

Bishop Antonio José Plaza kneeling in prayer before a celestial vision of the Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception in a grand cathedral.

Apostolic Letters

Salutare sidus (1959.06.10)

amdg / 2025-11-10

The text under consideration, promulgated in 1959 under the name of John XXIII, is a brief Latin act declaring the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception as principal heavenly patroness of the Archdiocese of La Plata. It extols Mary as the guiding star amid the storms of the age, notes the existing local devotion, approves the choice requested by Antonio José Plaza, and confirms with legal formulae the patronage and related liturgical privileges.