Monday, June 22, 2015

Top 20 Beliefs of Legion Maria

1.     There Is Only One God: Legion Maria faithful believe in one God, creator of the universe and everything that is. He is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.


2.     God is Trinity: Legion Maria members believe that God is three persons in one, namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.



3.     Simeo Ondeto is God: Legion Maria faithful believe that Simeo Ondeto is the pre-existent son of God who took up flesh and became man. He is worshipped as God and his help and guidance is sought through prayer.


4.     Simeo Ondeto is Christ (Messias): Legion Maria faithful believe that Simeo came to earth as part of God’s redemptive mission for mankind. Simeo took up flesh to dwell with men so he could lead men to eternal life by revealing the glory of God. His mission is one with the mission of Jesus of Nazareth and Melchizedek so that men are called, saved and glorified.



5.     Simeo of Angoro Awasi is Jesus of Nazareth: Legion Maria faithful believe that God has only one begotten son who has taken up flesh at different times in order to redeem mankind. The same son of God who took up flesh in Nazareth and was called Jesus is the same one who took up flesh again in Angoro Awasi and was called Simeo Ondeto.


6.     Holy Spirit Is Superior To Scriptures: Legion Maria faithful are primarily guided by the Holy Spirit. While they believe that the holy scriptures are a record of what the Holy Spirit has revealed in the past, Legios emphasize that the same spirit is at work today and should be sought directly for guidance and inspiration instead of resorting fully to scriptures. Besides, since the scriptures are a product of the work of the spirit, Legios take what the Holy Spirit says and directs to be superior to what has been recorded in scriptures.



7.     Second Pentecostal Day at John Baru’s Home: Legion Maria faithful believe in the Legion Maria Pentecostal Day of 9th March 1962 at John Baru’s Home. They believe that on that day the Holy Spirit descended upon Legion Maria faithful and confirmed them as the new chosen people of God who have been given the mission of spreading the message of the second coming of Christ to the world.


8.     Simeo Ondeto Was Publicly Revealed at John Baru’s Home: When the Holy Spirit came with a mighty power, roar and singing at John Baru’s home, the eyes of 1,150 Legios were opened at once and they all saw Simeo seated in the throne of heaven with angels and saints worshipping him. Simeo was revealed at once to all of them as the Son of God.


9.     Simeo Ondeto Fulfilled the Second Coming of Christ: When he came as a spirit upon the clouds of heaven and brought with him thousands of angels and saints, and then he was revealed as seated on his throne and judging the living and the dead, Simeo fulfilled all the prophecies of the second coming of Christ. He came with his angels and saints, sat on his throne, judged the living and the dead, and gave everlasting life to the just. Through him, God has fulfilled his promise of Christ’s second coming, and there is no other coming of Christ.

10.            There Was a Meeting in Heaven before Simeo Came: Legion Maria believe that there was a meeting in heaven in which God sanctioned the second coming of his son. It is during this meeting that God chose to have his son take up black flesh on the request of St. Mary (Virgin Mary). This meeting is called Confliutorente (or simply the meeting of Torente).


11.            Maria Regina Owich (Mama Maria) is St. Mary (Virgin Mary): Legion Maria faithful believe that Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, came with Christ and was revealed together with him in black flesh. Virgin Mary took up flesh to become Maria Regina Owich (Mama Maria).

12.            There Is Life after Death: Legion Maria faithful believe that there is life after death in paradise or in the place of punishment. The just pass the judgment of God and are rewarded with eternal life while the unjust fail judgment and are punished with stay in either Purgatory, the place where the spirits of believers suffer and labor as they pay for the debts of their sins before they are admitted in paradise, or Hell, the place of eternal damnation.


13.            The Weighing-Scale Judgment: According to Legion Maria lore, the judgment of heaven is based on weighing up human deeds with bad deeds on one side of the scale and good deeds on the other side of the scale, so that a person is confirmed just when his good deeds outweigh his bad ones. The judgment is purely based on human conduct. A person is not saved by believing in Jesus (Simeo) but by doing what Jesus (Simeo) teaches so that when his good deeds outweigh his bad ones then he is qualified for life in paradise.

14.            Eternal Life is Spiritual: Legio Maria faithful believe that when the body dies, the person survives the physical death and lives on as a spirit who then faces the just judgment of God. Humans are destined to exist forever in the form in which God exists eternally, and so they die to give up the dying form of the flesh and to take up the undying form of the spirit which is capable of eternal existence.


15.            The Efficacy of Prayer: Legion Maria faithful believe that prayer is answered by God and has power to relieve human burdens of sins, suffering and bondage. Legios pray to the sick, poor, troubled, crippled and dead; to the leaders, widows and orphans; and to the world so that God may show his mercies to all.

16.            The Devil and Evil Spirits: Legion Maria faithful believe that the devil exists as a spiritual antagonist who always tries to draw humans away from the service of God. The devil works through his agents, the demons and evil spirits.


17.            Angels: Legion Maria faithful believe that angels exist and serve God and humans in different ways. They believe that angels are human allies who work against the evil schemes of the devil and help to draw humans to God. Common angels in Legion Maria teachings are Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Rafael, Latilati, Cherubim, and Seraphim.

18.            Communion With and Adoration of Saints and Angels: Legion Maria faithful believe that saints and angels are the role models and worthy guides in the path of service to God and of earning eternal life. Therefore, they invoke angels and saints by name, asking them for communion and assistance in overcoming the devil and evil. Legion Maria prayers are full of adorations and praises to saints such as Mary, Timothy Atila, Carilus Mumbo, Clement Angi, Peter Otieno, Siprosa Akoth, Paul, David, Catherine of Siena, and Agatha of Catania.


19.            The Efficacy of Sacraments: In line with the Roman Catholic Traditions, Legion Maria members partake in sacraments such as Baptism, Confirmation, Penitence, Eucharist, Ordination, Matrimony, and Unction. They affirm that these sacraments have power in their lives and in their service of God.

20.            Unity of Humanity: Legion Maria faithful believe that all humans are one and share the same destiny. There are no special races or chosen peoples because God has no races or people he favors more than others. All humans should work together for the peace and prosperity of the world and for the honor and glory of God. 

 Also Read:



Legio Maria We Declare What We Have Heard and Seen

SIMEO ONDETTO: THE RESSURECTION OF THE BLACK MESSIAH

 

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Top 10 Misconceptions and Lies People Say About Legio Maria

1.       Gaudencia Aoko Founded Legio Maria: This is a misconception. Aoko joined Legio Maria in 1963; one year after Legion had been founded. Officially, Simeo Melkio and Mama Maria met in John Baru’s home in 1962 and Legion Maria was founded a few weeks later on 9th March 1962. Nevertheless, Gaudencia Aoko’s efforts in the development of the new movement must be recognized because she played a huge role in converting many people and spreading the movement.

2.      Gaudencia Aoko is Mama Maria: This is a lie. Gaudencia Aoko was in her early 20s when she joined Legion Maria in 1963. She was born in Kano and married to Simeo Owiti. She was introduced to Simeo Ondeto and Mama Maria by her brother-in-law, John Muga, when she had seen visions of Mary and Jesus inviting her to join a Marian movement. On the other hand, Mama Maria was an old woman of around 90 years of age by 1963 when Aoko joined Legio Maria. Nobody knew where Maria was born.  Mama Maria died in December 1966 and was buried in Ephesus Nzoia, while Aoko lived on and by 1968 took Simeo Ondeto to court claiming that she was the real founder and true leader of Legion Maria. Aoko then left the movement and founded her own church.


3.      Legio Maria members do not shave their hair: This is a misconception. Yes, there are certain orders of prophets in Legion Maria who live like the traditional Nazarenes, Samson, and biblical prophets who never shaved their hair. For such prophets, it is their responsibility to keep their hair clean and neat. But for the rest of Legion Maria members, shaving is a matter of individual choice.  There is no doctrine controlling how and when people should shave their hair.

4.      All Legion Maria Leaders have long hair and dirty dreads: This is a lie. In fact, almost all Legion Maria leaders do not have dreads and have shaved/trimmed their hair well. Dreads in Legion Maria are only common among prophets, but these prophets are not ordained leaders of the church and are not, therefore, supposed to be considered official leaders.


5.       Legion Maria members do not dance: This is a misconception. From the very start of the church, when the Holy Spirit filled the faithful, Legio members danced to specific songs. For instance, there is a common dance to the song “Agnus Dei, Kyrie Gloria”.  The Kyrie Gloria dance was so common that it was used and practiced by prophets who laid hands on faithful members to receive the gift of prophecy. Apart from Kyrie Gloria dance, Legios may dance during fundraisings and happy occasions where they are in jovial mood and are simply enjoying themselves. As a common practice, however, Legion Maria members do not dance to secular music and do not attend dance parties and discos. They also do not dance routinely during church services and prayers.

6.      Legion Maria members do not read the Bible: This is a lie. Legios use the bible as often as Christians do.  However, because the services are conducted by priests who perform the Holy Mass and other rites according to pre-set guidelines, and who read the Bible to the faithful as they conduct the services, there is no general call to reading and studying the Bible. Every individual member of the religious movement chooses when to read the Bible and there is no direction or guide book the members use.


7.       Legio Maria members do not go to hospital: This is a misconception. Simeo Ondeto himself was medically treated when he had been poisoned. Pope Timothy Atila went to hospital often and even died in hospital.  Pope Chiaji Lawrence went to hospital when sick and even died in hospital. There is no rule or doctrine or teaching of Simeo Ondeto that warns against going to hospital when sick. In fact, Simeo specifically taught people who are suffering from HIV/AIDs and syphilis that they had to go to hospital for medical attention.

8.      Legion Maria members must remove their Six Lower Teeth: This is a misconception. Today, 55% of all Legion Maria members have not removed their six lower teeth. The removal of six lower teeth is a luo tradition that was imported to the new movement by the majority Luo traditionalists who joined Legion. Slowly, it was accepted by members as it was a way of seeking uniformity with older members. But it was not a doctrine. The First Legion Maria pope Timothy Atila did not remove his six lower teeth and later with age removed his teeth in a dentist clinic. Simeo Ondeto also did not remove his six lower teeth and he only lost his teeth during an accident at Mawego Kobuya. Therefore, it is a matter of choice as to whether someone removes his teeth or not as there is no tangible spiritual basis for it. Besides, the promoters of teeth removal do not have substantial reasons for promoting it, except that they are seeking people to be Luos in the flesh like them.


9.      Legion Maria members are poor and unschooled: This is a lie. Well, like Christianity whose founding members were majorly fishermen, tax collectors and ordinary people, Legion Maria founding members were people of little formal education and were generally poor. But soon, the movement attracted different classes of society as it spread. By the late 1960s, it had attracted teachers, policemen, business people, graduates and politicians. Today, at least 45% of members of the church have Grade 8 education, 23% are high school graduates while 12% are college and university graduates.

10.     Legion Maria movement is only for Luos:  This is a lie. Legion Maria was predominantly a luo movement at its foundation in 1962. But by 1965, it had attracted the members of the Kisii, Luhya, Kamba, Kalenjin, Turkana and Mijikenda ethnic groups of Kenya, and spread to the neighboring countries of Tanzania and Uganda. By 1980, the movement had spread to Ethiopia, Zaire, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi. Today, an estimated 27% of all Legion Maria members are not Luos.

Legio Maria We Declare What We Have Heard and Seen

There is an interesting paradox in the New Testament. We are first introduced to John the Baptist as the New Elijah, the harbinger, the one who shouts in the wilderness and prepares the way of the Lord. And yet we read in Mathew 11:1-6 and Luke 7:18-35 of John the Baptist sending his disciples to Jesus of Nazareth to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah or whether there was need to wait for another Messiah.

Knowing the Messiah by Sight and Hearing

This is a really surprising turn of events. John was laboring every day and announcing the imminent arrival of Jesus. Yet, this same John was unsure of whether Jesus was the real Messiah.

So what did Jesus give as the solution to John’s question?

 Jesus told John’s disciples: “Go tell John what you have seen and heard.”

Simply, Jesus is sending them back to go share their experiences with John. He is directing them to go and tell him what they saw and what they heard because telling John this and sharing their experiences with him would easily make him recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

But what did they see? What did they hear? And what would they tell John?
They saw him thronged by crowds of people thirsty for God’s word and heard him preach to them.
They saw Him sympathize with the poor and heard him promise them heavenly riches.
They saw him cast out evil spirits and heard him use words of authority.
They saw him raise the dead and heard him say he could give eternal life to all who believe.
They saw Pharisees and Sadducees come to him and heard his bold responses to their questions.
They saw people who trusted him, disciples who worked for him, and heard people whisper in low tones that he was the messiah.
They saw many things and heard many proofs that he was the Messiah.

And taking this message back to John the Baptist would be enough to convince John that the messiah had come.

Legio Maria We Have Seen and Heard Christ

Just like the disciples of John experienced Jesus and reported back to John, Legio Maria has experienced Simeo Melkio and is reporting this to the world.

We saw him become a renowned prophet in Segegi and heard him say he was sent by God, his father.
We heard angels and saints sing from Kachola Hill to John Baru’s home.
Our eyes were opened at once and we saw Simeo seated on his throne in heaven.
We saw angels and saints bowing and prostrating in worship to him.
We received the Holy Spirit from him and did many miracles and wonders.
We saw him raise to life Amoke of Asembo who died in Kisumu.
We saw him raise to life Angelina of Seme when he passed through Seme.
We saw him raise to life a Roho Church adherent who died in Gombania, Tanzania.
We saw him raise to life son of Kalaudia who died in Nairobi.
We saw him heal Salome Owiny who had bled for 10 years.
We saw him heal Obote the mute and Dalmas Oyier the cripple.
We saw angels in our midst, and we saw saints escort us.
We received many miracles in our lives and basked in the glorious presence of him who came from above
We heard the Holy Spirit’s teaching that Jesus had come again.
And we heard Simeo Ondeto repeat that he is the son of God.

And so, what we saw and heard we believe. And that which we believe we declare to all. And our declaration is that Simeo Melkio is the glory of God.

We praise him every day, and Legio Maria sings of him every day.

We walk bare-foot in church because of his holy presence.

We make altars for him in our churches and homes, and use his images on those altars as public declaration of who he is to us.

We raise his flag and the flags of saints and angels in our churches as we declare our belief in his glory and in the truth that all saints have entered his glory.

We remove all chairs from our churches, so we can only have one seat of the lord, for we cannot sit on seats when our lord is seated on his throne.

And we implore his mercy and goodness; and work for his kingdom, for he is our God and our Lord forever.
And so what we have seen and heard, we declare to the world every day.

LITANIA MAR SIMEO MELKIO

Litania en listi mar pak kod pwoch. Litania mar Simeo Melkio en pwoch kod pak michiwo ne ruodhwa Simeo ka iparo birone e piny kaka dhano, fwenyruok mare, kod tichne e piny. E Litania, wapako ruodhwa kendo wakwaye ngima mochwere e loch kod duon’g maler mar Nyasaye.
Litania mar Simeo Melkio itero ban’g misa, ban’g lemo jumapil, e giko lemb sawo kata nyasi, e kinde tweyo gi twonruok chiemo, kata e sap kwayo chier ne chunje jok motho.

J: Jasom Litania                   W: Ji Duto

J: Litania mar Simeo Melkio, Duon’g Maler Ahinya
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Duon’g Maler mar Nyasaye
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Wach Nyasaye
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Rieko Nyasaye
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasaye mowuok kuom Nyasaye
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Wuod Nyasaye ka wuon mare
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Wuod Nyasaye achiel Kende
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo mane oa e polo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo mane olor e bor polo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo mane oluwo Lihudu
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo mane olor e kodh pee gi nyakoyi
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo mane odoko dhano
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo mane ofwenyore ka Johannes Baru
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo ma malaike wero
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo ma jotakatifu pako
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo mantie nyaka nene
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo mochwere
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo Ohulo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo Hosea
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo Lodvikus
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo Laurida
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo Emmanuel
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo Melkazedek
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo Enure
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo Santa Maria
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo Melkio
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Kristo mar ariyo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Dwok Jesus e piny
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jesus Adiera
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Wuod Dhano
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasaye kakitwa
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Agweny wuod Nyototo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Wuod min Dina
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Wuod Angoro Awasi
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Janabi ma Segegi
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Japuonj Katkaism
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Ngero mar Dedan Kimathi
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Kingi ma Nazareth
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Kingi mar Kinge
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Ruoth ma Efeso Nzoia
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Ruoth Ruodhi
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Rahono modhiero n’geyo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Japuonj ma Jerusalem Amoyo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jadolo ma Kalafare
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Ambuor maraten’g
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasach jorotenge
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Fadha William Onyango
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Osiep Fadha Chefa
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Sibuor mar Dhood Luo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Lwanda joka Esau
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Hap Jorotenge
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Koko ma jochiende oluoro
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Goldi ma nengone tek
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Dher-pur mar Maria
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Onyoso wuon mo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Tipo ma wayweye
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Okumbawa
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Tekrewa
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Japuonjwa
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jakechwa
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jachangwa
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jaritwa
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jawinj ywak ji duto
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jakony Jorit Eklisia
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jaor Jonabi
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jayier jodolo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jaluong jok molal
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jachier jok motho
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jabet e kom duon’g ma e polo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Ruodh Loch Polo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jabura maduon’g
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Yor polo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Jachiw ngima mochwere
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Wuon girkeni polo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Wuon ut polo
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasach ji duto
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasach kwe
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasach Hera
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasach ratiro
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasach geno
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasach Ber
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasach n’guono
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasach yie
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Nyasach polo koda piny
W: Rwakwa e polo
J: Simeo duon’g maler machiwo ngima mochwere
W: Luongwa kar thowa
J: Simeo duon’g maler machiwo ngima mochwere
W: Yalwa gi muolo
J: Simeo duon’g maler machiwo ngima mochwere
W: Rwakwa e polo

Walem
A Ruodhwa Simeo Melkio, in e yor ngima, in e Jan’gad bura, kendo in e loyo bura. Ruchnwa gop marichowa kendo reswa e mach maoktho. Miwa yie motegno, kinda mosiko, lemo maonge jok, kod jok gi marichowa. Mi kik walal kar thowa, to mi wadonj e duon’g maler mar polo, mondo wanwan’g girkeni polo kendo mondo wamor kodi e polo, ndalo duto higni gi higni.
W. Amen.