A controversial religious movement led by an Italian immigrant claiming divine powers and extraterrestrial origins.
Origins and Early Years
The Chiesa Cattolica di Nouva Gerusalemme del Messagiero Celeste (New Jerusalem Catholic Church of the Celestial Messenger) was founded in Chicago in 1917 by Giuseppe Maria Abbate, an Italian immigrant who claimed divine status. Abbate was born in Isnello, Sicily in 1886 and immigrated to the United States in 1906, settling in Chicago where he worked as a barber.
According to Abbate’s testimony, in 1906 Christ appeared to him in his barbershop and ordained him as a priest, declaring him to be God’s Celestial Messenger. Over the next several years, Abbate reported receiving divine messages and visions that confirmed his special status and mission. He claimed to have extraterrestrial origins, stating he was born on Mars before being sent to Earth by God.
By 1915, Abbate had begun dedicating himself full-time to ministry, focusing on Italian immigrants in Chicago. He became known for supposed healing powers and attracted a following, particularly among women. In 1917, he formally established the New Jerusalem Catholic Church, with headquarters in a building on DeKalb Street in Chicago’s Near West Side.
Beliefs and Practices
The central doctrine of the church revolved around Abbate’s claims of divine status and his role in salvation history. He used titles such as Celestial Messenger, Padre Celeste (Heavenly Father), Universal Protector, Prince of Peace, and God’s Vicar on Earth. Abbate taught that his arrival inaugurated the New Jerusalem prophesied in the Book of Revelation.
Another key belief was that a young girl born in Chicago in 1915 was the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary. She appeared alongside Abbate in religious services, both seated on thrones. Some followers were also said to be incarnations of celestial figures.
While Abbate’s claims were unorthodox, the church’s liturgy followed traditional Roman Catholic forms, using the Tridentine Mass and rituals. Processions played an important role, with followers dressing in colorful costumes as saints and angels.
Organization and Leadership
The 1919 incorporation documents defined the church as a hierarchical organization with Abbate as the sole trustee and leader with absolute authority. He established a male religious order, the Order of the Celestial Messenger, in 1917 and a female order, the Order of Our Most Blessed Lady, Queen of Peace Reincarnated, in 1926.
Abbate did not name a successor before his death in 1963. Leadership then passed to the Mother Superior of the female order, who appointed John E. Schweikert, an archbishop from an independent Catholic church, as the new leader in 1967. Schweikert was succeeded by Theodore Rematt in 1988.
Challenges and Controversies
From its early days, the church faced opposition from Roman Catholic authorities, who viewed it as heretical. Abbate encountered hostility when preaching in public and was often ridiculed in the press.
More serious were the legal troubles Abbate faced in the 1920s and 1930s. He was accused of sexually assaulting young girls on two separate occasions, leading to trials and periods of confinement in a mental hospital. These scandals divided the congregation, with some leaving while others remained loyal.
After Abbate’s death, tensions arose between those who continued to revere him as divine and later leaders who sought to downplay his legacy. This came to a head under Bishop Rematt in the 1990s, leading to excommunications and legal battles over church property and finances.
Decline and Legacy
By the time Rematt became leader in 1988, active devotion to Abbate was limited to a small group of aging followers. Rematt’s efforts to erase Abbate’s legacy further diminished the congregation. The church building was sold in 2004, effectively ending the organized New Jerusalem Catholic Church.
While organized worship has ceased, some individuals continue to venerate Abbate privately. His grave in Chicago remains adorned with fresh flowers, indicating an enduring legacy among a small group of devotees nearly 60 years after his death.
image via Magnus Lundberg
