Mary's Ark of Salvation

The person who conducted the brainwave test is a professor of neurophysiology and has lectured at several universities in Italy, Germany, and Bolivia. He has published many books and research papers on the brain, human behavior, stress, and the nervous system.

According to Dr. Ricardo, the brainwave test allows us to tell whether the messages received or the visions seen come from a supernatural origin, or from a brain disorder or mental illness.

Brainwaves are classified into four types: alpha, beta, theta, and delta waves. Delta waves appear in states of dissociation, coma, or unconsciousness, and also in newborns.

Usually, when undergoing a brainwave test, it needs to be conducted in a quiet room. However, in Julia's case, she underwent the test in a chaotic and noisy environment with many people around. After confirming that her brainwaves are normal, the test proceeds with several experiments.

Dr. Ricardo asked her to recite the words "Jesus, the Blessed Mother, peace, and prayer." Whenever she recited these words, delta waves appeared clearly. It is said that it is impossible to explain this phenomenon medically or scientifically.

In the case of a sister who receives messages, delta waves did not appear in her brainwaves. Her delta wave started to emit only after receiving Holy Communion by the spiritual director priest. However for Julia Kim, even though she was in a cluttered place, two or even three delta waves appeared. Dr. Ricardo said, ‘Now no one in the world can call Julia Kim a psychotic.’

Here is an introduction to the article about Julia's brainwave test, presented in the recently released book "Reason to Believe" by Brother Ron Tesoriero from Australia..

Brother Ron Tesoriero, born in Sydney, Australia, is a lawyer. Since 1992, he has started researching the supernatural phenomena happening in the Catholic Church. Around this time, he met Dr. Ricardo Castanon, a Bolivian neurophysiologist with the same objective, and they began collaborating.

Brother Ron began producing a documentary based on Dr. Ricardo Castanon's research findings. Their documentary was aired in 1999 on Fox TV in the United States as a program titled "Signs from God, Science Tests Faith.

In January 2002, they visited Naju and began conducting scientific tests on the signs that occurred there, including a brainwave test on Julia.

In the book "Reason to Believe," Brother Ron describes the scientific tests and results of supernatural phenomena that have occurred in Catholic churches worldwide, along with their meaning. The book presents brainwave tests of visionaries, with a brief introduction to an article about Sister Julia, accompanied by a photo. The following in quotation marks is from the book.

“…“…During a trip to Conyers, USA, in 1993, I met a person who left a strong impression on me. He, a professor of neurophysiology born in Bolivia, had been lecturing at universities in Europe for many years. He was an expert in the relationship between the physiological and chemical activities of the brain and human behavior. Some of his books are used as textbooks in Spanish-speaking university departments where the brain and its activities are studied..

He would openly say that he was an atheist, without any hesitation. However, as he studied the inexplicable phenomena occurring at the site of the apparitions, his conviction as an atheist began to diminish.

His name is Dr. Ricardo Castanon. All over the world, people are claiming to have supernatural and transcendent experiences, such as manifestations or revelations. Dr. Ricardo is investigating the authenticity of these claims with the help of science, medicine, and psychology. The Catholic Church knows of his efforts and has occasionally requested him to investigate on behalf of the Church.

Dr. Ricardo uses the latest techniques to examine the phenomena occurring in the auditory and visual centers of their brains when mystics or visionaries claim to see or hear things that ordinary people cannot.

The activity happening in particular centers of the brain is captured in the electroencephalogram (EEG). First, Dr. Ricardo records the brainwaves of the visionary in their normal state (awake), then instructs them to pray, meditate, or engage in their own way of communicating with a divine presence.

However, Dr. Ricardo has discovered that in some cases, when the visionary sees Jesus or hears a voice, delta waves occur in the brainwave patterns. In general, delta waves are seen in the following specific instances:

① In patients in a coma,

② In a very small number of people during deep sleep,

③ occasionally in infants sucking on milk.

Delta waves cannot be triggered through stimulation, nor can they be artificially created. Moreover, the appearance of delta waves in a person who is clear and conscious, conversing at that moment, contradicts scientific principles. As a result, delta waves serve as a significant implication in proving the truth of a visionary.

“At this moment, we are researching a woman who claims to see visions of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Thousands of Americans believe in her, but no one has investigated or studied the truth of her claims. This is astonishing! Here in the United States, you can research anything. It is absolutely possible to research anything. In practice, there are no restrictions on conducting scientific investigations.” Dr. Ricardo continued speaking with a smile, using a tone influenced by a Spanish accent.

“Scientists have gone as far as studying which direction a child is more likely to fall when they fall off their bike. However, where on earth are the scientists who are interested in areas like these (mystical signs)?”

“I believe that to be a good scientist, one must be a skeptical person. And I believe that such a skeptical perspective prevents scientists from taking an interest in fields like these (mystical signs),” I answered.

“That's true. However, being “skeptical” is different from “closing one's mind.” I believe we need to approach these matters with an open mind. Our mind is like a parachute. It only works when it is open. I am not a believer, yet I do not close my mind to any debate. Moreover, I do not close my mind to good science that is based on clear evidence.

If a scientist outright rejects any possibility, how can we call them a scientist? I approach the study of these mystics from many angles: Is their mind psychologically sound? Are they not delusional? Is it their ego, craving fame and attention, behind this? In their daily lives, are they simple, holy, and humble? Or is their motivation rooted in greed for money?”

“In that case, I might have to say that scientific evidence contradicting your expectations could create a problem for your certainty as an atheist.”

“Well, I have always considered myself a complete rationalist. I believe in science.”

“However, now you are encountering results that your science considers impossible. For instance, delta waves appearing in a person who is completely awake and talking..."…”

“Exactly. As a scientist, I have no explanation for this.”

“In that case,” I continued, hesitating.

“Is the only rational answer to this to acknowledge that some divine intervention is at work?”

“I am human. I live, I die, and then it’s over. This is all I know for now.”

Professor Castanon and I then considered another case. This time two people were claiming to have mystical experiences of Jesus. They were placed in the same room and they each claimed to have a vision of Jesus at the same time and for the same time. Each had been wired up with electrodes linked to monitors measuring brain activity while their clinical behaviour was being filmed. Both were active and alert. Yet both registered delta brain wave activity at the same time and for the same time. The results from the EEG appeared unique. Ricardo was intrigued. “I have never seen anything like this,” he muttered in disbelief. .

In yet another investigation some months later another subject who had claimed to also have mystical experiences was given Holy Communion while being monitored and filmed. Her name was Patricia Talbot. She was from Ecuador. She turned to Ricardo and said,

“The moment I received Communion I felt this extraordinary presence of Christ as if He was caressing my forehead.”

Again the results of the EEG recordings were thoroughly perplexing. The subject was fully awake and physically active and yet at the very moment the communion wafer touched her tongue the monitor readings showed a delta wave state in her brain. “What do you make of it?” I probed. He sighed. I pushed for a response. “Could your test results be explained by some sort of psychic power, mind over matter, or the combined mental power of several people?”Shaking his head and in a quiet pensive way he concluded, “I do not think we can explain these things. We think that man is very intelligent and that we know everything. Sometimes we have to be humble and say, here is another kind of power that we do not understand. And that could be. I say 'could be God.”

Yet another case found us with a subject, Julia Kim, in South Korea. She reported having visions of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. A Korean neurologist was present and the question posed prior to the tests was a familiar one.

“Was it possible for a fully conscious human being to register delta brainwaves on the EEG?”

His reply was an emphatic and simple,

“No.”

The subject was asked to pray and the results showed unmistakable delta wave formations. (Up to 2 to 3 are shown.)

Since it was impossible to explain this phenomenon, Dr. Ricardo, overjoyed as if jumping, proclaimed, “Now, no one in the world can call Mama Julia a mentally ill person!"

Test of brain waves verifying whether the visionary is authentic