U. S. religious cultsters, practicing esoteric arts for the weak in spirit and confused in mind, have their quota of quacks and racketeers, their full share of psychotics. Last week in Chicago an egregious religionist, who in his time had attracted the notice of both police and psychiatrists, was discovered by the Chicago Times (tabloid) to be "doing business at the same old stand." He was Giuseppe Maria Abbate, 51, onetime convict, onetime maniac, known to his 100-odd present followers as the "Celestial Messenger."
"Padre" Abbate's people believe that he was not born of mortal parents but formed from "the ashes of Jesus Christ." Once he crowned the small daughter of one of his Italian-born parishioners, Mrs. Grace Ippolita, as "the Virgin Mary," instructing his followers to worship her. In 1923 the "Celestial Messenger" was convicted of ravishing a small girl, was adjudged insane. Convicted later of two more attacks, Abbate was occasionally in jail but always turned loose because of his original insanity. In the Elgin State Hospital (Illinois), where he spent two years, clad in clerical garb, Abbate became a prime exhibit for psychology classes from Chicago universities, readily telling students of the messages and visions he experienced. Last week "Padre" Abbate was installed once more, surrounded by men and women in monastic robes, in a three-story house containing his church and living quarters. He posed for photographers, wearing vestments resembling a bishop's and a mitre bearing cabalistic words, with one of his tonsured "monks" by his side. He held services for his people, giving them "the sacraments," for, as his housekeeper explained, "we are really a Roman Catholic church although we are not under the Pope." But when the press began getting too inquisitive, "Padre" Abbate secreted himself, had a sign put on the door: For Members Only.