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     As part of our summer service to readers who may not have had the opportunity to read the earliest chapters of our on-going megaseries on the Church today, we repeat the early installments bringing you the ninth installment in which we discuss the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the Sanctifier, the Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity and how we don't depend on Him enough, including many of the bishops who give lip-service to the Holy Ghost, but fail to convey the vital importance and necessity of the Holy Spirit in the life of each person, family, parish and diocese as well as accurately conveying what the Holy Spirit truly inspired at Vatican II, not the liberal platform foisted upon us over the past thirty years which was man's agenda rather than God's. For the ninth installment entitled Rekindling the Flame of the Holy Spirit , click on WHERE IS HOLY MOTHER CHURCH HEADING AS WE NEAR THE MILLENNIUM?.

      With the Feast of Pentecost upon us, we are reminded that this solemnity is truly the "Birthday of the Roman Catholic Church" for it was on this day, in the upper room, when Christ fulfilled His promise in Luke 24: 49, "And I send forth upon you the promise of My Father. But wait here in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high." This power was indeed bestowed upon the Apostles and the Blessed Mother of God when the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, descended upon them infusing in them a treasure no earthly gift could match. Through generation after generation, century after century the Holy Trinity has remained with Holy Mother Church as Jesus charged in Matthew 28: 19-20, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world."

      As the Church nears the time to blow out 2000 candles, the Holy Spirit's Flame of Love remains as strong as ever. It is the human light that has grown weaker. Why? When laxity sets in, the sentinels of faith become too relaxed and the thieves of heresy and schism steal into the sanctuary, robbing the faithful of the fullness of their heritage as Christ's chosen ones. The Roman Catholic faith He gave us, passed down from generation to generation, has become watered down...diluted over the past thirty years. Why? First of all, to debate the Dogmas, Doctrines and Teachings of Holy Mother Church is an anomaly for the very nature of the Roman Catholic Religion is faith. That faith teaches that the Church to which we belong was founded by Jesus Christ (cf. Matthew 16:18-19) and through the lawful succession of St. Peter, the first Pope, the very Dogmas and Doctrines of the faith were bestowed upon the Church by Christ Himself. Christ is the invisible Head of the Church. We, His children, are the members of the Church who comprise the Mystical Body of Christ. This Mystical Body is the Communion of Saints comprising The Church Triumphant, the Church Suffering, and the Church Militant. No other religion can make this claim. At the top of this hierarchial structure established by God is the Holy Father who is the visible head of the Church, the representative of Christ among us. To him is due loyalty, respect and, above all, obedience in all matters of faith and morals. In turn, the Pope's teachings on matters of faith and morals are always guided by, and under the influence of, the Holy Spirit, and are thus infallible! This is not debatable.

      As we draw closer to the Millennium, these recent decades have given birth to a veritable army of uninformed Catholics who do not know their faith, nor are they concerned about learning, knowing and practicing their faith fully. Thus it follows that it is increasingly difficult for Catholics as a whole, lukewarm Catholics or "cafeteria catholics" in particular, to set a good example for the world. The Holy Catholic Church no longer is able to present a unified force in the world. Though his Holiness Pope John Paul II has been the steady beacon in a world gone astray, his own Church dissects, criticizes and discards everything he says. That is not right in the eyes of God! Because of this the Church has been softened from its core. Bishops allow ideas and liturgies to fester without cutting them off at their root once they reveal themselves as heretical or schismatic. Too few of Christ's shepherds have the courage, wisdom, fortitude and fear of the Lord to speak out as Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz did last month (cf. Editorial, volume 7, no. 9) Rather, by burying their heads in the sand as ostriches the bishops have allowed the Church to become victim of negative press from within and without. Without realizing it they are encouraging the Catholic bashing that is so prevalent today by their silence. Every time the "negative" view of the Roman Catholic Church appears in print or electronic media, those "cafeteria catholics," those who are lukewarm out of ignorance or a catechetical lack of the faith, are pulled off the right path and veer toward the deceptive road satan patrols. The false prophets of today, the secular media take pride in molding images. The image they have formed of the Church is one of turmoil and tyranny. Nothing could be further from the truth!!! Yet, when a Catholic hears this enough from the gods of the airwaves, they begin to believe it themselves. Once this happens, they unconsciously will strive to separate themselves from the attacked subject. This plays right into satan's hands who has groomed many to deceive them by tearing down the fabric of the Church through "logic!" and shame! Evidence the oversaturation of stories on women's rights and sensational pedophile reports. If one is not versed in the faith, one can easily believe the lies of the media which are supported by the liberal "experts" within the Church which the false prophets canonize as the American authorities on Catholicism. With these liberal theologians spewing venom against the Holy Father and what he calls for no wonder there is mass confusion within the Church today. It was these same liberal theologians and those who went directly before them who interpreted Vatican II the way they wanted rather than what was truly intended. It was these men and women of their own will who introduced countless radical changes in the liturgy and interpretation of Church Dogma, Doctrine and Teachings. It was this group who begot the "cafeteria catholic" - the growing number of baptized Catholics who are not living their faith, yet think they are!

      Every baptized Catholic has a serious obligation before God to live their faith to the fullest in order to obtain their own salvation as well as the salvation of many other souls who benefit from their willing obedience through the Infinite merits of Jesus Christ. This all Catholics need to know. By turning to prayer and calling upon the Holy Spirit for inspiration and guidance through the intercession of His spouse the Blessed Virgin Mary, Catholics everywhere will truly know the truth and, through a commitment to prayer and obedience the flame will burn ever brighter for the truth will set us free!

      In the next installment we will delve further into this erosion and how, only through prayer and obedience, will we be able to salvage all that Jesus asks of us as Catholics. For now, we need to pray often: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful. And enkindle in them the fire of Your Love.

The darkness intensifies because hearts remain closed, while the mind controls our lives.

      That is the essence of the Blessed Mother Mary's words in her 181st and 180th messages to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart, which we bring you today. Our Lady urges her children to open their hearts to her Divine Son Jesus for only in Him will they have a refuge for grave persecutions have begun and will continue until her Immaculate Heart triumphs. The darkness intensifies and Our Lady bemoans the fact so many remain cold to her words, opting instead to rationalize everything and look to the world for answers where the only true answers come from above. Click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Messages One Hundred Eighty-One and Eighty-Two

      Beloved Hidden Flower, I am here drawing you ever closer to my Divine Son. Gaze upon Him - Merciful Love. Hide yourself in His Sacred Wounds, for you are my Hidden Flower who I desire to mold in my Immaculate Heart.

      Where are you, my little children, that you do not come to see Jesus, to listen to Him who saved you? Oh! If you only knew with what joy you are received by Him, the abundance of graces poured out upon you. Why do you stay away! Do you not realize He is Life?

      My little children, I have asked so often for prayers. I want you to be living prayers. My Immaculate Heart is filled with heavenly joy by all who are striving to live my messages. But where are the rest of my children?

      I solemnly tell you the great chastisement is now upon you. There will be sorrows of every kind throughout all the earth. The name of God shall be mocked! His church, already poisoned by the evil one, shall be ripped apart causing more blasphemy. How I weep for you, my little ones, for still your hearts remain closed, your mind controls your life - not your spirit.

      My dear children, all I have foretold is now coming to pass. In the holy places where I have come among my children there will be grave persecutions, efforts to stop the flow of Divine Graces to all my children. You can stop these sorrows if you open your hearts and convert now! Each one must make their life a living prayer, which satan and all his demons cannot touch.

      I will help you. That is why I have come and why I remain among you. Satan shall increase his evils; mankind shall experience unprecedented evil inflicted upon each other. Heed my words, for I am the Mother of God!

      Oh! The terrible blackness comes and you refuse to listen. Open your hearts. Hide yourselves in my Son's wounds that you may persevere.

      Thank you for responding to my Call!

      Beloved Hidden Flower, how eagerly I long to bring all my children to my Son. How many tears I weep because all too few respond. They remain in darkness.

      I ask you to tell all my children that my Immaculate Heart rejoices at the Conference being held in this city. Here, I solemnly tell you, there will be abundant graces bestowed. Many hearts shall be converted, many souls enlightened. I shall truly be with my little ones, for I come wherever my Divine Son is honored. Yes, I bring to all who believe the Christ Child.

      Will you, my little ones, allow me, your heavenly mother, to hold you in my arms and teach you the proper way to pray? Oh! How I desire this. How I yearn to be your mother. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you, renew you, enlighten and strengthen you. Then, my little ones, you will see what my words mean. You will recognize the signs of the time - my Immaculate Heart shall triumph as foretold from all ages, and then my Divine Son shall return in all His Glory.

      I come to prepare my little ones for ever increasing persecutions from the evil one, who roars furiously across the world as his time draws to an end. Pray! Sacrifice! Fast! Receive the Sacraments and be open to the Holy Spirit. Only in this way , properly nourished, shall you persevere.

      I love you my little ones. I seek to place you lovingly beneath my Mantle. Persevere, my little chosen ones. Let nothing discourage you, for my Divine Son and I will never leave you.

      Remember my tears. With each prayer from the heart you wipe away a tear. I bless you. I give you God's peace. Thank you for responding to my Call!

     Today we celebrate the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, the 64th successor of Peter who contributed much to Holy Mother Church including a form of music appropriately called Gregorian Chant which, sadly, has been all but lost in most liturgies today. Tomorrow we commemorate FIRST FRIDAY with the Holy Mass for Ordinary Time. For the liturgy, readings and meditations and story of St. Gregory, click on LITURGY FOR THE DAY.

Thursday September 3:
Feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, 64th successor of Peter, Religious and Doctor of the Church

White vestments

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 3: 18-23
Psalms: Psalm 24: 1-6
Gospel Reading: Luke 5: 1-11

     The same barbarian ransacking that Augustine faced in the early 400's revisited in the early 600's while Pope Saint Gregory the Great was guiding Holy Mother Church as the 64th successor of Saint Peter. Born in Rome in 540 to a Roman Senator, Gregory began his career following in the footsteps of his father by becoming prefect of Rome from 573-578. After the death of his father, Gregory gave it all up for God. He gave everything he had to an assortment of monasteries, building six monasteries in Sicily and even turned his own palatial home in Rome into a monastery. In 579 Pope Pelagius II ordained Gregory a deacon, sending him as an emissary to Constantinople amid the opulence in the court of the Emperor there. But Gregory disdained these perks, opting to continue living the monastic way of life while still carrying out his duties. In 586 Pope Pelagius recalled him to Rome where Gregory was given the position of abbot of St. Andrew's Monastery, while performing the full time duties of the Holy Father's Secretary. It was an important step in his grooming for four years later he was chosen to succeed Pelagius who had died from the plague on February 7, 590. Seven months later on September 3, 590 Gregory became Pope. This Benedictine was the first monk in the history of the Church to be elevated to pontiff and continued his contemplative ways while still maintaining a busy, active schedule as the leader of his people, calling himself the "Servant of the servants of God." His first official act was forming penitential processions to the seven churches in Rome to petition God to end the deadly plague ravaging the city. Gregory's and the people's prayers were answered as the plague was diminished. Gregory knew this from the vision he received of an angel in a castle at the Vatican which, from that time on, became Castel Sant'Angelo near the river Tiber. During his fourteen year reign Gregory reaffirmed the civil authority of the pope, thus beginning the "temporal power." He was a pope who called for great reform within the Church unifying her with disciplinary measures necessary to expand the mission of the Church. That mission included England, France, Spain and Africa where he sent numerous missionaries to evangelize the true faith. Gregory was creative and original in his administration as Pope and his actions became the benchmark for how the Holy Father would rule from the Vatican to the entire world. He became an ideal role model for priests, bishops, religious and lay people throughout the world. Gregory also revised the Sacramentary and the liturgy of the Mass, introducing chants in the Mass which would become the celebrated Gregorian Chant. He was given the moniker "Great" seven hundred years later by Pope Boniface VIII and was proclaimed one of the great Doctors of the Church along with Saints Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine...all from the same era of the early centuries. Like our Holy Father Pope John Paul II today, the Canticle of Mary responsory proclaims that "Gregory put into practice all that he preached so that he might be a living example of the spiritual message he proclaimed."

FIRST FRIDAY September 4:
Twenty-Second Friday in Ordinary Time

Green vestments

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 4: 1-5
Psalms: Psalm 37: 3-6, 27-28, 39-40
Gospel Reading: Luke 5: 33-39

     Today's prayer is the Opening Prayer for the Mass in honor of Pope Saint Gregory the Great:

     Father, You guide Your people with kindness and govern us with love. By the prayers of Saint Gregory give the spirit of wisdom to those You have called to lead Your Church. May the growth of Your people in holiness be the eternal joy of our shepherds.

   Dear children! Today I invite you to come still closer to me through prayer. Little children, I am your mother, I love you and I desire that each of you be saved and thus be with me in Heaven. That is why, little children, pray, pray, pray until your life becomes prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call.

For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE AND MORE

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September 3, 1998 volume 9, no. 173   DAILY CATHOLIC