On This Rock I Will Build My Church

I have spent a great deal of time absorbing, praying about, and reflecting on this unprecedented time in the history of the Catholic Church. What is clear at this point is that there are two churches: the “official” Catholic Church fraught with heretical leaders and followers, and an underground church comprised of faithful people, upholding traditional Catholic values, who are astonished that they appear to be in the process of being pushed out of the fold. Many feel as though they are in a dwindling minority, watching their pope, bishops, and priests leading the faithful down the broad road of destruction.

During the lockdowns, we watched helplessly as the pope and bishops forced good priests to deny us the sacraments, declared war on faithful Catholics and priests, closed down churches and schools, disrupted faith formation, refused to visit the sick and dying, and recklessly pushed a dangerous political and medical agenda in association with corrupt governments and corporations. The pope turned into a politician and attacked the entire global church, driving countless faithful away. Though most Catholics were refused entry to church and could not receive the sacraments they so desperately needed, there were, nevertheless, mostly secret gatherings where the sacraments were administered and people gathered in prayer under threat of arrest. When churches reopened, we witnessed the gamut of liturgies, some of which were blessed with reverence, while others were grotesque shows run by politicians and money changers posing as priests.

Now we are witnessing Germany (and arguably the global church) on the brink of schism, the pope insanely endorsing homosexual behavior and idol worship while at the same time facilitating the complete destruction of the ministries of good bishops and priests who uphold the true faith of the church, and bishops who would indeed suspend John the Baptist himself from ministry for causing “division” in their congregations! In fact, they would suspend Jesus if they could, as He said “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law — man’s enemies will be the members of his own household” (Matthew 10:34-35).

The true separation of sheep and goats is on full display.

But let’s recall that the early church saw persecution and scattering, which drove the disciples out of their local region and across the world, thus facilitating Jesus’ plan to baptize people from all nations in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The more people are driven away from the problematic, schismatic, heretical loci within the Catholic Church, the more they are driven toward the realization of God’s ultimate plan to unite the faithful in His eternal love. How that will ultimately be manifested remains to be seen, but it is clear that those calling themselves “Catholic” today are recognizing divergent meanings of that term, and Christ’s true Church will emerge from the wilderness. Let’s pray for consecrated leaders of the Apostolic Succession who are guided by the Holy Spirit into mercifully feeding Christ’s sheep, and for the faithful to never lose heart.

In the Unity of the Holy Spirit

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The Holy Spirit is God. He unifies all things in God, and gathers together all that is good at every level. The Holy Spirit awakens faith, is the love of God poured out into our hearts, and is the source of all holiness.

The Narrow Gate to Heaven

The Holy Spirit was announced by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary, the Mother of God, and overshadowed her. This is the great connection between Heaven and Earth, and it is because of the Holy Spirit that Mary was recognized by the archangel to be filled with grace. It is the Holy Spirit that binds Mary to her Son, and binds the human race to God, the Queen of Heaven, all the angels and saints, and to each other.

It was through Jesus Himself that the Holy Spirit was sent to us, and St. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, imparted this wisdom for the protection and salvation of mankind: “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:1-6).

What is so important about this is that by being gathered together in the Holy Spirit, we are being prepared in holiness to be united with God, our Father. This is the reason Jesus came down from Heaven to be with us. The mission of the Holy Spirit is to unite us to Christ, who revealed the reason why He laid down His life and ascended to the cross: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” (John 12:32).

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This great act of salvation is God’s eternal offer to unite us all in His love and to save us from the forces of evil by paying the penalty for our sins. It is the Holy Spirit that overshadowed Mary at the Annunciation, that set tongues of fire on the Apostles at Pentecost, affords us the graces and gifts to do God’s will, enables us to gather in the Church Jesus established, and unifies all people on earth and all angels and saints in Heaven to act in the service of God. In short, the Holy Spirit brings all good together in love.

The Broad Road to Destruction

Jesus also spoke of Satan and hell. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30). In saying this, Jesus made it clear exactly how the devil works: he divides and scatters. Jesus defeated Satan and paid the price for our sin.

Satan’s purpose is to separate us from God and destroy us. He does this through lies, manipulation, and division. He tricks people into thinking that their sinful actions are actually not so bad, and that hell doesn’t exist because a God who is good would never send anyone to hell. This keeps people comfortably unaware of their own sinfulness and deluded into thinking they are living lives of grace. They remain ignorant of the great danger they are confronting, making them easier for Satan to destroy.

Jesus makes it clear that we must choose of our own free will. We have 2 choices: either a life devoted to holiness, or a life that shuts out the graces of the Holy Spirit because the soul is steeped in sin, and ultimately leads to hell: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

The devil does the opposite of what God does by dividing people from each other, and even within a person, creating divisions in one’s thoughts and in one’s heart, leading to their destruction: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25).

The Virgin Mary herself, when she appeared at Fatima, conveyed to Sister Lucy the vision of “multitudes of souls falling into Hell – like snowflakes“.

With such a clear vision, anyone would cry to the Heavens for help!

Jesus’ Great Promise of Hope

A final warning from Jesus is also one that gives mankind hope: “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31).

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Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to take care of us. Through the Holy Spirit we have the faith that cannot fail because it comes from God the Father. When we turn away from sin and receive Jesus’ absolution, we live in God’s grace and can once again serve Him, moving into ever increasing grace and holiness (as described in We are Called to be Saints). We can then be continually strengthened in the Holy Eucharist and Blood of Christ, remembering His words to us: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).

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Embarking on your Eternal Journey

Whoever we are or what we think our origins are, each of us is called to address the existential questions of who we are called to be and why we are here. How we respond to God’s call depends on so many things, but ultimately it is a clear discernment of His loving and merciful will that leads us through this life and to the new form of eternal existence in which God intends to remake us. How each of us, during our earthly sojourn, responds to the graces carried to us by the Holy Spirit and to the countless signs provided by God, either directly or through His messengers, leads us on the great journey that will carry us into eternal life. This is a journey of discernment through joy and suffering, jubilation and desolation, life and death, and the entire range of experiences that God makes possible in our restless hearts. And we are never alone.

Through these writings, inspired by prayer, contemplation and inspirations carefully discerned to be from the Holy Spirit, I humbly offer my companionship, thoughts, teachings and friendship to all those who may benefit. The goal of the journey for all of us is the indescribably joyful and holy union with God forever.

While my writings are principally oriented toward faithful Catholics who want to go deeper into their contemplation, I invite you, whoever you are, to prayerfully consider this writing, which has been written by a person who is grateful to God for all He has done and would like to share his faith with all those whose hearts and minds are open to God’s amazing and loving graces.

Should you decide to follow this blog I will add your name to my daily prayer intentions. Feel free to contact me with questions, and may God bless you always. 

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Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

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Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

blessed_sacramentTo adore God in the Eucharist and spend quality time with our Lord on a regular basis is to form an ever stronger connection between our Creator and ourselves. This has such rich potential in the life of our souls that words can never adequately describe it. It is an opportunity to enter into union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Through contemplation before the Eucharist, one experiences the infinite mercy and tenderness of Jesus from just a few feet away, and the opening of the soul to the divine wisdom, grace and power of Almighty God.

As we enter the Chapel, we bring our broken humanity and mortality. As we exit, we do so, not only encouraged for having been privileged to kneel in the presence of the angels before the Glory of God, but also strengthened for having received from our Lord the portion of divine growth, carried in the gifts offered to each one of us by the Holy Spirit, that will carry us through this earthly realm and into our eternal life. One receives and is empowered to spread the fire of the Lord’s divine love. Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament means kneeling before the Light of the World, which one then carries into a world often beset with darkness.