Monday thru Friday on the CATHOLIC-INTERNET NETWORK at http://www.catholic-internet.org See why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!" e-mail: DailyCatholic@catholic-internet.org

     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 seventh installment in which we address the fact that the actions of the Holy Father have proven it is time to make a decision. He has drawn the proverbial line in the sand. Are we going to join him or be caught up in our selfish pride that we know better than the Church? From our view there is only one choice and that is loyalty with the Magisterium. The other will only end in being choked by the desert dust of despair. For the seventh installment entitled Drawing a line in the sands of time: Separating the Conspirators from those in concord with Rome, click on WHERE IS HOLY MOTHER CHURCH HEADING AS WE NEAR THE MILLENNIUM?.

INTRODUCTION
      The Feature Article, begun in the inaugural issue, deals with the state of the Church. In this sixth installment, we continue probing the question that has perplexed the Magisterium and the laity for the past 30 years as the liberal element has left its mark, effecting changes that have seemingly watered down the "Roman Catholic" traditions. Yet, God in His Infinite Wisdom, has allowed this to happen for a specific purpose. He has been preparing us in a special way by sending His very Own Mother to guide us and remind us of our roots. Through perseverance, prayer and loyalty to Holy Mother Church headed by the Holy Father John Paul II by the faithful who will not compromise, the pendulum is beginning to swing back toward the conservative side, paralleling the same recent shift in American politics. In the seventh installment of this on-going feature series, we reveal the mutiny being waged by various liberal factions trying to force man's will on the faithful rather than submitting to the Divine Will and of the Church standing up and drawing the line in the sands of time.

      In this last part of the second millennium, through the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, whose leadership skills and credentials we treated in the last issue, we can see Holy Mother Church as the ship which will carry us through the rough seas of this earth to the heavenly shores of eternity. But the voyage, as we have indicated in past installments, is anything but smooth. But we know it can't be for Christ told us as much. Continuing in our multi-part feature on the direction we as Catholics, as the mystical Body of Christ, are heading as the clock ticks down on the twentieth century, we reveal the mutiny that is taking place on the good ship H.M.C. Great, holy efforts are being made to offset this mutiny, spawned by those factions who followed their own will during thirty years of undermining the doctrines, dogmas, and traditions of the Roman Catholic faith. The Holy Father has stressed over and over that the Church will not do an "about face" on such issues as the ordination of women as priests, nor will Holy Mother Church abandon her stand against abortion, birth control, murder, homosexuality, etc. In fact, his holiness John Paul II has reiterated the need to return to the basis of our faith - the Sacraments, specifically the vital need for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the fervent reception of Jesus Christ, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in Holy Communion after a good, sincere Confession through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He has emphasized the need for all of us to pray, echoing Our Lady's call to "Pray! Pray! Pray!" Realizing the power of prayer, the Holy Father has further stressed the return to contemplative prayer, calling for a renewal of the cloistered, contemplative life in Religious Orders. In a move similar to St. Pius V after the Council of Trent in the 1570's, John Paul II has approved the Priestly Order of St. Peter, a congregation of priests whose calling is to preserve the Latin traditions of the Church in order to feed not only the growing number of souls who long for their Latin roots, but an equally growing group of faithful who realize both the beauty of the Latin language and liturgy and the essence of its meaning to our faith.

      In a further effort to offset efforts by liberal elements to lead us down the rosy path to perdition, the Pope has stated in pastoral letters and through Cardinal Josef Ratzinger that for all liturgical functions of the Church the New Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible are not acceptable and cannot be used. In his wisdom, that priceless gift of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Father chose this route to keep at bay the linguists who would otherwise thrust down our throats the all-inclusive language these editions promote. Rather than forcing the ICEL and other linguistic groups into schism outright, the Pope's method embraces the wisdom of Solomon and invites these divergent groups into obedience by clearly stating what it is that Holy Mother Church will not use or tolerate.

      But sometimes those in power must stand up and draw that line in the sand. While the Pope has done it diplomatically, but firmly, a few bishops have had enough and are standing totally behind the Vicar of Christ by drawing a line in the sand. It's time to either step forward and be counted as a loyal member of the Roman Catholic Church or take a hike. Such was the case recently when Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, head of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, threatened excommunication to those who were not obedient, including such groups as Catholics for a Free Choice, Planned Parenthood, and Call to Action to name a few. In other words, enough was enough. He even set a deadline of April 15 to cease and desist or else! It was a fitting date for the bishop was telling them to render to Caesar (or Clinton) the things that are Caesar's (the government's)...such as taxes, laws, but render to God the things that are God's...such as obedience to His One, True Church and God's Laws which overrule any of man's laws. Bishop Bruskewitz spoke out firmly, reminding all that to be Roman Catholic and be involved in those organizations he named, is a contradiction and cannot be tolerated for "people of good will be led astray...and some "have been trying to sell their evils to the unwary or uninformed"...giving others "the impression" that Holy Mother Church..."is divided or undecided about"..what she teaches. Kudos to this loyal bishop who flatly stated to the Lincoln Call to Action group, "the difference between a dissenting Catholic and a Protestant is that the Protestant has integrity." That's telling it like it is, though naturally the false prophets of today - the secular media, went right to the liberals' main big mouth, Rev. Richard McBrien of Notre Dame who replied that his actions were insane and that Bruskewitz was on "shaky ground" even intimidating that Church law won't support him. Church law will, the question is will the United States Bishops? Bishop Bruskewitz set the tone when he quoted Vatican II, stating "the faithful should be as closely attached to the Bishop as the Church is to Jesus Christ." The problem is there are too many bishops who many faithful in the flock don't want to be closely attached to because their shepherds are not in compliance with the Bishop of Rome - the Vicar of Christ. The Church needs more staunch leaders in the episcopacy to exhibit the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel and, above all Fortitude. It's time for them to stand up for what Jesus demands from His Church. While many will criticize Bishop Bruskewitz for being too harsh, we applaud his convictions and commitment to being a true shepherd in tending his flock which is in danger of being ravaged by the wolves of satan. We call on more bishops to follow suit and to preserve and protect their flocks as loyal shepherds.

      Jesus the Good Shepherd said in John 10: 11-16, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. But the hireling, who is not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf snatches and scatters the sheep; but the hireling flees because he is a hireling, and has no concern for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd, and I know Mine and Mine know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for My sheep. And other sheep I have that are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." How many bishops are mere hirelings who flee when liberal factions pressure and cajole? How many bishops are mere hirelings who cave in when government threatens to cut off their funds if they speak out against abortion or violations against God's Laws? How many bishops are mere hirelings who disregard the sheep because of peer pressure from their fellow bishops? Fearing that the wolf would snatch and scatter his sheep, Bishop Bruskewitz has corraled his sheep in the Lincoln Diocese to protect them as he continues to heed Christ's words in John 21: 15, "Feed My sheep." It is proof of one bishop's love for Jesus. We pray that many other bishops will follow suit and suppress the growing conspiracy.

      How does this conspiracy spread? What keeps nurturing this wicked weed that threatens to choke Holy Mother Church? In the next installment we will delve into this menace that surrounds the faithful as many go about their daily lives oblivious to the deadly barnacles that boldly cling to the hull of the Church, eating away at the fibers of the One, True, Catholic and Apostolic Faith.

In feast or famine the only nourishment we will ever need is the Holy Eucharist!

      That is the essence of the Blessed Mother Mary's words in her 177th and 178th messages to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart, which we bring you today. Our Lady urges her children not to concentrate on worldly things, not to be concerned with the pleasures of the flesh or mortal body but to look to the Passion of her Divine Son for inspiration and to rely on Him present in the Blessed Sacrament for all the refreshment they will ever need in this life. Click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Messages One Hundred Seventy-Seven and Seventy-Eight

      Beloved Hidden Flower, I bring you God's peace for you see how being committed to God is the Way of the Cross. Yet you have understood in the light of humility that it is the way to unending joy.

      I ask you to record my words that all my children may ponder them over and over throughout the days of darkness, chaos and chastisement.

      Beloved little ones, I speak now about my Son's Passion. With your human hearts and minds you find it incomprehensible to realize all my Son suffered in order to break mankind free from the bondage of sin. Yet if you would open your hearts these next days of solemn remembrance of my Son's passion would become a font of immeasurable graces poured out into your thirsty souls.

      As Jesus thirsted so, too, do all His children. But so many want to quench their thirst with worldly flavors. These flavors can never satisfy. Only Jesus satisfies, and I have told you, pleaded with you for so long to Pray! Fast! Convert your hearts! Be reconciled! Receive the Sacraments!

      What Divine Love rests within the Blessed Sacrament! The world has become so base under satan's rule that this Sacrament of Love is greatly abused, often ignored and by many no longer believed in. My children, how you wound my Son's Sacred Heart by such behavior, so cold and thoughtless.

      Thus, I solemnly tell you, now as never before and especially in these days before the Resurrection, you must beg of God the grace to be restored in fervor for the Eucharist. It is in grave danger of being taken from you. O! The agony of my Sorrowful Heart.

      Little children, here is the only good food that gives true Life. All else is but temporary for the body shall become dust until the Final Judgment.

      Therefore, seek the grace of true ardor for the Eucharist and recall to your heart with fervent aspirations the Passion my Son endured for you.

      Ponder this deep within your soul and be renewed and strengthened. I solemnly tell you, my little ones, the darkness of the tomb which preceded the Glorious Resurrection is upon your world. Persevere, my little children, and heed your Mother's warnings.

      I, the Mother of God, have been sent among you. I warn, I ask for repentance. To all of good will there is nothing to fear for God shall achieve His Supreme Victory. Yet to all who seek division, distort the truth, promote apostasy and lead their own souls and others to perdition I say: Woe! The time of Mercy is now nearly complete. Prepare well my children with absolute confidence in your Heavenly Father.

      My Son is with you. To all who seek Him especially this Holy Thursday, He will be present to you and remain with you, a light to defeat the terrible darkness.

      Come, my children, to God's Mercy while yet a little time remains. O! Heed my words so that you may know my Son's Love and the love of my Immaculate Heart.

      All I have spoken shall be fulfilled. I love you, my children. Pray! Pray! Pray! Thank you for responding to my Call!

      Beloved Hidden Flower, on this Sacred Day when you remember my Divine Son's Passion and Death, so I ask you to tell all of my children that beyond suffering, the Cross is the sign of Love. I, the Mother of God, who stood pierced by sorrows at the foot of my Divine Son's Cross, shed bitter tears. How I longed to take His place, yet knew I could not for He is God. I...His handmaid. For all generations I believed in Him, trusted and hoped in Him. For all generations I loved Him with a pure heart that all might come to love, honor and obey Him.

      My children, the Good Friday of your world has begun for all mankind. I solemnly tell you there will be a great rise in evil if my children do not convert their hearts and pray. Satan, who rules your world, shall now strike at children, many just entering the age of reason and even younger. He, the true beast, shall incite these young innocents to commit hideous deeds one against the other, perverting all the innocence of early childhood. Unless you pray and sacrifice and convert your hearts this shall spread from the youngest child of two or three until adulthood. It shall set parent against parent, child against child until all society suffers satan's cruel blows.

      Come, then, be my little ones. Let me shelter you beneath my Immaculate Mantle lest you perish in the evilness that abounds and daily increases. Heed my words that these terrible sufferings might be alleviated. Beloved, I weep for you because you do not understand, you do not believe.

      I again say: Pray! Pray! Pray! I love you. I bless you. Thank you for responding to my Call!

     Today is the feast of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the wise monk and abbot who counseled Popes and Kings and was later named a Doctor of the Church. Tomorrow we celebrate the feast of Saint Pius X, the holy pontiff who enabled all to receive Holy Communion by making the Holy Eucharist available to children over seven at all times. For the liturgy, readings and meditations and vignettes on these feasts, click on LITURGY FOR THE DAY.

Thursday August 20:
Feast of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

White vestments

First Reading: Ezekiel 36: 23-28
Psalms: Psalm 51: 12-15, 18-19
Gospel Reading: Matthew 22: 1-14

      A rebirth of the Cistercian Order can be attributed to a great Cistercian saint born in Burgundy, France in 1090: Saint Bernard. He entered the Cistercian abbey in Citeaux, France in 1113, convincing thirty friends and relatives to join him. Naturally, this influx led to the revival of the Cistercian Order and within three years of becoming a priest, Bernard was sent with twelve others to establish a new monastery at Clairvaux which was to be the daughter house of Citeaux. Bernard was chosen Abbot and as word of his devotion and knowledge grew the people sought him out from the poorest peasants to bishops, kings and Popes. One of them, Pope Blessed Eugene III commissioned Bernard to preach the Second Crusade throughout Europe which also enabled Bernard to found many monasteries in France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Sicily and even Syria. Kings beseeched him to serve as a peacemaker whenever possible and Bernard was revered not only for his holy life, but for his great writings. One of the greatest prayers he wrote was the Memorare to Our Lady. He was devoted heart and soul to his Crucified Lord and received many visions and messages through private revelation, one of which was his zeal to help the suffering Christ so that he offered to help Him bear the terrible suffering of the cross. Christ comforted Bernard and inspired him to carry His word and faith to all parts of Europe and the mideast, entreating the saint to defend the true pontiff Pope Innocent II as opposed to the antipope Anaclete II. Bernard died peacefully on August 20, 1153 five weeks after the death of his pontiff Blessed Eugene III. Bernard, also known as "Hammer of heretics", was canonized by Pope Alexander III in 1174 and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1830 by Pope Pius VIII.

Friday August 20:
Feast of Saint Pius X, Pope

White vestments

First Reading: Ezekiel 37: 1-14
Psalms: Psalm 107: 1-9
Gospel Reading: Matthew 22: 34-40

      Born Joseph Sarto in 1835 near Treviso, Italy at Riese, this young parish priest went on to become one of the greatest Popes ever - Pope Saint Pius X - the Pope of the Blessed Sacrament. Prior to his elevation to the papacy he was ordained Bishop of Mantua in 1884 and became Cardinal Sarto in 1893. Against his own wishes he was unanimously elected the 257th pontiff in the line of Peter at the conclave on August 9, 1903. His pontificate was one of great accomplishments from his liturgical reforms in the Breviary, Mass, and Gregorian Chant to his establishing that all children who had reached the age of reason could receive Holy Communion. He promulgated a new Catechism and the Code of Canon Law and established the Acta Apostolicae Sedis (A.A.S.) He decreed the elevation of the Holst and Chalice at the Consecration of the Mass and was known for his staunch defense of the conservative Church and opposed staunchly to liberalism. He deplored diplomacy in the face of all of the hypocrism and false dealings between nations and many believe the loss of so many lives at the outbreak of World War I contributed to his early death on August 21, 1914, 22 days after war had broken out. His last words were: "To restore all things in Christ, so that Christ may be all in all." That was his motto throughout his eleven year papacy. Today his body is still incorrupt, having been moved from St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in 1959 to his home diocese of Venice, thus bringing true his last words to the Venetians before Cardinal Sarto headed off to the conclave in 1903, "Living or dead, I shall return." Venice sent the Church a great pontiff, now Holy Mother Church was returning a great saint.

      Today's prayer is in the beautiful, inspirational prayer composed by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the MEMORARE which carries an indulgence of three years:

     Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother! To thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but, in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

   Dear children! Today, little children, I invite you, through prayer, to be with Jesus, so that through a personal experience of prayer you may be able to discover the beauty of God's creatures. You cannot speak or witness about prayer, if you do not pray. That is why, little children, in the silence of the heart, remain with Jesus, so that He may change and transform you with His love. This, little children, is a time of grace for you. Make good use of it for your personal conversion, because when you have God, you have everything. Thank you for having responded to my call.

For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE

---

---

Click here to go to SECTION TWO or click here to return to the graphics front page of this issue.

August 20, 1998 volume 9, no. 163   DAILY CATHOLIC