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     Today is a holiday for many as they celebrate "Presidents Day" acknowledging the accomplishments of two of our greatest presidents ever - our sixteenth president of the United States Abraham Lincoln and the first President of our land - George Washington. Both held honesty as one of the most cherished virtues. Times sure have changed when you consider presidential virtues today! But the Blessed Mother has warned of this and is even purported to have revealed a prophetic vision to the Father of our country on America of modern times. For a glimpse of what she conveyed to President Washington at Valley Forge, click on WASHINGTON THE VISIONARY

      [EDITOR'S NOTE: Though George Washington was a Mason, his personal letters attest to the fact that this uncommon man repeatedly prayed to God for Divine Guidance. Quite deservedly, he has been described as a man of honor, courage, fortitude, and honesty; a brilliant, courtesous, passionate and considerate leader.

     During the bitterly cold winter of 1777 at Valley Forge, Washington has such an unusual and profound spiritual experience that on many occasions he told good friends and fellow patriots of the occurrence.

     The first-hand observations of one Anthony Sherman George relate that Washington was alone in his tent when a beautiful lady appeared to him. According to Sherman, Washington gave this account of the apparition and the story is attributed to Robert H. Goldsmith which we reprint here: The account contains highly spiritual and prophetic undertones that give some credence to the purported apparition of the Blessed Mother to the Father of our country. We do not propose that this is true, only that we do know Our Lady cares very deeply for her children in America and even back in 1700's was trying to warn us through the most famous man in U.S. history.]

     "This afternoon as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch...I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed, that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause of her presence. A second, a third and even a fourth time did I repeat my question, but received no answer.

     "By this time I felt strange sensations spreading through me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition impossible...my tongue had become useless."

     In his own words, the Father described the atmosphere around him, the words of the Lady and his reactions. The Lady, who many believed was the Mother of God, addressed Washington as the "Son of the Republic" as she presented him an overview of all the world and several separate visions of America at war. She told Washington to "Look and learn" and he related how he "heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people." He was shown the future growth of towns and cities "springing up one after another until the whole land from Atlantic to Pacific was dotted with them." He was also shown a vision of the Civil War and of the World Wars and their outcomes.

     The final vision shown to the first president of the United States was of an event yet to come. According to Washington, "I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.' At this a dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia and Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: from each of these continents arose thick, black clouds that were soon joined into one. Throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men, who, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America. Our country was enveloped in this volume of cloud and I saw vast armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns and cities that I beheld springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering clashing and cries of millions in mortal combat, I heard again the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.' The dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth and blew a long fearful blast."

     Washington's narration continued: "Instantly a light as a thousand suns shown down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment, the angel whose head still shone the word Union, and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the Heavens attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle."

     Then the Lady of the apparition showed Washington "the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious." According to Wshington, the visions were then interpreted for him by Our Lady: 'My child, these great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the third, but in this greatest conflict the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for God, His land and the Union.' With these words, the apparition vanished, and I...felt that I seen a vision wherein had been shown to me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United States."

      The comparisons are inevitable as we offer a perspective on history plus the moral spectrum between our first president and our latest. In the vicinity of the original Garden of Eden and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon we ask if history will repeat itself for America is at a crossroads on the direction her people will take in reference to returning to God, to doing the "right thing." We speak out against attacking Iraq and voice our endorsement of Pope John Paul II's plea to continue negotiations with Iraq in an effort to begin an amiable solution that will prevent World War III in our commentary entitled "Swimming with Sharks." Click on Today's CATHOLIC PewPOINT

     Today being Presidents Day it's only appropriate to compare our first president with our latest. The obvious differences demand it. We featured Abraham Lincoln in our editorial last Thursday. Today we focus on George Washington our first president who said "I cannot tell a lie!"; our latest president can tell nothing but. Our first possessed wooden teeth, but teeth of virtue for the moral law of God; our latest possesses wooden principals, who gums at plaudits about family virtues in the face of hypocrisy. Our first was a military commander who led his troops to victory in a battle that had purpose; our latest dodged the military, but now as "commander in chief," he threatens to send his pawns into a battle with no purpose. The consequences of that first war - known in historic circles as the Revolutionary War, resulted in a free nation under God founded on the principals of God's Law; the consequences of bombing Iraq could be catastrophic! Not only has the Blessed Mother conveyed to her visionaries and messengers that the first Gulf War was unjust and that a "false peace" evolved which prompted America to fall into a trance of psuedo-security. She also saidt that the second time we attacked Iraq it would not be the same and the United States would suffer much. Many might guffaw at such a prophesy if they are not rooted in the lessons of Sacred Scripture, for often when one side was terribly undermanned while the other overpowering and overconfident, the results would put the bookies out of business. Take the example of Joshua at Jericho, David against Goliath, and countless other examples of war in Old Testament times when God played a pivotal role in defeating the enemies of His Laws. In Church history who can forget Pope Leo the Great who, against all predictions, turned the dreaded and horrendous Attila the Hun away from the gates of Rome saving civilization and Christianity? Do we remember when the infidels threatened Italy how Saint Clare held the monstrance of the Blessed Sacrament high above the city overlooking the harbor and the Saracens turned away inexplicably? Actually, none of this is inexplicable since we know it was the Mercy of God Who intervened to turn the inevitable defeat into victory for His people. There are countless other lesser known accounts throughout history. Likewise, there are innumerable accounts in Old Testament times and throughout history when His people - yes His people turned from His Will and sought their own agenda. They didn't fare so well, did they? An excellent example of this was the Jewish bondage in Egypt and the Babylonian captivity.

     Let's fast-forward to today. Near what once was Babylon now stands the city of Baghdad on the ancient Euphrates and Tigris Rivers near where the Garden of Eden was said to exist. We all know Saddam Hussein is a puppet of the antichrist - a puppet of the one who tempted our first parents in the earliest times. On the other side of the coin, by his actions and "culture of death" policies, couldn't the same term "puppet of the antichrist" be true of Bill Clinton? It looks like a stalemate. Let's look at the people and soldiers. In Iraq most are God-fearing citizens with families who have been greatly impoverished both by Hussein and the United States embargo. They know nothing of politics, but have been stirred to a frenzy by rhetoric against America. Though there are many Catholics of the Eastern Latin Rite loyal to Rome, it is true the majority are Moslems whose outlook on life can be different than the Christian perspective; nevertheless they are God's children. Now, let's look at the people and soldiers of America. Most are God-fearing citizens with families who have been greatly impoverished morally by the corrupt values foisted on them by the media and the current administration, diminishing God and His Laws. Few are lacking in want. We can't forget Christ's Beatitudes as well as the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. So often, though, we do. We think that excess poverty and famine cannot effect us, that what happened in Bosnia, Iraq, China, Russia, Northern Ireland, Africa and many countries in South America can never touch the mighty U.S. of A! What a proud and arrogant nation we have become. Haven't we gone to school on the lessons of history? Remember the fall of Rome? We are not invincible or infallible. We, as a nation and a people, have made many mistakes. George Washington himself admitted this and strove to do all in his power to better it. But our biggest mistakes have been happening in this decade as we head for the "Final Crusade."

     We use the term "Crusade" for this is what it will become if we go to war. Islamism is thicker than blood. They proved this during the crusades where most crusaders met with total disaster. Only a few of the crusades were victorious and the loss of lives was staggering in the middle ages. The difference is the Christians marching to war then were going for a cause. We have no cause in a war that is built on assumptions, ill will, and greed for oil. If we attack an arab country as expected, do you think Syria, Arabia and the rest of the Islamic cartel will sit idly by? Not on your life because Our Lady has said so. Read Daniel, read Samuel, read John's words in Apocalypse/Revelation to see the results. Israel is the target and everyone knows it. This is a perfect excuse for the modern Saracen empire to unite and launch an all-out attack on their most hated enemy dating back millenniums - Israel, not the United States. What we fail to realize is that the United States is a prophetic player in all of this. The script, thus far, is going according to form. Read the purported vision the "Father of our country" received in Washington the Visionary in today's issue. Pray that America will be preserved for Russia, the beast from the north, is making overtures of retaliation if America attacks Iraq. Syria lies in wait. Don't count out Iran as an unlikely Iraqui ally either. Even China can't be discounted as the "hordes coming over the mountains." Let us hope and pray that this game of "international chess" is merely a game, and not the real thing. We are nearing the millennium, the era of the promised "purification of the earth and God's people" that will be brought about by the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart which will usher in the glorious Reign of the Sacred Heart, the Second Advent, the Era of Peace as prophesied in Sacred Scripture. But before all this there must be the chastisement, the suffering of both just and unjust. Such a war that in Iraq purports to this. By voicing our support of this strike of force by Clinton and his cronies, we are saying "Our country, right or wrong!" That is wrong, totally wrong! God and His laws must come first and if our country is wrong, we all should and must speak out. The Holy Father has called for further talks that calmer hearts and minds might rule. We echo this for peace cannot be obtained by force but only from a communication of hearts as Father Stephen Valenta emphasizes in his column today. To attack now is premature, senseless and poor military strategy. Why is it every military man we have heard interviewed cautions that we should wait? Yet, the man, who is pushing to do it now and who is making the decisions to send young men and women to their death, hasn't a clue about military strategy or the commitment to being a soldier? Maybe Clinton should take a cue from Washington and advise caution and compassion...and start telling the truth! Short of this, let's spare the innocent young men and women of both sides and let Saddam and Slick Willy mount steeds on opposite sides of the Euphrates or Tigris. Can't you just see Clinton leading a cavalry of White House staffers across this fabled river? It's not the Potomac and it's not going to claim the senseless slaughter of millions. It just might be hazardous for the multitude of media hounds who can't swim! How appropriate: Clinton swimming with sharks!

Michael Cain, editor

     That is the message Father Stephen Valenta, OFM Conv. imparts in his column dealing on Unity in respect to living in the heart, not the mind. He points out that if we depend on the mind, that's when the trouble starts for we think too much and when we do we form assumptions and false notions that prejudice us, leading us farther away from the heart and more inclined to add to the division. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit can we hope to live in the heart and pray with the heart, bringing forth hearty results. Click on HEARTS TO HEART TALK

     The life of our Catholic faith is to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. If we wish to have unity in our own lives, we must be obedient to the Father as was Jesus, and being obedient to Jesus makes it possible for us to be obedient to the Father. It is in obedience that unity is found; it is in disobedience that division is found. It's as simple as that.

     Personally, what does this mean for each of us? With the help of grace it is vital that each of us strive to establish unity within ourselves. There is to be an internal order of things. The mind must be subject to the heart; the heart must be subject to the Divine Will.

     What does this mean to each one of us as children of the One Father? It means that as Jesus commanded, we must love our neighbor as we love ourselves, in fact, that we are to love our enemy even if our enemy does not love us.

     What does this mean to each of those consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary? It means that each one must reach out to others by way of the heart. It means that if there is a wish to be effective in carrying out Our Lady's pleas, especially to help her to win her battle against satan, each of her little ones must be bonded to all others in love. Anytime the mind is allowed to divide members of her family, there is a tilt in favor of satan and our Heavenly Mother's position is weakened.

     It is sad that there are those of Mary's children who belittle each other, criticize each other, look down upon each other, mistrust each other, compete with each other, judge each other, snub each other, ridicule each other, hamper each other, slander each other, are hostile towards each other, treat each other with a lack of love and the litany goes on.

     In unity there is strength. There can be no strength if we do not live in our hearts. We know that all would go better and we would be of greater help to Mary if, as she asks of us, we would pray with the heart. We cannot however pray with the heart if we do not live IN the heart! We do not live in the heart if we do not do hearty things. If we wish to be a source of strength in Mary's cohort of little people, it must be that each of us must make a decision to be generous in doing hearty things for each other. Let's make Valentines Day every day! Not in the same manner as we're prone to celebrate such as this past weekend, but in God's Way for it is the Holy Spirit Who is the Chief Unifier! In addition to our consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, there is an additional need to enter into a consecration to the Holy Spirit. Mary, herself, extends an invitation to each of her children to lean more on her Spouse so that her Immaculate Heart may triumph sooner.

In my next installment I will begin to touch on listening to Jesus for when we do, we are listening to our heart.

To review Father Valenta's previous columns in this series, go to Archives beginning with the August 18, 1997 issue of A CALL TO PEACE: volume 8, no. 16.

     The nineties have seen a rebirth of the times of Thomas Nast in an even nastier mode and more widespread Catholic-bashing then ever before. Today we review the site that serves as the eyes and ears on America's media, businesses, schools, and government to assure that the religious freedom rights of all, most specifically Roman Catholics, are upheld. That site, to whom we present our "Golden Chalice Award," is the Catholic League, today headed by media watchdog William Donohue. Click on SIGNIFICANT SITE OF THE WEEK

      It is only appropriate on Presidents Day that we acknowledge a site whose principles mirror all that George Washington and Abraham Lincoln established and espoused for all Americans, including Roman Catholics. Assuring this is the organization whose site we review this week: Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. The organization, founded by Jesuit priest Father Virgil C. Blum in 1973, is today very visible thanks to the publicity generated about and by cusrrent president William A. Donohue, a lay scholastic doctor who can best be described as the "thorn in Mickey's rump" or should we say "Eisner's"??? The Catholic League and Donohue have gained notoriety for their consistent critiques of the Disney empire who supposedly promote family values and morality but their corporate agenda and programing on their "family" of broadcasting conglomorates from Disney to Miramax and Touchstone to the ABC Television network would suggest otherwise. In the spirit of Washington's famous "I cannot tell a lie," Donohue exposes the culprits by chopping away at the facades the spinmeisters foist on the public. Just as we have been harping about the Catholic bashing so prevalent today in the media via our editorials and feature on-going megaseries on the Church today - WHERE IS HOLY MOTHER CHURCH HEADING AS WE NEAR THE MILLENNIUM? - so also has Donohue tackled the dragons of dread and drivel with certified accounts and articles documenting what is happening in the not-so-concealed effort to bash Catholics. Most famous, of course is the "one-man crusade" against the modernist malaise of the ABC drama Nothing Sacred which Donohue has managed to derail with a grassroots campaign aimed at the sponsors and viewers with outstanding results. This program, which is in a coma right now while ABC and Disney try anything short of cloning to resuscitate this withering corpse, has fallen to the depths in its Catholic content, not to mention the all important Nielsen ratings. Blame it on the yeoman efforts of Donohue and his troops of chapter Catholic Leagues in strategic locations throughout the country who have been able to garner over a million signatures against Disney to "get with the program and return to the ideals of their founder Walt Disney." Donohue is loyal to the country's founder George Washington in upholding and safeguarding religious freedom rights for all, but he is more loyal in his actions to Catholics' true founder - Jesus Christ. The League serves as a strong Lobby for the cause mediating with legislatures as the spokeswheel for Catholic rights. It is an organization with clout, boasting such luminaries as Alan Keyes on its board of advisors and Catholic Answers founder Karl Keating and Thomas Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza, on its Board of Directors. The League enjoys tremendous support from the nations' cardinals and bishops, clergy and laity as well.

     The League's site is a nuts and bolts format with nothing fancy, no links sections and very, very few graphics. But, as the watchdog of the media regarding Church matters, prejudice and persecution, the League is second to none. The site provides exposure on all aspects of American life with media "rooms" for movies, TV, radio, and print, with articles, correspondence and results o campaigns both pro and anti-Catholic, plus the skivvy on anti-Catholic activist groups and anti-Catholic slants in government, education, commericial establishments and the workplace. It includes the worst Catholic-bashing cartoons over the last four years as well as archives dating back to 1994. In short, though this site is pretty basic design-wise, for a well-rounded scope of where, what and how Catholics are being persecuted and the why, provided by Donohue, this site is outstanding in attuning us to this danger. Because this site has been criticized by modernist and liberal Catholic groups, we hold it in even higher esteem, therefore bestowing our prestigious "Golden Chalice Award" to this site and confer FIVE Hail Mary's to this site for it truly signifies how important it is that Catholics not be mesmerized by the media message but read between the lines to see what is reallly being said and realize how Christ and His Church are being mocked. We need to know, and the Catholic League site provides the "informational ammunition" for all Catholics to better be armed in our earthly battle as members of the Church Militant against the prince of darkness!

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

February 16, 1998 volume 9, no. 33          DAILY CATHOLIC