They are like wolves in the midst of sheep! They are devil’s instruments, they are baptised to be prophets, priests and kings but they are all false! False kings! False priests! False prophets! And they are in the midst of us!
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.” (Mt 7:15-20) Some of us are exactly the way Saint Augustine used to talk about, ‘If you only believe in what you like in the Gospel and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe in, but yourself.’
People like to call themselves Catholics but they don’t follow and do not respect the 10 commandments, the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Tradition or the Holy Magisterium. They are against the Holy Pope, against the teaching of the Holy Church, who is Mother and Master, against the spiritual life, against the sacraments, against the Catechism of the Catholic Church, against the saints, against the millennial doctrine of salvation...
They believe in a false god who is only mercy, forgetting about his justice — and that this god will send no one to hell, since his mercy is endless and everlasting; they believe nothing is sin anymore, and since we are not going to have anything like a judgement, we need to enjoy our life on earth, here and now. They make changes and adapt whatever is needed within the Bible or the Church so they can keep enjoying their earthly pleasures to the full with no consequences.
They are among us, they talk like one of us, they use our vocabulary, they dress like us, they are in the same places we are, they are inside our houses, in our workplaces, in our neighborhood, in and out everywhere we can think of. But they are only of name!!
Summing up, we can call them a sort of anti-Christ — if not the actual antichrists. Saint John very well prevented us about it writing about them on his first letter. Let’s see what he says:
“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that Antichrist cometh, even now there are become many Antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us; but that they may be manifest, that they are not all of us. But you have the unction from the Holy One, and know all things. I have not written to you as to them that know not the truth, but as to them that know it: and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is Antichrist, who denieth the Father, and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that confesseth the Son, hath the Father also. As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning, abide in you. If that abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning, you also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.” (1 John 2:18-24)
Being only on the husk, on the hull and on the bark they end up being example to others, that are examples to others and that keep going on. So what we see nowadays is a complete generation of false Christians: selfish people who only seek God when it is convenient and do not measure any efforts to sin and promote sin and they do not give any attention to their faith, but only kick the can down the road.
There lives the big danger: we cannot be like them! We should observe and see the way people like that live in order for us to do and live the absolute opposite, the other way round. We are not saying here that they are a complete piece of garbage but that they should not be imitated. Their bad examples should die with them and not be passed by to others.
On the other hand, we should be an example for these bad Catholics in everything we are and do. We ought to be irreproachable, so that they will see our good example and perhaps get back to the real God, repent, confess their sins, and become truly people of faith. That is the responsibility Jesus himself conferred on us: be salt and light for the earth. He did not say we would become salt and become light, but if we are real Catholics, we are salt and light already.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (mathew 5:13-16)
Maybe the worst type of these Catholics of name are not even those who deny and are against everything the Mother Church teaches but those who don’t know anything about it and don’t care and can’t be bothered about acquiring any knowledge.
That’s the reason why the prophet had said the words God told him:
“My people have been silent, because they had no knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee, that thou shalt not do the office of priesthood to me: and thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6)
The same and terrible mistake was done in the time of prophet Baruch, but not only that. It had been so long ago that the people of God forgot where and how to seek wisdom.
“Hear, O Israel, the commandments of life: give ear, that thou mayst learn wisdom. How happeneth it, O Israel, that thou art in thy enemies’ land? Thou art grown old in a strange country, thou art defiled with the dead: thou art counted with them that go down into hell. Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom:” (Baruch 3:9-12) And he keeps insisting on the same idea for us to seek this knowledge:
“Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding: that thou mayst know also where is length of days and life, where is the light of the eyes, and peace. Who hath found out her place? and who hath gone in to her treasures? Where are the princes of the nations, and they that rule over the beasts that are upon the earth? That take their diversion with the birds of the air, That hoard up silver and gold, wherein men trust, and there is no end of their getting? who work in silver, and are solicitous, and their works are unsearchable. They are cut off, and are gone down to hell, and others are risen up in their place. Young men have seen the light, and dwelt upon the earth: but the way of knowledge they have not known, Nor have they understood the paths thereof, neither have their children received it, it is far from their face. It hath not been heard of in the land of Chanaan, neither hath it been seen in Theman. The children of Agar also, that search after the wisdom that is of the earth, the merchants of Merrha, and of Theman, and the tellers of fables, and searchers of prudence and understanding: but the way of wisdom they have not known, neither have they remembered her paths.” (Baruch 3:14-23)
There is still hope though we seem to be on a point that is irreversible! But let’s remind ourselves of what Saint Gabriel, the archangel said to Our Blessed Mother on the Annunciation:
“Because no word shall be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
The author of the book of The Proverbs teaches us where to find wisdom and where this knowledge sits on:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is prudence.” (The Proverbs 9:10)
We need to put ourselves down by the fount of wisdom, fearing God our Lord and ask the Holy Spirit for his grace, for his outpouring of knowledge of God and his gifts. In that way we will end up giving praise and glory to the Lord of the Catholic Church, the Lord of our lives, the Lord of the Universe, for everything is beneath his feet: Our big Lord and God Jesus Christ! To him praise, honour, adoration, blessings and glory! Alleluia!
Some of those who call themselves Catholics go to Holy Mass only when there is a special event, a Christening, a First Communion, a Confirmation or Matrimony. Others go when it is convenient to go. Others go on Saturday night or Sundays. Others go every Sunday. Others go with more frequency and the minimum go on a daily basis.
The Holy Mass is Heaven on earth and the most important and most powerful prayer that exists,in accordance with our beloved and missed pope Saint John Paul II.
The question we should ask and be able to answer is ‘How many of those who do participate in the Holy Mass, receive Jesus and get into communion with him, do have an idea they are receiving the real Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ?’
It is not a mere symbolism like on the protestant churches, for that’s what they believe in there. But that is not the teaching of the Catholic Church, for after the consecration that happens on every Holy Mass, the bread and the wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. It is the biggest miracle on the face of the Earth! And it happens 365 days of the year (the only exception is on the Good Friday, where there is no Holy Mass, only the celebration of the death of the Lord and the communion).
Saint Paul reminded this important teaching of Christ that was essential for the growth of the community in his letter to the Corinthians. This is not a symbolism or representation of something sacred, but it is truly the renovation of the one and only sacrifice Christ did on the altar of the cross.
“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. And giving thanks, broke, and said: “THIS IS MY BODY, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ And in the same way, with the cup after supper, saying, ‘THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’ Whenever you eat this bread, then, and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the Lord’s death until he comes. Therefore anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily is answerable for the BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. Everyone is to examine himself and only then eat of the bread or drink from the cup; because a person who eats and drinks without recognising the body is eating and drinking his own condemnation. That is why many of you are weak and ill and a good number have died.” (1Corinthians 11:23-30)
People think it is a joke, it is a party, it is a gathering, it is a moment of prayer and mere meeting of friends and family whenever they head towards the Holy Mass. They go to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but they are clueless about what is happening on the altar and they just have no time within their busy agenda to study and get to know about this which is the biggest richness of the Church and that sustains the Holy Church.
It is not only by going with the body while the heart and mind are far away we can say we are participating in the mystery that happens in front of our eyes. That is why Jesus said in the Gospel that this outside husk of Catholic is not enough to grant salvation. The doors of Heaven will be closed to those who think this is enough.
“Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock, And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock. And every one that heareth these my words, and doth them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand, And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof.” (Mt 7:21-27)
Many of us have been living a life on the outside — on the bark — very much superficial, pleasing the world and the evil one, not getting into conflict with those who are pagans. Our life is the same as anyone else’s, of those who are not Christian, who are not Catholic. What is the difference if we are Catholics or not, for our life does not do justice to what we say we believe!
Our hearts are on earthly things and outside! We are too worried about our own pleasure, we are looking very well after our jobs, our house, our future, but we are forgetting about our salvation. Why God’s things always occupy the last place and the last thoughts?
That is why Jesus explained so beautifully about our heart and our treasure. Our treasure is where our heart is. That means where our biggest effort, our mind and soul are drowned to.
“For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.” (Mt 6:21)
If we are Catholics we should come to know that the Eucharist is the sun, the biggest treasure of the Church, the most important thing in the life of the Church, the start and the end of our Christian life, the hugest mystery of our faith, the deepest and greatest point of the covenant Christ left to us, when he died on the cross.
Let us finish this point with some teachings from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1324-1327):
“The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch. The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God’s action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit. Finally, by the Eucharist celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all. In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.”
“And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” (Luke 1:41-42)
Many of us did not know that the Hail Mary we do pray many times was in the Bible. The first part of it is absolutely biblical! This should be enough to shut those protestants who keep asking where this prayer came from. There you go: show them Luke’s Gospel, on chapter one.
Elizabeth only said ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb’ because she was FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT! And the same Holy Spirit inspired the Catholic Church to make the second and beautiful part of the prayer: ‘Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death, amen’.
While the Holy Mass is the first and most powerful prayer, the holy rosary is the second most powerful and it is also our weapon,in accordance with our beloved and missed mystic priest Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.
Catholics do not know much about the power of the Hail Mary, about the history of the Rosary (which was given to Saint Dominic by Our Lady), nor about the wonderful and Holy Mother of God — the Blessed and wonderful Virgin Mary. She is alive and from heaven looks after these ungrateful children of God and of her.
There is a great abyss between the grace of God and us, a huge space between the miracles and us, a great distance between us and the power of Christ — and God himself chose Our Lady to be in the midst of all this. Christ is the Head of the Catholic Church and we are the members, but Our Blessed Mother is the neck that unites both Head and members.
As Catholics we still didn’t discover the great wonder and grace that is to have a Mother, mother of Faith, mother of Grace, mother of Christians. It is so important to have a mother that even God wanted to have one. We still need to fulfil what we were supposed to do with Our Lady in our life and in our house, for she is the second point of the covenant Christ gave to us, from the cross.
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.” (John 19:25-27)
Obviously many of us have no relationship, not even far away, with our Holy Mother. We still do not even know how to pray the prayers dedicated to her — like the Magnificat, the Memorare, the Office of the Immaculate, the Laudate, the Crown of Mary, the Rosary, and so on.
Even though many know the Hail Mary, they say it for they were taught as children and unfortunately until the very advanced age know nothing about the Holy and Blessed Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church and Mother of the Christians. They are able to pray the rosary with little enthusiasm, knowing by heart how to do it, but never meditating on the mysteries and never praying wholeheartedly — for their minds and hearts are always miles away, thinking about what they are having for dinner, what they are going to buy, and so on.
It is a pity! It is a reason to cry for we do not grow in knowledge of Mary! She is the Mediatrix of all graces, and if we don’t receive many graces from God or lose it, it is because we don’t entrust to her everything we are and have. There is a wonderful saint from France called Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort who wrote the biggest book of devotion to Mary called “True devotion to Mary”.
From my own life and story, this was one of the biggest and most important things that happened in my life: consecrating myself entirely to Mary. That is what you are going to learn from that wonderful book. Look for it, read it, pray it, and do the same yourself; and you too will say totus tuus.
In the midst of us, who want to be holy and to do God’s will, there are others who are inside the Church, calling themselves Catholics but who have nothing to do with holiness, nor with living a life that pleases God: they are only looking after their own well-being and pleasure.Don’t worry about them, for their destiny is set. Jesus said all the darnel in our midst will be collected at the harvest to be burned. So open your eyes and heart, cast off that husk, and ask the Lord to make you true wheat in the field of the Lord and his Church — and you will have the chance to be gathered into the barn of Heaven.
“Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seeds in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle. And the servants of the goodman of the house coming said to him: “Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it cockle?” And he said to them: “An enemy hath done this.” And the servants said to him: “Wilt thou that we go and gather it up?” But he said, “No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn.” (Mt 13:24-30)
The main thing we do need as Catholics is an experience with that wonderful man who walked on the water. We need to find and let ourselves be found by that man who gave his body and blood as food for our salvation. We need to meet that man who gave his very own mother to be our mother also and look after our steps. We need to have a deep encounter with that man who started the Church from his heart opened on the cross when he died for our sins...
Jesus is willing to have this meeting with me and with you! He is thirsty for me and you! On the cross he said he was thirsty... More than water, more than wine or vinegar they gave to him; from the cross Jesus was thirsting for me and you! Let’s open our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask him to give us a genuine and profound encounter with him. And our lives will never be the same anymore...
The same thing Jesus say to me and to you today, ‘Come to a new life! Come to experience my love! Open your heart and have courage for it’s I who call you, don’t be afraid! Come to meet me! I am waiting for you’.
May this invitation of Jesus Christ touch our hearts and souls and put in us a big desire to meet him and let him meet us in the very occasion of life we are the moment. God has the better for us!
God bless us and call us closer to him to become real Catholics, filled with love for the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary!
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