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Today I was approached by my directress of the Pastoral Email 
Communications' Department. This sector of our ministry in the
Apostolate of Divine Mercy and Healing is very precious and encouraging 
to the sick whom our Apostolate serves throughout the world. I wish you
could come and read some letters and hear some phone calls. It would
sensitize you into realistic empathy to a broken and tired world. These
cries come from many wounded persons who travel the various pathways 
found everywhere in this world. These tears flow from broken hearts 
whose tear-stained sacrifices flood the many walks of broken dreams. To
so many of these hurting people life appears to have made glittering
promises which it has not kept. Many of these anguishing persons are
they who are experiencing in one way or the other the "slings and
arrows" of a weakened - but not destroyed -- human nature.

BECAUSE SOMEONE CRIED:

The reason for this article being presented in two parts is because a very
sensitive e-mail came to our office. It warrants an appropriate answer not
only to the writer, but also to humanity's sincere and serious
disappointments to civil and church misbehaviors. 

An apparently gentle woman, timid and concerned, sent a sensitively 
beseeching e-mail. Its contents were a message of dire contemporary
concern. She was requesting both for herself and for her friends, who
share a similar Christian faith, an urgently faith-needed response. It
was an appeal directly and personally to my priestly insights. 

Through her e-mail correspondence, she demonstrates one of the many
perplexed and fearful persons of today who are being "unfairly and
deceitfully" exposed to the many shocking and perturbing sufferings, the
anguishing disturbances which are attempting to diabolically
depersonalize the Christian faith - especially that pertaining to the 
Catholic community. As a last and hopeful trusting resort "to hold on to
her faith," she communicated with our APOSTOLATE pastoral healing
department. Indeed, she was in search for some spiritual possible
answer to this sad dilemma; and as she describes it, "this hypocrisy"
existing within both church congregations as well as amidst civic
communities. Her crying pleas really sensitized my human mind and my
priestly heart. Real sincere pain was present!

WOUNDED BUT NOT BROKEN:

Her thoughts were honestly presented. She was tired. No longer did she
want to hear the voices of "man explanations" which are so often
accompanied with overplayed clichés "parrot-like" text books wired
for sound. Desperately was she searching for an answerable 
understanding to current immoralities which appear to be corroding the
healthful and beneficial welfare of church, of government, and other civil
communities.

It appears that her e-mail reflects a timely concern. It focuses to some
spiritual as well as other areas of diagnosis response. In essence, reading
with the third eye, listening with the third ear, she wants to ask God a
question. She also scripturally demands from us to rally our Christian
communities with the firm voice of St. Paul, that we who are "supposed
to be walking" with the Lord, should respond with honesty, with dignity,
and with attention:   

"Where is Your Voice?"


HOLDING ON TO THE ROCK OF FAITH:

Her e-mail narrated an emotionally stable and very conscientious person
who apparently represents so many faithful Christians who have for years
trustingly struggled through life remaining loyal, conscientious, upright
and honest believers. Her present faith distress pertains to the
horrendous immoral child abuse situations. Specifically, both she and her
friends, in whose name she also directs her e-mail, are jaded as they are 
being accosted daily with this ongoing "chipping away" at the rock of 
their faith, their trust, and their future hopeful security, and specifically
in the Catholic heritage.

SPEAK TO US CLEARLY AND NOT WITH DUPLICITY:

These incredible defections, to her and to so many others, are insults to
the decent faith-believing ethical code. Definitely and exactly, as many are
experiencing, she was distraughtly overwhelmed by the religious
vocational betrayal of supposedly validly ordained ministers. Shocked
indeed is she and her community friends by the irresponsible answers of 
many apathetic frustrated men and women who frivolously proclaim
"wake up and smell the roses," but who now are publicly disclosed to
their secret skeletons, their offensive hurtful insults to the church and
to society. Rightfully so, the ever growing gossiping and dissipated
inquisitive communities are compoundingly and tormentingly inducing 
physical and mental tension; and even more so, the possibility of losing
her faith. This, indeed, is serious! This, indeed, is sad, very sad! To think
that servants of society can cause honest souls to disintegrate spiritually,
mentally, and even physically.

A HUMAN AND SPIRITUAL CATASTROPHIC IMMORAL MISFORTUNE:

This catastrophic immoral misfortune is like a tune which never seems to
finish its play. Looking at this pain - a real torment, a reasonable person
would of necessity conclude that no matter what excuses are made,
these hurts, these wounds are real. They indeed have affected the 
delicacy of the believing, the trustful sincere Christians' consciences.
More so than other wounds, however, the factual truth still remains that
these hurts, to a greater or lesser extent, have tarnished and have scared 
the various hearts and spirits of the catholic family both here in the
United States and abroad. This apparent tragedy which has existed from
that first moment of Adam's offense still continues in its weakened 
human race. It continues to image itself as a frantic nightmare. It is 
almost and totally unbelievable as it is considered by honest trusting
faithful people inconceivable and unimaginable. Band-aids will not and
will never heal the pus and its wound. As Archbishop Fulton Sheen stated,
"that the evil cancer if not able to be remedied must then be amputated."

SEEKING THE VOICE OF A PROVIDENTIAL GOD, AND NOT THE TINNY
SOUNDS OF CONDITIONED STEREOTYPED PERSONAGES:

HER LETTER WAS POLITE, BUT VERY SHARP! She, as many others of us,
feel deceived and betrayed. But why did she come to us? The grace of
God is always at work to save souls. By the grace of God, the Apostolate,
as well as so many other appropriate existing and functioning civic and
church servants and officials, is by its very make-up an essentially 
Healing Ministry from the Divine Mercy. When the Apostolate is trusted
with such public legitimate concerns affecting the lives and the delicate
consciences of both the laity and the ecclesiastics who come to us, the
searching's for a healthy psychological and spiritual response must
vocalize itself only in truth and in justice. 

We, therefore, at the Apostolate, cannot take our vocation and our
avocation in this ministry of Divine Mercy and Healing frivolously nor
pretentiously. Souls are at stake! We are convicted by the Holy Spirit 
(St. John 16: 8) to justify God's invitation to us through legitimate
church authorities so as to serve in the marvelous work of soulwinning.
This is the Great Commission! (Matt 28: 16-20; Mark 16: 15-20; Luke 24:
50-53; Acts 1:8). Truly this is a forceful call! Woe is that person who
"deceitfully deceives" the Lord's service! The scriptures tell us in the
Old Testament that curseth are they who do the work of the Lord
fraudulently.

BAD THINGS TO GOOD PEOPLE:

Through the work of the Apostolate, we see powerful sleeping giants. Our
eyesight comes from union with God through the power of prayer. By the
Apostolate's daily prayer life, the Holy Spirit produces and increases in
each of us "wisdom and insight." By daily exposure to study, priestly
teachings, and work output with the public who communicate with us from
all over the world, we prepare ourselves to serve the church
(the people) with dignity, attention, respect, devotion and personal
sacrifice.

In this earthly journey of prayer and work, of observation, learning and
insight, all honest persons in this world can come to realize that there
really are no bad people unless they have totally and conscientiously sold
themselves to evil forces.  Those who might be erroneously labeled as bad
are nothing more than good people to whom bad things have happened.
People way down deep inside are good persons; but to many of them 
hard things do and have realistically occurred.  These disappointments in
life are the forces which eat away at a soul. Slowly they corrode, and
eventually invite the discouraged soul, ecclesiastic or lay person, to
leave prayer and holiness.  Thereupon, they become internally victims of 
doubt; and eventually, having lost their vocational identity, they 
abandon union with their God. Sin inevitably enters their thoughts and
eventually into misconduct.  What do they have left but only to end up in
personal self-gratifications, indifferent, inappropriate, or immoral
behaviors.  In a simple figure of speech, they turn their love sour.  Their
responsibility duties both to God and to mankind finish up in negative
anger, lack of self contentment, and public disturbance, if not 
destruction.  Could this not essentially be the consequences of today's 
influence which is decaying society?  God's answer remains the same,
that he has not abandoned us, but that we have walked away from him in
our own company of self gratifications.

WHERE DOES REAL HEALING EXIST?

We all are part of the problem(s), each and everyone of us. Hatred and
vengeance as stimulated "retaliation revenge" will never bring healing.
Justice, yes, must be done; but bitterness from way down inside, will
never find sincere healing, peace, and freedom not as long as it festers
within.

PEOPLE SUFFER ENOUGH WITHOUT ANOTHER ADDING TO THEIR PAIN:

Along the highways and byways of life, along the many streets of
unforeseen human sorrows, along the many boulevards of broken
dreams, there do exist marvelous people out there in that hustle and
bustle of daily living. There do exist people who do love God and who do
want to be proud of their church affiliation, their civil communities. God
who will comfort his people will not sustain nor protect a lie, a deceit, a
hypocrite. In theological talk, this is called "a lie in action."  The
Almighty will tolerate no such person, regardless who or what rank in life
he or she holds!

JUSTICE, NOT BITTERNESS FOR VALID HEALING:
EVIL MUST BE RECTIFIED:

One of my former Bishops, a sociologist by training, once called persons
who hurt persons by preying upon their victims, prostitutes. This evil is
serious! Evil -- all evil must be rectified before the Divine Presence and
before Society. Immorality has a real name; it is sin! Evil demands
justice, but not bitterness and hatred, not for holistic healing anyway. 

Now this is very hard to do when one has been deeply wounded and
scared. But, herein the grace of God alone is tremendously needed for all
involved. Perhaps, in order to bravely launch into healing and
restoration, the following valid and true incident may be of some help.

cf... it is the true story of the American Family by the name of Green. They
were traveling in Italy hopefully to enjoy a pleasant vacation when a
tragedy so wounding occurred to them. Their noble and brave story was
televised in a movie presentation which caused observers and viewers to
shed many a tear.

The television presentation was titled NICHOLAS GIFT.
The story narrates the father's very own words as powerful when this
American family attends the Italian memorial which the Italian
government gratefully and honorably erects in the name of the little son
Nicholas.

This little son was accidentally shot by the cross-gun-fire of some Italian
culprits. And since nothing could be done to save the life of the little boy,
the little boy's healthy heart was given in organ donation to another dying
little Italian boy of the same age who needed a new heart to survive.

I narrate this story so that it may be profitable for those who are hurt
and for those who have hurt, and to clearly consider that American
father's public and heroic statement:

"we do seek justice, but not bitterness."

SEEKING TO BE SAFE:

Because in today's vain contemporary perspectives to sound happy living, 
there are so many values and wholesome disciplines blanketed. 
Disciplines and values in themselves are supposed to produce endurance,
namely, men being men and women being women before they accept any
vocation be it religious or laymen/laywomen. There nevertheless do
exist many upright persons. These humble and decent people, religious
or laity, these human potential giants of humanity's best, want to stand
assuredly tall again as they uphold decency and honesty and loyalty to
vowed commitments. They, thank God, in honesty are searching, 
groping, holding on to their faith. They are honestly voyaging for a
revelation of "once again" resting securely in affirmative trust 
restoration.

Our people deserve and want not only "to feel" safe, but "to be"
tranquilly secure from any forms of evil forces. They - and rightly so- 
earnestly desire that their professed leaders, both civic and
ecclesiastic, be able to hail nobly and honestly against possible
accusation(s) be they falsities or verities, be they governmental, civic,
or church. The decent and trusting public have a right in justice do
demand purification and a moral certitude for a status trust security 
from their assigned civic and church representatives. Then and only then 
will they once again be comfortable, be willing to entrust their temporal
and their spiritual realities. 

MINISTRIES -- CIVIL AND CHURCH - ARE CALLED TO GIVE PRESENCE
AND HELP, NOT SEDUCTION AND HURT:



My staff, a many-a-year spiritually and psychologically trained
personnel are-to speak in popular descriptive terminology-persons who
know what time of the day it is. With the two wings of any religious 
successful ministry, namely, prayer and knowledge, our disciplined and
trained staff work as a group of mature women and men. From personal
human suffering, from human and divine prayer life, from scientific
instruction and learning skills, the staff interacts appropriately in those
areas pertaining to public needs. 

Human and Godly trust for authentic, realistic and holy answers are the
primary focal point of service to the needy and to broken lives. I believe
the purpose of church influences is in simple descriptive popular
language nothing more than giving somebody a new chance with
themselves, with their lives to community, and ultimately with their God.
The greatest and most potent gift we can give to another human being is
to guide them to know who they are and what they can make of
themselves with that knowledge.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SOULWINNING GOAL:

Occasionally, a staff member because of a conscientious sense of
responsibility to soulwinning, approaches me to personally assist them in
responding to special need / special attention letters. What a privilege we
daily sense in serving the human needs of so many human souls! People
are naturally drawn to anyone who offers them correct realistic answers
in their searching for honesty, for trust, inspiration, and Godly guidance
and healing! When leadership sincerely performs this, people admire,
like, and then love. Only then will their Altar Call, their authentic
Responsorial Psalm be not mere parrot repeats, but will enthusiastically
return to community and build it up and not disturb it. Such folk become
assets to community. Then the Gospel of a true and Living God visibly 
finishes in physical, corporal and spiritual works of doing good. It builds 
up a just and healthy social order; it heals and restores human persons
into God's family.

HAS THE GOSPEL FAILED? IS IT ONLY A WELL PLANNED-OUT SET-UP
OF SOME FAIRY TALE?

The Gospel is totally empty - a babbling of words - if it does not embellish the social world spiritually, psychologically, and materially.
Unfortunately, down the line, someone from all representative status of administrations, has gone off track. And most probably as is seen in
authentic analysis, the problem is with the self, the ego need for some sort of affirmation, egomania, erroneous ambitions; basically a craving for some sort of love.

May the divine guidance send to our weakened world some honorable 
men and women who know the Holy Spirit's great gift of gifts, that of
Discernment which leads to differentiating the practice of Good and not
that of Wrong.

VALIANT SOULS DO WALK IN OUR MIDST:

What giants, what saints exist quietly among us. How and why? First
because God has not left us orphans; He has not left us behind. Secondly,
because these are people from all walks of life who do not live their
success on the insincerity of false co-existence, namely on or by the
popular overplayed tune " compromise " which in essence is nothing
more than a false insincere and tolerated sense of co-existence. Let there
come forth the philosophical ethical and the Judeo-Christian morality
which in these our days are in dire restorative healing need.. Yes! These
are the reality facts and the actualities existing in these days of our lives. 

WHEN WE ARE DISCOURAGED, THIS MEANS THAT WE HAVE STOPPED
TALKING TO GOD. 

May honorable human commitments be respectfully performed to the
language of God. May the sincerity in either "yes" or "no" be valiantly a
virtue among individuals, among families, and among the nations of
mankind. These types of persons can be trusted with human lives and 
human soulwinning. Is this naive thinking? Or is this what Christ, the son
of God came and died for? We have tried everything else. Why not stop
and talk and listen to God?

FROM WHENCE DOES STRENGTH COME?

ONLY ONE PLACE!

IT COMES FROM THAT EXISTING REALITY - EVEN THOUGH INVISIBLE -
THAT PRESENCE OF A LIVING GOD WHO SAID, " I AM WITH YOU STILL."

But The Big Question remains as a reality question. It is: " are we with
God, with God every second of our lives? " We cannot escape with our
puny reasoning the guise of the Almighty Eye.

Have we allowed our self-centeredness to prevail? Are we living only for
ourselves? Have we lost the essence of joy, namely the going out to
someone else who is perhaps where we have been. There is nothing so
wonderfully filled with joy as that of going out and encouraging in a
thousand different ways another human being who is down in the dumps,
who feels they are living in the mud. The gift of encouragement is a gift 
of God. Won't you ask for its basis, namely, looking first at out own
secret sins which He forgave a thousand million times; and then in that
divine joy of being forgiven, going to tell someone else, "You can Make it
again!" Truly, I personally believe, that the entire message of the Gospel
which in entrusted to the church to and for and in all religious
denominations is nothing more simple than, 

"TO GIVE ANOTHER HUMAN BEING ANOTHER CHANCE -- RIGHT UNTO THE END OF TIME AND INTO ETERNITY."

BUT IF WE FAIL TO HEAR AND DO, WHAT THEN?

But if we fail and let our human fickleness, our sins, regardless what they
are, dispirit us, eat at us, seek to destroy us, or just even to disgust us
in their own vomit, then, more than ever before in our lives, then, and 
only then, are we very eligible for the divine mercy and love. That grace
is always ready to leap through and down from heaven's open door. It is
just a call away. It is just a cry away. It is the same desperate cry of St.
Peter when in that mortal storm out there on that Galilean lake he
shouted to the Master, "Sana nos, Domine / Save us. Lord, less we
perish."

A Prayer for Healing



Lord, 

You invited all who are burdened to come to you.
Allow Your healing hand to heal me.

Touch my soul with Your compassion for others.

Touch my heart with Your courage
an infinite love for all.

Touch my mind with Your wisdom,
that my mouth may always proclaim Your praise.

Touch me to reach out to You in my need.

Help me to lead others to You by my example.

Most loving Heart of Jesus,
bring me health in body, in soul, and in spirit
so that I may serve You with all my strength.

Touch gently this life which You have created.

AMEN