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February 29, 2000

BOTH HOUSES EXPECTED TO CONDEMN CAMPAIGN FOR UN VATICAN OUSTER

The United States Senate and House of Representative began considering this week resolutions condemning the ongoing attack on the presence of the Holy See at the UN. The resolutions threaten that a Vatican ouster from the UN would "further damage relations between the United States and the United Nations."

The attack on the Vatican's status began a year ago under the leadership of a pro-abortion group called "Catholics for a Free Choice." Nearly 400 organizations, mostly pro-abortion advocates like International Planned Parenthood Federation, have joined the call for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to "review" the Holy See's status with a view to downgrading them to non-governmental organization status, which would be identical status to that held by the Girl Scouts.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS FIGHT FOR SOULS OF BRAZILIAN CATHOLICS

To the traditionalists who dominate the Roman Catholic Church here, the choice is clear: the word of God vs. a resurgent ism.

But to a predominantly black group of local clergy and lay people, the doctrinal dispute that has erupted in Brazil's oldest diocese is merely the latest round in a 400-year struggle for religious tolerance and respect.

At the center of the conflict is the African-derived faith known as Candomble, which has such strong roots in this city of 2 million that the Italian writer Umberto Eco called it ``the Black Rome'' in one of his novels. Like in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean or in Haiti, Candomble merges the identities of African deities and Roman Catholic saints, so that St. George, for instance, is also Ogum, the god of war and of metals.

Brazil is the world's largest Roman Catholic country, at least nominally. More than 80 percent of the country's 165 million people identify themselves as Catholics, though many -- perhaps even a majority -- also profess or practice Candomble and its variants, such as Macumba and Umbanda.

(1 Cor 10:7) Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry."

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

64. If we are concerned with our salvation, there are many things the intellect can do in order to secure for us the blessed gift of humility. For example, it can recollect the sins we have committed in word, action and thought; and there are many other things which, reviewed in contemplation, contribute to our humility. True humility is also brought about by meditating daily on the achievements of our brethren, by extolling their natural superiorities and by comparing our gifts with theirs. When the intellect sees in this way how worthless we are and how far we fall short of the perfection of our brethren, we will regard ourselves as dust and ashes, and not as men but as some kind of cur, more defective in every respect and lower than all men on earth.

February 28, 2000

(Deu 34:1-3) Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land--from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar.

BACK FROM EGYPT, POPE LOOKS AHEAD TO ISRAEL

(AP) Newly returned from retracing the Old Testament steps of Moses, Pope John Paul II looked forward Sunday to what promises to be a more challenging pilgrimage to the New Testament world of Jesus.

''My eyes turn now to the Holy Land, land of Jesus Christ, where, God willing, I will find myself the last week of March,'' the pope said.

''I thank those who have accompanied me with prayer and who continue to stay close to me with their spiritual support'' during ''my visit to the places in which 2,000 years ago the word of God was established,'' he said.

John Paul goes to Israel and Palestinian territories on March 20-26.

(Rom 8:20-22) For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the . We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

CREATION GROANS WITH FURY

MT HEKLA ERUPTS IN ICELAND

(Reuters) - Columns of ash up to six km (four miles) high spewed from Iceland's most active volcano, Mount Hekla, on Sunday in its first eruption for almost 10 years.

A spokeswoman from Iceland's Meteorological Office, Unnur Olofsdottir, said the volcano in the southwest of the country posed no danger as it was situated in an uninhabited area about 120 km (75 miles) east of Reykjavik.

PHILIPPINE VOLCANO ERUPTS AGAIN, THOUSANDS ABANDON HOMES

(Reuters) -- A restive volcano in the central Philippines blew its top seven times overnight and scientists said on Monday they expected eruptions to continue for weeks.

Tens of thousands of people have abandoned their homes on the slopes of Mayon and sought refuge in evacuation centers since it began erupting five days ago. No casualties have been reported.

Mayon unleashed seven ash and gas explosions, accompanied by an ejection of "volcanic bombs" or burning rocks on Sunday night, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a bulletin.

ALREADY SWAMPED, NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA HIT BY CYCLONE STEVE

Residents in the rain-saturated city of Cairns, northeast Australia, were slammed on Sunday by Cyclone Steve, which was packing winds up to 170 km/h (106 mph) and heavy rains.

Monsoon rains have already left two-thirds of the tropical state of Queensland under water and flooded large tracts of outback in the states of New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

63 (cont). For what bodily uncleanliness could one who is completely without body, fleshless and weightless, bring about in himself so as to be called 'unclean' as a result? Clearly he was called unclean because of his arrogance, defiling himself thus after having been a pure and radiant angel. 'Everyone that is arrogant is unclean before the Lord' (Prov. 16:5. LXXX), for it is written that the first sin was arrogance (cf. Ecclus. 10:13). And it was in arrogance that Pharaoh said: 'I do not know the Lord neither will I let Israel go' (Exod. 5: 2).

February 27, 2000

DARK TIMES IN THE "DARK CONTINENT"

Relief food needed for 1.7 million in Sudan, U.N. agency says
Southern Africa Battles More Flood Chaos
Moroccans called to mosques to pray for end to drought
Drought killing thousands of animals in northwestern Kenya
Poverty,war, AIDS force 100 million children to grow up alone, UNICEF says
Disease follows flooding to devastated southern Africa

Please keep Africa's spiritual and physical welfare in your prayers!

MEDJUGORJE MESSAGE FROM OUR LADY 02/25/2000
A LETTER FROM ROME ON MEDJUGORJE

"Dear children!

Wake up from the sleep of unbelief and sin, because this is a time of grace which God gives you. Use this time and seek the grace of healing of your heart from God, so that you may see God and man with the heart.

Pray in a special way for those who have not come to know God's love, and witness with your life so that they also can come to know God and His immeasurable love.

Thank you for having responded to my call."

'FACE OF JESUS' DISCOVERED ON CHURCH WALL

'Dozens of pilgrims are turning out to see a Turin Shroud-style image of Christ, which has appeared on a wall of a Norman parish church.

While such phenomena are reported regularly in other religious communities, it is thought to be the first holy apparition to appear in the Church of England in modern times.

FROM THE MAILBAG

VIA Michael J. Coppi: I have posted Resources 1 and 2 on the Catholic Corner website. These are exhaustive completely updated collections of addresses and weblinks I've collected over the years.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

63. Because humility is by nature something that exalts, something loved by God which destroys in us almost all that is evil and hateful to Him, for this reason it is difficult to attain. Even if you can easily find someone who to some extent practises a number of virtues, you will hardly find the odour of humility in him, however you search for it. It is something that can be acquired only with much diligence. Indeed, Scripture refers to the devil as "unclean' because from the beginning he rejected humilty and espoused arrogance. As a result he is called an unclean spirit throughout Scriptures.

February 26, 2000

BERKELEY RESEARCHERS FORESEE 'BIONIC CHIP' TO CONTROL CELLS

Don't look for the Six Million Dollar Man yet, but researchers say they have discovered a way to mate human cells with circuitry in a "bionic chip" that could play a key role in medicine and genetic engineering.

The tiny device - smaller and thinner than a strand of hair - combines a healthy human cell with an electronic circuitry chip. By controlling the chip with a computer, scientists say they can control the activity of the cell.

"We've brought engineering essentially into the field of biology," said lead researcher Boris Rubinsky, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, which funded his research. "We can introduce DNA, extract proteins, administer medicines - all without bothering other cells that might be around."

CELL FUSION PAVES THE WAY FOR GAYS TO HAVE CHILDREN

Researchers are planning to create the first primate with three parents, paving the way for gay couples to have children who carry both partners' genes, writes Jonathan Leake.

The research involves creating two embryos and then fusing them to create an individual made up of two types of cell. Such animals are called chimeras. The technique has been widely applied to mice and other species but has never before been tried in primates.

American reproductive scientists at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Centre believe that such research is necessary because of the medical insights it will give into the way different areas of an embryo develop into parts of the body.

MEN READY AND WILLING TO TAKE MALE PILL

(Reuters) - If a male contraceptive pill was available most men would be willing to take it and most women would trust their partners to control fertility, according to an international poll. Scientists predict a male contraceptive pill could be on the market within the next five to 10 years.

"The majority of men felt that responsibility for contraception falls too much on women and we found that the strongest incentive for men to use the pill would be their partners' wishes," said Dr Richard Anderson, of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Reproductive Biology Unit in Edinburgh.

"The idea of hormonal contraception for men appears to be extremely popular among women and this survey should dispel once and for all the myth that women would not trust their partners to use a male pill," Anderson said.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

62 (cont.). Our Lord Himself says: 'Without Me you can do nothing. If a man dwells in Me, and I in him, then he brings forth much fruit'; and again: 'If a man does not dwell in Me, he is cast out as a branch' (John 15:5-6). Prayer is a great blessing, and it embraces all blessings, for it purifies the heart, in which God is seen by the believer.

February 25, 2000

(John 10:16) I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

UK CATHOLIC LEADER SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH ANGLICANS

(Reuters) - Bishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, appointed last week as head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, said on Sunday he hoped for closer ties with Anglicans.

"I'm very committed to growth in unity between our two communions," Murphy-O'Connor, widely seen as a reformer, told BBC Television.

Improved relations between the Vatican and the Anglican Church has been one of the Pope's ecumenical goals since he became leader of the world's one billion Catholics.

FROM THE MAILBAG

VIA Jim and Pat Pence: Thank you so much for the article on the miracle of the Rosary at Hiroshima!! We have shared this article with family and many friends, and they are equally amazed! What a valuable tool to further the message of the Rosary; at Medjugorge Mary pleads with us to pray the rosary daily - all 15 decades!

Here in Calistoga at our Catholic Church, some members of our prayer group have started something unusual. On the first Wednesday of the month, we go over to the Episcopal Church to join THEM in saying the rosary! Yes, they have started saying the rosary one day a month, and they enjoy having us "lead" them in this new experience. You can be assured that we will get a copy of the Hiroshima article to their pastor; I'm certain he will be anxious to share it with members of his church!

Again, thank you for such a great article; we also enjoy reading the Catholic Testimonies on your website as well!

VIA "Table of the Remnant":

"Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection, that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large.

And finally, that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.

Grant our supplications, we beseech thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

-Written at Newburg, June 8th, 1783 and sent to the governors of all the states by George Washington

(Micah 6:8) He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

62. We have learned from experience that for one who wishes to purify his heart it is a truly great blessing constantly to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus against his intelligible enemies. Notice how what I speak of from experience concurs with the testimony of Scripture. It is written: 'Prepare yourself, O Israel, to call upon the name of the Lord your God' (cf. Amos. 4:12. LXX); and the Apostle says: 'Pray without ceasing' (1 Thess. 5:17).

February 24, 2000

GERMANY TO PROTEST AGAINST HUMAN CLONING PATENT

(Reuters) - Germany said Wednesday it would formally protest against a European Patent Office decision to grant a patent to a process that could include the cloning of humans. The German Cabinet earlier met to discuss how to stop a patent on altering cells and human embryos that the Munich-based European Patent Office granted to Edinburgh University last December.

The patent office later said it had made a mistake and had overlooked the patent's potential use on humans. Despite the admission of error, the patent still stands. Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin said Germany would ask its European partners to urge Edinburgh University not to make use of the patent. Only a formal protest can reverse the decision and appeals can drag out the process for years.

TURIN SHROUD ON SHOW IN HOLY YEAR AUG 13-OCT 22

(Reuters) - The Turin Shroud, revered by some Christians as Christ's burial shroud, will go on display in August as part of the Roman Catholic Church's millennium celebrations.

Church officials said the Shroud, bearing the eerie image of a man, would go on display two weeks earlier than planned to allow young pilgrims attending the World Youth Day celebrations in Rome to see it. It will be on show from August 13 to October 22.

See the Shroud TODAY (online) at: http://www.shroud.com/.

HUGE ROCKS FALL FROM PHILIPPINE VOLCANO, EVACUATION UNDER WAY

(AP) _ Rocks the size of cars came crashing down the slopes of the Philippines' Mayon volcano on Wednesday, while residents left the area in an evacuation, officials said.

The 8,118-foot volcano, one of the Philippines' most active, appeared to be following its usual pattern of a gentle rising of magma followed by an eruption, said Ernesto Corpuz, chief of volcano monitoring at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Corpuz said fragmentation of the crater's lava dome increased slightly as the large rocks broke away. He said the rising of the magma suggests volcanic activity will intensify, leading to an explosive eruption that could occur "as soon as this week."

"But before it does that, we will be observing signs like earthquakes accompanying explosions," he said.

(Rev 6:15-16) Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

61 (cont.). For not only these blessings, but the patient acceptance of affliction, sincere forgiveness of our neighbour, knowledge of the spiritual law, the discovery of God's justice, frequent visitations of the Holy Spirit, the giving of spiritual treasures and all that God has promised to bestow to men of faith now and in the future age- in short, the manifestation of the soul in accordance with the image of God- can come only through God's grace and man's faith when he guards his mind with great humility and undistracted prayer.

February 23, 2000

RECENTLY UPDATED ON "EYEDOCTOR'S SITE"

"Family-ocide"- Winning the War through Christ

Hoofbeats of the Black Horseman

FROM THE MAILBAG

(Mark 10:27) Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

VIA Stephen A Rinehart: It is difficult for me to describe the events that are taking place in my life now but I will try and relate the incredible day my wife, Cindy, and I experienced today (Monday – Feb 21). We just got back from Atlanta late last night and went to Mass this morning and did some shopping. We got home about noon and there was a phone message from Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. We thought it was about my wife’s father (now 90) who is in a nursing home next to the hospital. Nothing could have been further from the truth – he was fine. Cindy burst into tears when her brother, Bill, told Cindy that our sister-in-law Lee (brother’s wife) had a major (arterial) aneurysm which had burst and the neurosurgeons could not stop the bleeding. The aneurysm was considered inoperable by the Chief Neurosurgeon but they were going to do additional tests beside MRI and MRA scans to see if anything could be done. They were giving Lee only a 1 in 3 chance of surviving the next 6 to 12 hours and told Bill to call all the relatives to come as fast as they could to Pensacola. Lee’s daughter and family flew in that nite from Oklahoma. My wife and I jumped in the car and started for Pensacola (about 2 ½ hours away). We started praying The Rosary on the way (yes I-10 again). [We asked Our Blessed Mother for a miracle and to save Lee’s life – she is an absolute saint on earth and devoted to her family and Sacred Heart Parish. I said to Jesus: “I believe You can forgive all sin and nothing is impossible for You, Lord”.]

When we got to the hospital, Lee was just coming out of ICU. The neurosurgeons were going to run dye tests [but the heart was now beating irregularly] and they were in a rush because they thought the bleeding had just stopped! The tests took over an hour but the neurosurgeons then spent another 90 minutes redoing tests/scans. It was 6:30 pm when the Chief Neurosurgeon came out to talk to the family. At least twenty-five family members relatives and friends) were there praying.

The Chief Neurosurgeon said [shaking his head]: “There is no aneurysm!”. We have very clear charts of all the blood vessels in the brain and it is gone! There are no blocked arteries – they are all clear. There is some blood at the base of the skull from a small vein we think but all the bleeding has stopped and the most of the blood is gone!” We think we will keep Lee in ICU for the next couple of days and then rerun all scans again but the family can now go see her in ICU. She is sedated and still has head pain but you can talk with her and there are no signs of a stroke. The heart rate and pulse are normal and she should be fine with no effects in the next two weeks!?

I remember he looked so puzzle – he just kept shaking his head and saying: “We were too pessimistic, I guess!?”.

We went in to see Lee. She asked her husband Bill:”What did you tell my family that they all came here? Did anybody remember to bring a camera?” I held her hand and touched her forehead and made a Sign of The Cross. I said to myself: “Thank You Blessed Mother and St Michael”.

On the way home, I kept thinking: “Believe Stephen, Believe”.

(Mat 21:21-22) Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

61. We should therefore set about our task, for by doing so and advancing steadily we will find that hope in God, sure faith, inner knowledge, release from temptations, gifts of grace, heart-felt confession and prolonged tears come to the faithful through prayer.

February 22, 2000

(Mat 24:14) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

POPE SAYS THIS IS "THE TIME OF THE LAITY"

"The time we are living in could be called the time of the laity," John Paul II said to the participants of the General Chapter of the Oblates of St. Joseph. The Oblates are dedicated to the neediest and the education of youth and were founded in 1878 by Blessed Giuseppe Marello, a Piedmont Bishop.

According to the Holy Father, the laity are called at this time to offer an "indispensable" service in the evangelization of contemporary society to "give Christian inspiration to the temporal order." In "the Church's new spiritual stage," inaugurated by the Great Jubilee, John Paul II appealed to these religious to "speak to the heart of youth, proposing the Gospel to them with audacity."

"Make them love the Church. You may be sure that your word will be easier to accept if it is accompanied by the testimony of your example," the Pontiff exhorted.

Thus, collaboration will be established between religious and the laity who are "indispensable" for an adequate response to the present needs of evangelization. It is not just an "operational need," because of the decrease in religious vocations; it is a "new and hitherto unheard-of possibility that God is giving us."

VATICAN RELEASES DETAILS ON POPE'S EGYPT TRIP

John Paul's trip, which begins Thursday, will be his first to Egypt. It is the kickoff of the pontiff's 2000 Holy Year pilgrimages to ancient biblical sites. He intends to pray at what tradition says is the Mount Sinai site of the burning bush, where God commanded Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Christians make up an estimated 11 percent of Egypt's 63 million people. The vast majority of Christians there are Coptic Orthodox.

The pope has previously stressed "the purely religious, not political" nature of his travels into the heart of Middle East conflicts this year. From March 20 to 26, he will visit sites in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

(Mat 28:19-20) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

60. He who does not know the truth cannot truly have faith; for by nature knowledge precedes faith. What is said in Scripture is said not solely for us to understand, but also for us to act upon.

February 21, 2000

FATHER'S HOUSE OF VICTORY THROUGH THE HOLY FAMILY

LATEST MESSAGE GIVEN TO SADIE JARAMILLO- FEBRUARY 9, 2000

VIA Fr. Jim Anderson, M.S.A.: God love you and bless your work for the Kingdom! Many thanks for your interest in heaven's messages to Sadie Jaramillo and in the Father's House of Victory through the Holy Family web-site, http://www.fathersvictory.org/, which publishes the messages and provides accurate information concerning Sadie and this apostolate!

Two years ago I visited the Auxiliary Bishop for the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Most Rev. Thomas J. Curry, D.D., for guidance concerning my desire to help Sadie establish the Father's House of Victory through the Holy Family in Santa Maria. At that time I was still on active duty in the U.S. Navy serving as Command Chaplain of the Naval Construction Battalion Center at Port Hueneme. Now I am retired from the Navy and completing a sabbatical year here in Santa Maria, helping Sadie and working on other projects. Bishop Curry told me then that he knew Sadie very well and that he was tolerant of her religious interests as well as those of many others in his pastoral region. His policy is that the Church is a big tent and there is room for all her children so long as they don't become a problem. He told me he would not object to my helping her but that I was on my own. Being a former attorney I can appreciate his attitude and I do appreciate his pastoral support. I visit him every several months and keep him informed of our activities.

A second volume of Sadie's messages, "The Great Sign, Volume II," is just out with a letter of recommendation from Bishop Roman Danylak, (Titular Bishop of Nyssa, Church of Ss. Sergius and Bacchus, Piazza Madonna dei Monti 3, 00184 Roma, Italia) which also mentions the approval of Bishop Basil Filevich of Saskatoon, Canada. Her publisher is Maureen Flynn, author of "Thunder of Justice" with her husband, Ted Flynn. A copy can be obtained by calling 703-327-2277. This inexpensive book will be a great help to God's people.

I share your concern for the activities of false visionaries, and I appreciate your care to disseminate only credible information. I am edified by your references to the messages Sadie has received. I do not make myself anyone's judge, but I have accepted a grave moral responsibility to protect the credibility of these messages given to Sadie, and to help in their dissemination to God's people. Our policy is stated on the web-site. All the best to you and to your readers!

(Mark 4:21-23) He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

FROM THE MAILBAG

VIA Desmond Birch: I absolutely agree with your analysis of the significance of the Pope's "pilgrimages". The Holy Father is deeply prayerful, spiritual, intelligent, Christ-centered, and keenly aware of the historical significance of the Jubilee in God's Divine plan.

His wish to travel to 'Ur of the Chaldeans' is significant for several obvious reasons:

1. It is the beginning of the Judeo/Christian faith and journey,
2. It signifies (as the Holy Father has explained) the beginning of the New Evangelization and the New Advent we are being led into.

It is also significant that he has been shut out of this first hoped for step of the journey. The land of the birth of Abraham STILL has not received the message of the Gospel. Part of the great land mass of Asia, the Holy Father has repeatedly pointed out that 66% of the earth STILL does not know Jesus - which includes the territory of Iraq.

I would strongly recomment to anyone interested that they read John Paul II's entire 'Apostolic Exhortation', "Ecclesia in Asia". This document spells out almost everything which is discussed above.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

59. It is because of them that wrath, anger, war, murder and all other evils have such power over mankind.

February 20, 2000

OUR LADY OF EMMITSBURG MESSAGE

Through Gianna Talone Sullivan (Bishop's Statement)
at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Emmitsburg, MD February 17, 2000

"My dear little children, praise be Jesus! What sign from heaven do you want before you will believe that God exists and has allowed me to visit you in this special way? It seems many of you have hardened your hearts and have become quite proud in matters of spirituality. Did you forget that My Son presented Himself to the world with a meek and humble heart, and, as the only Savior of the world, taught those who desire to know the truth that they too must be meek and humble of heart?

I am a Mother of love and my only desire for you is to love as My Son. I am not your Savior. Jesus, My Son, who suffered and died for you that you might have life is your Savior. Do not be pompous, self-righteous children any longer. Your vision is short-sighted and narrow. Open your hearts and your minds to God's gift to you, for My days of visitations are numbered to My Son's messengers across the world.

If the world continues to ignore the importance of prayer and moral ethics and does not restore them to their rightful place, the world will suffer a tragedy of a world war as never witnessed before in history. It is My sorrow to see the hearts of humanity harden with indifference. It is My hope for you that you will take heed of My message and respond with fervent prayer and change of heart. I bless you, little ones, with the love of Jesus. Thank you for your attentiveness. Peace. AD DEUM. "

WORLDWIDE CRISIS OF ETHICS AND MORALS

ARCHBISHOP RAPS SEX CHEAT POLITICIANS

(Reuters) - The Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the world's 70 million Anglicans, has attacked the "deceit and betrayal" of politicians who commit adultery.

"The question has been asked often enough whether in the Church's view sexual sins have any relevance to standards in public life," said in a speech on a visit to the town Chelmsford.

"I do not believe they can be disregarded -- issues of deceit and betrayal are often involved and they are infectious." He added: "The question reasonably arises in the public mind, why should we have confidence in someone in public life who cannot be trusted not to cheat in their private life," Carey said.

SWEDEN'S TV PORNO POLICIES PUT UNDER A MICROSCOPE

(AP) _ Government officials in this country known for its sexual liberalism sat down Friday with television executives to examine whether too much violence is slipping into pornographic films shown on TV.

FDA ACTION MOVES RU-486 CLOSER TO USE IN U.S.

On Friday, the FDA issued an "approvable letter" to the Population Council, the nonprofit research institution that holds the U.S. patent rights for the abortion pill. The action is a step short of approval.

The letter was hailed as "another major step forward" by the company that would distribute the pill in the United States -- the Danco Group.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

58. These three passions on their own dull spiritual knowledge and faith, the foster-brothers of our nature.

February 19, 2000

ROME RECALLS RENEGADE MONK BURNT BY INQUISITION

(Reuters) - The ghost of Giordano Bruno, a Dominican monk burnt at the stake 400 years ago for heresy against the Catholic Church, is haunting Rome this week.

Scholars, politicians, anarchists, anti-clerical and human rights groups are commemorating Bruno in a series of events, peaking on Thursday, the 400th anniversary of his death in Rome's central Campo dei Fiori square.

Bruno and others tortured and killed by the Inquisition will be the subject of a formal apology next month when Pope John Paul, in a "Request for Forgiveness Day," publicly seeks forgiveness for errors and injustices committed by the church.

"The action of the Church against Giordano Bruno is one of those acts that went against the teaching of the Gospel for which the Church today repents," Cardinal Paul Poupard, chairman of the Vatican's cultural council, said recently.

But Bruno's teachings are "incompatible" with Christian doctrine and it is not possible to rehabilitate him, he added. A Pantheist who believed god was in all things and all things were god, Bruno said the universe was infinite and filled with an infinite number of worlds.

RELATED: The Folly of Giordano Bruno

(Eccl 1:9) What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

'LITTLE BANG' EXPERIMENT BOOSTS BIG BANG THEORY

(AP) -- A series of atom-smashing experiments has for the first time produced "compelling" evidence that the smallest particles floated freely a split second after the creation of the universe, scientists announced. In the experiments, scientists recreated a state of matter that hasn't existed since the first few microseconds -- or millionths of a second -- after the explosion.

"We have recreated matter in a state we have never seen before, at energy densities 20 times higher than that inside the atomic nucleus," said a statement by CERN, also known as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics. "The same conditions have only existed in the first few microseconds after the Big Bang."

Edward Suryak, a professor at Stoneybrook State University, Long Island, said the CERN work was a first step but that the new Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, or RHIC, at Brookhaven National Laboratory will create significantly larger energy that will let scientists study the quark phenomenon much more closely.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

57. The intellect is made blind by these three passions: avarice, self-esteem, and sensual pleasure.

February 18, 2000

MEET YOU AT THE CORNER!

The Catholic Corner, originally launced in July, 1999, has been extensively revamped by its talented web author Stacey Voskans . This interactive corner of the net for Catholics features live chat rooms, forums, weekly polls and more. The focus of the Corner , located at http://the-corner.net/, is to bring Catholics together from all points of the globe, to interact and meet one another and share in the love and glory of Our Lord and our wonderful Faith.

Those who are not Catholic and looking to learn more about the faith are welcome within the Corner as well, and invited to ask questions within the chats and the forums.

(Mark 4:1) Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge.

'JESUS BOAT' GETS PERMANENT HOME

Two thousand years after it was built and 14 years after it was discovered on the bottom of the Kinneret, the "Jesus boat" was yesterday lifted to its new home, where it will finally be on full display.The boat was dated by carbon-14 testing to 40 BCE, ±80 years. Jesus is believed to have preached in the area around 30 CE. When discovered and resurrected, it faced disintegration if its waterlogged wood dried out, and was placed in a chemical bath for seven years before being exposed to air.

A special shack was built for it that only allowed some 50 people at a time to view the boat in its large aquarium. Only about 70,000 view it annually. Now, museum officials hope, many more will see it.

ARCHBISHOP STRESSES EUCHARIST

Archbishop Justin Rigali has sent a letter and accompanying guidelines to all priests of the archdiocese emphasizing the importance of the Eucharist as the center of the Catholic faith.

The Archbishop’s letter began with a quote from Pope John Paul II, who has challenged the Church to make the current jubilee year “intensely eucharistic.” He quoted the Pope’s statement during last year’s papal visit to St. Louis, “In the Mass and in eucharistic adoration we meet the merciful love of God that passes through the heart of Jesus Christ.”

This means that all the people of God- ourselves included- are once again invited to a "full conscious and active participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice" according to the teaching of the Sccond Vatican Council, and this type of participation includes an appropriate personal and penitential preparation. It also means that we are invited even after the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice to profess our faith in the true presence of Christ--body and blood, soul and divinity-in tho reserved Blessed Sacrament. Ave verum Corpus natum de Maria Virgine!

Archbishop Rigali ended his letter to priests saying, “In this millennium year 2000 let us all together proclaim and live intensely the eucharistic mystery of our faith.”

(John 6:53-54) Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

56. If you do not want to suffer evil, do not inflict it, since the suffering of it inevitably follows its infliction. 'For whatever a man sows he will also reap' (Gal. 6:7). Reaping unwillingly the wickedness we deliberately sow, we should marvel at God's justice.

February 17, 2000

NEW "WARNING" RESOURCE

I am indebted to Sue Taylor for providing the latest addition to the "Warning" page. The purpose of this section of the site is to prepare others for the Warning and to serve them in the aftermath of this wonderful but imposing gift from God.

This new resource details the mini-judgement experience as described by Attorney Kevin McCarthy. To view please click here: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/warning5.html.

LOOKING FOR A HOLY MAN

"What's Your Name" has spent years preaching around the country and is now in Hazelton, Pa. An ABCNEWS producer and correspondent went in search of this preacher man.

With only the robe on his back, What's Your Name wanders through the hills of eastern Pennsylvania spreading the word. He accepts no money and lives solely on the charity of others. And he is the first to admit he is not the Son of God. In fact, his real name is Carl Joseph, a 39 year old self taught evangelist from Ohio.

PREACHER HOPES TO ATTRACT SKATEBOARDING FAITHFUL

(CNN) -- A Christian preacher in Southern California is putting a new twist on that old-time religion.

The Rev. Ryan Delamater is using his interest in skateboarding to introduce young people to his message of faith, by turning a skateboarding center into a kind of revival tent.

In his own way, Delamater hopes to help a few young people negotiate life's often challenging twists and turns.

(1 Cor 9:20-23) To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

55. Just as the bitterness of absinth helps a poor appetite, so misfortunes help a bad character.

February 16, 2000

GEORGIANS UNITE TO HELP TORNADO VICTIMS

The American Red Cross said just a dozen people were staying in an emergency shelter, even though 186 houses were destroyed in the storm early Monday, and dozens more were damaged. At least 19 people were killed and 100 injured in the deadliest tornadoes to hit Georgia in more than 50 years.

Red Cross spokesman Bill Maddox said residents had shown an extraordinary sense of unity in this time of crisis.

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF PENSACOLA TORNADO

The following is an excerpt of an account written Monday by my dear brother in Christ, Dr. Stephen A. Rinehart. Please feel free to contact him if you would wish the entire written account.

The Tornado - Killer Twister

The exit was a two-lane state highway (331 heading South to Highway 20). It was about 15 miles of mostly wooded pine trees dotted by a few farms. I had decided to proceeded South down 331 and had gone about four miles down the road [just finished saying The Rosary and St Michael’s Prayer] when I looked out to the left and there was this huge black ring overhead but was miles across! It was ominous-looking and I had a sudden sense of being in extreme danger and began to immediately look for the funnel cloud and started saying my third prayer to St Michael to protect me from the imminent danger.

There was only one car ahead of me and we both had slowed to 15-20 mph just before the huge gust of rain hit – a lot worse than hurricanes – much higher winds. All of the sudden this torrential rain was horizontal [literally out of nowhere] from the opposite direction than it was on I-10 [blowing hard NorthWest] and I could feel the hair on my neck standing on end [the rain was coming from directly above and descending on my car!]. I realized there was a large funnel somewhere very close starting to touch down. [I had traveled 3 miles east (on I-10) and made a right angle turn and gone four miles south [giving a right triangle with a hypotenuse of 5 miles – yes I am an engineer]]. I was in the middle of a swirl pattern, at least five miles across and growing extremely dark every second and the wind was howling! The rain was unbelievable – I could barely make out a white line immediately in front of the car and nothing else .

The sense of suddenly being all alone was almost overwhelming at this moment – until I remembered St Michael is with me - just pray for his help! [The land was relatively flat on both sides of the highway – no real ditches-just ,some pine trees about fifty yards off the road but their was wire fences blocking access off the road within twenty yards – there was literally nowhere to go]. I blurted out: St Michael Protect Me! The clock on the dash read 5:27 pm. I had stopped the car and was ducking below the windshield when the winds and rains suddenly diminished [as fast as it had started] and then stopped to a mere trickle. I got back up and glanced at the clock on the dash and it read 5:29.

A Voice Crying In The Wilderness - Tornado Message

I awoke at 3:01am this morning [just sat straight up in bed] and a voice inside my heart was saying:

"Stephen, Stephen where was your Faith [in Me] yesterday as the Storm was enveloping you? You were like Peter sinking in the sea crying: Lord, Lord Save Me! Did you not know I am with [all of] you? You kept professing your great faith to Me and I kept telling you if you but had the Faith of a mustard seed you could move Mountains. Was not your Beautiful Guardian Angel there to protect you [from "The Funnel"] as they are for All My People?" [Do you now see what little Faith you have?] I solemnly tell you this since Your Generation relates to hurricanes and tornadoes,"Being inside of a Cat V Tornado pales in comparison to the Spiritual Warfare that is now raging about the World and The Heavens [but it is what you can now relate to and you know your fear of the storm yesterday]."

The "Funnel of Evil" that you and Richard wrote about at Hiroshima is now slowly enveloping the World". Tell my people - tell them they must now [please] "Pray, Pray, Pray The Rosary and Ask For My Forgiveness".

Later: [....Come To My Immaculate Heart and ask for My Forgiveness.] ........and Stephen wept for his lack of Faith.

(Luke 6:21) Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

54. Guard your mind and you will not be harassed by temptations. But if you fail to guard it, accept patiently whatever trial comes.

February 15, 2000

(Rev 3:17-18) You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

POPE SAYS ABORTION, EUTHANASIA CORRUPTING SOCIETY

(Reuters) - Pope John Paul issued one of his strongest condemnations of abortion and euthanasia Monday, saying they were tantamount to legalized crimes corrupting society.

The Pope said laws permitting abortion, euthanasia, sterilization and contraception should not be seen as inevitable social necessities.

"...These (laws) are a seed of corruption in society and its foundations. Civil and moral conscience cannot accept this false inevitability, just as it cannot accept the idea that wars or inter-ethnic extermination are inevitable," he said.

Referring to "a world which shows serious symptoms of violence and decadence," the pope said it was increasingly clear that policies and laws "opposed to life are leading society to degeneration, not only moral but also demographic and economic."

The Polish pope said clergymen, believers and legislators should do all in their power to change the laws, though a wholesale change in mentality and habits was also required.

"They should leave no stone unturned to eliminate this legalized crime or at least to limit the damage of these laws, remaining aware of the duty to respect the right to life, from conception to the natural death of every human being, even the least gifted," he said.

FROM THE MAILBAG VIA [email protected]:

Would you consider abortion in the following 4 situations?

1. There's a preacher and wife who are very, very poor. They already have 14 kids. Now she finds out she's pregnant with the 15th. They're living in tremendous poverty. Considering their poverty and the excessive world population, would you consider recommending she get an abortion?

2. The father is sick with syphilis, the mother has TB. They have 4 children. the 1st is blind, 2nd is dead, 3rd is deaf, 4th has TB. She finds she's pregnant again. Given the extreme situation, would you consider recommending abortion?

3. A white man raped a 13 year old black girl and she got pregnant. If you were her parents, would you consider recommending abortion?

4. A teenage girl is pregnant. She's not married. Her fiance is not the father of the baby, and he's very upset. Would you consider recommending abortion?

In the first case, you have just killed John Wesley. One of the great evangelists in the 19th century...

In the second case, you have killed Beethoven.

In the third case, you have killed Ethel Waters, the great black gospel singer...

If you said yes to the fourth case, you have just declared the murder of Jesus Christ!!

PSALMS 139:13-14: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

53. An intellect that does not neglect its inner struggle will find that- along with the other blessings which come from always keeping a guard on the heart- the five bodily senses, to, are freed from all external evil influences. For while the intellect is wholly attentive to its own virtue and watchfulness and longs to enjoy holy thoughts, it does not allow itself to be plundered and carried away when vain material thoughts approach it through the senses. On the contrary, recognizing the wiliness of these thoughts, it withdraws the senses almost completely into itself.

February 14, 2000

(John 14:27) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

OUR LADY OF EMMITSBURG MESSAGE

Through Gianna Talone Sullivan (Bishop's Statement)
at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Emmitsburg, MD February 10, 2000

My dear little children, praise be Jesus!

The surest way to freedom, little ones, is through surrendering yourself to God. Surrender allows you to live in a spirit of prayer and it is the way to treat the pains of life in this world. When you surrender to God, you die to your own will and you quiet all the frustrations you encounter by passing them into the hands of God. You can treat your pains of life by passing them on to the Father as you die to yourself and accept what God wants instead of seeking to do what you want.

You will be safe and secure when you surrender into His arms; and all the deceptions of life, troubles and pains will be softened because you will not be concerned about the end result. Whether in life or death surrender is the purest form of love and is a way to live permanently in a spirit of prayer. Pray, pray, pray. Surrender, surrender, surrender. It is the only way to be converted fully into the body of Christ, My Son.

Peace be with you. I take your petitions to your surrendering Savior of love. I bless you in His holy name. Thank you for responding to My call. AD DEUM.

AS DEADLINE FAILS, IS BARAK PEACE DOOMED?

(Reuters) - In the months since Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak proclaimed an audacious timetable for Middle East peace doomsayers have said it couldn't be done.

So far, they are right.

The first of his milestone peace deadlines failed on Sunday. February 13 was to have seen a grand signing ceremony, probably hosted by U.S. President Bill Clinton at the White House, of an Israeli-Palestinian framework accord, the draft of a permanent treaty they have pledged to seal by September.

The missed deadline and the faltering process it symbolises have stirred speculation among Israelis that Barak's peace programme is a house of cards and the wily leader may in the end go down with his ambitious timetable.

"The date appears on the calendar like a bad joke," wrote Uzi Benziman in the left-centre Ha'aretz daily. "Barak's promise to bring a decisive stage of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to a positive closure today, now looks like empty arrogance."

Security beefed up nationwide
Vatican,PLO to sign cooperation accord
Poll Cites Support Against Israel

(Jer 8:11) They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. "Peace, peace," they say, when there is no peace.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

52 (cont). If because of pride, self-esteem or self-love we are deprived of Jesus' help, we shall lose that purity of heart through which God is known to man. For, as the Beatitude states, purity of heart is the ground for the vision of God (cf. Matt. 5:8).

February 13, 2000

(Rev 12:12) Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

EXCERPT FROM LETTER TO FAMILIES FROM POPE JOHN PAUL II

"The history of mankind, the history of salvation, passes by way of the family. The family is placed at the centre of the great struggle between good and evil, between life and death, between love and all that is opposed to love. To the family is entrusted the task of striving, first and foremost, to unleash the forces of good, the source of which is found in Christ the Redeemer of man. Every family unit needs to make these forces their own so that, to use a phrase spoken on the occasion of the Millennium of Christianity in Poland, the family will be 'strong with the strength of God'."

RESOURCES FOR THE BATTLE

1) Fr. John Corapi-- An annointed preacher with a remarkable life story: from Green Beret ,to businessman, to millionaire, to multi-millionaire, to drug addict, to streetperson, to priest. His tapes reveal amazing insights into spiritual warfare gained through his unique personal experiences and fervent meditations. Request catalogue online at http://www.soltmedia.com/VideoAudioTapes.htm.

2) Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis- Insightful book available online at http://www.bn.com.

3) Catholic One Year Bible- Jesus sets example of using the "sword of the Spirit" in his temptation (Matt. Chapter 4). Also available online at http://www.bn.com.

4) Pray regularly, particularly Padre Pio's "weapon", the Rosary.

(Eph 6:13-18) Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

52. We should zealously cultivate watchfulness, my brethren; and when- our mind purified in Christ Jesus- we are exalted by the vision it confers, we should review our sins and our former life, so that shattered and humbled at the thought of them we may never lose the help of Jesus Christ our God in the invisible battle.

February 12, 2000

SOUTH AFRICAN LAW THREATENS CHRISTIANS, PRO-LIFERS

(CWNews.com/LSN.ca) - A new law in South Africa called the "Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act" threatens to make criminals of pro-life and pro-family supporters and of Christians generally.

The law, pushed through by the African National Congress and signed by President Thabo Mbeki last Thursday, is second in importance only to the country's constitution and thus supersedes all other laws. The Conservative News Service reports that under the Act, equality courts will be set up to enforce the law's provisions against discrimination on the grounds of "race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, color, orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth."

OTHER REGIONAL HEADLINES:

Flooding in southern Africa hits Botswana, Mozambique
UN says nearly 3 mln Kenyans face starvation
Megadrought Appears to Loom in Africa

FROM THE MAILBAG

Via The M+G+R Foundation: Today (2/11), the Apparitions of the Immaculate Conception at Lourdes,France, is honored in the Liturgical Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church.

To mark such a joyful event, we are launching a new and important document to honor our Heavenly Mother - "The Third Part of the Secret of Fátima - Some Facts About It"

You may access it at http://www.mgr.org/fatimathirdpart.html

We hope, for we have prayed, that the information contained in this new document be of consolation and comfort to you and those with whom you chose to share it.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

51. Watchfulness is like Jacob's ladder: God is at the top while the angels climb it. It rids us of everything bad, cuts out loose chatter, abuse, backbiting, and all other evil practices of this kind. Yet in doing this, not for an instant does it lose its own sweetness.

February 11, 2000

(Mat 25:21) "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

THE ROOM

Via Michael J. Coppi: This is a true story. Be sure to read all of this.

Procrastinating as usual, 17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting. It was his turn to lead the discussion. So he sat down and wrote. He showed the essay titled "The Room" to his mother, Beth, before he headed out the door.

"I wowed 'em," he later told his father, Bruce. "It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote." It also was the last.

Brian's parents had forgotten about the essay when a cousin found it while cleaning out the teenager's locker at Teays Valley High School. Brian had been dead only hours, but his parents desperately wanted every piece of his life near them---even the crepe paper that had adorned his locker during his senior football season, notes from classmates and teachers, his homework.

Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing every moment of the teen's life. But it was only after Brian's death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had described his view of heaven.

"It makes such an impact that people want to share it. You feel like you're there," Mr. Moore said.

Brian Moore died May 27, 1997 -- the day after Memorial Day.

He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted.

Brian seemed to excel at everything he did. He was an honor student.

He told his parents he loved them "a hundred times a day," Mrs.Moore said.

He was a star wide receiver for the Teays Valley football team and had earned a four-year scholarship to Capital University in Columbus because of his athletic and academic abilities. He took it upon himself to learn how to help a fellow student who used a wheelchair at school.

During one homecoming ceremony, Brian walked on his tiptoes so the girl he was escorting wouldn't be embarrassed about being taller than him. He adored his kid brother, Bruce, now 14. He often escorted his grandmother Evelyn Moore, who lives in Columbus, to church.

"I always called him the deep thinker," Evelyn Moore said of her eldest grandson.

Two years after his death, his family still struggles to understand why Brian was taken from them. They find comfort at the cemetery where Brian is buried, just a few blocks from their home. They visit daily.

A candle and dozens of silk and real flowers keep vigil over the grave site.

The Moores framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room."I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it," Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death.

"I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him again someday," Mr. Moore said. "I just hurt so bad now."

*******************

The Room By Brian Keith Moore

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room.

There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and right to left as far as the eye could see, had very different headings.

As I walked up to the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read, "People I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then, without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my entire life. The actions of my every moment, big and small, were written in a detail my memory couldn't match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, mixed with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content.

Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed."

The titles ranged from common, everyday things to the not-so-common "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I Have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness:

"Things I Have Yelled at My Brothers and Sisters."

Others I couldn't laugh at:

"Things I Have Done in Anger,"

"Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents."

I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I had hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had time in my 17 years to write each of these thousands or millions of cards?

But each card confirmed the truth. Each card was written in my own handwriting. Each card was signed with my signature. When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think such a moment had been recorded. A feeling of humiliation and anger ran through my body. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!"

In an insane frenzy, I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now.

I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took the file at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot.

Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

That was when I saw it. The file bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With. "The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than 3 inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came.

I began to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room.

I must lock it up and hide the key.

Then as I looked up through my tears, I saw Him enter the room. No, please, not Him. Not here. Anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response.

The few times I looked at His face I saw such sadness that it tore at my heart. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did he have to read every one?

Finally, He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again.

He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things.

But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me. Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file, and, one by one, began to sign his name over mine on each card.

"No!" I shouted, rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no,"

as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards.

But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive.

The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written in blood. He gently took the card back.

He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door.

There were still cards to be written.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

50. Watchfulness is a graceful and radiant virtue when guided by Thee, Christ our God, and accompanied by the alertness and deep humility of the human intellect. Its branches reach to the seas and to deep abysses of contemplation, its shoots to the rivers of the beauteous and divine mysteries (cf. Ps. 80:11). Again, it cleanses the intellect consumed in ungodliness by the brine of demonic thoughts and the hostile will of the flesh, which is death (cf. Rom. 8:6-8).

February 10, 2000

TWO CONTRASTING RESPONSES TO ADVERSITY

(Rom 5:3-5) Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

A THIRD OF FRENCH HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE

(Reuters) - Almost a third of French adults have considered committing suicide at one time or another, an opinion poll published on Thursday said.

The Sofres survey of 1,000 adults said 13 percent of French people had seriously thought about killing themselves while a further 19 percent had thought about it vaguely.

One percent of those questioned late last month said they had often seriously considered putting an end to it all.

Some 160,000 people attempt suicide every year in France.

EIGHTH-GRADER FACING DEATH DECIDES TO DONATE HIS ORGANS

(CNN) -- Often with shyness and a touch of embarrassment, many American eighth-graders are preparing heart-shaped messages for special friends on Monday, St. Valentine's day. But Nick Breach is ready to give his heart to someone he doesn't know.

Nick has been a helper for many years, said his mom, Kim Breach. Long before he knew he was dying of a brain tumor, the 14-year-old tutored younger students and served in church programs.

With clear realism during his final days, Nick examined his choices in life and in death.

"I wanted to give up hope," he said. "But now I can help other people."

(Gal 5:14) The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

POPE SPEAKS ON HOLY TRINITY IN HUMAN HISTORY

Speaking to a crowd of about 13,000 people in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father observed: "History is not just a succession of events without an ending, but it is the seed of eternity, leading toward that sublime end when God will be all in all."

The Pope added that the prospect of that glorious conclusion to history should bring hope to the human heart, especially during the Jubilee Year when Christians recall the 2000th anniversary of God's direct intervention in human history through the birth of Jesus Christ.

MORE NEWS FROM ROME: Pope plans to beatify more than 30 people as church martyrs

(Psa 31:24) Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

49. See that you never have a single thought in your heart, whether senseless or sensible; then you can easily recognize that alien tribe, the firstborn sons of the Egyptians.

February 9, 2000

HILLARY CLINTON SAYS ABORTION SHOULD BE LITMUS TEST FOR SUPREME COURT

(AP) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton says that if she is elected to the Senate she would vote against anti-abortion judges who are nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"I cannot imagine I would vote to confirm such a nominee," she said in a wide-ranging interview Monday with The Associated Press.

ARCHBISHOP OF BOSTON: WE SHALL DEFEAT CULTURE OF DEATH

For Christians, "the option of abortion is never an option, because it goes against the fundamental right to life of an innocent child," he said. He denounced the attitude of many persons that remain silent before this abuse, or that "have succumbed to the culture of death." Finally, the Archbishop of Boston stated that "we can and we shall overcome" this culture.

FIRST CATHOLIC SYNOD IN HOLY LAND TO SET NEW AGENDA

(Reuters) - The head of the Roman Catholic church in Jerusalem convened a crucial assembly of the Catholic church's first synod in the Holy Land Tuesday to set a new agenda for the next decade.

"This is the first time we have this synod since the beginning of our existence as Christians in this land ... since 2,000 years of our history," Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah told reporters shortly before an opening ceremony.

The synod's conclusion coincides with church preparations for the visit of Pope John Paul to the Holy Land in late March, though Sabbah said the timing was incidental.

FROM THE MAILBAG

Via Han: You might also mention that Mirjana and Ivanka both received a piece of paper from Mary which is now blank, but from which through a special grace each secret, at the proper time, can be read.

A cousin of one of the visionaries, who is a chemical engineer in Switzerland, did some research on a piece of the paper. His conclusion, according to the Medjugorje magazines, was, if I remember it well after all these years, that it was not of an earthly matter. The Franciscans sometimes show it to pilgrims in Medjugorje.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

48. Let your model for stillness of heart be the man who holds a mirror into which he looks. Then you will see both good and evil imprinted on your heart.

February 8, 2000

FROM THE MAILBAG

Via Dave: FATHER PETAR'S LJUBICIC TALK-FEB. 2, 2000 PART 2

Main points of the short discussion on "the secrets":

-Father Petar is the priest that will receive the secrets of Medjugorje from Mirjana. He will receive the secrets 10 days before the events occur. He and Mirjana will fast for seven days. Then, the secret will be announced to the world (Where, When, How of the secret will be given)
-The first two secrets are warnings to the world. Their revelation will prove that the events of Medjugorje are real.
-The third secret is that a permanent sign will be left on the Hill of Apparitions for all to see.
-All the secrets will happen (“What will happen will happen”)
-We should not concern ourselves about “When” the secrets will happen. This is a time of grace and conversion. Do not wait for the events to start happening – convert now.
-God is love and He does not punish anybody. People punish themselves.
-The question and answer period that followed was very short because few questions asked. Father then blessed the crowd and their medals, rosaries, etc. He also blessed people individually as they came up to him.

Author's (Dave) personal impressions:

Father was not trying to scare us, he was calling us to conversion. He spent most of his time on this matter. He discussed the secrets at the end only because he felt that the crowd came to hear on this matter so he saved “the dessert” for last. Q & A period was very open – but Father’s talk was so well done that he had already explained everything.

As you know, each religious order has its own particular charisms, and I could not help but remember that St. Francis was called by Christ to “rebuild His Church”. St. Francis, being a “hands-on” kind of guy immediately began rebuilding a small chapel that had fallen into ruin. In our time, the Franciscans of Bosnia seemed to be receiving that call once again, and they are doing it through basic bread and butter preaching.

Also, the push for conversion now could indicate that a number of dramatic events will have taken place in the world before the events in Medjugorje start to unfold. Hence, we must convert now while we still have the opportunity. Some of us may not be alive when these events begin to happen. There was no indication of how close we are to the events prophesied. Watch and Pray.

P.S. My trip odometer read 66.6 miles when we arrived at the Church! When I came out and started my vehicle, it read 66.7 miles. My wife said Our Lady pushed it over the "antichrist" hump!

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

47. Intellect is invisibly interlocked in battle with intellect, the demonic intellect with our own. So from the depths of ur heart we must at each instant call on Christ to drive the demonic intellect away from us and in His compassion give us the victory.

February 7, 2000

FROM THE MAILBAG

Via Dave: FATHER PETAR'S LJUBICIC TALK-FEB. 2, 2000 PART 1

St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church Plano, Texas

Father Petar (Pay – tar) begins his talk speaking Croatian. Father Petar is in his late 30s, good head of brown/black hair with a touch of gray, brown eyes, a little over 6 feet tall (6’1”), warm personality and seems like a man who enjoys a good laugh.Tonight, he is very serious for the most part and only indulges in a little humor at the end of his talk. Very strong speaker and gives the appearance (like many Franciscans) of being the “hands on” type, not afraid to get his fingers dirty.

He divided his talk up into three parts (a) basic sermon on repentance and conversion, (b) short discussion of the secrets, and (c) open the floor to questions. Afterwards, he blessed the crowd in general, and then blessed people in particular who lined up to see him.

Main Points of Basic Sermon on Repentance and Conversion:

-This is a time for us to decide for God.
-A life of prayer and decision for God is necessary for us to fulfill the role that God has given us. -Material things cannot bring peace to the human heart.
-We have to count on God now more than before.
-Conversion is a process that continues a lifetime.
-Prayer requires a clean heart – no mortal sin on the soul – otherwise, our “transmitter” will not work.
-In Prayer, put everything into God’s hands. Say over and over, “God, Your will, not mine”
-The Blessed Mother asks for (a) Daily Prayer, (b) make sure we go to Sunday Mass, (c) try to attend Mass some other day(s) in the week (d) daily prayer in the family (e) pray for unbelievers that they come to know God .
-Abortion is the worst sin being committed in the world.
-Blessed Mother asks us to prayer for the youth to avoid drugs.
-In God, everything is possible – we must allow Him to work in our lives.
-U.S.A. is very materialistic and very advanced; there is a danger that we will forget God.

COMING TOMORROW: "THE SECRETS" AND AUTHOR'S (Dave) IMPRESSIONS

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

46 (cont). David was speaking about these provocations of the devil when he said: 'Early in the morning I destroyed all the wicked of the earth, that I might cut off all evildoers from the city of the Lord' (Ps. 101:8 LXXX); and Moses was referring to the act of assent to a provocation in his words: 'You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods' (Exod. 23:32).

February 6, 2000

(1 Cor 15:54) When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

FISHING BOAT CREWMAN RETURNING TREASURED RING TO VICTIMS' FAMILY

A crew member whose fishing boat plucked a family's treasured ring from the sea-scattered debris of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 has journeyed to Washington state to return it to the victims' family.

Kevin Marquiss, a 21-year-old crewman from the fishing boat Meridian, arrived in Seattle late Friday to give the gold-and-red Mason's ring to Tracy Knizek of Suquamish and her brothers, the children of Bob and Patty Williams. The Poulsbo, Wash., couple was killed in Monday's crash of the MD-83 off the Southern California coast.

Until she learned of its recovery, Knizek said she had struggled to accept her parents' deaths.

"Ever since I was a little girl, my dad and I had a deal: Whoever died first, the other one would come back and tell them what it's like," she had said.

She said it was as if her father had left the ring to say their connection would never be broken.

VATICAN PUTS WORLD'S CATHOLICS AT 1.045 BILLION

(AP) Counting its flock, the Vatican on Saturday reported the number of baptized Catholics worldwide as 1.045 billion. That's up 40 million people from the church's count as of Dec. 31, 1997.

The current number represents 17.4 percent of the world's people, The Vatican said. The Americas have the biggest share of the world's Catholics 49.5 percent. Following are 27.8 percent in Europe, 11.4 percent in Africa, 10.5 percent in Asia and 0.8 percent in Oceania.

Worldwide, there were 3,692,582 Catholics fulfilling pastoral duties in 1999, including 404,626 priests and 56,421 lay missionaries, the Vatican said.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

46. The provocation comes first, then our coupling with it, or the mingling of our thoughts with those of the wicked demons. Third comes our assent to the provocation, with both sets of intermingling thoughts contriving how to commit the sin in practice. Fourth comes the concrete action- that is, the sin itself. If, however, the intellect is attentive and watchful, and at once repulses the provocation by counter-attacking and gainsaying it and invoking the Lord Jesus, its consequences remain inoperative; for the devil, being a bodiless intellect, can deceive our souls only by means of fantasies and thoughts.

February 5, 2000

(Rev 6:3-4) When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

RUSSIA ADOPTS NEW MILITARY DOCTRINE

(Reuters) - The Kremlin's Security Council approved on Friday a new military doctrine which one senior official said recognised Russia could no longer ward off a conventional NATO attack without nuclear weapons.

In January, Putin approved a new national security concept that has been interpreted as lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons to counter what Moscow sees as a growing military threat.

CHINA'S MILITARY WARNS U.S. NOT TO CONFUSE TAIWAN WITH KOSOVO

(AP) _ Angry with the U.S. Congress for voting to strengthen military ties with Taiwan, the Chinese armed forces on Friday warned Washington not to confuse China with Yugoslavia and Taiwan with Kosovo.

A commentary in the newspaper of the People's Liberation Army said the House's approval of the bill sends "an extremely dangerous signal."

The bill "has exposed a plot by some American forces to use military force to thwart China's ambitions for unification," the Liberation Army Daily said. "This doubtlessly is playing with fire."

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

45. Just as it is impossible for fire and water to pass through the same pipe together, so it is impossible for sin to enter the heart without first knocking at its door in the form of a fantasy provoked by the devil.

February 4, 2000

(Lev 19:19) "'Keep my decrees. "'Do not mate different kinds of animals. "'Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. "'Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

TRANSGENIC FISH WOULD THREATEN WILD POPULATIONS

Maybe you didn't even know scientists could put human genes into fish. If not, then Bill Muir is way ahead of you. So far ahead, in fact, that he's already looked into what might happen if these transgenic fish, as they're called, escaped into the wild.

The results aren't pretty, according to Muir's study. As fish will do, the transgenic variety in Muir's experiment, confined to laboratory aquariums, looked for partners. The resulting mingling between altered and unaltered fish shows that an entire species of wild fish could become extinct in short order if faced with transgenics in their midst.

Muir said the study, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and published in the November Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, was done to assess the risk of what would happen if a big one got away from a commercial operation.

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER MALE FERTILITY GENE IN MICE

(CNN) -- Researchers at the Salk Institute have found a gene that when altered can make male mice infertile without other side effects, such as loss of hair, growth of breasts or dysfunction, according to a study in the journal Nature Genetics.

The study authors said they accidentally discovered this male fertility gene when they identified a tiny piece of genetic code which stops sperm from maturing, thus making the sperm incapable of fertilizing an egg.

"That resulted in male mice that were completely sterile," said Dr. Peter Blume-Jensen of Salk Institute. The altered mice act like normal male mice -- they can and do mate.

Even though it is years away, scientists hope this genetic discovery could eventually lead to a male birth control pill without side effects. The researchers said they will have to study generations of these genetically altered mice to make sure there are no long-term side effects, but so far they have found none. They will also have to make sure these mice studies can then be applied to men.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

44. Such is the cunning of the evil one, and with these arrows he poisons every soul. It is therefore not safe to allow these thoughts to enter the heart in order to increase the intellect's experience of warfare, especially to start with, when the soul still greatly enjoys these demonic provocations and delights in pursuing them. But as soon as we perceive them, we should counter-attack and repulse them.

February 3, 2000

(Mark 5:36) Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

ANOTHER BREADCRUMB ON THE PATH

As veteran readers of the Trib Times know, our family was blessed with the birth of a baby girl, Adrianna Maria, eight months ago. She has been a tremendous source of joy for us all, particularly her older brother and sister, age 14 and 15 respectively.

Monday evening while mom was preparing lunches for the next day and the older kids were studying, it became dad's turn to "take care of the baby". Since Adrianna is not too fond of sitting on my lap while I attempt to type on the computer, I decided instead to take her to my bedroom and listen to music with her.

Even at eight months, Adrianna LOVES music, the more upbeat the better. I sat her down backwards in an adult rocking chair with her facing the backrest. Meanwhile I cued up just the right song for her on the cd player. As soon as the music started Adrianna began to bounce. And, unlike her dad, she managed to do it with rhythm! The louder and more upbeat the music became, the more she bopped and swayed. Without her realizing it, each bounce was bringing her closer to the edge of the chair, with the danger of falling off backwards. But Adrianna did not care, she continued to bop all the more. Not wanting her to hurt herself, I held my arm in the air behind her, ready to catch her the instant she fell. She did not see my arm, or the danger, she just bopped and smiled widely.

At the very moment when I thought she would fall, my own Spiritual eyes were opened. I wasn't just babysitting, I was being shown a picture of the Spiritual Life in Christ. We bop, sway and smile our way through life regardless of how close to the edge we get. Most of the time we don't even realize the imminent spiritual dangers that we face. But it doesn't matter. Because His hand is waiting to catch us and snatch us out of harm's way. We have NOTHING to fear! EVER!!

What GREAT NEWS!! Kinda makes me wanna dance! How about you??

(Mat 18:3-4) And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

43 (cont.). In this way its thoughts become entwined in the fantasy provoked by the devil, whether this happens to be the face of a beautiful woman or some other thing forbidden by the commandments of Christ. Then, seeding to contrive some means through which it can actually attain what attracts it, the soul assents to the provocation and, to its own condemnation, turns this unlawful mental fantasy into a concrete action by means of the body.

February 2, 2000

(Mat 19:4-6) "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

DIVORCE, INFIDELITY MOVE MARRIAGE MARKET

(Reuters) - The marriage market is dominated -- like any other -- by supply and demand, and economists believe that divorce and infidelity help it to thrive.

"The marriage market is illiquid if there is an inefficient number of divorces," said Leonard Felli, a professor at the London School of Economics, whose theories made frontpage news in Monday's Financial Times, bible of the business community.

He, along with Tel Aviv University professor Yoram Weiss and Andre Chiappori of the University of Chicago, concluded that an efficient marriage market requires equilibrium in both divorces and remarriages. They found that divorce settlements that disproportionately favour either partner reduce the volume of divorces and therefore marriage market liquidity.

(1 Cor 2:14) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

VATICAN MAY PROTEST ROME GAY FESTIVAL

(Reuters) - The Vatican is considering launching a diplomatic offensive against the staging in Rome of a major gay festival, Italian newspapers reported. The festival, called World Gay Pride 2000, will be held in June-July and is expected to attract a million people.

The newspapers said the Roman Catholic city state believed it was a provocation to organise a big gay event right on its doorstep. They said it would ask why it was never consulted when Rome first considered hosting the Gay Pride festival.

Rome and the neighbouring Vatican have jointly organised many other events for this year to mark 2000, which Pope John Paul has declared a Roman Catholic Holy Year.

Reacting to the newspaper reports, the festival's organisers said in a statement: "This event is not against the Vatican or the Pope. "But is an important moment for s, transsexuals, heterosexuals, atheists and believers to get together peacefully to demand equal rights," the Circolo Omosessuale Mario Meli said.

(Col 3:5-6) Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

43. Just as a child, young and guiless, delights in seeing a conjuror and in his innocence follows him about, so our soul, simple and good because created thus by its Master, delights in the delusive provocations of the devil. Once deceived it pursues something sinister as though it were good, just as a dove is lured away by the enemy of her children.

February 1, 2000

POPE'S VISIT TO ISRAEL A GENERAL SECURITY SERVICE NIGHTMARE

(IsraelWire-1/31) According to the Italian newspaper La Republica, the impending visit to Israel by Pope John Paul II is “a nightmare for the General Security Service (GSS/Shin Bet) and health services.”

The report quoting unnamed senior reliable sources in Israel, stating, security agencies are most concerned the visit will prompt extremist elements to attempt a terrorist attack and in addition, the pontiff’s advanced age and underlying medical ailments may require his hospitalization while in Israel, or even worse, he might die in Israel during the visit.

The source was quoted as saying, “A healthy man of his years would have difficulty maintaining such a pace yet alone the Pope and his medical condition.”

La Republica reported that intensive care physicians, who speak Polish, will accompany the Pope everywhere he visits during his tour of the area. The biggest fear is the head of the Catholic Church will go to his eternal rest while in Israel, perhaps in Nazareth, the birthplace of Christianity, which according to event organizers would be “the end of the world”.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST CATHOLICS IN CHINA

(Reuters) - Tens of Catholic priests in China's underground church loyal to Pope John Paul have been detained in recent months in a stepped-up campaign to snuff out religious dissent, a Vatican agency reported Monday.

Fides, the agency of the Vatican's missionary arm, said the priests had effectively been "kidnapped" by police. Six bishops in China had "disappeared" in the past three years, it added.

Fides said a campaign that included "arrests, violence and blackmail" was under way to convince Chinese Catholics still loyal to the Pope to join the patriotic church.

(Mat 5:10) Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Philokalia excerpt: St. Hesychios "On Watchfulness and Holiness"

42 (cont.). The inexperienced have as weapons the Jesus Prayer and the impulse to test and discern what is from God. The experienced have the best method and teacher of all: the activity, discernment and peace of God Himself.

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