Michael Fighting
"Michael…who standeth for…thy people," — Dan. 12:1-12
THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH
In this time there has been a general laxity about the observance of the Commandments of God and of His holy Church. We know this has led in part to today's Great Apostasy. But how many of us are acting as apostate as our brethren in the Novus Ordo or Traditionalist Churches? How many of us are less religious than our brethren in these heretical sects or among the Protestants? Let us take a look at the Protestants. A ‘faithful Protestant’ attends church on Sundays and is back again Wednesday evenings, when we can't be bothered to do anything even on Sunday.
Questions 1329 and 1330 consider our obligation to attend Mass on the Lord's Day and other Holy Days of Obligation. They also mention that a serious reason absolves from this obligation, and today we have such a serious reason. Obviously if there is no Mass we can attend, then we are not obliged to attend Mass. However, many of us act as if there is no Third Commandment of God to keep the Lord's Day holy. That such action is scandalous to our neighbors, both Catholic and pagan, leading them away from the Church, is
without question.
“Scandal is a word, an act, or an omission, evil in itself or only in appearance, which becomes an occasion of spiritual ruin to our neighbor.”, ‘Catechism of Christian Doctrine’, page 132. “Scandal is by its nature a grievous (i.e. mortal) sin.”
From the Baltimore Catechism
A1325. The commandments of the Church are also the Commandments of God, because they are made by His authority, and we are bound under pain of sin to observe them.
A1326. The commandments of God were given by God Himself on Mount Sinai; the commandments of the Church were given on different occasions by the lawful authorities of the Church. The Commandments given by God Himself cannot be changed by the Church; but the commandments made by the Church itself may be changed by its authority as necessity requires.
Comment, We shall be making just such a change, because necessity requires it.
A1327. The chief commandments of the Church are six:
1. To hear Mass on Sundays and holydays of obligation;
2. To fast and abstain on the days appointed.
3. To confess at least once a year.
4. To receive the Holy Eucharist during the Eastertime.
5. To contribute to the support of the Church.
6. Not to marry persons who are not Catholics, or who are related to us within the third degree of kindred, nor privately without witnesses, nor to solemnize marriage at forbidden times.
Note the sixth Commandment of the Church is sometimes shortened to to follow the marriage laws of the Church.
A1328. The Church has made commandments to teach the faithful how to worship God and to guard them from the neglect of their religious duties.
From Manual of Christian Doctrine
Do the laws of the Church bind in conscience?
Yes, even as the laws of God (do).
What sort of obedience to we owe the laws of the Church?
We owe to them not merely external obedience, but an obedience that is internal and christian. It is not enough to fulfill the letter of this law; we must understand its spirit, and follow it in practice; we must enter into the views of the Church, and strive to achieve the aim and purpose for which the commandment was made.
Why has the Church made commandments?
To enable the faithful to keep the commandments of God and practice the maxims of the Gospel, and thus to establish in their souls the reign of charity.
Additional Points on the Commandments of the Church
We must note that the Six Commandments of the Church bind under pain of mortal sin, although they are subject to the general rules of interpretation. Since all six Commandments of the Church are found in Canon Law, they are subject to the rules of interpretation of that self-same law. In fact there are 2414 Commandments of the Church in Canon Law. The Church in her wisdom, has reduced them to the six most important Commandments, so that the Faithful may more easily learn them and follow them. However, this does not exempt us from obedience to all 2414 Commandments, but reminds us that many of these deal with matters that most of the faithful don't ordinarily have to deal with. However, in our time we have had to deal with many more of these. We assisted in compiling several papers and finally a book, ‘Will the Catholic Church Survive the Twentieth Century?’, dealing with many of these Commandments from Canon Law, reporting them to the educated laity.
Duties of the Educated Laity
With the advent of the general education of the masses over a century ago, the faithful have moved from an illiterate group to a literate one. God saw to this in His providence, so that the faithful would have access to the truths of the Faith, before the Cardinals, Bishops and priests abandoned the Faith, leaving us orphans. This has given us great benefits, but also great duties. Our predecessors saw this and gave some instructions to the faithful, which can be found in Encyclicals and in speeches, which are gathered into books and reported to us. This gives us a duty to read these Encyclicals and speeches and other books to learn our faith and the science of the saints.
Go And Rebuild My Church
This instruction was given to Saint Francis of Assisi. He went out then and found a run down church and began rebuilding it. Although this is not what God meant, still Saint Francis finished this project. We rebuild the Church by learning Her doctrines and commandments and the science of the saints AND THEN PUTTING WHAT WE LEARN INTO PRACTICE. However, there is a necessity for church buildings as well. We have built or bought houses, making for ourselves mansions. Read about what people lived in only a hundred years ago. One such place can be found in the description of Anna Catherine Emerick's childhood home, which description We have given in the past.
Take a look at Our own mansion. From Our work on remodeling the place, We have found out that the original house was actually quite small. (25x30 or 750 square feet.) The first addition was only 170 square feet and made many years ago. More recently an additional 600 square feet of living space and a full basement was added. When We purchased the place the attic was in the process of being finished, which We have nearly completed. From the original 750 square feet, We now have over 2,300 square feet of living space. Why do all of us have so much room? The answer is simple, we are all materialistic. We have grown up this way. However, We believe God has given us some of these material benefits to assist us and give us more time for spiritual pursuits, and if we are not using them this way we are sinning grievously. Here in Our mansion, how many square feet are devoted to housing over 4,000 books, by Our most recent estimate? If We built a floor to ceiling bookshelf, it would be 50 feet long. Of course, Our books are divided up on many smaller bookshelves, and We have more on the drawing board!
Here we have all found ourselves mansions, for even if we live in trailers or rentals, they are climate controlled. This was impossible just fifty years ago. Ask someone 70 years old how things were before air conditioning became common! Ask them what is what like when the whole house was not centrally heated! Ask them what it was like before microwave ovens or even refrigerators. We cannot say that in the area of material goods any of us have it hard. In fact we have it soft. Unfortunately many of us are not using these labor saving devices to give us more time for study, but for relaxation and even sometimes for sin!
“No time must be lost, but every moment must be employed in prayer, in reading or in performing the duties of your state of life.” Saint Alphonsus.
Rebuild the Church
We have built ourselves mansions, but at the same time have we built ANYTHING for God? In one mansion, God has a closet to Himself. Elsewhere He gets some room on the bookshelves, and a crucifix or two. His Mother often gets more than He does! Of course in four homes His Sacred Heart has been enthroned, but even this is not enough. We believe that He is enthroned in more homes, homes that are coming to live their enthronement by returning to the Church visibly, which they have longed to be in in their hearts for many years. In fact these people who are finding their way through the smoke of Antichrist to the truth are practicing the faith far better than those of us who have the truth but don't live by it. It is time that we erect actual church buildings.
We are asking for this for several reasons. Although we may eventually get back the existing church building, We do not know of any that are built in accordance with the rubrics of the Church! We have recently begun gathering information so that churches may be built properly and have been reminded of this sad fact. There are churches built a hundred years ago that are built so improperly, that they cannot be modified without a major effort to fit the commandments of the Church. This shows how far back the modern laxity has gone! So when the Mass returns, and We have reason to believe this will be soon, We must have proper places for its celebration. If we love the Church and the center of Her liturgy the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, as much as we say we do, then we will begin NOW to prepare a place to celebrate it properly. We cannot content ourselves with home Masses, when we have the means of providing churches for the celebration of Mass. And so We expect that wherever “two or more gather in My Name” to hear of concrete plans for the construction of a church. (Matthew 18:20) However, until churches can be built, we still have the obligation of gathering to public worship God as churches. In each area there must be a place we gather on the Lord's day and other Holy Days of Obligation to worship God, as the Third Commandment obliges us. This obligation will be binding under pain of sin, as We modify the Commandments of the Church. (This will be considered shortly.)
Keeping the Faith, When All About You Are Apostatizing
In times past, when a persecution threatened the missionaries would give the faithful specific rules on how to keep the Faith. Often they would keep it privately in their homes and rarely gather, but this was out of fear of the government. Our current persecution is diabolically different. As Pope, all We have to fear for wearing the cassock in public are a few strange looks. (We have modified the rules of the Third Council of Baltimore on clerical dress, which were made out of human respect and not for any useful purpose, requiring the clergy to wear the cassock everywhere as they are obliged by Canon Law.) Only once has it led to a visit from the authorities and this man was quite nervous at even being required to ask Us questions. (There were incidents where We previously lived where a man would dress all in black, as We do when engaged in more mundane work, scaring little children. We believe that the forces of Antichrist may have inspired this person, who We believe was never caught.) That this visit was understandable given the circumstances, which We had already heard rumors of, is without question. However, We do not fear imprisonment for Our faith, none of us do. We are not prevented in any way from practicing our Faith publicly. So in our times and situation the rules will be different than those of open persecution and martyrdom. Unfortunately these rules are difficult to find, which has led Us to be slow in issuing rules for Our own time. Well, We have decided to forge ahead.
In the time of persecution, the missionaries would designate Catechists who would memorize the catechism and then they were taught how to train their own successors! These catechists would then teach the Faith to others. Also the missionaries would appoint baptizers who would memorize the form of Baptism in Latin and baptize all, both child and adult. They were instructed how to see to it that marriages were solemnized properly. They were instructed how to bury their dead and keep the Faith. In fact in one instance the Faith was kept for over 200 years without priests. However, in our own case, We have a Pope to appeal to, so We can provide for Baptisms and Marriages. But catechism must be taught in each area, so We shall provide for that here and in letters of instruction to Our appointed catechists.
Amendment Of the Commandments of the Church
With this amendment, the appropriate Canons are amended as well. The Commandments of the Church will be increased from six to seven, although at the current time, commandments 3 and 4 remain impossible, although We shall comment on how to observe all seven Commandments:
THE REVISED COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH
1. To hear Mass on Sundays and holydays of obligation, if it is impossible to hear Mass, to publicly gather with the other members of the Church for the purpose of worshipping God as a church. Such public worship shall consist of AS A MINIMUM reading the Epistle and Gospel and explanation of the same from an approved work, Spiritual Communion and prayer for the restoration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
If a cleric, who is not a priest, with due faculties is present, he shall see to the proper order of such observances, preaching if approved to do so. If no cleric is present, some layman will be appointed to lead the services and receive instruction on how. However, if it should happen that provision has not been made, then the men of the parish shall elect one of their own, assigning him these duties.
2. To fast and abstain on the days appointed.
3. To confess at least once a year.
4. To receive the Holy Eucharist during the Eastertime.
5. To contribute to the support of the Church.
6. Not to marry persons who are not Catholics, or who are related to us within the third degree of kindred, nor privately without witnesses, nor to solemnize marriage at forbidden times.
7. To learn the truths of the Faith.
In order to receive a favor from the Church, the faithful must demonstrate a knowledge of the truths of the Faith.
To enter marriage the faithful must pass a test on the truths of the Faith. If they fail said test, then they are not prepared for marriage. The test will include not only the basics of the Catechism, but the rights and duties of marriage. The test shall be administered by the Pastor or his delegate.
To enter Profession in a Third Order a test on the basics of the Faith will also be administered. Similar rules will be observed for admittance to First Tonsure and to the religious life. Additionally to be given the Order of Lector, the candidate must pass a test proving he is able to teach the Catechism.
In order to receive other dispensations from the Church NO MATTER HOW MINOR, the faithful must also have either passed such test or be in an approved Catechism course. Also as with all requests for a relaxation of the law, an appropriate penance will be given by the person dispensing.
COMMENTARY ON THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH
Since We, as Lawgiver are writing this commentary, this stands as an official interpretation of the Law.
The First Commandment
The duty to worship God as a community binds all Catholics. The general principles of Moral Theology apply to this obligation. However, if we are unable to go to some place designated by the Church, because of distance, we should still attempt to do so occasionally. Impossibility due to distance is considered by moralists to be an hour and a quarter travel, by whatever mode of transportation is available. In this time of automobiles this would be around 60 miles, except in major cities.
“The duty to honor God at stated times is a precept of the natural law, the general prescriptions of which are outlined in detail by positive law.” Jone in his ‘Moral Theology’, page 128.
We have amended Canon 1247 to reduce the number of Holydays of Obligation to the ones observed in the United States, namely:
1. All Sundays
2. The Immaculate Conception, December 8
3. Christmas, December 25
4. The Circumcision, January 1
5. The Ascension, Forty days after Easter
6. The Assumption, August 15
7. All Saints Day, November 1
2. To fast and abstain on the days appointed.
To simplify this We have made the vigil of ALL holydays of obligation, except Sundays, days of fast and Partial Abstinence, as well as the four sets of Ember Days and Lent.
Specifically:
FAST DAYS:
All weekdays of Lent
All Vigils of Holydays of Obligation
All Ember Days
COMPLETE ABSTINENCE:
All Fridays, unless a Holyday of Obligation falls on Friday
Ash Wednesday
PARTIAL ABSTINENCE
Ember Wednesdays and Saturdays
All Vigils of Holydays of Obligation
(Note that with the decree concerning Traditionalists, the law has been returned to the discipline as it existed on October 9, 1958, when pope Pius XII died. This is included here as part of the original decree.)
3. To confess at least once a year.
Since we cannot actually confess to a priest, because no duly authorized priest is available, we must confess in desire, making a Perfect Act of Contrition. Although this does not bind under Church Law, if we wish to get to heaven we must preserve or recover the state of grace and maintain it.
We should at least make a thorough examination of conscience once a year, if not far more often. How can we know where we stand spiritually, if we aren't constantly checking? This is like taking a trip to a new place and not checking regularly to see if you are on the highway you should be.
“In like manner the minister of Penance, to whom, in virtue of his office, confession shouldbe made, is a priest; but in a case of necessity even a layman may take the the place of a priest, and hear a person's confession.” Summa Supplement.
The Summa Theologica goes on to outline the reason: (there is) “also something on the part of the recipient” (of Confession), “which is also essential to the sacrament, that is, contrition and confession. ... But when there is reason for urgency, the penitent should fulfill his own part, be being contrite and confessing to whom he can; and although this person cannot perfect the sacrament, so as to fulfill the part of the priest by giving absolution, yet this defect is supplied by the High Priest. Nevertheless confession made to a layman, though lack of a priest, is quasi-sacramental, although it is not a perfect sacrament, on account of the part which belongs to the priest.”
And so, how does this apply to our times? There are two cases of necessity that are possible, the first is danger of death. The second is when our sins are causing such spiritual turmoil that we must get them off of our chest. Since a person may confess to a layman in such necessity, couldn't they also confess to the Pope, who has not yet been ordained. In the latter case, if a matter of a censure came up, the Pope could absolve from that. Also the Pope can give spiritual advice. We present this as a way of settling troubled consciences, since even non-Catholics recognize the necessity of telling our sins to another to get things settled. Take a look at the ‘12 steps’, which were inspired by Catholic thinking, although as they stand now are heretical in part. One of the steps says, “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” Isn't that what Confession is?
4. To receive the Holy Eucharist during the Eastertime.
Again this is impossible, so we should pray to make this possible! Also We should observe Holy Week as a truly holy week! The television should be veiled in purple, and all free time spent in prayer, meditation and spiritual reading. Holy Week is a good time to make a private retreat as Saint John Eudes recommends we do once a year. The last three days of Holy Week are most solemn. This Sacred Triduum is a time to meditate on just what sin caused! Three hours on Good Friday (preferrably noon to 3) should be spent in prayer and meditation. Wherever the faithful gather on Sunday should be made available for the Tre Ore, which should be observed there or everyone in one's own home. Catholic businesses traditionally close from noon to three on Good Friday, and this custom is observed in Saint Marys, Kansas to this day! Can we observe less than apostates?
5. To contribute to the support of the Church.
We have a booklet entitled, ‘The Neglected Commandment’ by Bishop Francis Clement Kelly, Bishop of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, 1936. Let us read what this holy Bishop said:
“There are six Commandments of the Church strictly binding on us all. Five of them, in varying degrees, are recognized and in the main obeyed by the faithful. Four are obeyed especially well. Only one is badly neglected by as many as two thirds of the whole body, even in the United States, even in this diocese. It is the Fifth:
“To contribute to the support of our pastors.
“The proof that it is neglected lies before me. I would fail in my duty if I did not act on my knowledge.”
He goes on to prove that this Commandment binds in justice as well as charity. Then he says: “What shall be said, what can be said, of those who, by their neglect of their own parish obligation, spend all they can afford on imagined civic or social responsibilities? Of those who spend all on luxuries for themselves and have nothing left for God? Are there such Catholics? There are, and their as a class is Legion-God englighten them and save then from themselves”!
He goes on to explain how many complain that God gives wealth to others. Then he asks: “Have you read the parable of the unjust steward? It is full of divine irony, place there to show you where you stand in His sight when you fail Him. Why should He trust you with wealth when He knows what you will do with it, rather what you will not do with it? What right have you to a success that you are sure not ro appreciate? ... Think it over. Does your record show that you can be trusted?
“Surely such people are not ignorant of the fact that someone has to pay for them in the end; “This is not all a matter of money. It is also a matter of mutual charity in the dealings of Christ's children with one another. It is a matter of not hurting His Church by giving bad example, by uttering unjust criticisms, by remaining ignorant of her teachings, by being shamefully apologetic when others defame her. It is a matter of praying as well as paying, of fidelity in word and deed, of taking care of Christ's poor, ...” And so We ask you, who is supporting Us? We have put thousands of dollars into collecting books, then thousands of hours into studying them. Any money We occasionally might earn is immediately gone, if not already spent.
Since We shall be making trips, probably once every two months, We expect the faithful to foot the bill. This is only just. Our parents have put out a great deal of money for Our support, including paying for several of Our trips out of their own pocket. At each place where catechism is taught and the faithful gather, a collection basket shall be placed, the contents sent monthly to Us along with the accustomed reports. Also the faithful should supply all of the expenses of the Papacy.
6. Marriage Law
Many do not follow the marriage laws of the Church as they should. In fact many of the marriages We have witnessed should have been handled under Canon 1066, because many of you were public sinners by your laxity in the practice of the Faith. After the promulgation of this decree, you will be considered as such, if you continue as you are. Canon 1066 provides that the pastor shall not assist at such a marriage unless there is a serious reason demanding such assistance.
7. To learn the truths of the Faith.
“We shall find out at the day of judgement that the greater number of Christians who are lost were damned because they did not know their own religion.” Saint John Vianney.
To remedy this in keeping with Canon 1332, We have ordered weekly Catechism be given wherever the faithful live. We have retained the help of those knowledgeable in the Faith to teach such Catechism, and where this is not possible asked someone in the area to make themselves knowledgeable and direct such catechism course.
Pope Saint Pius X: “In this matter, they are to use the Catechism of the Council of Trent, in such a way as to cover in four or five years all the matter relating to the Creed, the Sacraments, the Ten Commandments, Prayer and the Commandments of the Church, and also the matter on the evangelical counsels, grace, the virtues, sin and the four last things.” ‘Acerbo Nimis’
Pope Pius XI: “The religious instruction which the children have received is forgotten as they grow older; we know that not only young people and children of age for Confirmation are ignorant of catechism, but even men and old people are sometimes utterly without instruction in Christian doctrine, either because they have never been taught or because they have gradually forgotten what they learned long ago.”, ‘Decree on Catechetical Instruction’, January 12, 1935.
Canon 1332: “On Sundays and other feasts of obligation the pastor must, at an hour which he judges most convenient for the attendance of the people, give catechetical instruction to the adults in discourses suited to their capacity.”
Canon 1335: “Not only parents and others who hold the place of parents, but also the heads of a household and godparents, are bound by obligation to see that those subject to them or entrusted to their care receive catechetical instruction.”
We can't stress the duty to learn the Faith and then pass it on to the next generation too much. IGNORANCE OF THE FAITH CAUSED THE GREAT APOSTASY. We also believe that ignorance of the Faith is an impediment to receiving the Sacraments of the Living, such as Holy Communion and Marriage.
Be assured, my brethren, that as the body becomes weakened by want and hunger, and wastes to a mere shadow, so the soul that is not nourished by the word of God, becomes shrunken, worthless and unfit for any good work., Saint Augustine.
May 1, 1998
