The M+G+R Foundation

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November 2023

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CONTENTS

November 23
About marriage annulment and participation in the Eucharist
Why those who survive what is to come just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ must suffer so?
What John, the Evangelist, meant when he wrote “Whoever remains in Him doesn’t sin”?

November 5
Why our collaboration for the forgiveness of sins does not make the Sacrifice of Jesus incomplete – Part 2
Lesson on the Sacrament of Reconciliation

November 1
Why our collaboration for the forgiveness of sins does not make the Sacrifice of Jesus incomplete – Part 1
The Pentagon looking into breeding immortal ‘Synthetic Organisms’






November 23rd, 2023


About marriage annulment and participation in the Eucharist


FROM OUR FILES: August 28th, 2006

From SB @ US

I am relatively new to your site. While I have corresponded with you a few times, I did not expect a reply to my last letter. It was more a cry in the night. In response to your letter, let me give my most humble thanks. I cannot imagine the work load that you are under, and your time given me, however little it may be, will be a blessing. Here are the facts: [The following is being published with the explicit permission of the correspondent. We have made minor changes to avoid his identification.]

I am in my early fifties.

I was born and raised in the Roman Catholic Church.

As I grew, I was told that the priesthood would be my calling, and for some time I believed it would.

As I grew older, and as with all young men, thought myself wiser, I wandered from the Church.

At age 21 I was married, outside the Church to a woman who was previously married. This was very much against my family’s wishes, and I think was the very reason for my doing so.

After six months, the marriage was annulled in a civil court.

I continued as a single man until 1984, at which time I was in my early thirties.

I had led a particularly sinful and adulterous life. Alcohol and drugs were a constant.

I met a young woman and sought to re-marry.

She told me she was divorced, and a lapsed Catholic.

We agreed to marry in the Catholic Church.

We were both granted annulments of our previous marriages to non-catholics.

We married in St. [edited out] Catholic Church in [city and state edited out].

I should mention at this time that there was no pre marriage counseling. This was at our request as we were, for some reason in a hurry to wed.

I should mention at this time that my wife, at that time had never been confirmed.

There was considerable stress in our marriage.

I quit drinking and using marijuana. I did not want my children to grow up in an alcoholic household as I had.

My wife came to me and told me she was pregnant, and unsure of who the father was.

We separated.

I cannot and do not claim to be a saint in this matter, there was adultery on both sides.

I returned to her, and thought I could raise a child even if, after it’s birth we found it was not mine.

I bonded with the child when she was born, and after finding she was not mine, I continued in the marriage.

My wife was aware of how unhappy I was. She became pregnant again about 2 years later.

I wanted to bolt the marriage but stayed.

This time the daughter born to us was my child.

As I held her for the first time I promised to always keep her safe.

I stayed in order to protect the children from a lifestyle my wife led that I felt dangerous to the girls.

My wife filed for divorce.

After much hurt and bitterness, I took custody of our daughter, an infant of only a few months.

I raised “Mary” alone for three years. I did not date, She saw little or nothing of her birth mother, as it was unsafe. I found out later that the first child was raped by the mother’s boyfriend before reaching her teens, and of the more than four other children born, one died within weeks due to it’s addiction.

I do not say this to condemn. I think I am past that. I say it only to explain why I had to keep “Mary” safe.

I met a woman when my daughter was 3 years old. She was in the process of a divorce.

My daughter fell in love with her as did I. She is the only real mother my child, whom I will now call our child has ever known. Our child is now in her mid teens, an honor student, and recipient of many awards for citizenship in her school. I could not have done this without this woman by my side.

We married outside the Church. She was raised as a Baptist. I want to return to the Sacraments.

Perhaps I am stubborn to do so, but I have not sought an annulment from the Church, finding it difficult to reconcile the fact that men who abuse little boys, can not only celebrate the Eucharist, but ban me from receiving it.

My pride will be my fall.

I have investigated other churches.

I have, as you already knew from a previous letter, begun to attend an Independent Catholic Church. Their Apostolic Succession if through the Utrecht Bishops of the “Old Catholic Church”, whose Sacraments are considered valid by Rome, though illicit if given to me.

Here I stand. I want no politics, no fighting as one man’s opinion confronts another’s. I want to know my Lord, I want to receive Him. I want to take my daughter to the faith. We used to attend Mass in a local Catholic Church, but she wondered why I couldn’t take Communion.

I had no answer, and fear that although she knows Jesus Christ as her Savior, I will have to answer for her soul as well.

Please know that your letter was a great comfort to me. I shall always remember you in my prayers, and look forward to your answer as time permits.

I find that I no longer simply want a church. I want to know My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I need the sense of community that I might have found in the catacombs, but most of all I need to know HIM.

May God Bless and Keep You

SB

Response.

Thank you for the opportunity to witness to the Love and Compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ Who came for you and me and all sinners!

We have carefully reviewed your situation and fully recognize that your heart is where it should be... and we know that a contrite heart God will never despise.

A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. [Psalm 50:19]

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of spirit. [Psalm 33:19]

The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me: he hath sent me to preach to the meek, to heal the contrite of heart, and to preach a release to the captives, and deliverance to them that are shut up. [Isaiah 61:1]

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Wherefore he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the contrite of heart, [Luke 4:18]

It is obvious from your life saga that, even when you married in the Catholic Church, it was not a valid Sacrament. Even if there was no pre marriage counseling at your request. That should have been enough reason for the priest not to marry you. In any case – if your wife was not Confirmed in the Faith the whole event was no more than a Church authorized sham – as so many are.

Nonetheless, we fully understand how the RCC is more interested in protecting its authority than in the salvation of souls —thus— they will never admit of any wrong doing and the annulment would not be granted. [What can be expected when officially the sex abuse of children is considered a Sin Against Customs!]

Because of the times we are living and the state of the RCC, we would say – go to Mass at other parishes and partake of the Sacraments – Reconciliation and Communion – however, that would cause scandal to your daughter (since she is far too young to understand all of this theo-logic) and that would be a grave sin.

What we suggest you do is find an Orthodox Church (Greek, Russian, Antiochian or any other very legitimate Catholic Patriarchate not associated with the Vatican, but certainly associated with God!), present your case to the priest and we see no reason why they would not welcome you and your family with the open arms of Christ.

The Orthodox Church’s Liturgy is “beyond the much lauded Tridentine Mass”. They use the Byzantine Rite which makes the Tridentine Mass look as brief as a Hail Mary by comparison. What we are stressing with such example is that you will be going into a truly Full Sacramental environment. No, they are not perfect but they are far superior to what Rome could possible offer now and hereafter.

Visit our page on the Orthodox Faith – learn more about it and go through the Links – all while placing your search – and the results – in the Hands of the Holy Spirit of God.

Keep us informed on the progress – we do really care!

Many Blessings to the three of you!!


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November 23rd, 2023


Why those who survive what is to come just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ must suffer so?


FROM OUR FILES: December 30th, 2006

Do you ever wonder... why those who survive what is to come just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ must suffer so?

Before we can face God —manifested as such in the Second Coming— our souls must be pure, the purity gained by souls in Purgatory. Therefore – what we must endure before His Appearance is literally a period of purgation —or  Purgatory— without the body having died.


Related Documents
The Reality of The Purgatory as reflected in The Old and New Testaments
How many will survive The Tribulation?


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November 23rd, 2023


What John, the Evangelist, meant when he wrote “Whoever remains in Him doesn’t sin”?


FROM OUR FILES: January 18th, 2008

Do you ever wonder exactly what John, the Evangelist, meant when he wrote the following in 1 John 3:

6 Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not; and whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, nor known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you. He that doth justice is just, even as he is just. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God, committeth not sin: for his seed abideth in him, and he can not sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever is not just, is not of God, nor he that loveth not his brother.

If we take the above at face value no one, except Mary, is of God: “8 He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning.” and “9 Whosoever is born of God, committeth not sin: for his seed abideth in him, and he can not sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.”

Not only a “casual read” of the above will subconsciously store the message that the Sacred Scriptures are full of errors, but also undoubtedly gave rise to the heresy of Catharism (1), i.e. That is God creates the good people and satan creates the bad people – thus raising satan to a “creator level”.

As it turns out, John is speaking of a particular sin. In better translations of this Epistle that can be clearly understood. Indeed, not utilizing the traditional Catholic Mortal and Venial sins, there are some sins that could only be committed by someone who is possessed by the spirit of satan – they are so hideous that even the worse sinner, who may, nonetheless, be of God and is scheduled for Heaven, could not commit.

Once again – the Holy Scriptures are proven correct and any error can be traced back to copyists or translators.

                
(1) About Catharism


Related Document
Being Perfect as the Father is Perfect – What does that mean?


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November 5th, 2023


Why our collaboration for the forgiveness of sins does not make the Sacrifice of Jesus incomplete

Why works of piety are not useless

Part 2


Introduction

In the first part of this series, we saw that there is at least one work of piety that contributes to the forgiveness of sins: the praying of the Our Father. In coherence with that, we can also remind this recommendation from St. Peter:

You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [1Peter 2:5]

The Our Father’s Prayer and this quote from St. Peter demonstrate that works of piety do have Scriptural support and are not an invention of an adulterated Church – although, indeed, the Church began to corrupt since Constantine (1). What really was an invention of an adulterated Church (2) were the false works of piety, that is, works with the appearance of piety (3) but emptied of spiritual content.

Still one may ask: If good works (including works of piety or any sort of active voluntary cooperation with God) contribute to the forgiveness of sins, does it not mean that Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross was not Perfect because “something was lacking”? Does it not mean that His Sacrifice was ineffective to forgive all our sins?

Of course not! His Sacrifice was perfect! But... How is it possible, while “needing” (!?) our voluntary cooperation?

We will now give a direct answer to this seemingly troubled question.

Details

The Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is an opportunity. As an act that opens that opportunity, it is finished, it is complete, it is perfect. As an act that brings together all the necessary merits (which are only Divine) to fulfill its purpose, it is a finished, complete and perfect act. It is certainly a finished, complete and perfect act because it has perfectly fulfilled its purpose: to open an opportunity, which will be accepted by some and not by others. It is that simple!

If there are requirements that God desires for one to fulfill in order to grant the reward derived from that opportunity, this does not negate the perfection of the Sacrifice of Jesus – this confirms its perfection. If part of those requirements means, specifically, performing works [Matthew 25:35-36 and Luke 13:9], this also does not negate the perfection of the Sacrifice of Jesus – this still confirms its perfection. Without requirements for us to fulfill, it would not be an opportunity, it would be an automatic salvation.

A work is perfect to the extent that it fulfills its purpose. The Sacrifice of Jesus does not fulfill the purpose of decorating the windows of my house, but it does not cease to be perfect for that reason because that is not its purpose. Likewise, the Sacrifice of Jesus does not fulfill the purpose of automatically granting forgiveness of sins to all human beings, but it does not cease to be perfect for that reason because that is not its purpose. Its purpose is to give an opportunity.

Therefore, those who preach that “no action or work on our part will add anything for the forgiveness of our sins” based on the argument that “Jesus’ Sacrifice is perfect” (and it certainly is), are totally wrong. Jesus’ Sacrifice is perfect precisely because —in order to fulfill its function as an open opportunity— there must be a requirement for cooperation on our part, or else it would not be an open opportunity.

              
(1) Emperor Constantine – When the Church was sold to the Empire
(2) Francis of Assisi speaks to Innocent III about an adulterated Church
(3) The appearance of piety to gain temporal power


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November 5th, 2023


Lesson on the Sacrament of Reconciliation


FROM OUR FILES: April 13th, 2010

From (Mr.) KD @ US

Regarding your statement posted on April 11th (1): Most Faithful do not realize that through the Sacrament of Reconciliation sins are forgiven but, in addition to the token/symbolic penance imposed by the confessor, there still is an “invoice due” to God as punishment/consequence of our sins.

Please tell us what do you mean when you say “there still is an ‘invoice due’ to God as punishment/consequence of our sins”.

If the penitent receives complete forgiveness of sins and punishment, what ‘invoice’ could still be due?

Thank you for answering my question.

(Mr.) KD

Answer

Let us start from the beginning... What does the Catechism (2) say about the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
[our highlighting]

Satisfaction

1459 Many sins wrong our neighbor. One must do what is possible in order to repair the harm (e.g., return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered, pay compensation for injuries). Simple justice requires as much. But sin also injures and weakens the sinner himself, as well as his relationships with God and neighbor. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused. Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must “make satisfaction for” or “expiate” his sins. This satisfaction is also called “penance.”

The punishments of sin

1472 To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain

1473 The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the “new man”.

With all of that “said and done” we must realize that the proverbial couple of Lord’s Prayers and Hail Mary’s usually given as penance by the confessor will hardly “remedy all the disorders sin has caused”. Only an unprecedented outpouring of Divine Mercy could parlay said “penance” into a “complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain”.

That unprecedented outpouring of Mercy is precisely what Jesus referred to when He promised: On that day (Feast of Mercy) the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. (3)

Why would Jesus make such an extraordinary offer with so much “pomp and ceremony” when the already mentioned “couple of Lord’s Prayers and Hail Marys” usually given as penance by the confessor surely had remedied all the disorders our sins have caused?

Now – we can consider this as a “Case Closed”, but we will not for the benefit of the Faithful.

Let us step away from the Catechism legalistic jargon and find the answers directly from Heaven.

A. On May 13th, 1917, when Lucia asked the Ever Blessed Virgin (EBV) Mary if Francisco was going to go to Heaven too, She answered: “He will go there too, but he must pray many Rosaries.

That boy was almost angelic before the Apparitions yet even at that point in his life —to go straight to Heaven— he would have to pray many Rosaries.

B. What is the promise from the EBV Mary regarding the First Saturdays (4) of Reparation devotion?

I promise to help at the hour of death, with the graces needed for salvation and a release from Purgatory on the first Saturday after the death of the Faithful.

C. What did Jesus say to the thief crucified next to Him?

Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise. [Luke 23:43]

Why? Because the thief had said:

Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art condemned under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done no evil. And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom. [Luke 23:40-42]

The thief: (a) Assumed his brutal punishment as deserved; (b) Recognized Jesus as a just and good man; and (b) Believed that Jesus was indeed the Messiah – the King of the Kingdom of God.

An outpouring of Divine Mercy catapulted that erstwhile evil man into Heaven without a stop in Purgatory. Keep in mind – the Sacrament of Reconciliation was very far from existing in the still non existent Church.

Bow low before the magnificence and magnanimity of our Lord and God Whose Mercy, for the truly contrite soul, knows no bounds.

              
(1) All Posts for April 2010
(2) Roman Catholic Church Catechism
(3) Divine Mercy – The only hope for mankind
(4) The First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary


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November 1st, 2023


Why our collaboration for the forgiveness of sins does not make the Sacrifice of Jesus incomplete

Why works of piety are not useless

Part 1


The reasoning of some is that, if any action on our part would add any benefit for the forgiveness of our sins, this would mean that “Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross was not perfect”. Is this reasoning correct?

Background

This question may be very strange among most Catholics (Roman and Orthodox), who do not even ask it, but it is an issue that most followers of Luther (simplistically, “Protestants”) consider of the utmost importance. It is related to the principle of “Sola Fide” (Salvation by faith alone) that many defend.

We will try to answer it with the intention that any Christian (and also non-Christians who do not find coherence in the Christian Faith as preached by many) may profit from the reflection, regardless of the reader’s particular confession, and without recourse to any authority except that of Jesus himself.

Question

True or False? – “No action on our part will add anything for the forgiveness of our sins because Jesus’ sacrifice is perfect” – In other words, “works of piety are useless”

Answer

There are many approaches to answer that question – a question that, within many different variations, has caused and continues to cause heated dialectical struggles among Christians since Luther. Here we will only address the question in the exact form in which we have reproduced it above.

We will leave it to our Lord, Jesus Christ Himself, to answer the question conclusively with His own direct instructions.

Jesus taught us the prayer we know as “The Lord’s Prayer”, which contains this line:

“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

This petition is not superfluous, it brings us a benefit: the benefit of attracting God’s Mercy to us so that our sins may be forgiven. If it were a superfluous petition, He would not have taught it to us as part of the Lord’s Prayer.

The recommendation implied by Jesus is to offer the Lord’s Prayer at the very least on a daily basis (“give us our daily bread”). It is not a prayer to be offered on the day of baptism and then stop asking. Thus, the frequent recitation of the Lord’s Prayer is an affirmation that the specific line “forgive us our trespasses” provides us with a concrete benefit that is good to constantly ask for.

Now, the key fact: Prayer is an act of faith. It is not simply “having faith”, it is an act of faith. Praying the Lord’s Prayer is an act of faith taught by Jesus himself. Therefore, there is at least one work of piety that does add benefit regarding the forgiveness of sins: the praying of the Lord’s Prayer. And not only that. It is a work of piety that Jesus recommends us to repeat daily.

Are works of piety useless? Can works of piety not add a benefit for the forgiveness of sins on the way to Salvation? The clear response: With just Jesus’ instruction on the Lord’s Prayer, such a proposition is demolished — directly by Him, without the need to interpret Jesus through St. Paul or other mediators.

Salvation by faith alone? If one of the purposes of the principle of “salvation by faith alone” is to conclude that works of piety are useless, those who preach that conclusion should review why they pray the Lord’s Prayer, which is a work of piety recommended by Jesus in relation to the forgiveness of sins.

Now, since there is at least one work of piety that adds benefit regarding the forgiveness of sins —and this cannot be denied because it would be to deny the purpose of the Lord’s Prayer— why should we be closed to the possibility of more works of piety?

Part 2

Does this mean that Jesus’ sacrifice is imperfect? Of course not! But how is this possible? Would that not mean that His sacrifice would be lacking something?

[Part 2 has been published on November 5]


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November 1st, 2023


The Pentagon looking into breeding immortal ‘Synthetic Organisms’


FROM OUR FILES: October 16th, 2010

Did you know that... the Pentagon is looking into breeding immortal ‘Synthetic Organisms’, with molecular Kill-Switch included? (1)

The Pentagon’s mad science arm may have come up with its most radical project yet. Darpa is looking to re-write the laws of evolution to the military’s advantage, creating “synthetic organisms” that can live forever – or can be killed with the flick of a molecular switch.

As part of its budget for the next year, Darpa is investing $6 million into a project called BioDesign, with the goal of eliminating “the randomness of natural evolutionary advancement.” The plan would assemble the latest bio-tech knowledge to come up with living, breathing creatures that are genetically engineered to “produce the intended biological effect.” Darpa wants the organisms to be fortified with molecules that bolster cell resistance to death, so that the lab-monsters can “ultimately be programmed to live indefinitely.”

Of course, Darpa’s got to prevent the super-species from being swayed to do enemy work – so they’ll encode loyalty right into DNA, by developing genetically programmed locks to create “tamper proof” cells. Plus, the synthetic organism will be traceable, using some kind of DNA manipulation, “similar to a serial number on a handgun.” And if that doesn’t work, don’t worry. In case Darpa’s plan somehow goes horribly awry, they’re also tossing in a last-resort, genetically-coded kill switch.

The M+G+R Foundation comments: Someone needs to tell our “mad scientists” that the genetically-coded kill switch is not their idea. God thought of it first and we are equipped with it. To wit:

Wherefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of the Assyrians: He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow into it, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a trench about it. By the way that he came, he shall return, and into this city he shall not come, saith the Lord. And I will protect this city, and will save it for my own sake, and for the sake of David my servant.

And the angel of the Lord went out, and slew in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand. And they arose in the morning, and behold they were all dead corpses.
And Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians went out and departed, and returned, and dwelt in Ninive. [Isaiah 37:33-36]

Oh, pardon us... we forgot, “mad scientists” and powerful leaders do not believe in God – and according to their non-Bible, if one does not believe in God, one is outside His reach.

              
(1) News Report


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