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Table of Contents:

	Author's Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. God's Love - Why should God care about man?. . . . . . . . . . 2. Sin and How It Effects Us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Expectations from Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Personal Responsibility for Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. How Many Will Enter God's Kingdom ?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Three D's of DENIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. The Consequence of Sin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffering in Hell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. Most Do Not Truly Believe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Understanding Purgatory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. God is Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Understanding Charity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Does God Hate ?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conditional Mercy of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. Relationship with God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. Bishops (Presbyters- Priests- Elders) and Deacons. . . . . . . 11. Confessing My Sins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consequences of Adam's Sin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. The Five Steps of Confession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sins of Omission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Authentic Teachings and Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13. The Eight Steps of Salvation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14. Examination of Conscience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Six Sins Against the Holy Ghost . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Primary or Initial Commands of God . . . . . . . . . . Do Not Murder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . From Conception a Living Eternal Spirit. . . . . . . . Circumcision of Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The First and Great Sin of Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The First Sin was Committed by Woman . . . . . . . . . . . 15. Equality — The Spiritual Human Being . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16. Placing of Sin into Categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. The Ten Commandments of God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. I Am the Lord Thy God, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thou Shall Not have Strange gods before Me About Praying. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Do not take the Lord Thy God's name in Vain. . . . . . . . 3. Remember to Keep Holy the Lord's Day . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Honor of father and Mother – Conceptualized Sodomy . . . . Disassociation with Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. Thou shall not Murder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Adulterous Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Decision - Life or Death ? . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. Thou shall not Commit Adultery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Man versus Woman — Roles Differ in Life. . . . . . . . Annulments in the Catholic Church. . . . . . . . . 7. Thou shall not Steal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. Thou shall not Bear False Witness against thy Neighbor . . Thou Shall Not Covet - Prelude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. Thou shall not Covet thy Neighbor's Wife . . . . . . . . . 10. Thou shall not Covet thy Neighbor's Goods. . . . . . . . . 18. Subsets of the Ten Commandments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st Commandment - Subset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2nd Commandment - Subset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3rd Commandment - Subset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4th Commandment - Subset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5th Commandment - Subset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Euthanasia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6th Commandment - Subset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sex – Menstruation – God's Birth Control . . . . . . . 7th Commandment - Subset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tithing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8th Commandment - Subset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9th Commandment - Subset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10th Commandment - Subset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Seven Deadly Sins also called "The Seven Capital Sins" 19. Failure to Admonish; to Discipline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20. Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21. On Modesty in Dress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22. General Comments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23. Sacrilegious Communion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24. Automatic Excommunication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25. Penance Suggestions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26. The Words of Absolution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27. General Absolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28. Stories of Persecution for Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29. Recommended Reading List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30. Internet Links and Appendices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	3 4 6 7 11 13 17 18 23 24 25 27 28 29 30 38 39 40 42 43 45 46 50 53 54 54 55 55 56 61 65 69 71 73 75 76 80 84 85 87 93 96 97 100 105 106 108 111 114 116 120 121 123 123 129 130 133 139 140 143 145 148 152 153 154 157 157 158 160 161 164 165 172 172 173 176 177

       Though the purpose of this book is to deal with sin in relation to the Catholic sacrament of Penance, it should be of great interest to non-Catholic Christians as well. A major part of the book deals with the Ten Commandments in addition to a general overview of sin in a manner never before seen, thought of, or even remotely considered by most. It should be of great interest to any sincerely believing Christian or other monotheist who believes in eternal life and in the existence of eternal punishment. The theological developments are primarily based upon quotations from Sacred Scripture.

       This book contains much development of theology that is not believed to oppose any formal doctrine of the Catholic Church. By intent the book helps redirect the concerns of people who deal with and worry about the consequences of sin and not the underlying cause, the sin of man.

        This is a spiritual work focused on helping the reader to develop an improved understanding of sin in order to obtain a better relationship with God, as revealed through His Son Jesus. This book contains some of the areas of theology that need presentation in fuller and more understandable ways. It also contains a relatively thorough examination of conscience in preparation for a confession that can bring one to true peace with God.

        Most people are, effectively speaking, their own god. They have become their own authority by setting their own parameters or limits on the method and the items they are going to believe in regarding relationship to God and eternal life. They follow their own interpretations of God's will and do not practice standards established by God. They fail, or refuse, to use authoritative objective standards and authorities. These are people with their own beliefs, their own value systems, their own interpretations of the Word of God. They often avoid those passages of the Bible which they find to be troublesome. Satan has been highly successful in undermining Christianity by promoting the belief in the Bible alone as source of all teachings of faith. This belief has led to the destructive practice of private interpretation of the Bible and subsequent disunity with God. Lack of harmony with God brings lack of human unity in faith and consequent disruption of human and spiritual peace.

        The self-righteous say, "Look at me, I'm the one who is right." The repentant sinner on the other hand says, "I am sorry, I have been wrong." The righteous man is the repentant sinner who goes out and does what is just according to Godly standards.

        Most people are subjective in their faith, in their beliefs. Few people are truly objective (using external authoritative well defined independent standards) for their beliefs. Few people are willing to pray, "Lord, not my will but yours be done."

        "He (Jesus) then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." " [Lk. 18:9-14]

       Repentant sinners are those who in time come to accept external objective standards and realize that they have God. They desire forgiveness, ask for forgiveness, and then give witness to their changed ways by acting according to the standards established by God's divine will.

       It is expected that most everyone will find something in the book that they find contrary to their own beliefs. Their pride will lead to disbelief. Their disbelief will become denial and their denial will lead them to make ad hominem statements to oppose what is written. Such statements do not deserve response.

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ad hominem arguments – non-rational objections to the content of statements:
1. appealing to a person's feelings or prejudices rather than his intellect.
2. marked by an attack on an opponent's character rather than by an
   answer to his contentions.

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Father David C. Trosch
7 December 1998
The Memorial of Saint Ambrose

INTRODUCTION:   It is better to seek out God’s truth and put it into practice than to defend one's own version of truth and end up in hell. The development of theology can help to improve one’s understanding of sin with the goal of helping individuals in their preparation for making a good confession (Sacrament of Reconciliation / Penance). Sound development of theology will also suggest penances for various sins.

       There is the belief that many of the problems within the Church stem from an underdeveloped theology which has encouraged poor explanations of various teachings and beliefs within the Church. When people do not understand the reason for believing a particular aspect of faith, they easily become confused and fall away from the Church and often entirely lose their faith in God.

       A major problem of the Church of today is that it is lacking a structure of faith. Without a structure of faith, one is not truly a person of faith. An undefined or randomized faith is without substance and cannot truly be said to be faith at all. There must be a system of order of priority in the truths of faith to have a sound foundation for faith.  (See:  Appendix B)

"The word that they heard did not profit them,
for they did not receive it in faith." [Heb. 4:2]

       Faith is the full acceptance of God. It encompasses acknowledgment of His active existence in our lives with a positive belief in all of His attributes. All of God's attributes are good. Anything that can be ascribed to being evil exists apart from God.   NOTE: Knowledge is not faith. Satan has great knowledge. Faith is knowledge put into practice according to the will of God. Faith is a free gift given by God to those who seek it and ask for it while open to serving according to the tenants of the Great Commandment -- love of God, neighbor, and self.  (See:  Appendix AB)

       "Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him," [Heb. 5:8-9]

       "Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account." [Heb. 4:12-13]

       Responsibility for sin does not go away just because clergy steeped in modernism and humanism relegate sin to the background preferring instead to teach that which is not disturbing to their congregations. For many salvation depends upon the clear teaching of Jesus and His Church in regard to sin. Those priests who do not teach about sin and its consequences are like salt that has gone flat. They are useless and need to be thrown out where they can be trampled upon.  "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. [Mt. 5:13]

       By giving instructions in the truths of the faith one is not condemning, but is acting in true love. To educate people so that they can avoid offending God, in whatever ways they are doing so, is to show them love.

       People, even in ignorance, are accountable for natural law, for natural reason, and for failure to love God. (Truth – "those who are perishing because they have not accepted the love of truth so that they may be saved." [2 Thes. 2:10]). Keeping the fullness of truth from those seeking a relationship with God only makes it more difficult for them to make valid choices for the good.

1. Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 15:33:54 EST
   To: fr.david@trosch.org
   Subject: dear father

          I find no logical explanations to the thought that it is possible that God could care for man. In my every view and through all ideas given to me by my church about God I see no reason why God would care for man. I hope that I am making sense. If you could help me by explaining, I would greatly appreciate it.                Thank you

2. Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 20:38:05 EST
   To: david@trosch.org
   Subject: Re: dear father

   Dear Father,
          To give you a little background on myself I was raised a Catholic, I am a firm believer in trying to find the truth. I try to keep myself open to all explanations and thought. I read your response to the Nietzche question and I found it to have been answered the best way. I have read much of Nietzche and that is what has caused a lot of my questioning, yet no one can throw {provide} any type of answer. If you can help please write back.       Thank You

RESPONSE:  Nietzsche and most humans have at one time or another complained that the laws, rules, and regulations that exist, whether God's or man's are too confining, too restricting. Everyone wants to be free to do their own thing. Most have not asked the question, "Who is the one who is most restricted?"

       Strange as it may seem, that entity is God. He is restricted by His own perfection; His own perfect knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. He is restricted by His goodness, by His holiness. As a result of His eternal wisdom He understands that chaos will follow any flaw that is permitted in His nature, any omission He makes. Imperfections would restrict His ability to share, to have association, to have respect. Any lapse in His perfection (God has perfect free will) would limit or restrict the full utilization of His natures.

       In order to answer the E-mailed inquiry it is necessary to have some understanding of the natures of God.   –Yes, the plural form of nature is correct. In Genesis 1:26 we find the statement, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."–  Using your imagination try to place yourself in the below situation that has been designed to help you understand God's motivations through an analogy (an imperfect natural explanation for a supernatural reality).

       Imagine the existence of the most luxurious cruise ship ever built. Picture it as being even larger than an aircraft carrier. It has swimming pools, restaurants, lounges, dinning rooms, bowling alleys, amusement parks, theaters, game rooms, dance floors, sun decks, exercise rooms, shops, and everything else that you can imagine that you would ever want. This superb cruise ship has the perfect most hospitable captain imaginable. It has one crew member who exceeds the capacity and capabilities of thousands of the classic Superman.

       There is however one problem. There are no passengers. There are no people in existence to enjoy the facilities available. No one to admire the beautiful ship. No one to compliment the Captain on the magnificence of the ship, on his magnanimous hospitality and friendliness, or on the excellent service of the crew member whose only desire is to serve; to utilize and give meaning to the great abilities that are His. Imagine a large dinning room with a large captain's table with the Captain sitting down to eat but having no one with whom he can share dinner time conversation. Is this massive ship serving a realistic function? Is the captain's talent and capacity for sharing and hospitality being utilized? Is the crew member's love for serving being fulfilled?

       Now try to follow the analogy that associates Christian belief in the Most Holy Trinity – three persons in one God – with the question, "Why should God care about man?" God the Father is the Creator, the provider, the necessary or essential being for all other existence (what fulfillment is there in creating when there are not numerous admirers of his creativity; what purpose would his creativity serve; to what extent should he create and why?). Think of the cruise ship as the intelligent being who is the basis for (creator of) everything else. Think of the Son of God as the Captain who is capable of utilizing the cruise ship to its fullest potential by happily sharing its magnificence and rounding out His own potential (each member of the Holy Trinity is unique – without people to share in his uniqueness how can he have fulfillment?). Think of the Holy Ghost as the crew member who gains fulfillment through serving the needs of others by performing the numerous tasks that keep the ship and everything that could possibly take place in it running smoothly (of what use is a juggler – who is happiest when juggling – without something to juggle).

       If the above comparison is understood in relation to the question presented, then the following should be comprehendible. The human race (intelligent animated beings) was created as:

1. the best possible source for the utilization of God the Father's power,
2. the best source for obtaining intelligent beings with the same nature as Jesus with whom He can share and have companionship,
3. the best source for making full utilization of the unique abilities of the Holy Ghost.

       While perfection of happiness is eternally attributed to God, it should be understood that the term God (a title) serves no purpose unless there are those in existence who can accept Him for who He is and give meaning to His power through worship that gives Him praise, honor, and glory in regard to each of His three persons. No one should ever doubt that God truly cares about mankind. NOTE:  Imperfect beings cannot share with perfection. Perfect but underdeveloped beings (those who did not have sufficient opportunity, or, did not bring to maximum fruitfulness their opportunities in this life to obtain fullest spiritual development) are incapable of maximum sharing with the Trinity. COMMENT:  Everyone who enters Heaven will personally be perfectly happy.

By standard reference sin is defined as follows:
1. an offense against religious or moral law
2. an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible
3. a transgression against the law of God
4. an offensive state of human nature in which one has either weakened or broken his relationship with God . NOTE:  A broken relationship can be either temporary or permanent

       Sin is more appropriately defined as a disruption in both the Divine and social orders. Sin interferes with the harmony that would otherwise exist between God and man, and, between man and man. Unity and cohesiveness are lost. When this happens individualism takes hold and selfishness grows and often takes possession of one's nature. Egocentrism – being limited in outlook or concern to one's own activities or needs – leads to the disruption of order and goodwill. Each sin, no matter how small, has a ripple effect that carries throughout the whole of existence. NOTE: Good deeds can either reduce or entirely cancel the ripple effect of sin, depending upon the quality of the deed or deeds.

       The short term effect of sin – relative to the degree of sin one falls into and the length of time one remains in sin – is found in both the near term and longer term periods of our mortal lives. A more drastic example of the consequences of grave (mortal) sin is used as such consequences can be more easily understood than the smaller effects of minor (venial) sins.

DRUG ABUSE:  Illicit drug addiction affects one's physical health, mental health and moral character. Drug addicts often turn to stealing and/or prostitution. Some become pushers of drugs and affect the lives of those to whom they sell or furnish drugs. Others become carriers of disabling and even deadly diseases. Promiscuity, another very grave sin, is prevalent among those who use or are otherwise involved with drugs.

       A high percentage of prisoners in jails and in prisons are there because of their association with drugs. Prison populations continue to grow each year because of the abuse of drugs. Society is affected through assaults, robberies, and drive by shootings related to drugs usage. Society pays the bills for capturing and imprisoning those who commit crimes related to drugs. Society pays for medical treatment for those affected by the contagious diseases transmitted by drug abusers. Society pays for psychiatric care – normally not much more than a short term substitute for denials relating to offenses against faith – and institutionalization related to drug abuse. The effects of drug abuse often remain for the rest of a user's life. Family, friends, associates, employers and fellow employees, and many others are often either directly or indirectly affected. The lists of costs and effects, depending upon the length of use and types of drugs taken, are endless. Most importantly, drug abuse results in the loss of multitudes to the Kingdom of Heaven. The ripple effect of drug abuse is tremendous and in some way affects everyone.

       The long term effect of sin relates to the effect it has upon one's soul. Relationship with God can be either temporarily or permanently broken. The longer one fails to recognize his broken relationship with God – who desires nothing but good for him – the more difficult it becomes to reject sin and turn away from evil.

       Too many have fallen into the false belief that God's goodness, or, that the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross, in one way or another keeps one from eternal punishment. If anything God's goodness and Jesus' suffering and death adds to the gravity of offenses.

       To believe that the goodness of God allows Him to associate with those who freely choose or fail to turn away from evil is pure foolishness. To believe that Jesus' death on the cross did anything other than open the gates of Heaven – to those who would follow Him in the trials and tribulations of this life and live a life in faith according to the example He set by following the will of God the Father – is ignorance of the highest order. Goodness not only hates evil acts but also hates those who commit them. Such hate remains permanently in regard to those who fail to appropriately repent. (See section on, "Does God Hate.")

       Jesus' teachings, miracles, and death – that were meant to demonstrate His love for us – can do nothing but enhance the hatred He has for those that reject the trials, tribulations, and sufferings He went through for our sake.

       Would you love, or hate, a person that you had befriended and endured much suffering for, if that person had helped to place a crown of thorns on your head and had driven nails into your hands and your feet, and then did not even have the courtesy to be sincerely sorry for the evils that he had assisted in perpetrating against you?

IMPORTANT:   Like the Bible, this book should carefully be read, with reflection, from beginning to end just as one would do who wants to get full appreciation from a novel. To do otherwise would be to lose much of the value of the content. Skipping around or scanning (speed reading) without due reflection is the reason why so many who read the Bible never truly obtain any real comprehension of what is being presented. The principles of the Word of God are diminished by being taken out of order, and the whole presentation becomes devalued. This has resulted in much disharmony among Christian believers.

       Be patient, take your time, read through the preliminary references even though you may feel that you want to get immediately into the content and find out what it's all about. The begot's, in the early part of Sacred Scripture that discourage so many from reading the Bible, serve a purpose. The introductory Biblical quotes in the early part of this book also serve a purpose. While the Bible and this book are not novels they should, for best effect, be read as though they were novels, or even as a best selling who-done-it mystery story. To skip to the end of the story and read the conclusion first ruins the plot and diminishes the value of reading the "who-done-it."

       This book contains much theology (study of the Word of God) and much catechetical knowledge useful for reference. In the hypertext (web) format there are useable links which will bring you to numerous sub-documents, and, there is colorization used to emphasize particular points. Should you decide to print this book out for your own use, you may find it helpful to use a highlighter and make marginal notes.

       The developmental theology contained in this book will seem foreign to most who read it. This book is sure to be opposed by many. But, it is believed that no legitimate Catholic teachings are diminished in any way. The purpose of this book is to further develop the understanding of the Word of God and thus is intended to serve as an instrument of bringing many to repentance.

       A call to repentance (reconciliation with God through confession as in the sacrament of Reconciliation / Penance) is presented repeatedly throughout the Bible. It is hoped that a more developed understanding of the Bible will further this goal. True scholars understand that the content of the Bible is highly compressed and at times intentionally cryptic (cryptic – a mystery to be revealed to those ready to learn when the time comes for them to need to learn. Much of the Bible applies to all time periods of mankind; some applies only to various ages well beyond the time in which it was written.). It was condensed to make it more easily copied by hand. It was made cryptic, in many parts, for two reasons:
     1.   so as to keep the contents from being diminished by copyists opposed to accepting what had been proclaimed.
     2.   to allow the human race time to develop to the point of needing to acquire additional knowledge of God.

NOTE:  If you have sound reason to disagree with anything being presented, or have
               suggestions to make, your comments would be greatly appreciated.

BIBLE BOOKS:
       The canon of the Palestine community of Jews did not include a number of works contained in the Alexandrian version of sacred writings between 250 and 100 B.C. and in use by Greek-speaking Jews of the Dispersion (outside of Palestine). The Alexandrian version included books written during the Greek occupation of Palestine and had then been translated into Greek. The Greek translation is referred to as the Septuagint and includes the extra books referred to as Deuterocanonical, or, as some non-Catholic Christians refer to them, Apocryphal.
       The Deuterocanonical writings have always been listed in the Catholic Bible even though their canonicity was under discussion for a period of time. The books that had been written in Hebrew and translated into Greek during the Greek occupation were excluded from the Jewish canon at the end of the 1st century. They were dropped by Protestant translators around the 17th century in order to be in agreement with the books accepted by the Jewish community. At least the first edition of the King James Bible included the apocryphal works. Some newer Protestant translations, beginning in the 19th century, have restored these books.
       Christians are in agreement on the canon of the New Testament that has been in common usage by the Catholic Church since the end of the 4th century.

       The Deuterocanonical books are as follows:

1. Tobit
2. Judith
3. Wisdom
4. Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus)
5. Baruch
6. 1 & 2 Maccabees
7. Esther, last 6 chapters
8. Daniel 3:24-90; 13; 14.

        In the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his whole army advanced against Jerusalem, encamped around it, and built siege walls on every side. The siege of the city continued until the eleventh year of Zedekiah. On the ninth day of the fourth month, when famine had gripped the city, and the people had no more bread, the city walls were breached. Then the king and all the soldiers left the city by night through the gate between the two walls which was near the king's garden. Since the Chaldeans had the city surrounded, they went in the direction of the Arabah. But the Chaldean army pursued the king and overtook him in the desert near Jericho, abandoned by his whole army.

        The king was therefore arrested and brought to Riblah to the king of Babylon, who pronounced sentence on him. He had Zedekiah's sons slain before his eyes. Then he blinded Zedekiah, bound him with fetters, and had him brought to Babylon. [2 Kings 25:1-7]

       "Thus the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, what is the meaning of this proverb that you recite in the land of Israel:

"Fathers have eaten green grapes,
thus their children's teeth are on edge"?

        "As I live, says the Lord GOD: I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you who will repeat this proverb in Israel. For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die.
       If a man is virtuous – if he does what is right and just, if he does not eat on the mountains {partake of ritual meals at the heathen high places}, nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile his neighbor's wife, nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period; if he oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked; if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from evildoing, judges fairly between a man and his opponent; if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is virtuous – he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD.
       But if he begets a son who is a thief, a murderer, or who does any of these things (though the father does none of them), a son who eats on the mountains, defiles the wife of his neighbor, oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not give back a pledge, raises his eyes to idols, does abominable things, lends at interest and exacts usury – this son certainly shall not live. Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely die; his death shall be his own fault.
       On the other hand, if a man begets a son who, seeing all the sins his father commits, yet fears and does not imitate him; a son who does not eat on the mountains, or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor's wife; who does not oppress anyone, or exact a pledge, or commit robbery; who gives his food to the hungry and clothes the naked; who holds off from evildoing, accepts no interest or usury, but keeps my ordinances and lives by my statutes – this one shall not die for the sins of his father, but shall surely live. Only the father, since he violated rights, and robbed, and did what was not good among his people, shall in truth die for his sins. You ask: "Why is not the son charged with the guilt of his father?" Because the son has done what is right and just, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. Only the one who sins shall die. The son shall not be charged with the guilt of his father, nor shall the father be charged with the guilt of his son. The virtuous man's virtue shall be his own, as the wicked man's wickedness shall be his own.
       But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?
       And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die. You say, "The LORD'S way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When a virtuous man turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if a wicked man, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. And yet the house of Israel says, "The LORD'S way is not fair!" Is it my way that is not fair, house of Israel, or rather, is it not that your ways are not fair?
       Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Turn and be converted from all your crimes, that they may be no cause of guilt for you. Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord GOD. Return and live!" [Eze. 18:1-32]

       In relation to this life the reality is different. A child will commonly suffer or be penalized for the sins (wrongful acts) of either or both parents. The consequences or effects of a parents sins can be extremely great in regard to a child and be the cause of much pain and suffering in this life. Children may well go hungry, have inadequate clothing and shelter, be abused, suffer socially, become dysfunctional, learn to commit crimes, and learn bad habits and practices. These are all part of the trials and tribulations each and every person must learn to overcome and grow from while in this life.

       While problems in life vary from person to person, everyone does acquire problems of one sort or another that are to be overcome. In this sense no one person, contrary to popular opinion, is better off than any other person. It is through life's problems that one either builds or rejects a spiritual relationship with God. Does one condemn God because of the effects of one's own sins or the sins of those who raised him? Will one live in self-pity? Will we learn to call upon God for help? Will we learn to recognize and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior?

       The acceptance of personal responsibility for sin is something very difficult to learn and to act upon. Most find it easier to make excuses, to lay blame upon another person, or to focus upon some other form of denial. We have all been encouraged to sin and even shown how to sin (though rarely referred to as such). Many have been subjected to some form of abuse, whether mental or physical. Practically speaking, all have received erroneous training or impressions as to what constitutes right and wrong. But, at some point in life we all must take personal responsibility for our own sins or suffer eternal consequences. We must get past the point of denial in regard to personal responsibility for sins committed. There are no exceptions. We have all sinned, but we do not all accept responsibility for our sins and turn to God asking for His forgiveness.

       When you find out you have been wrong for whatever reason you should quickly and humbly seek God's forgiveness. Mary Magdalene was the perfect example of one who sincerely, deeply, heartfeltedly acknowledged her sinfulness seeking forgiveness.

       The best male example of someone who deeply has felt and regretted his own sinfulness would be Saint Peter whose early sins have not been revealed, but his later sins were sins of humanness (having a temporal outlook rather than being focused upon the eternal) and of protective cowardice. Saint Peter must be accepted as a person who readily accepted admonishment and corrected his conduct when shown that he was wrong.

       To be at peace with God one must be sorry for their sins, confess their sins, properly receive forgiveness through absolution by an authentic priest,* and complete the prescribed penance. In order to make a good confession one must accept personal responsibility for sins committed. Excuses, laying blame upon another, and denial of any sort diminishes the worthiness of confession. Denial, blaming someone else, and the making of excuses only serves to demonstrate that one has not yet accepted personal responsibility for sins committed.

*   The authorized presentation of the Word of God (Sacred Scripture) is given only to properly designated men acting under the authority of one who himself has just authority. Man is not free to appoint oneself as preacher nor are the priesthood and the deaconate elective positions. Only those who have been selected and then approved by legitimate authorities (bishops who are successors of the apostles and are not (formal) apostates, heretics, or schismatics) may serve in these positions without being classified as false prophets or teachers. All who accept or take authority unjustly are offensive to God.

       "Paul . . . to Titus, my true child in our common faith: . . . For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters (priests, also referred to in Scripture as elders) in every town, as I directed you," [Titus 1:1-5]

       "So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Ghost and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Ghost, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them." (These seven men were the first deacons of the Church.) [Acts 6:2-6]

       "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves." [Mt. 7:15]

       "There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves." [2 Peter 2:1]

       "So Elijah said to the people, "I am the only surviving prophet of the LORD, and there are four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. . . .
       Then Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal. Let none of them escape!" They were seized, and Elijah had them brought down to the brook Kishon and there he slit their throats." (The 450 men were serving a false god and therefore were false prophets.) [1 Kings 18:22,40]

NOTE:   Among the great difficulties of life is to overcome false teachings received from
               a trusted person in a position of authority such as a priest or other teacher
               believed to be acting in faith.

       We have all heard that ignorance of the law is no excuse. We each have a personal obligation to learn the difference between right and wrong. Accountability under natural law is inherent in each person (according to individual capacity). The wrongness of theft, cruelty, murder (including all forms of killing following fertilization of a human egg), sodomy (includes rejection of childbearing), perjury, wrongful desire, injury of self or another, and other evils are all knowable through natural law.

       One is not accountable for gifts or abilities he does not possess (has not been given). One is always accountable in regard to his desire for truth. Everyone is to be open minded and receptive to truth. Denial in regard to truth is highly offensive to God. No one is accountable for gifts they have not received from God, or, for opportunities not made available to them. But, everyone must remain open and receptive to opportunities that might become available.

       There are three basic requirements in regard to accountability for sins which have been committed to be classified as mortal (deadly to one's spirit):

1. Grievous matter — (this includes knowledge of truth – denial of truth or failure to seek truth is in itself sin)
        "When someone believes in the heart that something is sin, then it is sin." [1Cor 8:1-13]
2. Sufficient reflection — (one must know – or come to know – either before or after the fact that an act or omission is offensive to God. Once this realization becomes apparent – even if many years later – one must confess the act and make appropriate restitution.)
3. Full consent of the will — (one is not guilty of sin if literally forced to perform an act offensive to God, that is, one has no way of opting out of the act – in some circumstances this may include accepting death. Coercion or threat of violence, depending upon seriousness of the matter, may lessen the degree of guilt but generally some degree of guilt remains. Sinning because one has been cajoled or encouraged to sin does not lessen personal responsibility. If one is living in faith hormonal factors will not prevail. If one is not living in faith then they are already in sin.)

       Confession then is an acknowledgment of personal responsibility for sin. In the making of a good confession one accepts personal responsibility for sins committed without blaming others, without excuses, without any degree of denial. A valid confession may exist if one is making the effort to improve, but is having trouble with full acceptance of responsibility.

       Problems and relationships give each one of us an opportunity to know, love, and serve God in this life in order to be with Him in the next. When one focuses on happiness in this life and does not come to recognize the value of an eternal relationship with God –and dies with that mind set– everything that seemingly was gained will be loss.

       "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. (But) these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!" [Mt. 23:23-24]

        ""Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets' blood.' Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;" [Mt. 23:27-31]

       Jesus said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have come to call sinners, not the self-righteous." [Mk. 2:17]

"Many are invited, but few are chosen." [Mt. 22:14]
       This passage relates to the invitation to the many to attend the great feast in Heaven. The first calling was to those who were invited but refused to come (this invitation was addressed to those with knowledge of the one true God). A second calling was issued to the same people. Some were too interested in the affairs of the world and walked away from the words of knowledge that contained the invitation. The rest became angry and acted with malice because the messages of God disturbed their mind set. These are quickly destroyed. The third calling went out to those who had not been originally invited but had an open mind in regard to conversion. However, anyone who attempted to come to the feast without first purifying himself of sin is immediately publicly embarrassed and rejected. See also following explanation.

• Those who never went beyond a verbal interest in salvation (not actually interested in learning and doing what was necessary to build a relationship with God) are not numbered among those who are invited.
• Those who were invited but not chosen are the ones who heard the word of God but allowed Satan to snatch it away; or believed only for a time and then fell away during a time of trial; or were choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life; or did not do good works. (See: Mt. 13:3-23; Mk. 4:3-20; Lk. 8:5-15)
• The chosen few are those who came to sincerely desire a relationship with God and did what was necessary, in faith witnessed by good deeds, to build and keep true love of God in their minds and hearts.

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." [Mt. 7:13-14]

       Those who focus their love on the things of this world lose the perspective necessary to seek the things that give eternal reward. Whoever recognizes the imperfections of this life and accepts eternal values comes to hate the sins common to this life and makes preparation for the next life through repentance and good deeds.

The  Three  D's  of  DENIAL

Direct denial — direct - stemming immediately from a source; having no compromising or impairing element; proceeding by the shortest way; from the source without interruption or diversion; without intervening agency or step.

Defensive denial — defensive - serving to defend or protect; devoted to resisting or preventing aggression or attack. — defend - to drive danger or attack away from; to maintain in the face of argument or hostile criticism. DEFEND denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

Diversionary denial — Diversion - the act or an instance of diverting from a course, activity, or use: DEVIATION. An attack or feint that draws the attention and force of an enemy from the point of the principal operation. – Diversionary - tending to draw attention away from the principal concern: being a diversion. – Diversionist - one engaged in diversionary activities. – Divert - to turn from one course or use to another: DEFLECT, DISTRACT.

---

The following also have association with Denial:

1. Defiance - the act or instance of defying: Challenge.
   1. Disposition to resist: willingness to contend or fight - in defiance of.
   2. Defy - to confront with assured power of resistance; to resist attempts at.
2. Deflect - to turn aside, DEVIATE.
3. Deft - marked by facility and skill.
4. Defuse - to make less harmful potent or tense.

Spiritual Denial - withholding or closing some part of your mind and/or heart from God. Spiritual relationships are to be more important than human relationships.

1. Conservatives – those who believe that the whole truth and nothing but the truth was contained in what they had been taught by instructors during their formative years. They believe whatever they learned from their teachers whether it was fact, personal opinion, or error that had been commonly accepted for various periods of time, even centuries. They tend to accept the content of what they had been taught as being unchangeable and irrefutable truths. Conservatives are often narrowly focused and have difficulty in accepting theological growth. As with the other groups they have little concept of a hierarchical order of truth and its relevance to Church leadership. This group has a degree of similarity to the Pharisees of Jesus' era. Many in this group treat the person filling the office of pope as an infallible being.

2. Traditionalists – this group believes that the truths existing at some historical point in time is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Commonly these people are focused upon pre Vatican II worship and theology. As a whole they have closed their minds to the development of theology. This group could be likened to the Sadducees of Jesus' time. This group tends to narrowly focus upon particular teachings of past popes regarding disciplinary matters as though they could not be changed at some future time.

3. Liberals – those who believe only in the selected teachings of the Church that they find personally acceptable. Other Church teachings are categorized as controversial and therefore are not required to be accepted as a matter of faith. Liberals will often quote out of context passages from Scripture and other Church documents. They make their own definitions from these quotes and with the passage of time treat them as doctrines of faith. It must be noted that many liberals are reacting to the erroneous beliefs promoted by conservatives or traditionalists. Like many of those now referred to as Protestants, they have failed to distinguish between actual doctrine and erroneously accepted opinions or abuses of some of those with higher authority in the Church. This group tends to throw out the baby with the bath water, that is, they have not accepted a structure of faith for their guidelines and consequently often get rid of sound doctrine along with unsound practices and beliefs. The members of this group are the primary developers of heresies. In effect the members of this group are heretics living hypocritically under the umbrella of the Church. They retain their position because those in authority are either fearful of a formal schism or are themselves members of this or the next category. This group can be considered as being actively cold to the real meanings contained in the Word of God.

4. Middle-of-the-Roaders – this group believes what they want to believe. They will accept that what anyone else wants to believe is okay so long as they are not disturbed regarding their own personal beliefs or practices. This group is indifferent to truth and to concepts related to truth. Some are feel-good social workers that believe they are serving mankind. However, because they fail to give priority to love of God and are indifferent to His teachings they serve as minions of Satan and lead many astray. Without a sound faith perspective they will quickly submit to being marked with the sign of the beast. These are the first mentioned for destruction. These are the ones who are neither hot nor cold.

          "But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death." [Rev. 21:8]

          "I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." [Rev. 3:15-16]

5. Catholics – these are the ones who believe in the teachings of God and His Church and understand that authentic teachings on faith and morals are not reversible. This group accepts rational growth concerning the Word of God and keeps an open mind to development of faith principles and practices. They put into practice the teachings of God and His Church and recognize that good deeds serve the Kingdom and are necessary for salvation. Due to lack of training in the systematics of truth and practice this group lacks the cohesiveness that is necessary to effectively oppose the evils within the Church.
          Catholics are people of faith who truly love God and are sensitive to His will apart from written law. They act with justice and mercy because it is the right thing to do. Catholics have an instinct for right and wrong that keeps them from acting offensively during periods of time when solid leadership in faith is lacking. This group does not deny their sinful nature and quickly accepts their sins for what they are –offenses against God and man. Desiring not to remain in sin longer than necessary they do not delay going to confession to receive God's forgiveness imparted through the successors of the apostles (His ordained priests).

       It is probable that not many people fall fully into only one group. Most will have some degree of attachment to two or more groups. Even those who fall mostly into the Middle of the Road group have an opportunity for salvation. The axiom is, "while there is life there is hope." God is always willing to forgive those who honestly seek His mercy and are willing to change their ways. The obstinate, the stiff-necked, the obdurate, those who have hardened their hearts against Him (against truth) do not obtain mercy when they pass from this life into the next.

       So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." [Jn. 18:37]

       Jesus came into the world to bring truth, but most people are like Pilate who said, "What is truth?"

       Jesus did not come into the world to suffer and die on the cross but to bring truths which would be a positive calling to repentance. By Jesus' suffering and dying no one freely was to receive forgiveness of their sins. Only the consequence of the sin of Adam (eternal separation of the entire human race from God) was forgiven. However, without the shedding of Jesus' blood no sins would ever be forgiven to the extent that one would have entry into the eternal bliss of Heaven. NOTE: Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, and others had imperfect peace and happiness even though they were excluded from Heaven until Jesus' death, His teaching in the land of the dead, His resurrection, and His entry into Heaven on the day of His resurrection. All of those whose names had already been written in the book of life accepted the teachings of Jesus and then followed Him into Heaven as the First Fruits of the harvest. Jesus had been proven worthy to open the gates of Heaven for those who had proven themselves in this life and could benefit from His salvific act.

       All must do the works or deeds that have been assigned in order to have entry into Heaven. NOTE: God does not give advance notice as to which good deed will be presented to establish one as having a special spiritual relationship with God. The desire to do good deeds and the practice of doing them prepares one to do the unusual good deed.

"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
    against the man who is my associate,
    says the LORD of hosts.

Strike the shepherd
    that the sheep may be dispersed,
    and I will turn my hand against the little ones.


In all the land, says the LORD,
    two thirds of them shall be cut off and perish,
    and one third shall be left. *


I will bring the one third through fire,
    and I will refine them as silver is refined,
    and I will test them as gold is tested.
    They shall call upon my name, and I will hear them.


I will say, "They are my people,"
    and they shall say, "The LORD is my God"."


[Zech. 13:7-9 ]

* NOTE:        In agreement with less specific statements made by Jesus in the Gospels, this passage indicates that only one-third of the human race from the beginning of time to the end of time will be accepted into Heaven (During any given time period the figure can be much higher or much lower). Why? Most people do not make a meaningful effort to serve God according to His will! Many falsely believe that entry into Heaven is gratuitous, or, that by making a public profession of repentance, or of faith, salvation is guaranteed. Such beliefs are either false or Jesus established a meaningless form for forgiveness of sins in John 20:23. Most who do finally get into Heaven do so by first being cleansed from their tendency toward sin in Purgatory. Only those who are perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect (fully focused on eternal spiritual values, that is, without any degree of humanistic preference) are found worthy for entry into God's Kingdom.

• . . .once freed from sin you tend toward {eternal life is not guaranteed} eternal life." [Rm. 6.22]
• . . .for in hope {eternal spiritual desires} we were saved." [Rm. 8.24]
• . . .purify your hearts, you backsliders {those returning to sin after being purified}." [Jas. 4.8]
• . . .states, that vain is the belief of those who go against the word of God." [1 Cor. 15:2]
• . . .states, "If we say, "We have fellowship with `Jesus'," while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth." [1 Jn. 1:6]
• "If anyone loves sensual lust, enticements of the eyes, or a pretentious life, the love of God the Father is not in him. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever." [1 Jn. 2:15-17]
• . . .says, "No one begotten by God commits sin", and "that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him." [1 Jn. 3:9 & 15]

       There is nothing to assure anyone of salvation except true faith in Jesus our Savior. – Faith refers to a knowledgeable, meaningful, and practicing love of God that includes adherence to God's commands. Faith is not just an expression or feeling of belief. – It must be a faith that exists at the time of death. A living faith, known through good deeds accomplished over a period of time.  NOTE: Good deeds may take place before and/or after a knowledgeable faith exists.

       Suffering in Hell can be explained as the permanent living in a material sensate body that cannot be diminished by unceasing fire; Of being in severe pain that does not allow the natural protection of falling into unconsciousness; Of being in a state of existence in which neither the soul nor the spirit would be capable of separating from a suffering body living in eternal anguish and pain. The reason for this horrendous suffering, while existing in extreme confinement, is so that the spirit, being indestructible and eternal, will forever be prevented from causing disruption to the happiness of those who have proven themselves faithful to God.
       The realization that one is about to be burned to death, stoned to death, or otherwise executed should draw one to repentance if they have any potential for true belief in God. Such suffering should be seen as far better than being allowed to die comfortably and then spending eternity in Hell.  Public temporal punishment, according to Testimony in the word of God, has a parallel goal of deterring others from committing similar crimes.

• And all the people, on hearing of it, shall fear, and never again be so insolent. [Dt. 17:13]
• The rest, on hearing of it, shall fear, and never again do a thing so evil among you. [Dt. 19:20]
• Then all his fellow citizens shall stone him to death. Thus shall you purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel, on hearing of it, shall fear. [Dt. 21:21]
• . . . lashes and discipline are at all times wisdom. [Sir.{A.K.A.: Ecclesiasticus} 22:6]
• He who would find God must accept discipline; [Sir.{A.K.A.: Ecclesiasticus} 32:14]
• They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." [Mt. 21:41; Mk. 12:9; Lk. 20:16]
• "If I (St. Paul) have committed a crime or done anything deserving death, I do not seek to escape the death penalty;" [Acts 25:11]
• Although they know the just decree of God that all who practice such things deserve death, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. [Rm. 1:32]
• Anyone who rejects the law of Moses is put to death without pity on the testimony of two or three witnesses. [Heb. 10:28]
• "Reprimand publicly those who do sin, so that the rest also will be afraid." [1 Tim. 5:20]
• Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards. Besides this, we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not (then) submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live? [Heb. 12:7-9]
• I will also put her children to death. Thus shall all the churches come to know that I am the searcher of hearts and minds and that I will give each of you what your works deserve. [Rev. 2:23]

       "Then he called to the man dressed in linen with the writer's case at his waist, saying to him: Pass through the city (through Jerusalem) and mark an X on the foreheads of those who moan and groan over all the abominations that are practiced within it. To the others I heard him say: Pass through the city after him and strike! Do not look on them with pity nor show any mercy! Old men, youths and maidens, women and children – wipe them out! But do not touch any marked with the X; begin at my sanctuary. So they began with the men (the elders {priests}) who were in front of the temple." [Eze. 9:3-6]

       "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the kingdom of heaven before human beings. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter." [Mt. 23:13]

       Then Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind." [Jn. 9:39]

       "I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will." [Lk. 10:21]

Holy Eucharist is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord Jesus. He is whole and entire.
        He is in each part of a broken consecrated host. Jesus has the capacity to be in unlimited
        locations at one time and not be diminished in any way. [Council of Trent – 13th Session, Can. 3]
        (See:  Appendix A)

       "Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over – twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children." [Mt. 14:19-21]

       When I summon him he shall approach me. ... [Jer. 30:21]

       A Catholic is summoned to the presence of the Lord when in the state of sanctifying grace. He may not otherwise approach the Lord without deadly risk.

"Just as weeds are collected and burned (up) with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who
cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where
there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the
kingdom of their Father.   Whoever has ears ought to hear."   [Mt. 13:40-43]

       When making a confession do not expect the priest to be surprised at the sins confessed. Many penitents before you have already confessed these same sins, and some of them he may have committed himself. A priest may seem disinterested or even bored when hearing your confession. While this at times may be true, at least to some extent, you should keep in mind that he is there because he has made a commitment to the Lord, and that his own salvation could depend upon how well he does his job in the confessional.

       A penitent always has the option of anonymity – to not be seen by the priest. A penitent needs never identify himself and should never identify any accomplice in sin. It is useful if the penitent states his age, state of life, and details that help the priest act as proper judge and healer. He is required to state how long it has been since his last confession to the best of his recollection. If the penitent has problems of any sort in making a confession, he should state his concerns to the priest, who will be understanding. Pertinent (relevant) questions may be asked of the confessor regarding matters of faith and morals and his advice may be sought.

       It is obligatory to confess all unforgiven mortal sins sufficiently clear by kind to be understood for what they are, and, at least approximately by number. Information which changes the character or gravity of a sin confessed must also be stated. If there is no mortal sin(s) to be confessed, a venial sin or a serious sin from earlier in one's life is sufficient matter for confession.

Understanding Purgatory

       A reasonably sincere confession with absolution removes the evidence of sin. The eternal consequence of sin –permanent separation from God– is removed by the act Jesus made on Calvary. However, that which remains –the tendency toward sin– must also be removed before one is permitted to enter into Heaven. The imperfection which remains –weakness of faith and the tendency toward sin– is the reason for Purgatory (a place of cleansing for the mind and heart). It is improbable that most will sufficiently act to entirely remove this tendency (imperfection) prior to death.

       Without Purgatory –a place of cleansing from attachment to sin; a learning process for gaining wisdom not acquired in this life– very few would ever be qualified to be received into Heaven. Because of human stubbornness the fires of Purgatory have to be educationally hot, otherwise final judgement would –due to common human obstinacy even in the fires of Purgatory– have to be pushed off almost permanently into the future. Those who die closer to the end time will correspondingly suffer hotter fires and an increase in other sufferings to adjust for the shorter duration of time available for corrective education. One must have perfect love of God –totally free from the tendency toward sin– before being permitted into Heaven. There are no exceptions; no free rides into Heaven.

       The time one spends in Purgatory can be shortened, by those still living on earth, through expressions of love conveyed through Masses said for them, good deeds, sacrifices, acts of reparation and mortification, and prayers unselfishly offered for their benefit. According to the sincerity of the offerer, the recipient in Purgatory receives a proportionate learning experience by which he can gauge and adjust his own faulty value systems and increase his own love of God.

13 May 1917, Fatima, Portugal

       During a conversation between Lucia Abóbora (dos Santos) –the oldest of the three children of Fatima, born 22 March 1907 and still living– and Our Lady of Fatima, Lucia had asked if a deceased friend, Amelia, was in Heaven. The Blessed Mother responded, "She will be in Purgatory until the end of the world."
       It is believed that this girl, about 16 years of age, had become involved with sins of fleshly desire. On a later date the three children were given a vision in which countless numbers of people were endlessly falling into Hell. Many years later Lucia said she believed that most people go to Hell because of sins of the flesh.

       Masses, personal sacrifices, and prayers offered for the benefit of the poor souls in Purgatory are very effective as it helps them to understand and reject their own tendency for self-absorption.*  Great numbers of offerings are of less immediate value than personally involved offerings that reveal to the poor souls the unselfish depth of love someone is willing to share with them.

*       Being self-absorbed is different from being self-centered. It is being so focused on one's own life, own surroundings, and own activities that one becomes contained in a circular existence that sets aside both the spiritual and temporal worlds. Self-contained people are of little real value to this life or the next. Such an existence can only be broken away from by recognizing the shallowness of such an existence and then turning to God for the true meaning of life.  NOTE:  An otherwise good person can be self-absorbed, whereas one who is egocentric or self-centered is not basically a good person.

       The time spent in Purgatory is a period of cleansing during which a process of learning is undertaken that eventually brings about a change of mind and heart. The process is speeded up by sincere and unselfish offerings. As with all good works there can be seen a potential reciprocal response/reward. It is very likely that one who has obtained an early release from the sufferings of Purgatory will in turn strongly petition God for your needs in this life and for your early release from Purgatory should the occasion arise.

       The above passage indicates that saints in the lowest rank of those in Heaven have direct access to, and the full attention of God. While God is fully aware of everyone who is still here on earth, even John the Baptist - the holiest natural person ever to have existed (Jesus and the Blessed Mother were apart from the natural order in that they were conceived without original sin), is not capable of directly conversing with God. The happiness that each perfected person in Heaven brings the Holy Trinity is so far superior to that received from the holiness of the best person in this life that a realistic comparison cannot be made.

The Great Commandment

Jesus replied, "The first is this: 'Hear, O Israel (people of faith)!
The Lord our God is Lord alone! [Mk. 12:29-31]

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this:

'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment
greater than these."

       Many abuse the phrase, "God is Love," and apply the meaning – "God's love is so great that He would never send anyone to Hell, that is, eternal suffering." Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus has already given meaning to the term "love." God demonstrated the concept of love by His willingness to share His existence by giving us life from Himself. He then demonstrated the depth of His love by having His only Son die on a cross that we might individually regain the opportunity, lost by Adam, to be personally present with Him in eternal life (perfect happiness). He asks in return –with full right to demand– that we give Him total love.

       The concept of love first requires an understanding of the Great Commandment. Any reference to love must take this great commandment into consideration, or an invalid understanding of love is present. Those in denial who refer to the great love and the unlimited mercy of God fail to understand the great commandment and the grave consequences for not adhering to its terms.

       While developing a true love of God one acquires a realistic and proper love of self. One must then learn to accept that God has true love for others with the same intensity that He has for oneself. With the acceptance of shared love one must then be willing to demonstrate a shared love with others by making sincere efforts not only to avoid injury to a neighbor –any person that one might be in contact with– but also by reasonably treating a neighbor as one would want, in time of need (however small), to be treated.

       "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." [1 Cor. 13:4-7]

       Human "thank you's" for the things we do in life should not be necessary and should not be desired if we hope to get full benefit from the good things we do. Humanistically, "thank you's" are understood to be humanly appreciated and when dealing with those who are still humanistic they are often a good idea.
       If everything we are doing in life is for the good of the Kingdom, our reward is eternal life and that is all the thanks we will need, and, is even more than we could possibly desire. The "thank you's" that are necessary is to thank Jesus for giving us the opportunity for being with Him in Heaven and thank God the Father for giving us life and whatever ability we have that serves to offer us the opportunity for obtaining eternal life. We must always make best use of the inspirations and knowledge given us by the Holy Ghost who also is greatly deserving of our thanks.

Understanding Charity

       An act of charity can take place with or without being an act of love. Charity is the giving of food, clothing, time, energy, or finances to someone in need. To be spiritually meritorious charity must be given unselfishly. There is no desire for temporal recognition in a charitable act given in love.

       For many charity is no more than a social event, albeit for a good cause. Other acts of charity are done for political purposes. Such acts are of no eternal value if they were not done in real love (one's reward is received here on earth).

       The Golden Rule: "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you." [Mt. 7:12 & Lk. 6:31]  A corollary to this rule is: "Pay attention to and serve God as you would have Him pay attention to and serve you."

       Always keep in mind that God has full power. We are given but an infinitesimal fraction of that power for momentary use in this life. However, those received into Heaven will have an unlimited use of power. This power will first be used to give glory to God and then be used to bring every saint perfect happiness. Those sentenced to Hell will only have a limited use of power. This limited power might be used on others in Hell in a repetitious but ever expanding cycle of mutual hatred and torment — hoping to find temporary distraction from their never-ending suffering. Existence, in both Heaven and Hell, is eternal.

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If you believe in the teachings of Sacred Scripture as being truth,
then continue reading. If you do not accept the Bible as authoritative
then do not bother reading further as you are without faith.
No one has the authority to change or reverse God's Holy Word!

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        In our present age there is a tremendous focus on the statement, "God is love." There are only two passages that make this statement in the whole of Sacred Scripture. [1 Jn. 4:8,16]  Both of these passages are found in close proximity in the same book of the Bible. God is Love, means that God is the source of love and is loving – but, disobedience brings hate and wrath. NOTE: Mankind does not need to be told many times what it wants to believe anyway. What needs to be strongly reinforced is what men do not want to believe.

       While it is certain that God does love –this is the reason Jesus died on the cross– it is equally certain that God not only loves, but that He also Hates.

• Some synonyms for hate (to detest) are:  venom, rancor, revenge, malignity, abomination, abhorrence, animosity, abhor, execrate, scorn, despise, look at with loathing, spit upon, anathematize, curse, swear eternal enmity, dislike intensely, shudder at, have enough of, be repelled by, feel repulsion for, have no use for, object to, bear malice, bear a grudge against, spurn, shrink or recoil from, disparage, shun, nauseate, tread or trample underfoot, denounce, resent, curse, be sick or tired of, reject, revolt against, hold cheap, deride, have no taste or stomach for, disfavor, look down upon, feel malice toward, be malevolent, hold in contempt, be disgusted with, view with horror, owe a grudge to.

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Is the Lord open to forgiving everyone?

       (Jesus) answered them, "The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that 'they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.' " [Mark 4:11-12]

       Not only those who directly blaspheme the Holy Ghost, but also others are not to be considered worthy of forgiveness due to the gravity of their offenses. Those who knowingly commit grave evils after receiving instruction in truth are accountable to the Lord.

• "But whoever blasphemes against the holy Ghost will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin." [Mark 3:29]

Does God hate?

       Many passages in the New Testament talk of God sending certain classes of people to Hell. God would never send anyone He loved to Hell. When one has ultimately rejected God's love, God stops loving them and places them where they can be of no disturbance to those who have completed their process of acceptance of His love, that is, those who have reached eternal life.

       It should be obvious that God hates evil together with those who have deliberately chosen evil. If one believes that God has not and will not ever send a human being to Hell, then such person is a heretic and is under the penalty of automatic excommunication.

"Many are invited, but few are chosen." [Mt. 22:14]

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." [Mt. 7:13-14]

       Since Jesus made it clear in the Gospels that over half of the population will go to Hell, then it must be acknowledged that God hates at least 50% of those who die (everyone will die). It should also be obvious that the fallen angels lost God's love and became hated by God who then took vengeance against them. COMMENT: If you have read this far and are asking yourself, "Where is the Biblical proof for the statement that over 50% do not enter Heaven," then you have missed the significance of the two preceding "quoted" passages from the Gospel of Saint Matthew. (Many read the Word of God without making an effort to understand what is being said. Jesus often did not speak plainly so that those not worthy of salvation would not have understanding of His messages and be saved.) One also might reflect upon Zechariah 13:8-9.

       "Learn then that I, I alone, am God, and there is no God besides me. It is I who bring both death and life, I who inflict wounds and heal them, and from my hand there is no rescue. "To the heavens I raise my hand and swear: As surely as I live forever, I will sharpen my flashing sword, and my hand shall lay hold of my quiver. "With vengeance I will repay my foes and requite those who hate me." " [Dt. 32:39-41]

       "Honesty is lacking, and the man who turns from evil is despoiled. The LORD saw this, and was aggrieved that right did not exist. He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was none to intervene; So his own arm brought about the victory, and his justice lent him its support. He put on justice as his breastplate, salvation, as the helmet on his head; He clothed himself with garments of vengeance, wrapped himself in a mantle of zeal." [Is. 59:15-17]

Sacred Scripture on God's Hatred

        "You are not a god who delights in evil; no wicked person finds refuge with you; the arrogant cannot stand before you. You [God] hate all who do evil;" [Ps. 5:4-5]

        "Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful God. You hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD." [Ps. 31:5-6]

        "Your throne, O God, stands forever; your royal scepter is a scepter for justice. You love justice and hate wrongdoing; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellow kings. [Ps. 45:6-7]

        "For I hate divorce, says the LORD, the God of Israel, And covering one's garment with injustice, says the LORD of hosts; You must then safeguard life that is your own, and not break faith." [Mal. 2:16]

N.T.     "Your throne, O God, stands forever and ever; and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. You {Jesus} loved justice and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions"; [Heb. 1:8-9]

N.T.     "But you have this in your favor: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I {Jesus} also hate. " ' "Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Ghost says to the churches. To the victor I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the garden of God." ' [Rv. 2:6-7]

        "As long as the Israelites did not sin in the sight of their God, they prospered, for their God, who hates wickedness, was with them. But when they deviated from the way he prescribed for them, they were ground down steadily, more and more, by frequent wars, and finally taken as captives into foreign lands. The temple of their God was razed to the ground, and their cities were occupied by their enemies." [Judith 5:17-18]

        "Abominable wickedness the LORD hates, he does not let it befall those who fear him. When God, in the beginning, created man, he made him subject to his own free choice." [Sir.{A.K.A.: Ecclesiasticus} 15:13-14]

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        It is because God's love can and often does turn to hate that He is to be feared. It is prudent to fear (have great respect for) the power of God.

N.T.     "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I (Jesus) hold the keys to death and the netherworld." [Rv. 1:17-18]

Sacred Scripture on Vengeance

       "Then the just shall rejoice to see the vengeance and bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked." [Ps. 58:10] Then it will be said: "Truly there is a reward for the just; there is a God who is judge on earth!" [Ps. 58:11-12]

       "But this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, vengeance on his foes! — The sword devours, is sated, drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts holds a slaughter feast" [Jer. 46:10]

       "My vengeance upon Edom I will entrust to my people Israel, who will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger and my fury; thus they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord GOD." [Eze. 25:14]

       "A jealous and avenging God is the LORD, an avenger is the LORD, and angry; The LORD brings vengeance on his adversaries, and lays up wrath for his enemies;" [Nahum 1:2]

N.T.    "Do you not think that a much worse punishment is due the one who has contempt for the Son of God {how many there are who show contempt for Jesus by receiving Him in the Holy Eucharist with unconfessed sins}, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated {many reject the teaching of the Bible and the Church about the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and are under condemnation}, and insults the Ghost of grace? We know the one who said: "vengeance is mine; I will repay," and again: "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." [Heb. 10:29-31]

       "God indeed will not delay, and like a warrior, will not be still Till he breaks the backs of the merciless and wreaks vengeance upon the proud; Till he destroys the haughty root and branch, and smashes the scepter of the wicked;" [Sir. 35:22-23]

N.T.    "Then (Jesus) said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored." [Mk. 3:4-5]

Sacred Scripture on Wrath

N.T.    "He said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones." [Lk. 3:7-8]

N.T.    "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him." [Jn 3:36]

N.T.    "The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them." [Rm. 1:18-19]

N.T.    "Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance? By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God," [Rm. 2:4-5]

N.T.    "God must be true, though every human being is a liar, as it is written: "That you may be justified in your words, and conquer when you are judged." But if our wickedness provides proof of God's righteousness, what can we say? Is God unjust, humanly speaking, to inflict his wrath? Of course not! For how else is God to judge the world?" [Rm. 3:4-6]

N.T.    "What if God, wishing to show his wrath and make known his power, has endured with much patience the vessels of wrath made for destruction?" [Rm. 9:22]

N.T.    "But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer. Therefore, it is necessary to be subject not only because of the wrath but also because of conscience." [Rm. 13:4-5]

N.T.    "All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us," [Eph. 2:3-4]

N.T.    "Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
       Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient." [Eph. 5:5-6]

N.T.    "Because of these the wrath of God is coming (upon the disobedient)." [Col. 3:6]

N.T.    "As I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest." ' "Take care, brothers, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God." [Heb. 3:11-12]

N.T.    "Out of his mouth came a sharp sword to strike the nations. He (Jesus)will rule them with an iron rod, and he himself will tread out in the wine press the wine of the fury and wrath of God the almighty." [Rev. 19:15]

       "You have brought your wrath and anger down upon us, as you had warned us through your servants the prophets:" [Bar. 2:20]

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       "So Moses told the people, "Select men from your midst and arm them for war, to attack the Midianites and execute the LORD'S vengeance on them." [Nm. 31:3]

       "Now, therefore, says the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah! I will take vengeance on my foes and fully repay my enemies!" [Is. 1:24]

       "A jealous and avenging God is the LORD, an avenger is the LORD, and angry; The LORD brings vengeance on his adversaries, and lays up wrath for his enemies;" [Nahum 1:2]

N.T.    "We know the one who said: "vengeance is mine; I will repay," and again: "The Lord will judge his people." [Heb. 10:30]

       "Delay not your conversion to the LORD, put it not off from day to day; For suddenly his wrath flames forth; at the time of vengeance, you will be destroyed." [Sir. 5:7]

       "The Most High himself hates sinners, and upon the wicked he takes vengeance." [Sir. 12:7]

       "Think of wrath and the day of death, the time of vengeance when he will hide his face." [Sir. 18:24]

       "Mockery and abuse will be the lot of the proud, and vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion." [Sir. 27:28]

       "The vengeful will suffer the LORD'S vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail." [Sir. 28:1]

       "wreaks vengeance upon the proud; Till he destroys the haughty root and branch, and smashes the scepter of the wicked;" [Sir. 35:23]

       "You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance, and a prophet as your successor." [Sir. 48:8]

Questions to ask oneself

1. Does God set good example or bad example?
2. When instructing us does God always tell the truth?
3. Did God make up stories that were not focused upon reality?
4. Is not the intent of the Word of God to give lessons in faith and morals?
5. Why would God teach about salvation if there are no consequences for sin?
6. Does God expect us to follow His example?
7. Can God love evil or those who willingly become evil and do not repent?

       While it is clear that God the Trinity intended to give those They created [Gn. 1:26] every opportunity to do what is right and just – and that They did everything in Their power to avert us from doing wrong, and that by Jesus' personal witness They desired to encourage people to turn from evil – it should also be clear that those who reject Their forbearance (patient restraint) are deserving of nothing but Their eternal hatred and wrath.

       Just as there is a point in time that God no longer loves –no longer has forbearance– but hates, so it is expected that there be a point in time in which His followers will cease being forbearing and act in accordance with the dictates of justice as guided by the Word of God. While Jesus did not want the common sinner (inadvertent or humanly weak sinner) to be uprooted (one that might repent), His eternal Word also made it clear that there are grave evils that must be dealt with quickly.

       "Moses also said to Korah, "Listen to me, you Levites! Is it too little for you that the God of Israel has singled you out from the community of Israel, to have you draw near him for the service of the LORD'S Dwelling and to stand before the community to minister for them? He has allowed you and your kinsmen, the descendants of Levi, to approach him, and yet you now seek the priesthood too. It is therefore against the LORD that you and all your band are conspiring. For what has Aaron done that you should grumble against him?" [Nm. 16:8-11]
       Then, when Korah had assembled all his band against them at the entrance of the meeting tent, the glory of the LORD appeared to the entire community, and the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Stand apart from this band, that I may consume them at once." But they fell prostrate and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will one man's sin make you angry with the whole community?" The LORD answered Moses, "Speak to the community and tell them: Withdraw from the space around the Dwelling" (of Korah, Dathan and Abiram).
       Moses, followed by the elders of Israel,