How Does In God's Love relate to the Catholic Church?

 How does In God's Love 
written by Janet Hurlow
relate to 
the Catholic Faith ?

  Chapter 1 We Believe in Divine Revelation

28           The Catechism states that we can have an awareness of God.  We believe that people can be aware that they participate in the divine being, the first and final cause but we are not the first and final cause. (1)   In God’s Love speaks of this awareness: “A creator fashions His beings and speaks in each one.  Such beings as have never heard of God see Him in a sense that they know He is.” (2)  

29           God is all around us and is here for us to experience, even though God remains unseen like the wind.  “We cannot see the wind, yet we know it is all around us.  God’s Spirit is somewhat like the wind.  We can hear Him.  We can feel His presence.  He is all around us.  We even breathe Him into our spirits, yet we cannot see Him.  Would you deny that the wind and the air we breathe are there because you can neither see them nor reach out and touch them with your fingertips?” (3) 

30           Creation itself inspires us to see God, as the Catechism states, “the beauty of creation reflects the infinite beauty of the Creator and ought to inspire the respect and submission of man's intellect and will.”(4)   Likewise, the authors of In God’s Love beautifully and simply express that “It is God who gave life to everything.  When you look at anything, you are looking at something that should remind you of God.”(5)

31             We all have a desire for God.  The authors of In God’s Love agree wholeheartedly with Augustine’s famous quote of our hearts not resting until they rest in the Lord,(6)  for they state, “God is all that man craves.”(7)   This desire for God comes from God’s wisdom. (8) 

32           St. Anselm would agree with this for he states, “faith seeks understanding.”(9)  Indeed, we not only desire God, but we desire the “things” of God.  “Come, speak to God, the author of truth.  His Spirit is light, life and happiness.  His Spirit is care and knowledge.  All these things, man desires.”(10)  

33           In God’s Love mentions that sometimes our desire for God is misplaced in our passions: “In God’s Spirit is the answer to all things… This craving for riches is a desire for God’s Spirit.  Real is the God who has created man.”(11)   This is an expression that is a little different from some of the phrases about  possessions that we read in the Bible which tell us we are not to worship money.  This quote is more in harmony with Jesus’ encouraging His followers to have a desire for riches, only to make sure this desire is aimed at the true riches, the true treasure of God and His Kingdom a treasure that does not rot or fade.(12)   So too, In God’s Love encourages us to look for this true treasure (13)  and recognizes that we all have the desire for this treasure, but some have misplaced the desire for true riches for earthly riches.  This “gift of desire” comes from God, and in our freewill, we can reject this gift of desire for ourselves and our children.(14) 

34           The Catechism notes that we may have a desire for God, but since our experience of God is limited, our language of God is also limited.(15)   Therefore, what we say about God will always fall short of describing God. (16)  With this being the case, I think we should welcome new ways of expressing the mystery of God that have been revealed to us through the ages and most fully and completely through Christ Jesus, our Lord.  We have experienced God, a God who reveals Himself and guides us. 

35           In God’s Love states that, “God has given rules for each time of such regulations as needed on the Earth.  Adam was sent such orders until these rules were of less value.  Moses was sent such rules in his time.  And Christ brought His Church, blessed and true, in His time.  Blessed saints, such simple lives were seen on Earth.  In this time, Christ’s rules do not change.”(17)  

36           The Catholic Church agrees that Christ’s rules do not change, and furthermore teaches that no new revelation is expected before Judgment Day.(18)  The authors of In God’s Love state that they are not trying to teach a new belief.(19)   Indeed, they state that “Under no circumstances does this message go against this sacred institution.  Saints arrive in God’s Spirit brought in her fold forever.  God speaks to Earth. His message is directed to all Earth through His church.”(20)   To be honest, nowhere in In God’s Love do the authors say that the “church” is the “Catholic Church”.  However, I assert that it is the “church” they are speaking about for the following four reasons: 1. The Church would need to be Christian, because every passage speaks of a Triune God: Father , Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.(21)  2. I do not know of any other Christian denomination that would refer to its structure as a “sacred institution”.  3.  Janet Hurlow is a Roman Catholic.  4. A majority of the passages were written during the time of Pope  Paul VI, and they have this to say: “Your blessed Father, Pope Paul, is God’s righteous leader.  Listen to Him in all ways.  Through Him comes the voice of God.”(22)   So, when they say they do not go against this “sacred institution”, and that God speaks through this “sacred institution”, I believe they have the Catholic Church in mind. 

37           While the Catholic Church holds there will not be any new revelation, it also asserts that we continue to gain new understanding into the revelation that has been completely revealed.(23)   Furthermore, it acknowledges that there are “private” revelations which do not belong in the “deposit of the faith” and “it is not their role to improve or complete Christ’s definitive revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history.”(24)   Indeed, the authors repeatedly insist that this book is being given in “this time” or sometimes this “time of times”.(25)

38           The Catholic Church believes that God has and does reveal Himself through the living word of the Sacred Scriptures.  God is its author,(26)  therefore, “The Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s Body.”(27)   Indeed the Church encourages the continued study of the Bible as “strength for their faith, food for the soul, and a pure and lasting font of spiritual life.”(28)   The authors of In God’s Love also venerate the Bible as they state that the “Book of books is the Bible.  Those who read it learn about how they are supposed to live on the Earth.  No book ever written can substitute for the Bible.”(29)   They say that “In the book of great books, this God is praised in inspiration.”(30)   Furthermore, they state, “Become wise.  Study your Bible.  Take God with sincerity.  This is right and true.”(31)

39           The Church says that our response to God who reveals Himself  is to be one of an “obedience of faith.”(32)   The authors of In God’s Love would agree.  They call people who believe, “wise”: “Spirits of Earth, you have not seen, yet you believe so wisely and in such sacred music.”(33)  With this belief comes obedience, as they simply put it: “Here is the heart of this book.  Turn your hearts to your God.  Love Him and obey His precepts.  Sing out with love and believe that God exists.”(34)

40           In summary, both the Catholic Church and In God’s Love assert that we can, in a limited way, know God, that God has given us the desire to know Him, and that in God rest all of our answers and true treasures.  They share a different expression that has roots in Jesus’ parables of seeking true treasure.  This expression is that our desire for Earthly riches is a misplaced desire for God’s riches. God has revealed Himself  through the ages.  God reveals Himself in the “Book of Books”, the Bible, and in His Sacred Institution, the Church, founded by Christ.  Our response to this revelation of God should be obedience of faith made manifest by following God’s precepts.   This private revelation of In God’s Love to Janet Hurlow has been given for a specific time period and does not pretend or intend to improve or correct anything as revealed by Christ and His Church.  In fact the authors strongly assert that they say nothing that would come into conflict with the sacred institution of the Church, which I believe is the Catholic Church.

  Next section in Part One  Chapter 2  We Believe in One Triune God :  1/12