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Chapter 3 We Believe there 
                   is Evil in the World
                         (continued)

262-264-261 Part 2 Sin

265-279  Part Suffering

265-266  Satan causes suffering
267          Our sin causes
                 suffering

268-269  Our involvement
                 with Satan causes
                 suffering

270-279  Spirit of Sorrow 
                 causes suffering

  Sidenotes

  (64) PR/CH2/P 163
  (65) IGL 108:15-16, 
          201:23, 212:16-19 
          and 248:10-11

  (66) PR/CH2/PP 120-121,
           127, and 159

  (67) IGL 265:10-11, 
          358:8-15, and 369:31-32

  (68) IGL 125:17-18
  (69) CCC 1850
  (70) CCC 1432
  (71) IGL 508:55-58
  (72) IGL 155:58-61
  (73) IGL  271:33-34
  (74) CCC 2854 
Footnote 175 Roman Missal, Embolism after the Lord's Prayer, 126: Libera  nos, quaesumus, Domine, ab omnibus malis, da propitius pacem in diebus nostris, ut, ope misericordiae tuae adiuti, et a peccato simus semper liberi, et ab omni perturbatione securi: expectantes beatam spem et adventum Salvatoris nostri Iesu Christi.

 
(75) IGL 504:10-11
  (76) CCC 309
  (77) IGL 435:10
  (78) IGL 410:20-21
  (79) IGL 435:10-16
  (80) IGL 423:16-20 also see
          PR/CH2/PP 109-111

  (81) IGL 423:25-26
  (82) IGL 87:2,5
  (83) IGL 423:21-24
  (84) IGL 423:31-46 Part of
           this quote has been
           cited in PR/CH/2/P  74
           with footnote 139
            addressing the issue of
           us having dominion 
           over the elements.

  (85) IGL 423:54-60
  (86) See Galatians
           5:19-21 and
           CCC 2116-2117

  (87) IGL 353:16-33
  (88) CCC 376 footnotes
          
252 and 253 

  (89) Above quote and
          see also IGL 221:32

  (90) CCC 1505
  (91) PR/CH2/PP 152-153
  (92) IGL 423:33
  (93) CCC 310
  (94) CCC 1500-1501
  (95) CCC 311 footnote
           177 St. Augustine, 
           Enchiridion II, 3:
           PL 40, 236.

  (96)
CCC 312 footnote 
           178 Gen 45:8, 50:20
           cf Tob 2:12-18 (Vulg)

  (97) CCC 312
  (98) IGL 214:14-19
  (99) CCC 1501
  (100) IGL 317:14-15  --- Of course a  case could be made for singing in other things of God.  In the passages in IGL there are many times when we as humans are singing in wisdom, or virtue, or kindness, or in God’s love, or in God’s peace or joy or in God’s Spirit,,  but rarely to they write that we just sing. 

  (101) PR/CH1/P 39 
           note in footnote 33

  (102) IGL 72:1-3, 8-9
  (103) IGL 476:6-12
  (104) CCC 313 footnote
             St. Catherine of Siena,
            Dialogue on
            Providence, ch IV, 138

  (105) IGL 222:5-15
  (106) PR/CH2/P 123
  (107) IGL 72:10-23

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

  Chapter 3 We Believe there is Evil in the World 
                     (continued) 2/3

           
Part 2 Sin


262           Much of what the messengers write about sin is written indirectly.  As already mentioned,  (64) they write that Jesus died as redemption for sins.(65)   As already mentioned,(66)  they write that God will forgive our sins if we are sorry and ask for forgiveness.(67)   When we sin we essentially put our will above God and God’s will.  While not mentioning the word “sin”, the authors point out the destruction that sin causes: “While mankind put themselves above this wonderful being, they reduce themselves to ashes.”(68)  

263           Sin disrespects and offends God.  The Catechism states, “Sin is an offense against God: ‘against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.’(Psalm 51:4) Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it.”(69)   Furthermore, the Catechism states, “it is in discovering the greatness of God's love that our heart is shaken by the horror and weight of sin and begins to fear offending God by sin and being separated from him.”(70)    The messengers write that “Mankind respects God by refraining from sin, believing in His precepts and loving Him above all things with their whole heart and soul.”(71)   If we phrase this in a vice versa way, mankind disrespects God by sinning.  They state that “God has been so insulted. So cursed are those spirits who insult our Beloved.  So stay with Him.  Show Him your love above all else.”(72)   Furthermore, they write, “Fear the displeasing of God. In all fear, this is the only true fear.”(73) 

264           There is no peace in sin.  The Catechism cites the Roman Missel with the connection we make at every Mass: “Deliver us, Lord, we beseech you, from every evil and grant us peace in our day, so that aided by your mercy we might be ever free from sin and protected from all anxiety, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. <175>”(74)   In writing about true peace, that can only come from God’s Spirit, the messengers note this connection, too: “Peace is God’s Spirit working in the soul of mankind.  It is a freedom from sin and a desire to have God in the soul.”(75)   When we are freed from sin, our soul will be at peace, but when sin dwells in our soul, we cannot know the peace of the Holy Spirit.  Sin denies us God’s peace.

            Part 3 Suffering

265           Why does God allow suffering to exist?  The Catechism states, “If God the Father almighty, the Creator of the ordered and good world, cares for all his creatures, why does evil exist? To this question, as pressing as it is unavoidable and as painful as it is mysterious, no quick answer will suffice. Only Christian faith as a whole constitutes the answer to this question: …There is not a single aspect of the Christian message that is not in part an answer to the question of evil.”(76)   The messengers ask us “Did you ever wonder why this kind, loving God lets things happen?”(77)  and then they proceed in several places to expound on the subject with which our whole faith is concerned and libraries worth of books of human thought have been written. 

266           In our Catholic faith we believe that there is a connection between Satan and suffering.  The authors of In God’s Love want us to understand: “God does not send you sorrow. There is an evil on the Earth that is against God.”(78)   As cited earlier, Jesus calls Satan a murderer. So why is there suffering?  Part of the answer is Satan: “Did you ever wonder why this kind, loving God lets things happen?  God does not let evil happen.  Mankind denies God’s protection and lets evil in.  Beloved ones, evil is powerful and real.  The evil one has power.  Where God is not invited, the evil one moves in.  The evil one makes things happen. This thing has no mercy.”(79)   “When Earth people turn away from God, they are on their own.  The protection of God is lost.  The ‘wrath of God’ is upon the unprotected spirit, if that is what you want to call it.”(80)    The messengers make it clear that suffering exists because we allow evil in.  One of the great truths of the creation myths of the Bible is that since the beginning, we have chosen to listen to Satan and turn away from God and thus suffering enters the world. 

267           They also assert that mankind destroys and causes suffering not God: “God does not send punishment on mankind.  Mankind makes his own destruction.”(81)   “It grieves us to see your Earth in such turmoil….the sins of man have destroyed her.”(82)   “Spirits of Earth who do not accept God’s Fatherhood are releasing their own poisonous energy with its deadly venom out upon the Earth.”(83)

268           Not only do our own sins of violence, greed and hate create suffering, but the messengers warn us that human beings, intentionally involving themselves with Satan, cause suffering, death and destruction: “God does not raise His voice.  He does not beat His dear ones in a great rage of anger.  The nature of God is sweet and kind.  The sickness of mankind’s souls brings the great winds and the volcano.  What does the great book of all books say?  It says, ‘Mankind has dominion over the animals and the elements of Earth.’  Many people are proclaiming to be witches and devil worshipers on Earth.  They call upon the powers of the evil one.  The evil ones are called out by those lost souls who do not love God.  The devil does his own thing when he is protected by one or many who have dominion over the Earth.”(84)   The image I conjure up is an image of Satan using people as safe havens, where he can hide and attack, like hospitals filled with people, being used to hide arms during times of war.  The messengers go on to warn, “Very much power is seen in an ungodly spirit.  This is Hell brought forth, sons and daughters of Earth.  Are Earthquakes fun?  Is mighty hot rock and lava spraying out of a mountain and destroying lives, homes, cities and properties fun?  Sorcery is a very risky game.  The unleashing of evil spirits on the Earth is its goal.”(85)  

269           Certainly the Church and the Bible proclaim that we should avoid sorcery,(86)  but I do not believe the Church has have ever pronounced the evil intent of sorcery.   Unveiling the truth that Satan uses sorcery to have evil spirits unleashed and to have them cause destruction is a profound statement.  I am not sure it contradicts any beliefs we have about sorcery.  I imagine, Satan, the liar, may say to a foolish person, “look what power I can give you through sorcery.”  Indeed, the truth of the matter is that, by partaking in this action, the foolish person is giving Satan more power to do evil through the “unleashing of evil spirits”.  A thought being proclaimed is that when there are great “natural disasters”,  it may not be nature’s regular forces at work and not an “act of God”, but rather the work of evil spirits that people have foolishly released by cooperating with Satan.  Before I make a grievous error, I want to be clear that nowhere do the messengers say that those who have been so sinful are those who suffer.  In other words, while people doing evil, sinful things, including sorcery, may have caused  Katrina to hit New Orleans and the Earthquake in Japan, it does not mean that it was the people of those locations who were the enablers of the evil spirits.   (However, the decision to build a nuclear power plant and the decision to build a big city below sea level were man’s decisions.) 

270           I believe a key passage on sorrow is passage # 353 titled “Why Is Sorrow in God’s Plans?”  An important section of the passage states: “Wisdom is sent to small ones who suffer in Earth’s toil.  Suffering is soon gone, and then you see that sorrow is virtue’s child perfecting the souls of man.  Is sorrow a saint in God’s Spirit?  Why is she working in God’s Spirit?  God doesn’t want beings to suffer.  Then why is this spirit in God’s plans?  Suffering is not virtue’s reason.  Virtue is inscribed in the beginning.  Sorrow is not inscribed in the beginning.  Sorrow wages war against mankind.  In this, is it understood.  She chastises while men journey on Earth.  Such sorrow cleanses saints of Earth.  Sorrow detests that her spirit is used in God’s plans.  In spirits who sing, she is a way in God’s Spirit.  In her world, she is hell.”(87)    

271           Let us unpack this theological reflection on sorrow.  “Virtue is inscribed in the beginning.  Sorrow is not inscribed in the beginning.”  Virtue, a spirit of the Holy Spirit, is inscribed in the beginning.  The Catechism states, “By the radiance of this grace all dimensions of man's life were confirmed. As long as he remained in the divine intimacy, man would not have to suffer or die. (Gen 2:17, 3:16, 19)  The inner harmony of the human person, the harmony between man and woman, (Gen 2:25) and finally the harmony between the first couple and all creation, comprised the state called ‘original justice.’"(88)   In the beginning, Adam and Eve and all of creation were in harmony with God, in a right relationship with God.  They were virtuous.  With “the fall”, which happens after the beginning, we have sorrow.  God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  If it is not in the beginning, then it is not of God.  Sorrow is not in the beginning.  Sorrow is not in the nature of God.

272 Sorrow is not a part of God’s nature and yet the messengers state, “Why is she (sorrow) working in God’s Spirit?”(89)    We have just stated that sorrow is not of God's nature, and yet sorrow is in God’s Spirit.  How can this be?  I believe the answer to this maybe Jesus’ crucifixion.  This assertion is not presented in In God’s Love, and hence, if it is in error, this should not reflect poorly upon In God’s Love, but rather upon me.  The Catechism states, “By his passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion.”(90)   Before our creation, God had not experienced suffering and death.(91)  After our creation, to be faithful to His creation, the Lamb of God suffered.  Where God is, there is the Kingdom of God.  Jesus Christ experienced and claimed suffering for Himself.  Because of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, we can experience the presence of God, the Kingdom of God, even in suffering and death.  Sorrow, because of the Paschal Mystery, is now in God’s Spirit; whereas, in the beginning, sorrow was not in the spirit of God.  Because of the Paschal Mystery, God can take that which was not of Himself, death and suffering, claim it, own it as His possession and use it to bring His people to Himself.

273           “Sorrow wages war against mankind.  In this, is it understood.”  Sorrow is against mankind.  Yet, “God doesn’t want beings to suffer” for “the nature of God is sweet and kind.”(92)   “Then why is this spirit in God’s plans?”  “She chastises while men journey on Earth.  Such sorrow cleanses saints of Earth.”  The Catechism states, “But with infinite wisdom and goodness God freely willed to create a world ‘in a state of journeying’ towards its ultimate perfection.”(93)   God allows sorrow and suffering to chastise and cleanse us.  The Catechism confirms this: “Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life. In illness, man experiences his powerlessness, his limitations, and his finitude. Every illness can make us glimpse death.  ….. Very often illness provokes a search for God and a return to him.”(94)

274           “Sorrow detests that her spirit is used in God’s plans.”  For a spirit that wages war against us to find out that she has helped us to become saints, must be very irritating.  The image I conjure up is that the spirit of sorrow is much like a spy who is found out by the enemy (God) and is used to destroy his own country.  The spy is devastated that he is used by the enemy.  As the Catechism cites St. Augustine, “For almighty God. . ., because he is supremely good, would never allow any evil whatsoever to exist in his works if he were not so all-powerful and good as to cause good to emerge from evil itself. <177>”(95)   One example of evil being used for good by God is cited in the Catechism: “In time we can discover that God in his almighty providence can bring a good from the consequences of an evil, even a moral evil, caused by his creatures: 'It was not you', said Joseph to his brothers, 'who sent me here, but God. . . You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive. '<178>"(96)   The Catechism then cites the supreme example of the cross.(97)

275           Not only is sorrow used by God, but she is called a “saint.”  Returning to my spy image just as a “used enemy spy” could be called a soldier of the enemy (albeit against their own will) so, too, could the “used spirit” be called a soldier of God or saint of God (albeit against her own will.)  So, the messengers call sorrow a saint of God: “Righteousness is in signs of sorrow for disobedience.  Sorrow is a saint of God.  She brings in sinners.  This is seen.  Each one who embraces her comes humbly and rises swiftly to sanctity.”(98)   I believe that if we can adore the wood of the cross, that was the instrument of death for Jesus on Good Friday, then we can also give sorrow the title of saint, one who does God's will of cleansing, even though that is not her intent or desire.

276           “In spirits who sing, she (sorrow) is a way in God’s Spirit.  In her world, she is hell.”  Why is it that suffering brings some people to God and leads others  to abandon  God?  As the Catechism so concisely states, “Illness (one form of suffering) can lead to anguish, self-absorption, sometimes even despair and revolt against God. It can also make a person more mature, helping him discern in his life what is not essential so that he can turn toward that which is.”(99)   Why do some people become holier and others abandon God as a result of sorrow?  I believe the key passage on suffering may hold a clue.  There may be something that is assumed, but not mentioned in the key passage we are focusing on.  After “In God’s spirits who sing” the messengers may assume that the spirit is singing in wisdom: “Wisdom is sent to small ones who suffer in Earth’s toil.” or singing in God’s Spirit: “On Earth, do not fear. Take God’s Spirit and sing.  In this wisdom, stay. Your sorrow is short. Rest is forever.”(100)   So, if we are singing in wisdom, or God’s Spirit, then, when sorrow comes, “she is a way in God’s Spirit.”  However, for those who do not sing, for those living without wisdom of God, or spirit of God in their life, then suffering is hell. 

277           Another possibility is that “sing” implies praying to God.(101)   In a passage speaking of making suffering blessed they say, “Rise up, O children of the cross.  Such a blessed spirit is in your suffering.  Make your suffering way very blessed. Reach out (pray) to God…. Reach out, little sufferers of God.  Reach such comfort in God’s calling.”(102)   In another passage, they state, “When you are lonely, when you are weary, look in His eyes, take His hand.  Never will you suffer alone. What a promise.  What a wonderful promise.  Wouldn’t it be a marvelous thing to have someone who was with you all the time, someone who never left you,”(103)   The Catechism has this observation about our reaction to suffering: “‘We know that in everything God works for good for those who love him.’(Romans 8:28) The constant witness of the saints confirms this truth:  St. Catherine of Siena said to those who are scandalized and rebel against what happens to them: ‘Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind.’<181>”(104)   Certainly this key passage on sorrow gives us much to ponder.

278           Before leaving the topic of suffering, there is one passage concerning suffering that appears to be in conflict with the other passages.  In almost all the passages concerning suffering, the messengers mention that God does not send suffering, and yet there is one passage in which it says God does send sorrow: “Sorrow takes her spirit and reaches most surely and blesses many in her coming.  She is sent by God.  Sing of sorrow, sad ones.  Sing of the most sad spirit who does not sing of God’s love.  Sorrow brings in many.  She spreads such sad music, blessing, reaching and speaking so wisely.  She says, ‘Come, such punishment is inscribed for those who do not love God.’”(105)   This passage asserts the refrain we have already mentioned that sorrow is used to bring in many to God.  One way that sorrow does this is that as people glimpse into their possible future of suffering, it literally “scares the hell out of them.”  A new element of the passage is that she is sent by God.  It has been mentioned how the Father chastises his children to lovingly correct them.(106)   It has been presented in the key passage that “She chastises while men journey on Earth.  Such sorrow cleanses saints of Earth.”  Therefore, since it is God who sends out chastisement, it is God who sends out sorrow, the instrument of chastisement.  This is a possible resolution to the apparent conflict.    

279           Even though we may suffer in this life, if it leads to our cleansing, then it is all worth it: “God is so merciful and kind in all ways.  Such is God’s way.  Spirits so cleansed in Earth, white and pure, this is your rest.  This is your reward.  Come; see a time of comfort here.  The hour is at hand.  Such sorrow you have had in Earth’s toil.  Can man suffer so blessedly in such spirits of peace and love?  This is spiritual beauty and spiritual love.  Can such love come and not be rewarded?  Such love is soon greatly rewarded, and all shall see God’s mercy.  Children of the cross, come see peace.  Rest in God’s love. Amen.”(107) 

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