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 6  We Believe in the Catholic Church
                       and the Communion of Saints

            Part 1 The Catholic Church

378         In In God’s Love the messengers use the word “church”, but they never identify any denomination.  At the beginning of “The Presentation,” I laid out four reasons why I believe “church” to the messengers means the Catholic Church.(1)   While the Church itself is not the major focus of In God’s Love, “church” is mentioned 8 times in 6 different passages.  In this Chapter we will look at 7 of the phrases.(2)    

379           The first phrase is “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.  Such is written: “Such rules must be understood.”(3)   The first sentence states that Christ brought (forth) His Church.  The Catholic Church certainly would agree with that as it states in the Catechism, “it was the Son's task to accomplish the Father's plan of salvation in the fullness of time. Its accomplishment was the reason for his being sent.<160> ‘The Lord Jesus inaugurated his Church by preaching the Good News, that is, the coming of the Reign of God, promised over the ages in the scriptures.’ <161>  To fulfill the Father's will, Christ ushered in the Kingdom of heaven on Earth. the Church ‘is the Reign of Christ already present in mystery.’<162>”(4)   The first sentence of the quote from In God’s Love also mentions that the Church is blessed.  The Catechism states that “‘The Church is therefore holy, though having sinners in her midst, because she herself has no other life but the life of grace. If they live her life, her members are sanctified; if they move away from her life, they fall into sins and disorders that prevent the radiation of her sanctity….’ <302>”(5)   The first sentence of the quote from In God’s Love also mentions that the church is true.  Indeed the Catholic Church holds that it has been entrusted with the truth.  She tries to meet the desire of those who seek the truth.  As is stated in the Catechism, “Indeed, God ‘desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth’ ;<344> that is, God wills the salvation of everyone through the knowledge of the truth. Salvation is found in the truth. Those who obey the prompting of the Spirit of truth are already on the way of salvation. But the Church, to whom this truth has been entrusted, must go out to meet their desire, so as to bring them the truth.”(6)

380           Then the phrase speaks of Christ’s rules and rules do not change, but must be understood.  This is the task of the teaching magisterium of the Catholic Church.  In one of the “in Brief” sections of the Catechism, the summary form the Catechism states, “The Magisterium of the Pastors of the Church in moral matters is ordinarily exercised in catechesis and preaching, on the basis of the Decalogue which states the principles of moral life valid for every man. The Roman Pontiff and the bishops, as authentic teachers, preach to the People of God the faith which is to be believed and applied in moral life. It is also incumbent on them to pronounce on moral questions that fall within the natural law and reason. The infallibility of the Magisterium of the Pastors extends to all the elements of doctrine, including moral doctrine, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, expounded, or observed.”(7)

381           The second and third phrases from In God’s Love speak of people who are seeking the truth: “Seek the truth.  Ask to know God’s will.  Seek out God’s Spirit.  Ask Him to show you His church.”(8)   “Seek His church … Would you speak to God?  Ask Him to teach you of this.  All are sisters and brothers in Christ’s church.  Children call Him, “Father,” and His voice says, “My children.”(9)   It has already been mentioned the Catholic Church is the seat of Christ’s truth and desires to fulfill the hunger of all those who search for the truth.  In the Catholic Church, by our Baptism into the Body of Christ, we call each other brothers and sisters, and, by our adoption into the Body of Christ, will call God our Father.

382           The fourth phrase states that “Christ pours out His Spirit on His true church, and you know where you stand in her shelter.”(10)   The Catholic Church whole heartedly agrees with this, as it proclaims in the Catechism, “The Holy Spirit, whom Christ the head pours out on his members, builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church. She is the sacrament of the Holy Trinity's communion with men.”(11)  “You know where you stand” is a bit vague.  It could be a statement of organizational, religious, or moral certitude.  If it is organizational clarity, the Catholic Church, with Canon Law, is structured and ordered.  So, within the institution of the Catholic Church, everyone knows where they stand.  “You know where you stand” could also mean in terms of belief or morality.  The magisterium of the Church teaches the truth in areas of faith and morals and it is her sacred duty to be the proclaimer of the truth.  In this age of moral relativism, the Church speaks the truth of Christ.  The members of the Church have an opportunity to have a moral certitude by listening to the magisterium.  Since it is uncertain exactly what “you know where you stand” means, further development of the possibilities is unwarranted at this point.

383           The fifth phrase authoritatively states 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.”(12)   It has been mentioned why I believe this “sacred institution” is the Catholic Church and that in In God’s Love there is no a new revelation or a correction on Catholic Doctrine.(13)   Taken out of context, “message” could mean In God’s Love, but I believe in this portion of the passage it refers to the guiding Holy Spirit, alive in the Church making sure that the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed.(14)   God speaks to Earth through His living, breathing, Catholic Church.  As mentioned earlier, the messengers state that “Your blessed Father, Pope Paul, is God’s righteous leader.  Listen to Him in all ways.  Through Him comes the voice of God.”(15)  As the Catechism summarizes, “A reply of St. Joan of Arc to her judges sums up the faith of the holy doctors and the good sense of the believer: ‘About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter.’<233>”(16)

384           The sixth phrase talks about kindness being present in the Church:  “Virtue reaches kind hearts.  Be so kind.  True blessings of God’s Spirit are reached in kind hearts.  Such love reaches out and brings spirits into God’s church.  Is this His church you see?  See God’s Spirit.  Here is all that mankind desires.  Here is a kind spirit.”(17)    This quote cuts me to the heart.  In my life as a parishioner, and also in some form of ministry, I have been involved in over fifteen parishes in some way, shape or fashion.  While I have met many kind people and witnessed many kind acts in the parishes, if you were to ask me if any of the parishes could be described “as a place where you see a kind spirit”, I would have to answer, “no”.  All the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be flowing in the Church, including “kindness”, but sometimes I feel it is not as present as it needs to be, and the image of Christ projected to the world by His Church is distorted.

385           The seventh phrase may or may not be a criticism of the church.  In the passage, the messengers are giving us directions to love like Jesus did.  We are to reach out to the poor and needy like He did.  In this context, it is mentioned to not bother with helping church-going people, because they are already being helped:  “Mingle with the poor and needy.  God’s church-going people on Earth can care for themselves.  Those poor, little souls in need are His dear ones who are poor in body and spirit.  This is the way.  Mingle with the poor.”(18)   It could be seen as a compliment to the Church in that church members are caring for the needs of their members.  It could be seen as a criticism of the Church in that we are not taking care of all the poor and needy as we should, that we are mainly concerned with ourselves.  At any rate, the major point of the phrase and section of the passage is that to follow Christ we need to care for the poor like Jesus did.  The Catholic Church has often proclaimed with words and deeds the priority of the preferential option for the poor. 

386           While the topic of the church does not take up a significant amount of the writing of In God’s Love, what is written about the church, and by that I think they mean the Catholic Church, is profound.  The Church is blessed and true.  God speaks to Earth through the Church.  They state that nothing they write goes against this “sacred institution.”  In short, while they never state it, I believe they honor the Church, which is the Body of Christ.  I think that perhaps they understand, better than most of its Earthly members, what the Catholic Church truly is.   

            Part 2  The Communion of Saints
 
387           The Catechism introduces the Communion of Saints with the following: “After confessing ‘the holy catholic Church,’ the Apostles' Creed adds ‘the communion of saints.’ In a certain sense this article is a further explanation of the preceding: ‘What is the Church if not the assembly of all the saints?’<477> the communion of saints is the Church.”(19)   Hence, when we talk about the Body of Christ and the Church we are at the same time conversing about the Body of Christ in which the communion of saints exists.  The Catechism also states, “Christ and his Church thus together make up the "whole Christ" (Christus totus). The Church is one with Christ. The saints are acutely aware of this unity:  Let us rejoice then and give thanks that we have become not only Christians, but Christ himself. Do you understand and grasp, brethren, God's grace toward us? Marvel and rejoice: we have become Christ. For if he is the head, we are the members; he and we together are the whole man.... the fullness of Christ then is the head and the members. But what does ‘head and members’ mean? Christ and the Church. <230>”(20)   The messengers also assert that God lives in His saints and that the saints live in communion with the Body of Christ, for through Janet Hurlow they write, “Virtue in every breast, communion of saints, God lives in His saints.”(21)   They also write, “Come here, all you who are of Earth.  Bring your spirits in communion with Christ Jesus….Under the sun of Earth, virtue comes when saints are in Christ’s body.  Sweet is His sign to all saints.  Bring us into communion with the God of our race….Take the signs of God with such love.  Without this communion, man does not find God’s Spirit.”(22)

388           I have already touched upon how the Holy Spirit unites the saints,(23)  and it seems appropriate to continue the reflection on this at this point.  The spirit of God unifies the saints as the Catechism states, “All, indeed, who are of Christ and who have his Spirit form one Church and in Christ cleave together.”(24)   Remembering once again the commonality of the “Communion of Saints” and the “Church” we look at how the Catholic Church views the Holy Spirit’s role in the church/Communion of Saints.  The Catechism states, “’What the soul is to the human body, the Holy Spirit is to the Body of Christ, which is the Church.’ <243> ‘To this Spirit of Christ, as an invisible principle, is to be ascribed the fact that all the parts of the body are joined one with the other and with their exalted head; for the whole Spirit of Christ is in the head, the whole Spirit is in the body, and the whole Spirit is in each of the members.’<244> The Holy Spirit makes the Church ‘the temple of the living God’ <245>.”(25)   The messengers elaborate on the Holy Spirit and the Communion of Saints: “In the spiritual union of God’s Spirit stand the saints.”(26)   They speak of it as a union of creation: “Make such an effort to enter this union of creation.  Reach this spiritual union in God’s Spirit.”(27)  They speak of a union of the cosmos: “Each blessed spirit of God in all God’s making is one vessel in God’s Spirit. Children of Earth, children of the Cosmos, in one Spirit, rest.”(28)   They speak of the union in the spirit as a citizenship of heaven: “Each spirit who accepts God’s Spirit is a true citizen of Heaven and Earth.”(29)   In this way they mirror the citizenship mentioned in the Catechism, “‘ [Christians] are in the flesh, but do not live according to the flesh. They spend their lives on Earth, but are citizens of heaven.’<62>”(30)

389           The music of the soul of the saints is beautiful and together in communion it creates a wonderful harmony.  As mentioned earlier(31)  the messengers identify singing to living: “Earth spirit, to sing is to live, and to live is to sing.  In God’s creations, sounds of music reach all the saints of God.”(32)   “You are called, wise saints, blessed children of God, inspirational music of Earth.”(33)   Then there is the delightfully poetic description of the music of the saints of Earth: “The music is so beautiful.  There are many violins playing in the moonlight.  The music is rising up over the hills and valleys to lofty mountain tops, rising up to the heavens.  Dear ones, who are the musicians, and what are they playing?  The musicians are the people of God, and the music is the harmony coming from each soul.”(34)   While there is nothing in the Tradition about saints singing in union, except as a heavenly liturgy and perhaps a Charismatic Mass,(35)   it is yet another wonderful image of unity of the saints.

390           Another image often used for the Communion of Saints is the great army of God.  This is a great holy heroic, and victorious army.  Passage # 116 “Blessed Army of Saints” starts out with, “Many are seen in this spiritual army of God.”(36)  The rest of the passage describes the many types of people who are in this army of God.  They are: people of the cross, inspirers, people who understand, teachers, healers, binders, kind people, wise, prophets, speakers, meek, gentle, workers, sowers, priests, spiritual guides, innocent, pure of heart, charitable, small, large, people of many nations and tongues.(37)   “For who can stand against such an army who have the fire of love and Spirit of God in their breasts?”(38)   Another lively passage, which should have “O When the Saints Go Marching In” playing in the background when it is read, shouts, “With spirits of music, they come marching in white robes, singing with joy.  What a sight they are.  What an inspirational sight; those little people in white robes with the scars of battle.  They come singing God’s praises forevermore.  Come, children.  Walk with great joy, for His love is shining in your faces.  Sing praises forever.  They are marching two by two.  Marching through the pages of time.  Even unto death they come, trusting in His promise, trusting in His love.  Each one was a hero.  Each one was brave and honest.  They come filled with faith and love, those saints of Earth, walking to God, their love.”(39)

           Part 3 The Blood of the Martyrs

391           Blood is special.  In the Old Testament blood is life, so while people may eat meat they may not eat the animal’s blood.(40)   For the messengers, the blood of Christ is sacred and the blood of martyrs is mingled with Christ’s own blood.  It has already been mentioned(41)  that on the cross Jesus was comforted by martyrs’ love, but the quote bears mentioning again: “O sacred heart who was pierced with a lance and bled for man, such love is in such sacred music.  Such love is in these spirits who have mingled their blood with Christ’s on the Earth. In such love, Christ’s suffering was comforted while He bled and died on the cross.”(42)   There are some other passages that reflect upon blood of the martyrs.  One is “poured out is the blood of all the saints for sinful men, poured out in such love.”(43)   A second one is “Inspirations of God, vast is God’s creation.  Worlds and worlds without end, blessed and true.  Never was such love and courage in all God’s making.  Signs of sorrow, blessed signs coming in such love, in such fear, in the blood of Christ, in the blood of saints.”(44)   It is clear that just as the Catholic Church holds martyrdom as a supreme witness of the faith,(45)  the messengers honor them and their blood as well.
 
           Part 4 Summary

392           As in the previous Chapters, a vast number of the theological statements are the same as the Catholic Church and even expressed in the same manner.  The sacred institution of the Church is holy, blessed and alive with the Holy Spirit, full of truth, the voice of God to Earth, the Body of Christ, and has rules of Christ that do not change.  In the church we call God, Father, and each other brothers and sisters of Christ.  We try to be kind.  Saints arrive in God’s Spirit through the Church.  The messengers do not speak against this church.  The saints are in communion with the Body of Christ and united by the Holy Spirit.  Those who are in this union are citizens of heaven and in the Army of Saints.  We should honor the martyrs. 

393           One could perhaps argue that some of the above could go in this next list or vice versa.  The following are theological and moral statements that agree with the Tradition of the Catholic Church, but things are expressed differently or perhaps taken a little further than we have traveled with our doctrine.  We are in union with the Holy Spirit, we are in the union of creation, the union of the Cosmos.  It has already been mentioned that the Holy Spirit unifies all of creation, so both of these titles for the union of saints with the Holy Spirit makes perfect sense.  The blood of the martyrs mingles with the blood of Christ.  The richness of this image is profound and speaks to the mystical union of Christ to His Church, and I do not see where it contradicts any doctrine of our faith.      What the messengers have to say about the Church and the Communion of Saints is profoundly Catholic, and as I mentioned earlier, they may understand the true nature of the Catholic Church better than many of its Earthly members.  

  The next section in Part One  Chapter 7  We Believer in Judgement Day and a New Dwelling and a New Earth