Humility of Heart  by Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo This classic study in humility describes the nature of that virtue typical of all saints--the one without which none of us will enter Heaven. This incomparable Catholic classic shows us every conceivable motive for us to  practice the virtue of humility. A treasure filled with insights. CLICK HERE

TERRORISM IS THE FRUIT OF EXTREMISM, WHICH IS GROWING IN EVERY DENOMINATION

Terrorism is the fruit of extremism and a warning to us all. When factions of any religion stray into an extreme position, it's dangerous. This is true of all denominations, including Catholicism, where intolerance and spiritual pride are rapidly growing. 

When people begin to believe that no one is good except those who worship exactly as they do -- and that only they will get to heaven -- this is religious intolerance and why there is such fanaticism within the extremes of religions like Islam. 

God is the God of all. True, there are religions that are closer to the truth than others. Indeed, at Medjugorje the Virgin once said, "It is not equally efficacious to belong to or pray in any church or community, because the Holy Spirit grants His power differently among the churches and ministers. All believers do not pray the same way. It is intentional that all apparitions are under the auspices of the Catholic Church."

At the same time, however, God respects all who believe in Him, and if we don't do the same we're wrong. We note that the Pope has visited a synagogue, an Orthodox church, and a mosque.

 We make no secret of our orientation: we're conservative, traditional Catholics. But we are trying to follow the Pope's admonition to dialogue with other religions, as well as to follow Christ's call to love everyone (and to rid ourselves of spiritual pride, which can be so damaging). Remember, it was the Pharisees (Luke 6:2) who tried to persecute Jesus on religious technicalities. Often we get so buried in legalistic issues that we miss the spirit of religious purpose. We were touched last week in speaking with Medjugorje seer Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti, who recounted an instance in which two sick children, one Muslim, one Christian, were brought before the Virgin during an apparition. One was healed in a strongly miraculous way. It was the Muslim. 

This caused great consternation. How could God heal a Muslim? 

When the Virgin was asked this by a priest and others, she said, "God willed to heal that particular child," and added, "Tell this priest, tell everyone, that it is you who are divided on earth. The Muslims and Christians and the Orthodox, for the same reasons as Catholics, are equal before my Son and me. You are all my children. Certainly, all religions are not equal, but all men are equal before God, as Saint Paul says. It does not suffice to belong to the Catholic Church to be saved, but it is necessary to respect the commandments of God in following one's conscience." 

God rules over each faith, she said in 1981, "just like a sovereign over His kingdom."