CHURCH

When it was constructed in the 1920s, it was comfortably settled among vineyards and open fields. Today, it is surrounded by commercial buildings in the midst of a fast paced business environment. To its south is a truck depot, which sits adjacent to a major railroad line; a short distance beyond the railroad lies a significant regional airport. To north, just beyond the Church parking lot is a high rise office building; one of many in the area. A little further north is a major east/west freeway which leads a short distance to another freeway, this one is a north/south connector. Despite all the physical changes that have occurred over the decades, the Church of San Secondo D’asti in Southern California is home to clergy and parishioners loyal to the Catholic faith, remaining true to the teachings’ of Jesus Christ as handed down from His apostles.

One clearly understands the core belief systems of the church’s parishioners; they are clearly noted even before one enters the church. As one approaches the church through the front gate, a large marble stone faces any one entering the plaza. On the front side of the stone are etched the 10 commandments; on the reverse side the Beatitudes of Jesus are carved into the stone.

GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of Slavery. You shall have no other gods besides Me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain. For the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day. Six days you shall labor and do your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord you God.
4. Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land, which the Lord your God gives you.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

“You shall love the Lod your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”   Matthew 22:37-39

THE BEATITUDES

1. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
3. Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for Righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
5. Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for Righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

“Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for you reward is great in Heaven.”         Mathew 5:3-11

Just to the side of marble stone tablets is a small metal sign which emphasizes God’ s love for mankind and the importance of the forgiveness of sins in the sacrament of Penance (Confession).

• God’s Saving Grace is Sanctifying Grace.
• Sanctifying Grace is lost through mortal sin.
• Sanctifying Grace is necessary for Heaven
• Sanctifying Grace is restored through the Sacrament of Confession.

Are you walking the way of Grace? Is God’s grace within you?

Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”  (Life of Sanctifying Grace)

Once inside the Church, the booklet for the Mass pronounces the Apostles Creed, a clear statement of the beliefs of the Catholic community

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.”

The 10 Commandments, the beatitudes, Sanctifying Grace, God’s mercy, and the Apostles’ Creed contain all the essential information required to understand the Catholic faith. There are no political or economic ideologies to be followed, only an understanding and acceptance of the love that Jesus Christ has for all men.

Nothing else is necessary to understand the Catholic faith. Love God and love your neighbor. It is everlasting.

Percentages and the Judases

In every aspect of life, percentages are an integral part of calculating and evaluating performance and results. In sports, players and teams are often judged according to some form of percentage. American  baseball players review their performances based, in a large part, by their hitting percentages. In soccer, the percentage of the possession of the ball each team has during a game is considered a good measure of their performance.  Businesses rate themselves using percentages to judge their performance versus their competition.  Even churches examine their growth or loss of membership in their churches as a percentage of increase or decrease. Clearly, percentages are one of the principal means of measurement of most activities.

The son of God, Jesus Christ, chose 12 of His followers to be apostles, leaders of his many disciples. However, one of those apostles became a traitor, turning Jesus over to his enemies, leading to his death. Judas the traitor, was just one of 12 apostles; he represented 8 percent of all the apostles.

Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, the church has struggled with internal rejection and weak commitment to its doctrines by many of its clergy. Frequently such rejection and lack of commitment confused and frustrated the laity. In the early 21^st century, many in the laity are extremely frustrated with the all too numerous elements within the clergy, who promote a number of distracting and heretical concepts, which often contradict the traditional teachings of the church fathers. Unfortunately, many priests and bishops also commit or allow illicit sexual activities within the clergy. Others concern themselves with issues that are political in nature, which are more properly left to civil authorities. Justifiably the laity is angry and wondering why the alleged “good clergy” have no taken firm action against the evil doers, the eight percenters.

In the United States, there are approximately 38,000 priests and 415 bishops. If the early church experience with Judas can be used as a template, we can assume that approximately 8% of the priests and bishops reject or retreat from the teachings of Jesus Christ. Eight (8) percent of the 38,000 priests and 415 bishops calculates to 3,040 priests and 33 bishops. Scary numbers indeed! What is even more troubling is the refusal of so many “good” priests and bishops to confront the seriousness of revolt within their ranks.

Fortunately, the laity can be comforted with the knowledge that Jesus Christ assured them that He would always be with the Church. Additionally, the laity does not have to rely on the clergy for the truth of the faith because that truth is clearly stated within the Catechism of the Church and within the gospels of the fathers of the church. The writings and teachings of the great saints of the church, such as Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John Henry Newman, Pope John Paul II, and many others, are readily available to everyone. The lay person can verify and reject any concept offered for acceptance by a church official by reviewing the writings of the true followers of Christ. They can also be comforted by the fact that, aside from the 8 percenters, 92% of the clergy are truly committed to the salvation of souls.

The clergy are human beings with all the failings and temptations that all humans experience. Fortunately, the laity can appeal to God and his true followers for guidance on all matters related to one’s relationship with God, who is the source of all life and truth. He will lead one to the truth. He loves us.