300,000,000 American idolaters?

Have you ever saluted the flag? Were you honoring a square of cloth or your country? Certainly Catholics treat statues and holy pictures with respect because they represent those to whom respect is due.

300,000,000 American Idolaters?...

“Do not discard the monuments, your statues. Do not fall into the fallacy promoted by many that you must cast them aside as being worshippers of idols. O My children, you do salute your flag; you do build in bronze and stone the figures of those who had prominence in your world, so why cannot you build in bronze and stone the images of the personages of Heaven?” - Our Lady of the Roses, December 7, 1976

(The following is taken from the booklet, "Why the Catholic Church says 'Investigate'", + Imprimatur Joseph E. Ritter, Archbishop of St. Louis, January 24, 1949):

"Ex. 20:4. 'Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image.' In the face of this commandment the Roman Church defies God and fills its temples and homes with them. What is idolatry? The making of any image or likeness of God or any creature for a religious end."

     If we must accept this definition of idolatry as quoted from a recent anti-Catholic leaflet, then just about every American—300,000,000* of us—is an idolater. And so are millions of other persons throughout the world.

    For Exodus 20:4 is very plain and overlooks nothing: "Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." Here there is no mention of images "for a religious end" only, but all images and likenesses. And it is a rare American home that does not possess a graven image of some kind—an ornamental book-end, perhaps, made in the likeness of a dog or a human figure ... or at least a picture on the wall. These are, after all, likenesses of things in the earth beneath—and does not Exodus forbid them?

    Our parks and public places are filled with graven images—statues of Washington, Lincoln, and other famous persons. Is this a public defiance of God's law? Many a man carries in his billfold the picture of his mother or sweetheart. Must we condemn him for the practice of idolatry? Are painting and photography evil crafts?

     The answer must be "yes" if the making of these images and likenesses is itself idolatry. And to be consistent with ourselves, we would have to get rid of these "evil instruments" from our public parks and buildings . . . clean our own homes of them . . . forbid little boys to play with tin soldiers and forbid dolls to little girls. We would have to be like the Mohammedans, who have no pictures, no statuary of any kind. Do those who published the leaflet really think these drastic measures are necessary? If they do not—then they do not really believe that the making of an image or likeness is idolatry.

     But suppose we give in to their contention that the making of the image must be "for a religious end before it is idolatry—though Exodus says nothing of this. Suppose we take this as their definition of idolatry and then read on in the same book of Exodus, five chapters later. Here God makes a further commandment to the Jews:

     "And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat" (Ex. 25:18). If the making of an image "for a religious end" is idolatry, then, according to Exodus, God commanded His chosen people to commit idolatry. The two cherubims which were at either end of the mercy seat over the Ark of the Covenant were graven images, likenesses of the angels in heaven above, and made for a religious purpose—just as the images that fill the "temples" and homes of Catholics.

    So, before you feel you must tear up your illustrated Bibles (the illustrations are likenesses made "for a religious end"), maybe we should read the rest of God's commandment regarding images: "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them." (Ex. 20:5).

     These are the words that follow immediately after the command not to make images—and thus, when we take the whole commandment together, we see clearly that it is not the making of images that is idolatry, but the worship of images. And Catholics do not worship images.

    The average Catholic, like the average non-Catholic, is a person of common sense. He knows that a bit of plaster or wood is not to be served or worshipped—that it is a creation of man and is not the God upon Whom man depends. He knows that a representation of Our Lord is no more Our Lord than is a statue of Lincoln the Great Emancipator himself.

Widely misunderstood

But I have seen Catholics kneel and pray to statues. No, you have seen Catholics kneel and pray to the one whom the statue represents. Ask a Catholic sometime whether he is praying to the statue itself, and he will be quick to tell you that he is not.

I have seen Catholics show signs of reverence to statues. Have you ever seen a person kiss a picture of his mother? Was his affection directed to the piece of paper or to her whose image it was? Have you ever saluted the flag? Were you honoring a square of cloth or your country? Certainly Catholics treat statues and holy pictures with respect because they represent those to whom respect is due.

    Let us be reasonable about this statue question. Statue-making does not become idolatry because the person represented happens to be a saint rather than a politician. If we can testify to our patriotism by images of our great statesmen ... we can testify to our religion by an image of Christ Our Lord.

(*Note: This article, originally written in the late 1940s, had the figure of 150,000,000.)

********

How Old Is Your Church?

If you are a Lutheran, your religion was founded by Martin Luther, an ex- monk of the Catholic Church, in the year 1517.

If you belong to the Church of England, your religion was founded by King Henry VIII in the year 1534 because the Pope would not grant him a divorce with the right to remarry.

If you are a Presbyterian, your religion was founded by John Knox in Scotland in the year 1560.

If you are a Protestant Episcopalian, your religion was an offshoot of the Church of England founded by Samuel Seabury in the American colonies in the 17th century.

If you are a Congregationalist, your religion was originated by Robert Brown in Holland in 1582.

If you are a Methodist, your religion was launched by John and Charles Wesley in England in 1744.

If you are a Unitarian, Theophilus Lindley founded your church in London in 1774.

If you are a Mormon (Latter Day Saints), Joseph Smith started your religion in Palmyra, N.Y., in 1829.

If you are a Baptist, you owe the tenets of your religion to John Smyth, who launched it in Amsterdam in 1605.

If you are of the Dutch Reformed church, you recognize Michaelis Jones as founder, because he originated your religion in New York in 1628.

If you worship with the Salvation Army, your sect began with William Booth in London in 1865.

If you are a Christian Scientist, you look to 1879 as the year in which your religion was born and to Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy as its founder.

If you belong to one of the religious organizations known as 'Church of the Nazarene," "Pentecostal Gospel." "Holiness Church," "Pilgrim Holiness Church," "Jehovah's Witnesses," your religion is one of the hundreds of new sects founded by men within the past century.

If you are Roman Catholic, you know that your religion was founded in the year 33 by Jesus Christ the Son of God, and it is still the same Church.

"My children, do not cast out the monuments, the statues, from your homes. They are not relics to be adored. We hear all of the complaints and the disparancies coming in relation to those mementos that you have, My children. You must understand, ignorance is often the reason for these accusations of worshiping idols and statues.
"My children, it is only because they do not have the Faith, or they have lost the Faith, and they cannot understand. Pray for them, My children. You cannot accuse or punish a blind man, but you must try to help him so that he will understand and live a life approaching the light. If you cast him off, he is lost.” - Our Lady of the Roses, September 28, 1977

Our Lady of the Roses awesome Bayside Prophecies... https://www.tldm.org/../Bayside/
These prophecies came from Jesus, Mary, and the saints to Veronica Lueken at Bayside, NY, from 1968 to 1995.

ONLY TRUE RELIGION
"O My children, I will not go into a long discourse now with you about charity and love for your neighbor, but you must understand: you cannot judge your neighbor. You must pray for them. However, you cannot become weak and permissive. You must stand forth as bearers of the light, carriers of the truth. You have been given by your baptism entrance into the only true religion upon earth, the Roman Catholic Church under My Son, Jesus. Though man in his arrogance and pride has forgotten His role and His rule, you must carry it forward. Retain the Faith and the truth in the hearts of mankind." - Our Lady of the Roses, September 7, 1978

YOUR BIRTHRIGHT
"As in the past, rejection has been the start of a fallen man. Sin has become a way of life with many. You live in a delusion if you believe that you can offend the Eternal Father and then gain eternal life in the Kingdom. No, I say to you: many are called, but few are chosen.
"Ask and you shall receive, believe and you will be given the way. But you must merit the Kingdom. Your birthright was a start, but you must make your way to the Kingdom. Others may gain these graces for you by prayer and acts of sacrifice, but you will accept or reject the key." - Jesus, May 26, 1976

RELIGION OF THE CROSS
"There is only one religion that can save your country and all of the countries of the world: the religion of the cross and My Son's sacrifice upon that cross." - Our Lady of the Roses, November 25, 1978

SEPARATED BRETHREN
"O My children, pray much! We do not want to see a division in My Son's House. The Roman Catholic Church must remain one! But this does not mean, as the church of man states, that you will bring all manner of heretics and separated brethren in. No, My children, that is an error, a delusion from satan. You cannot change My Son's House and bring them in and change for them! They must change and come back to the original rule given by My Son and those who were with Him in the building of the foundation.
   "I repeat, My child and My children: separated brethren must change. They have protested in the past; they have taken themselves away from the truth and the one true Church. They must reject the errors they have made in the past and come back and start again. They cannot bring their errors into My Son's House.
   "You are opening the doors now for all manner of heretics, separated brethren. They do not come to unite in good spirit and heart; they come to take over. They seek to change you, O pastors, who are being deluded. And what do I see in My Son's House but separated brethren upon His pulpit! Even from the temples, the synagogues of satan, upon His pulpit! And for what?
   "And who are My pastors now that have joined in this plan of destruction? Who ordained some of them? Not legitimate hands. They come to destroy. They come in like rats, burrowing, undermining My Son's Church! Do you think you are not watched? Are you above your Creator that you think you can deceive the world permanently? No, I say unto you! You are being given your time, for you who have given yourselves to satan are now exposing your true nature to the world." - Our Lady of the Roses, March 18, 1977

ESTABLISHED BY JESUS CHRIST
"There are many deceptions taking place among you, and one being the falsification of the manner of the salvation of souls. When I was upon earth, I established the rules and I gave you My Church, My House. However, now I watch as many have gone forward with itching ears and novelty, and they are setting upon the world a new religion." - Jesus, May 20, 1978

WILL STAND
"Do not be deluded, My children, by the agents of satan among you in human form who preach doctrines of devils. The truth has been given to mankind through the ages. The Holy Roman Catholic Church of My Son will stand. The members shall be reduced to few. Only a remnant, My child, shall carry the banner Faithful and True. But the gates of hell shall fight a heavy battle against My Son's Church, but they shall not succeed." - Our Lady of the Roses, May 14, 1977

ONLY SANCTIFIED HOUSE
"Your children are wandering into the web of satan, going farther from the House of My Son. The truth is being removed from their hearts. They are setting among themselves groups. They shall not remove from their lives vows of My Son. As the only sanctified House upon earth, their souls will be destroyed when they are not given the Bread of living life. This Bread will only be obtained in the sanctified House of My Son. Satan seeks to remove the tabernacle from among you." - Our Lady of the Roses, August 5, 1973

Directives from Heaven... https://www.tldm.org/directives/directives.htm

D123 - Catholic Church, Part 1 PDF
D124 - Catholic Church, Part 2 PDF
D231 - Statues, relics, & holy images PDF

Articles...

Outside the Catholic Church ... no salvation
https://www.tldm.org/News6/Church2.htm

Four marks of the True Church: One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic
https://www.tldm.org/News7/fourmarks.htm

How old is your Church?
https://www.tldm.org/news6/church.htm

The Divine Christ and the Bible
https://www.tldm.org/news7/DivineChrist.htm

The Son of God and His Church
https://www.tldm.org/News7/SonOfGod.htm

There are 4 things you must have to survive the days ahead:

1.) The Douay-Rheims Holy Bible...

"You must all obtain a copy of the Book of life and love, the Bible. Do not accept the new mods. Try to find in your bookstores the old Bibles, My children, for many are being changed to suit the carnal nature of man. I repeat, sin has become a way of life." - Our Lady, October 6, 1992
"I must ask you all to read but a few short chapters a day now, the Book of life and love, your Bible. Knowledge must be gained for all the disciples of My Son, for you will be attacked by scientific minds. But do not be concerned what you will say to them when accosted, for the words will be given to you by the Spirit." - Our Lady, April 10, 1976 (Order Form)

2.) The total Virgin Mary’s Bayside Prophecies in 6 paperback books...

The Virgin Mary brings directions from God, the Father in Heaven on how to survive the end times. God, the Father, through the Virgin Mary, tells what is coming, how to prepare for it, how to survive it, and how to even stop it. These six volumes along with the Bible are most important to save yourself and your loved ones. Order it now. Tomorrow may be to late. These 6 pocket size paperback books costs $33.00. (Order Form)

3.) Heaven's Home Protection Packet...

Heaven’s Home Protection Packet...
Our Lord stated we must have crucifixes upon the outside of all of our outside doors. In the "Heaven’s Home Protection Packet" there are instructions, four crucifixes, a tube of special cement for wooden or metal crucifixes. Wooden crucifixes adhere better to the doors when the aluminum strap is removed from the back. Put a light coat of cement on the back of the crucifix and then press it to the outside of the door. If you have any problems, you can call us at 616-698-6448 for assistance. This Heaven’s Home Protection Packet is available for a donation of $7.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Send $10.00 to TLD Ministries, P.O. Box 40, Lowell, MI 49331. Item # P15 (Order Form)

Crucifix on front and back door... The only real protection against terrorists...

Jesus - "Pray and wear your sacramentals. And, also, My children, I ask you again to place a crucifix upon your door. Both front and back doors must have a crucifix. I say this to you because there will be carnage within your areas, and this will pass you by if you keep your crucifix upon your doors." (6-30-84) (Testimonies of lives and homes saved by the crucifixes.) https://www.tldm.org/news/crucifix.htm (Order Form)

4.) Heaven's Personal Protection Packet...

Heaven’s Personal Protection Packet . . .
Our Lady tells us to be protected from all evil, we must wear the following sacramentals around our necks: a Rosary, a crucifix, the St. Benedict medal, Our Lady of the Roses medal, the Miraculous Medal, and the scapular. We have all of these sacramentals in a packet we call "Heaven's Personal Protection Packet." This packet is available for a donation of $6.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Send $9.00 to TLD Ministries, P.O. Box 40, Lowell, MI 49331. Item # P5 (Order Form)

    Our Lady of the Roses, Mary Help of Mothers promises to help protect our children. On September 13, 1977, She said, "He has an army of ogres wandering now throughout your country and all of the countries of the world. They are in possession of great power; so wear your sacramentals, and protect your children and your households. Learn the use every day of holy water throughout your household. Insist even with obstructions, insist that your children always wear a sacramental. One day they will understand that they will repel the demons."
    On February 1, 1974, Our Lady said, "My children, know the value of these sacramentals. Guard your children well. You must awaken to the knowledge that you will not be protected without the sacramentals. Guard your children's souls. They must be surrounded with an aura of purity. Remove them if necessary from the sources of contamination, be it your schools or even false pastors."
    This Heaven’s Personal Protection Packet is available for a donation of $6.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Send $9.00 to TLD Ministries, P.O. Box 40, Lowell, MI 49331. You may use your MasterCard, VISA, or American Express and call 1-616-698-6448. Item # P5 (Order Form)

Your names have been written in Heaven… "It is not by accident that you are called by My Mother, for your names have been written in Heaven.... But with this great grace you have great responsibility to send this Message from Heaven throughout the world, for if you are able to recover just one more for Heaven, an additional star shall be placed in your crown." - Jesus, August 5, 1975

A great obligation to go forward... "It is not by accident that you are called by My Mother, for it is by merit and the prayers that have risen to Heaven for your salvation. For those who have received the grace to hear the Message from Heaven, you have a great obligation to go forward and bring this Message to your brothers and sisters. Do not expect a rest upon your earth, for you will have eternal rest very soon." - Jesus, June 12, 1976

The sin of omission... "The sin of omission shall condemn many to hell, be they layman or Hierarchy. I repeat: not the sin of commission, but the sin of omission will commit many to hell." Our Lady of the Roses, October 6, 1980

We encourage everyone to print or email copies of this web page to all the Bishops and all the clergy. Also, email or send this web page to the news media and as many people as possible.

Email this page to a friend.

The electronic form of this document is copyrighted.
Quotations are permissible as long as this web site is acknowledged with a hyperlink to: https://www.tldm.org
Copyright © These Last Days Ministries, Inc. 1996 - 2013   All rights reserved.
P.O. Box 40                   616-698-6448
Lowell, MI 49331-0040
Revised: September 02, 2018