Brother Michael Joseph's Letter

Dear Michael,

Please always remember that no prayer is ever in vain. I personally know someone who was cured of a very advanced case of throat cancer years ago. It was the same doctor who examined him both before and after the miracle. And that doctor said that if he had not been the one who originally examined this person, then he would never have believed the original diagnosis. Because, in the three days that had past, not only was the cancer completely gone but there was no sign that the patient ever had it. (The reason for this miracle is that the person was praying to Mary, and invoking Her help through Her powerful Green Scapular sacramental.) And we here at the Catholic Kingdom have seen countless other miracles.

Understand this also, while God is happy to help us in our day to day needs, the only thing that is ultimately important to Him is for us to save our soul and be safe and happy with Him forever in Heaven. So if we ask for something that will get in the way of our salvation, God will not give us what we are asking for, because He loves us too much. Instead, He will give the person something else that is more conducive to their eternal happiness which will last forever, instead of their natural happiness which, because it's natural, is here today and gone tomorrow. Everything in this world is passing away, and when we base our happiness on anything in it, it's only common sense that that happiness cannot last.

Another thing to remember about prayers being answered is this, it is a known fact that sometimes when people have obtained miraculous help from Heaven, especially regarding cures, there are times when the illnesses return - and sometimes worse than before. At times when Saints have been involved in these situations, and were the ones who obtained the original cures, the Saints assure us that this reversal of God's generous mercy is due to one or both of two things: 1) a lack of gratitude to Heaven, which usually manifests itself by the person receiving the miracle not wanting to amend that part of their life which is offending God; Or 2) out of a defective human respect, people are afraid to tell others of their miraculous cure and that Heaven was its source.

Another problem that can arise (which would easily lead to one or both of the reasons above) is that the person can initially be very grateful but then, after some time, gives in to the temptation to not believe that the cure was miraculous or that they were very sick in the first place. Again, when God, in His generosity, helps us in our trials to relieve our suffering, He desires and reasonably expects us, in our gratitude, to try to make some amendment in our life in those areas that are obstacles to our salvation.

As far as Jane's apparent relapse, it's hard to know of course how grateful Jane is, or in what way she may be trying to live her life more pleasing to God. Only God can judge these things. But here is another reason why God might be permitting this backsliding. When she was sick, everyone who knew her became very concerned and began praying fervently for God to help her. When she was cured, they probably slacked off on their prayers of gratitude and/or to keep helping her. And so God could be permitting this to rekindle fervent prayer in everyone again.

Finally, just as God's sole concern for us is our eternal happiness, hell's sole concern is our eternal misery. With all of these prayers focused on Jane, it is normal to expect a backlash attack from hell. They don't really care what is troubling Jane. They just want to keep her agitated, relatively cut-off from God, and seeking natural solutions to her problems from human beings on earth. It is hell's way of trying to make it difficult if not impossible for her to do what she needs to do so that her soul will be saved. And so, this is not a battle for her mental stability, as much as it is a battle for her soul and eternal happiness.

So why then does God permit a relapse? Certainly it was to incite all to redouble their prayers, not just for her peace of mind but for the salvation of her soul.

We have seen time and time again this same pattern with hell. And when Heaven permits hell to increase their attacks, it's because the person needs an increase of prayer, and that's what Heaven is asking of everyone. She will certainly be tempted to take off her Brown Scapular, reduce or cease praying, and certainly to not go back to Church, especially the sacraments. But Heaven is all-powerful, and we must have confidence in God's power, mercy and love. So no matter what it appears is going on inside of Jane, our response is to pray with a greater fervency and focus - not just about her physical needs, but even more importantly for her salvation.

Heaven has conquered far more difficult situations than this. So keep up your prayers! Heaven will answer them. Remember, Jesus tells us that whatever we ask for in His Name, if we don't faint (if we don't quit, if we don't give up), He will surely give us, if it is good for our soul. And praying for Jane's salvation is the greatest good her soul can receive. And that is our prayer until she is safely in Heaven.

God bless you, Michael. Keep a good heart. Please remember us in your prayers, and know that we will always be praying for you. Thanks for writing to us, Michael. It's always good to hear from you!


	October 1, 2015
	The following letter was written in answer to an individual who was asking for prayers for his older sister. For the sake of privacy, I will call this person ‘Michael’, and his sister ‘Jane’, since these are not their real names. Now Jane has some physical ailments, but recently she was suffering from mental ones. Michael and some family and friends began praying fervently for Jane, and her illness diminished significantly almost to the point of disappearing entirely. Then, some weeks later, her mental troubles began to resurface. So Michael’s question to me was, essentially, "Why did my prayers stop working?". The following is my response. Dear Michael, Please always remember that no prayer is ever in vain. I personally know someone who was cured of a very advanced case of throat cancer years ago. It was the same doctor who examined him both before and after the miracle. And that doctor said that if he had not been the one who originally examined this person, then he would never have believed the original diagnosis. Because, in the three days that had past, not only was the cancer completely gone but there was no sign that the patient ever had it. (The reason for this miracle is that the person was praying to Mary, and invoking Her help through Her powerful Green Scapular sacramental.) And we here at the Catholic Kingdom have seen countless other miracles. Understand this also, while God is happy to help us in our day to day needs, the only thing that is ultimately important to Him is for us to save our soul and be safe and happy with Him forever in Heaven. So if we ask for something that will get in the way of our salvation, God will not give us what we are asking for, because He loves us too much. Instead, He will give the person something else that is more conducive to their eternal happiness which will last forever, instead of their natural happiness which, because it's natural, is here today and gone tomorrow. Everything in this world is passing away, and when we base our happiness on anything in it, it's only common sense that that happiness cannot last. Another thing to remember about prayers being answered is this, it is a known fact that sometimes when people have obtained miraculous help from Heaven, especially regarding cures, there are times when the illnesses return - and sometimes worse than before. At times when Saints have been involved in these situations, and were the ones who obtained the original cures, the Saints assure us that this reversal of God's generous mercy is due to one or both of two things: 1) a lack of gratitude to Heaven, which usually manifests itself by the person receiving the miracle not wanting to amend that part of their life which is offending God; Or 2) out of a defective human respect, people are afraid to tell others of their miraculous cure and that Heaven was its source. Another problem that can arise (which would easily lead to one or both of the reasons above) is that the person can initially be very grateful but then, after some time, gives in to the temptation to not believe that the cure was miraculous or that they were very sick in the first place. Again, when God, in His generosity, helps us in our trials to relieve our suffering, He desires and reasonably expects us, in our gratitude, to try to make some amendment in our life in those areas that are obstacles to our salvation. As far as Jane's apparent relapse, it's hard to know of course how grateful Jane is, or in what way she may be trying to live her life more pleasing to God. Only God can judge these things. But here is another reason why God might be permitting this backsliding. When she was sick, everyone who knew her became very concerned and began praying fervently for God to help her. When she was cured, they probably slacked off on their prayers of gratitude and/or to keep helping her. And so God could be permitting this to rekindle fervent prayer in everyone again. Finally, just as God's sole concern for us is our eternal happiness, hell's sole concern is our eternal misery. With all of these prayers focused on Jane, it is normal to expect a backlash attack from hell. They don't really care what is troubling Jane. They just want to keep her agitated, relatively cut-off from God, and seeking natural solutions to her problems from human beings on earth. It is hell's way of trying to make it difficult if not impossible for her to do what she needs to do so that her soul will be saved. And so, this is not a battle for her mental stability, as much as it is a battle for her soul and eternal happiness. So why then does God permit a relapse? Certainly it was to incite all to redouble their prayers, not just for her peace of mind but for the salvation of her soul. We have seen time and time again this same pattern with hell. And when Heaven permits hell to increase their attacks, it's because the person needs an increase of prayer, and that's what Heaven is asking of everyone. She will certainly be tempted to take off her Brown Scapular, reduce or cease praying, and certainly to not go back to Church, especially the sacraments. But Heaven is all-powerful, and we must have confidence in God's power, mercy and love. So no matter what it appears is going on inside of Jane, our response is to pray with a greater fervency and focus - not just about her physical needs, but even more importantly for her salvation. Heaven has conquered far more difficult situations than this. So keep up your prayers! Heaven will answer them. Remember, Jesus tells us that whatever we ask for in His Name, if we don't faint (if we don't quit, if we don't give up), He will surely give us, if it is good for our soul. And praying for Jane's salvation is the greatest good her soul can receive. And that is our prayer until she is safely in Heaven. God bless you, Michael. Keep a good heart. Please remember us in your prayers, and know that we will always be praying for you. Thanks for writing to us, Michael. It's always good to hear from you!