An Open Letter on the Upcoming BiMillennium of the Catholic Church
Pentecost Sunday
May 19, 2024
Dear Fellow Catholics and all Christians of Good Faith,
On Pentecost Sunday, in the Year of our Lord, 2033, nine short years from this day, the Catholic Church will celebrate its bimillennial anniversary. That day will mark two thousand years since the Church was made known to the world through the unleashing of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples “like the rush of a mighty wind” (Acts 2:2).
Sadly, in our world today, that “rush of a mighty wind” has, through the sin and indifference of much of mankind, been reduced to little more than a slight breeze in regards to its influence on the activities of man. Claiming to be wise, we have become fools (Rom 1:22). We have sacrificed untold millions of our children at the altar of Moloch (Jer 32:35), engaged in dishonorable passions (Rom 1:26), called evil good and good evil (Isa 5:20), risen up against our brother (Gen 4:8), and used the stone tablets of the 10 Commandments as nothing more than headstones in the graveyard of virtue and sanity. Our leaders have forgotten whom they serve (Matt 20:25-28) and Whom they serve (Matt 4:10). We are deserving of nothing more than the harshest of judgments from He who rules all nations with a rod of iron (Rev 19:15).
Yet, we hope. God, in His mercy, is always standing at the ready to receive the Prodigal Son back into His household (Luke 15). Which is why we, the undersigned, are calling upon our fellow Catholics, and all who are united to the Church - the Body of Christ - through Baptism, to begin today, a nine-year novena of prayer, and preparation, for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
We come to you in fraternal love and charity. We have no particular plan for how this novena of prayer and preparation should unfold for anyone - individually or corporately - however, we would like to offer some possible courses of action that could be taken by individuals, small groups, apostolates and ministries, parishes, and even dioceses.
For the individual, an increase in prayer and study of the truths of the Faith. Perhaps joining with others for group studies of the Bible, the Catechism, an encyclical, books written by the saints, and so on. The same could be done by the various apostolates and ministries, as well as by the parishes. The parishes could increase their hours for Eucharistic adoration and possibly offer more opportunities for Confession. The parishes could also promote a time or times each week for the faithful to come together to pray the Rosary and/or the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Each diocese could have a Eucharistic procession in a different city within the diocese each year, or perhaps a large gathering to say the Rosary in an arena or stadium, possibly with a Mass, again, in a different city within the diocese each year.
Catholic publishers could produce books, booklets, studies, and workbooks that focus on a different theme for each of the nine years. For example, 2025 is the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The theme for that year could be the Trinity, with a particular focus on the divinity of Christ. 2026 is the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter’s Basilica. The theme for the year could be the Pope and Apostolic Authority and the Magisterium. 2028 is the 60th anniversary of Humanae Vitae. The theme for that year might be the Church’s teaching on life and marriage and family. 2031 is the 500th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mary and the various Marian apparitions around the world could be the focus of that year.
Again, though, these are just some thoughts and ideas we offer as a starting point for the Catholic faithful to consider and act upon as we approach this momentous event in the Catholic Church’s history. We hope and pray, however, that you will act. Fasting and prayer. The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Rosaries. Eucharistic processions. Individual and group studies.
Prayer and preparation for what could be the greatest opportunity for evangelization the Church has seen in her 2000-year history. Our world is in chaos. We need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit as much now as we did on the original Day of Pentecost, if not more! We need conversion! We need Christ!
Finally, for our brothers and sisters in Christ outside the confines of the Catholic Church, we invite you to pray and prepare with us. We invite you to dialogue with us. Jesus prayed at the Last Supper that we - His followers - be one as He and the Father are one so that the world may believe that He was sent by the Father (John 17:20-23). Let us, then, in these next nine years, work towards fulfilling that prayer of our Lord.
A great opportunity is upon us, brothers and sisters, “For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light,” (Rom 13:11-12).
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Signees
John S. Martignoni
Founder/President
Bible Christian Society
{Add your name here}
(If you agree with the intent and content of this letter and would like to add your name as one of the signees, I invite you to do so by going to this website: Catholic2000.com. And, if you are indeed willing to sign it, I hope you will also be willing to share it on your various social media platforms - Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, et al - and ask others to sign it, too. Maybe even email it to your various Christian contacts - Catholic or not - and ask them to please consider signing it also.)