"Christianity", is the religion with the largest membership: In 1995 there are mainly "3 branches", with 1,927 million members:

1- Catholicism: 968 million.

2- Orthodoxy (since 1045): 218 million.

3- Protestantism (since 1517): 465 million, plus 276 million not on the main Protestant line.

(Encyclopaedia Britannica, Year 1996)

Today, in 1998, the number is 2,100 million: 1,100 Catholics, 227 Orthodox, 773 Protestants.

There are over 700 "denominations",  and it is the greatest "shame" and "glory" of Christianity:

1 - It is a "shame", because they have different and contradictory believes and practices: One denomination says "Jesus is God", another says, "Jesus is not God"... one says the Spirit is God, another says, he is not... one says, Jesus is really present in the Eucharist, another says he is not... one says abortion is bad, another says it is good... and so on, 1,001 contradictions, and all believing they are the Church of Jesus Christ...

2- But it is also a "glory", because it is the fulfillment of the prophecies of Jesus, who 2,000 years ago said that there will come "many" false prophets, with "many" false churches, that will deceive "many", if possible, even the elect! (Matt.24:5,11,24)... Similar prophecies were made by Peter and Paul also 2,000 years ago (2Pet.2, 2Tim.3)...

... I pray that you and I are not one of those "many" that will be deceived.

But Jesus made another two prophecies on his Church, that also will be fulfilled to the letter:

1- "There will be only one flock, one shepherd" (Jn.10:16)... and so shall it be!.

2- "And the gates of Hades (Hell) will not prevail against my Church" (Matt.16:18)... the gates of Hell, or the powers of the netherworld, will fight my Church, but my Church shall overcome, and triumph over them!...

... Nearly 2,000 years of Church history have elapsed. Kingdoms, empires, and governments have risen and fallen, yet the Church marches on. Despite persecution, moral laxity, heresies challenging it both from inside and from outside, the Church of Jesus Christ have prevailed, fulfilling Jesus' words, "the gates of Hell will not overcome it". It has experience dark moments, but even the darkness of the first Good Friday gave way to the brightness and splendor of the Resurrection and the empty tomb... so, the darkness moments of the Church, its Good Friday, will only be the announcement of the coming glorious Easter Sunday, when Jesus and his Church, the bridegroom and the bride, unite forever, with only one shepherd and one flock.

- It is the fulfillment of Gen.3:15:

The devil and its descendants will bite the heel of the Church, but the Church will crush the head of the serpent and of his offspring...

... In Rev.12, at the end of the Bible, the "serpent" and the "woman" are still engaged in the perpetual battle prophesied in Gen.3:15... the "serpent" and its offspring, are Satan and his followers; the "woman", is either the Church, or the Virgin Mary, because all prophecies in the Bible related to Mary can be applied to the Church, and vice verse... the "offspring of the woman", says at the end of Rev.12, are "those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus" (Rev.12:17).

... Right now, you and I are either a "child of God", or a "child of the devil" (1Jn.3:10), no matter if you are Jew, Christian, Muslim, Hindu... if you are in "sin", you a child of God; if you are in the "grace of God", trusting in the Lord, and holding the testimony of Jesus, you are a child of God...

... If you are a "child of the devil" you are going to bite the Church of God and its offspring... if you are a "child of God" you are going to be bitten by the serpent and its offspring, but you are going to crush its head!... you will always end up being the victor, with the Blood of Jesus Christ!... This is the story of your life and of mine: Our history of salvation... Jesus loves you... let yourself be loved... he is waiting for you daily in the Eucharist (Jn.6:53, Matt.6:11).

"ACCOMPLISHMENTS" in 2,000 years

... 80,612 Elementary and Primary Schools; 6,400 Colleges and Universities...

The Church of Christ, Catholicism, was born at Calvary, among pains and blood, like all the births, and it was made public at Pentecost, 50 days after the Resurrection Sunday, in the year 33.

- In these almost 2,000 years, the accomplishments have been immense, really fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus, "whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these" (Jn.14:12)...

... In the statistics of 1992 (Yearbook of the Church), Catholicism touches the lives of "billions", "every day":

- The Church run 5,478 Hospitals with 4,500 million people treated, 14,806 Dispensaries, 793 Leprosariums, 27,281 Homes for the aged homeless and handicapped, 7,102 Orphanages, 9,293 Nurseries, 97,823 Special Centers for Social Services, 8,216 Matrimonial Advice Centers... and practically "billions" attended in their "homes", for sickness, aged, children, emotional problems, marriages, drugs, alcohol...

- The Catholic Church in 1992 run 52,828 kindergartens with an attendance of 5 million students, 80,612 Elementary and Primary Schools with 25 million students, 31,711 Secondary Schools with 13 million students, and 2 million students in its 6,400 Colleges and Universities.

- In the USA, in 1993, the Church run 606 hospitals with 54 million patients treated; 1,592 Specialized Homes; 188 Orphanages took care of 75,890 children; 2,115 Centers for Social Services helped 20 million people... it run 7,136 Elementary Schools with 2 million students, 1,248 High Schools with 603,679 students, 227 Colleges and Universities with 643,127 students, 96 Schools for Handicapped with 8,764 students (The Official Catholic Directory, 1994).

... And all of these statistical data are "nothing", compared with the "billions" of daily good works produced by one billion Catholics around the world.

... I can't find data on the number of leaflets, newspapers, magazines, books, radio, television, full time missionaries and evangelists around the world... but the numbers run into the "millions"!.

They resurrected 400 persons:

St. Patrick 39, one of them 3 years after her death; St. Vincent Ferrer 28, St. Francis Xavier 10... The Bible records 3 resurrections by Jesus, and a total of8 resurrections in the whole bible... indeed, the words of Jesus are true, "whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these" (Jn.14:12)... all of these recorded in the "process of canonization", by, probably, the most strict Tribunal on earth.

"Incorrupt":

At least 100 Saints had their bodies "incorrupt", when they were unburied in the process of canonization: St. Teresa of Avila, St. Vincent of Paul, St. Bernadette of Lourdes, St. Francis Xavier, St. Catherine Laboure in Paris...

"Supernatural visions":

The Bible describes dozens of "supernatural visions"... in the lives of the Saints there are thousands of visions, apparitions...

"Miracles":

The Bible reports hundreds of "miracles... in the lives of the saints "millions"... of "miraculous healing", "miracles over nature", "levitations", "bilocations", "stigmatized" with the wounds of Jesus... and all of them real, historic, endorsed by the "Tribunals" of the process of beatification and canonization...

... and the most important fact in the lives of the Saints are not those miracles and manifestations, but lives lived daily in Christ, notable for holiness and virtues practiced... in fact, many of the most well known Saints did not have their bodies incorrupt, nor they did many extraordinary miracles, like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic, St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Therese of Lisieux...

- In 1992, there were 2,400 Dioceses, plus 12 Patriarchates for the Catholic-Orthodox Dioceses... with 404,136 Priests, 865,902 Nuns, 61,082 Brothers, and 19,395 Deacons whose number is growing up very fast... their accomplishments in 2,000 years have been colossal, with millions of people touched daily in all kinds of situations, children , youth, adult, elders...

- There are also 807 "Archbishops", who are Bishops leading Dioceses of special importance, and 138 "Cardinals", with the privilege to choose the next Pope, all named by the Pope.

Inter-Diocesan Organizations: Besides this general organization, there are in the Church thousands of Organizations working in several Dioceses, and ready to move to any part of the world as they may be needed. Some of them are the next:

- There are two main kinds of "Orders":

1- "Monks": They stay all their life in the same monastery; started by St. Benedict.

2- "Friars": They are ready to move to any place at any time; started by St. Dominic.

- In more than 2,000 Orders, they do an immense work of evangelism and good deeds for the neighbor... but they are so humble, that I could not find specific data in most of them:

However, to have an idea:

The "De la Salle Christian Brothers", number 7,500, teaching 1 million students in 1,100 places, within 82 countries; the data taken from the Internet. Call (800) 433-7593.

The "Sisters Servants of Mary", are 2,300, in Europe, America and Africa, and in 1996 they visited 267,650 patients at home, each visit lasting for 8 to 10 hours, taking care of all the needs of the person, medical, cleaning, feeding... they also did spiritual and emotional support to 669,440 persons; preventive medicine, taking the vital signs, to 389,120 persons; and individual counseling to 359,680 persons... Call my friend, Sister Angeles, in New York, (718) 829-0428.

The "Jesuits", are 23,570. Only the area of New York they are 539 priests, who conduct 1 University, 3 Colleges, 7 High Schools, 4 Retreat Houses, 8 Parishes, the Society for the Blind, chaplaincies in several hospital and prisons, and many publications. Call (212) 774-5500.

The "Franciscans", men, are mainly 5 groups: Friars Minor, Capuchins, Conventual, Third Order Regular, Friars of the Atonement... with a total of 35,589 members... Only in the area of St. Louis, MO, they are 340 Franciscan Friars, who carry 75 parishes, 1 University, 2 High Schools, 3 Foreign Missions, nursing care, Chaplains of several hospitals and jails, ministry for Mexicans, Blacks, Native Americans, youth, Social Justice issues... Call 1-800- 993-4871.

The "Franciscans", women, are a legion, with over 70,000 members. Only in New York, the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor are 230 Sisters, who run 9 acute care Hospitals with AIDS ministries, 1 Women's Hospital, 6 long term care and retirement centers, work with the poor and the homeless... call (212) 242-0446.

The "Salesians", are 17,497 members, in 102 countries, dedicated mainly to the youth. Only in New York, they are 172 Priests, who conduct 5 High Schools, 2 Technical High Schools, 1 Resident Junior High School, 6 Youth Centers, 20 Parishes, 7 Home Missions, 1 Media Center, 12 Summer Camps, 1 center for youth ministry, 1 job training center... Call (914) 636-4225.

The "Missionaries of Charity", of Mother Therese of Calcutta, are 4,000 Sisters taking care to the poorest of the poor, in the 6 Continents. Call my friends in the Bronx, NY (718) 292-0019.

The "Augustinians, and Recollects", number 4,543. In New York, the Augustinian Recollects have 42 Priests, doing a good work with the Hispanics, Cursillo Center, 8 Parishes, charismatic renewal, neo-catechumenate, hospital chaplaincies. Call my friends, Fr. Peluso or Fr. Gregorio (718) 823-458-1221, or my other friends, Fr. Duenas or Blas (718) 823-0460, or my friend Fr. Angel (212) 534-0704

- The Benedictines, men, number 8,738;

- The Dominicans, men, are 6,561.

- The Redemptorists 6,052.

- The Marist Brothers 5,785, "My School", call my friend Brother Bartholomew (718) 441-0205

- The Oblates 5,273.

- The Descalced Carmelites 3,710...

... and so on, over 2,000 different Orders, men and women, today, in 1998... a most glorious crown!.

... A most beautiful crown of the Body of Christ!.

- So, in the "Secular Institutes" there are usually 3 kinds of members:

1- Priests.

2- "Non-married" secular men, or women, but with votes like a Carmelite.

2- "Married" persons with promises.

- There are today, in 1998, 186 Canonically erected Secular Institutes for men and women, doing wonderful work, in the middle of society. Some of them are:

- "Opus Dei" ("Work of God"):  It is the best known, with 80,000 members in 80 countries. Founded by Blessed Jose Maria Escriva in 1928; Pope John Paul II established it as a personal prelature in 1982, with the title of "Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei"... join it!... call my friend Dr. Mastew, in New York (212) 222-3285.

- The "Acies Cristi" ("Army of Christ"): Founded by Msgr. Avelino de Castro, is doing good work in Europe and America... Join it!... Call my friend Dr. Durantez, in Madrid (91) 547-7051. Like the Opus Dei, it is for men and women.

- The "Secular Institute of Schoenstatt Fathers", in 20 Countries.

- The "Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ the King", for men and women, in 30 countries.

- The "Nuestra Senora de Altagracia" for women. - The "Oblate Missionaries", the "Opus Spiritus Sancti"...

- Join one of them!... to do so, just ask the Pastor in your Parish, or a Cursillista, or a Charismatic, or a Legionnaire, or Renew...

Cursillos of Christianity:

The "Cursillo" is a 3 days retreat, where you live the Christian fundamentals. Based on the "Mystical Body of Christ" of 1Cor.12, you live the live of "grace", the Sacraments, and a life of love, where each one is brother or sister of the other, like my right hand is sister of my left hand... only one body in Christ!.

- After the "Cursillo", we live this life of love and evangelizing, joining in small "Groups of Friends", and several Groups form an "Ultreya" in the Parish... to help each other in the spiritual and material needs, and to help many to go to Heaven.

- I am actually the President of the Secretariat of Cursillos in Spanish in New York... and for me, it has been a glorious life in Christ for 39 years.

- There are Cursillistas practically in all the countries of the Catholic world. In New York, we have 86 Ultreyas; in Brooklyn, 75.

- Join us!... Make a Cursillo... just ask your Catholic Pastor, or any Cursillista... in New York, call me or my friends, (718) 796-4340.

Charismatic Renewal:

The "Catholic Charismatic Renewal" is thousands of Groups of lay and religious, men and women, in all the countries of the Catholic world, who meet in "Prayer Groups" to praise the Lord, practice the charismas of healing, prophecy, tongues... of 1Cor.12, help each other in our spiritual and material needs, and help many of our neighbors to go to Heaven.

- In New York, we have 265 Prayer Groups in Spanish, and hundreds of others in English, Portuguese, Italian, Jamaicans...

- I am in the Charismatic Renewal for 25 years, and it has been a wonderful experience for me... actually, I am a member of the "Group of Coordinators" for the Hispanics in New York.

- Join us... make a "Charismatic Retreat", or a "Seminar", or just join a "Prayer Group"... ask a Priest, or a lay Charismatic, in any Catholic Parish.... in New York call me, or my friends, (718) 378-1734.

Legion of Mary:

They are Groups (Presidiums), of lay brothers and sisters wishing to give everything to Jesus through Virgin Mary, following the "order of redemption". We are all over the Catholic world.

- In our weekly meetings of the Presidium, each member commits himself to 2 hours of specific visits to help neighbors in their spiritual needs, and each one reports the work done the past week. We help each other to become Saints, in our material and spiritual needs.

- I worked in the Legion of Mary for 15 years, and it is glorious... in New York, there are hundreds of Groups in English, Spanish...

- Join us!... ask in any Catholic Parish... in New York, the Senatus, (212) 752-7966.

... If you can not do active work, you can be an "Auxiliary member", praying daily the "catena".

Slaves Carmelites Penitents for Priests:

My wife, Gladys, started this Association in 1975, and there are now involved 26,000 persons, lay men and women, nuns, brothers, priests, 500 Bishops, 100 Cardinals, and the last 3 Popes.

- Each laymen or lay women, or nun, after making the total Consecration to Mary, according to St. Louis Mary of Montfort, becomes a "god-father" or a "god-mother" for a Priest, offering his life for the sanctification and perseverance of that Priest...

... In return, that Priest, prays for his "god-father" or "god-mother" very specially in each Mass.

- There is no money involved... and no personal contact involved... the Priest only knows the first name of his "god-father", and the "god-father" or god-mother" only knows the first name of the Priest, but he doesn't know even in what part of the world the Priest lives... the "god-mother" of the Pope, for example, only knows he is offering his life for Father John Paul.

- It is just a "spiritual work"... and when Pope Paul VI approved it, he shed tears, and says, "this is what is needed in the Church today".

- I am a god-father for a Priest for 20 years, and it is beautiful.

- Join us!... Call Gladys, in New York, (718) 892-5886.

"Secret Agents", Against Abortion:

It is a good work of my wife, Gladys, since 1995.

- If you know of any person who wants to make an Abortion, call Gladys and give her the name and telephone of the person who wants to have an Abortion.... Gladys will take care from there. Your name and telephone will remain "secret", no one will know that you are the one who called.

- So far, more that 200 persons have not done the Abortion they were planning... the baby was born!.

- The method is to talk with the person who wants to have the Abortion, try to help her with her problems: May be she has no home, or she is not married, or the parents want her out...

... Gladys tries to help her finding a home, or finding a place to learn English, or to find a job, or with the problems with Immigration... always using the institutions of the Church.

- The fact is that, so far, none of them has made the Abortion... Gladys helps, prays... and keeps on talking on the telephone up to 3 hours, until the person decides not to have the Abortion!...

- Same "Secret Agents" started to do Glady's job... try to do the same in your area.

... If you know anyone who wants to have an Abortion, just call Gladys, in New York, (718) 892-5886, day or night.

Another "Catholic Associations"and "Groups":

There are thousands, all of them very good, and each one different... Join one!... they are like the "synagogues" in the times of Jesus. On them, millions of lay Catholics, help each other in their spiritual and material needs...they help the neighbors, with thousands of works of charity... and help them to go to Heaven... It is a legion of love in action...

... Talk to the Priest of your Parish, and he may tell you which one is the best for you:

- We have in our home a "Cenacle for Priests" every first Thursday of the month.

- The "Catholic Action", where I worked for 15 years.

- The "Holy Name Society" for men, where I was for 10 years;

- "Ladies of the Sacred Heart of Jesus";

- "Communities" of different kinds; the "Neo-Catechumenate" movement of Kiko;

- The "Program of Light and Life", of my friend Bishop Arias of New Jersey, to study and live the Bible;

- The "Workshops of Prayer and Life", where my friend Elias is a national leader in the USA;

- Renew" is another good program to live the Bible;

- "Daughters of Mary", "Boys and Girl Scouts", "Youth and Senior Groups", "Third Orders", "Alcoholic or Narcotic Anonymous", "Marriage Encounters", "Parents Organizations", "Anti-Abortion Groups", "Social Organizations".... and, of course, "Parish Councils", "Choirs", "Clubs", "Confraternities", ... thousands!... Join one!.