I ask you to accept this post on abyssum.org in lieu of a personal letter thanking you for your birthday greetings on the occasion of my celebration yesterday, June 9, of my 96th Birthday. I have received so many birthday greetings from around the world that it is simply impossible for me to acknowledge each individually so I will make this post more personal than I would otherwise in order to compensate for my inability to address you personally.
I celebrated my Mass of Thanksgiving yesterday in my private chapel in my residence.
It was, of course, the Liturgy of the Solemnity of Pentecost. I thanked God for giving me the opportunity for celebrating my Birthday Mass with the Liturgy of the Birthday of His Church, for the Catholic Church was born on Pentecost Day. Since this could well have been the last time that I would be able to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on my birthday, it was all the more meaningful for me.
All things considered, I am in good health. I do not take any prescription medication and I am still reasonably mobile.
My principle ailment in recent years has been sciatica caused by spinal stenosis. That was taken care of by the implantation of three Superion titanium devices in my spine last year which relieved the pressure on my spinal cord.
Unfortunately the physical therapy ordered by my spine surgeon enabled the therapist at the physical therapy center to leave me unattended on “Saint Catherine’s Rack” and the mechanical table popped my Sacroilliac Joint and so now I am crippled.
I have managed to bring my macular degeneration under control by scrupulously following a strict diet. I have 20/15 vision in my left eye and 20/100 vision in my right eye. Unfortunately my right eye is my hunting eye and so I am no longer able to hunt feral hogs that do so much damage to farm crops.
My Type II diabetes is kept under control by avoiding sugar in my food and drink.
My days are spent working in my garden and on my computer and reading. I am currently reading Wolfgang Smith’s book, THE QUANTUM ENIGMA, in pursuit of answers to the riddle of gravity. Gravity is, I believe, a manifestation of the power of God to hold all of creation in relation to every part of creation. I do not expect to find the answer of the origin of gravity in my lifetime but hopefully God will reveal it to me in my afterlife.
In closing this letter I will share with you my reliance on a meditation/prayer of Blessed John Henry Newman, soon to be canonized:
God has created me to do Him some definite service:
He has committed some work to me,
which he has not committed to another.
I have my mission – I may never know it in this life
But I shall be told it in the next.
I am a link in a chain,
a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for naught.
I shall do His work. I shall do good.
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place,
while not intending it – if I do but keep His commandments.
Therefore I will trust him.
Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him;
If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.
He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about.
He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers.
He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, Hide my future from me
….still he knows what He is about.
ABYSSUS ABYSSUM INVOCAT / DEEP CALLS TO DEEP 
My family and I are so thankful for Bishop Gracida, along with Tricia Flanagan, candidate for U.S. Senate. People are thankful for you and your 96 years of widsom, experiance, blessings and peace. I have spoken up on Twitter about what you post here on Abyssum!!!!!
PS- It is up to others such as Church Militant, The Remnent, the FSSP, One Peter Five, John Salza and Robert Siscoe, Mark Shea, all of these people, need to unite for the greater good and help this successor to the Apostles. Yes, I called for that on Twitter.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. We pray that God willing, you live to 100!!!!!
I am sorry I missed the day Bp. Gracida.
But I send you belated birthday greetings and prayers for some respite from the ailments Our Lord allows and uses in this life for our salvation and that of others.
I am sure yours are especially effective on behalf of so many in need, especially in these times.
I pray that God Bless and keep you safe.
On Mon, Jun 10, 2019 at 2:19 PM ABYSSUS ABYSSUM INVOCAT / DEEP CALLS TO DEEP wrote:
> abyssum posted: ” I ask you to accept this post on abyssum.org in lieu of > a personal letter thanking you for your birthday greetings on the occasion > of my celebration yesterday, June 9, of my 96th Birthday. I have received > so many birthday greetings from around the” >
May you continue to be blessed and protected, Bishop Gracida, by the Most Holy Trinity, Eternal Father, Eternal Son our Redeemer, and the Eternal Holy Ghost.
Michael Ewbank
Dear Bishop Gracida,
Happy Birthday 96th! What a gift from God you are!
There is not a day that passes without thanking God for you! Your faith does not waver and your good instruction is without compromise. Your love and devotion to Jesus and Mary, like all of the Saints who walked before you, is a gift from the Holy Spirit! How bless we are to have you!
After returning from the Rome conference in 2009 I wrote what I had come to know. Standing on a bridge that was constructed in the 1400âs Dan and I viewed the Python, the Coliseum and visualized the birth of Catholic Church, having burst into life in color and beauty throughout Rome. As far as we could see there were steeples and crosses, statues and   monuments all pointing the way to the cross of our Salvation. Of course, the Vatican was astounding, every square inch! Because we were with Dr. Byrne and Mercedes, we were blessed to visit the resting place of the Popes.
Following great men and women of faith, Dan and I were convictedâ¦â¦.we were Catholic! On the long journey home I penned what I was given, the vision of the gift of the Catholic Church as she sailed through turbulence and calm waters. Our Lordâs elect and faithful steadied her course. (Please see the attached).
Upon our return we asked our Priest for instruction and on Easter 2010 Dan, I and my elderly parents entered into the fullness of the faith.
There are not words to express our gratitude for sharing your journey with us in your faithfulness! We give thanks to God for you!
With our love and prayers,
Bernice and Dan    Â
From: ABYSSUS ABYSSUM INVOCAT / DEEP CALLS TO DEEP Reply-To: ABYSSUS ABYSSUM INVOCAT / DEEP CALLS TO DEEP Date: Monday, June 10, 2019 at 12:19 PM To: Bernice Jones Subject: [New post] THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!!
abyssum posted: ” I ask you to accept this post on abyssum.org in lieu of a personal letter thanking you for your birthday greetings on the occasion of my celebration yesterday, June 9, of my 96th Birthday. I have received so many birthday greetings from around the”
Dearest Bishop Gracida,
I believe part of your mission has to do with the painful suffering you have endured , especially in the last few years. I believe your suffering is for the Church ; her agony is your agony.
I pray that our support and prayers aid you in carrying your Cross.
Viva Christo Rey!!!!
96 and you are still in the forefront of the battle for Holy Mother Church! God bless you for setting an example for the rest of us.
Wishing you all happiness and God’s peace at this special time, and thank you for the beautiful prayer of Blessed John Henry Newman.
My dear Henry, your letter THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, almost made me cry because of what you have been suffering this last year, but with time to send us a lot of very interesting and good different articles.
So as a your cousin-brother I´m very proud of you and all the moments you have lived, since you were an architecture student, your terrible experiences in the air force during World War II, The way you became a priest and later a great bishop.
I still remember the Thanks Giving Day on November 25, 2010 my family and I spent at your ranch.
Hope you received yesterday a lot of congratulations from the Beust Gracida.
Henry God Bless You.
With love Carlos Gracida Maldonado
Dear Bishop Gracida, they say that every Saint has his octave. I didn’t know that yesterday was your birthday, but congratulations today also. You are an example for clergy and for lay people; a brave saint. I’m sorry for your spine problems, because it must be hard and painful. Even so, I hope you have some good days understanding gravity. I think it is a primordial divine manifestation, as light. The apples like gravity, and the flowers look for light.
With all my respect.
Happy Birthday blessings! >
Beautiful prayer
Best regards
Mary
Happy Belated B.D. Same day as my hubby. Congrats and so sorry to hear about losing your mobility. Thanks for all you do in helping spread the Good News of Jesus Christ! Blessings, Ree One’s task is not necessarily to “achieve great things,” but rather to plant a seed under the frost, which God, in his own time, will bring to blossom. = Geusepie Pezzini
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God bless you, Bishop Gracida! So happy to hear the good news about your vision!