(My aunt with her daughter, my cousin, Brooke, Easter 2005)
Today is the third anniversary of my Aunt Jeanne’s death. Sadness is still with me and the family at her untimely death. The Mass will be offered for her tomorrow. May her soul rest in peace.
“I am the victim of violence in my nature,” you say. “I love Christ, yet my nature compels me to sin.”
If you were in fact compelled to sin, if you were the victim of violence, then you would be forgiven for it. On the other hand, if you sin through idleness, do not expect forgiveness.
But let us look at the question a moment to discover if we do commit sins by compulsion, under pressure of violence, rather than through idleness or serious negligence.
It is written: “Thou shalt not kill.”
But who compels you to kill? Who forces you to do it? On the contrary, you have to do violence to your own nature to kill someone. Which of us would light-heartedly cut a neighbor’s throat? Who would gladly stain his hands with blood? No one. So the facts are the exact opposite of your contention. To sin, you have to force yourself.
God has given our nature the gift of mutual love as a result of which every living creature loves its own kind, every human being loves his neighbor. Do you see? Our nature predisposes us to virtue. It is vices that are contrary to nature. If they win a victory, it is the fault of series negligence on our part.
And adultery, what shall we say about that? What sort of necessity drives you to that?
Your answer: “The tyranny of desire.”
Why, I ask you? Can you not have intercourse with your spouse and in this way defeat that tyranny? “But I am in love someone else’s spouse.” In this case there is no compulsion. Love cannot be compelled. You do not love because you are forced to love: you love spontaneously, of your own free will. Sexual intercourse spontaneously, of your own free will. Sexual intercourse may be an irresistible need, but love is a free choice.
The conclusion is clearly apparently: virtue is consistent with our nature whereas vice is opposed to it.
Saint John Chrysostom
On the Letter to the Ephesians 2, 3 (PG 62, 20)
Although the life of a monk ought to have about it at all times the character of a Lenten observance, yet since few have the virtue for that, we therefore urge that during the actual days of Lent the brethren keep their lives most pure and at the same time wash away during these holy days all the negligences of other times.
And this will be worthily done
if we restrain ourselves from all vices and give ourselves up to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart and to abstinence.
During these days, therefore, let us increase somewhat the usual burden of our service, as by private prayers and by abstinence in food and drink. Thus everyone of his own will may offer God “with joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:6)
something above the measure required of him.
From his body, that is he may withhold some food, drink, sleep, talking and jesting; and with the joy of spiritual desire he may look forward to holy Easter. Let each one, however, suggest to his Abbot what it is that he wants to offer, and let it be done with his blessing and approval.
For anything done without the permission of the spiritual father will be imputed to presumption and vainglory and will merit no reward.
Therefore let everything be done with the Abbot’s approval.
Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 49
O sacred head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding head, so wounded,
reviled and put to scorn!
Our sins have marred the glory
of thy most holy face,
yet angel hosts adore thee
and tremble as they gaze
I see thy strength and vigor
all fading in the strife,
and death with cruel rigor,
bereaving thee of life;
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
O turn thy face on me.
In this thy bitter passion,
Good Shepherd, think of me
with thy most sweet compassion,
unworthy though I be:
beneath thy cross abiding
for ever would I rest,
in thy dear love confiding,
and with thy presence blest.
(asc. to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091-1153)
Prayers requested for the peaceful repose of the soul of Dom Germain Leo Fritz, monk of the Abbey of Saint Mary (Morristown, NJ) who died today.
Why does error have a free rein and why does God allow the wicked to disturb the existence of so many people?
First of all, before trying to understand, we need to put ourselves in front of the incomprehensible wisdom of God. One who is firmly anchored in God does not suffer any loss, even if attacked by a thousand waves and a thousand storms. On the contrary, he emerges stronger.
There is a reason, however, which I can venture to suggest.
In the first place, scandals are permitted so that the rewards of the righteous may not be diminished. That is why God said to Job: “Do you not understand that I have treated you in this fashion so that righteousness may be made manifest?” [Job 40:8]
But there is a another reason why the wicked are left at large: so that they may not be deprived of the advantages of conversion from their evil ways, which certainly could not happen if they had been rendered incapable of doing evil. In this way,
You may speak to me about those who have been scandalized. Well and good. But I then speak to you about those who have benefited from the scandal by winning glory, and I repeat my point: the existence of careless and lazy people would not justify leaving in a state of inferiority keen and wide-awake people who are capable of richly deserving their eternal recompense. A great wrong would be done to them if they were not given the chance to strive.
On
(SC 79, pp 183ff.)
Asia News and the Calgary Herald are reporting another Catholic bishop, Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo, 74, was arrested in
May God grant His Eminence, Edward Michael Cardinal Egan many years.
Abundant Blessings on His Birthday
Priest, Scholar, Mentor
Today marks the fourth anniversary of the death of our beloved Pope John Paul II. His physical absence is felt but I believe that he’s interceding before the throne of grace for those who ask.
I consider myself in the John Paul generation and I look forward to the day that the Church beatifies and canonizes him. Even though I love Pope Benedict, I still love Pope John Paul. May his memory be eternal.
God, Who, in Thine ineffable providence, didst will that Thy servant John Paul II should be numbered among the high priests, grant, we beseech Thee, that he, who on earth held the place of Thine only-begotten Son, may be joined forevermore to the fellowship of Thy holy pontiffs. Through Christ our Lord.
Some newsworthy items:
Sophia Loren speaks about John Paul moving toward sainthood.
A Rabbi speaks about John Paul.
A video clip on the 6pm Mass offered by Pope Benedict for Pope John Paul II.
A video clip on the documentation of Pope John Paul’s move toward being called saint.
Carl Anderson reflects on his relationship with the Servant of God Pope John Paul II on this 4th anniversary of the Pope’s death.
The martyrdom of Japanese Christians in the 17th century is the subject of a film being produced by the Italian-American director Martin Scorsese. The film is based on the novel Chinmoku (“Silence”) written by Japanese Catholic writer Endo Shusaku [1923-1997]. He describes the persecution suffered by Japanese Christians during