Tag: sin
Our Lady of Quito and a warning for our age
I was leafing through the current issue of The Flock, the newsletter of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, (available here) when I came across an article by the redoubtable Mrs Daphne McLeod about Our Lady of Quito—otherwise known as Our Lady of Good Success—who appeared several times to Mother Mariana, Abbess of the convent of the Immaculate Conception… Read More ›
In the Pride of Our Times…
Many don’t realize that there’s a difference between a “skeptic” and a “naysayer.” Or used to be. These days, they’re used as synonyms, and in some cases are even defined as such. Actually, they are not. In their original forms — at least in the ancient Greek sense of the words — a skeptic meant… Read More ›
Holy and Religious Works
When the holy Paphnutius was already living the angelic life he once prayed God to show him if there were any other holy people he could be compared with. An angel appeared and told him that there was a musician (symphoniacus) like him in a certain village, who made a living by practicing his art…. Read More ›
Uprooting sin belongs to God Alone
To uproot sin and the evil that is so imbedded in our sinning can be done only by divine power, for it is impossible and outside man’s competence to uproot sin. To struggle, yes, to continue to fight, to inflict blows, and to receive setbacks is in your power. To uproot, however, belongs to God… Read More ›
Spousal Privilege
Since I’ve been on vacation, I’ve been watching an unusual amount of television. Over the past few days, I’ve been struck by the volume of material about sex. Talk shows, tv shows, even supposedly conservative networks like Fox News seem to be obsessed with the topic. The mentality of these talk show hosts seems to… Read More ›
Does not love make amends?
I will flee from the sight of the anger of the Lord and go to a place of refuge, to that zeal of mercy which burns sweetly and wholly purifies. Does not love make amends? Truly it does powerfully. I have read that it covers a multitude of sins. But I would ask this: is… Read More ›
Prayer to be Freed of the Seven Deadly Sins
This is one of the most popular posts on the site. It is repeated for this Lenten period O Jesus, meek Savior and Prince of Peace, implant in me the virtues of gentleness and patience. Let me curb the fury of anger and restrain all resentment and impatience so as to overcome evil with good,… Read More ›
It is necessary for us to fall
After this [God] allows us to fall harder and more grievously than ever we did before — as it seems to us. And then we think (because we are not all wise) that what we had begun has come to nothing. But it is not so. It is necessary for us to fall and it… Read More ›
God’s attitude to my sin is pity, not blame
Unfortunately we do not learn about sinfulness from a heavenly messenger. Nor is it like the result of a personality test. We learn of our sinfulness when we are tempted. Temptation is more than awareness of alternative options: I am not tempted to genocide if I lack the means; I am not tempted to computer… Read More ›
We must become more aware of the reality of sin in our life
Because one cannot understand sin, one may be tempted to doubt its reality. Or call it relatively harmless mischief – like violating a code of obligations intended for somebody much better than I am. Humiliated by my inability to will sin away, I may try to imagine it away, or to rationalize my situation. But… Read More ›