Oblate Program at Belmont Abbey, NC

Tag: sin

Cultivate watchfulness

We should zealously cultivate watchfulness, my brethren; and when, our mind purified in Christ Jesus, we are exalted by the vision it confers, we should review our sins and our former life, so that shattered and humbled at the thought of them we may never lose the help of Jesus Christ our God in the… Read More ›

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Pope stresses need for ‘fraternal correction’ in Christian life

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sep 4, 2011 / 01:42 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Correcting the behavior of those gone astray is an essential part of Christian life, said Pope Benedict XVI in his Sunday Angelus address Sept. 4. “This approach is called fraternal correction: it is not a reaction to injury suffered, but is moved by love… Read More ›

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Government programs/Janet/ and the KISS principle

Janet is always in financial trouble, even though she is receiving money from the government to help her to stay afloat.  Three years ago she was getting $600.00 a month for disability.  She is also on Medicaid, which helps with her medicines and doctor visits.  Janet made the mistake of letting her case worker know… Read More ›

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The futility of analyzing “the good”

The more one seeks “the good” outside oneself as something to be acquired, the more one is faced with the necessity of discussing, studying, understanding, analyzing the nature of the good. The more, therefore, one becomes involved in abstractions and in the confusion of divergent opinions. The more “the good” is objectively analyzed, the more… Read More ›

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Yes!

When meditating on one of the final prayers of Jesus on the cross- “My God, my God, why have your forsaken me”; if pursued with diligence, can be transforming in how ones relationship with God is looked upon and also perhaps, how this is shared with others.  For Christians, Jesus is an actual revelation of… Read More ›

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God’s attitude toward sin is not blame but pity

My tendency in prayer is then to try to put my sin behind me. Acknowledging only that it was an interruption in our relationship, I want to forget it when I come before God. This is a mistake. It is like hiding one’s symptoms from a physician. To go to prayer aware of the shabbiness… Read More ›

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Our sin is a happy fault

By falling we have the chance to plumb the mysteries of the divine mercy. Indeed our sin is a happy fault, as the deacon sings during the Easter vigil: 0 felix culpal But this is sin admitted, accepted and confessed, not sin hidden, denied and forced underground. God does not forgive grudgingly; showing mercy is… Read More ›

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Prayer to be Freed of the Seven Deadly Sins

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, attain your peace, and rejoice in Your love. O Jesus, Model of humility, divest me of all pride… Read More ›

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As Lent Begins…

Begin to recognize yourself, to love and possess yourself, to be kind to yourself, and you will be happy. If you desire to know yourself and to possess yourself, go into yourself, and do not search for yourself outside. Distinguish between what is around you, what belongs to you, and your self. The world surrounds… Read More ›

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Ashes (Ash Wednesday)

To think of ash, is to enter into the reality of endings, absurdity and temporality; bringing to mind that everything in life that we often work and strive for, is in reality a dead end, a waste of time and even if truth be told, if actually thought about, not worth the effort.  I think… Read More ›

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