Pride is the most subtle of sins. To conceal itself, it becomes a part of something else. In its hidden state, the sin of pride is often unnoticed by the person committing it. Pride that has become inconspicuous does not mean that pride is absent, nor does it mean that it cannot be revealed.
Sometimes, pride can be found in the judgment of others, in thoughts and in words. When one judges, one usually believes that one's conscience is clean and one's thoughts are pure; yet, nothing can be further from the truth.
Everyone sins, except for the Blessed Virgin Mary, the new Eve, and the Son of God, the new Adam. Nobody is a descendant of the new Adam, or the new Eve, but everybody is a descendant of the original Adam and Eve, man's erstwhile parents who were convinced by the Serpent that they could be like God--perhaps even better than God. Believing wrongly, they disobeyed God. Their descendants today, that is everybody, are just like them. There are those who are far worse, those who are secular-minded, who could care less about God, who do not genuinely believe in God and who commit the sin of pride recklessly and eagerly.
The reparation for having committed the sin of pride is humility. Humility is an action, not a concept. Humbling oneself sometimes means keeping quiet, saying nothing that chastises and burdens others with guilt, or that deprecate the dignity of others to elevate oneself. For some people, all that is easier said than done.
The unconscionable, self-aggrandizement and judgmental man has become the new man. This new man does not deem it necessary to reflect deeply and honestly on his own thoughts and actions or to have any compunction whatsoever.
As often as man points his finger at others, he ought to point as often the same finger at himself, because people are more similar than they are different. The similarities can be nearly identical, especially when people are close to each other. The closer they are, the more they are alike than different, and the more vehement the accusations when they do arise and the less they are able to forgive each other, even though humility demands forgiveness which is a step toward love.
To know what is true humility is to experience it, not the humility one thinks one has experienced in one's life because the sin of pride is able to disguise itself to confuse one's thoughts in order to mistake it for humility; rather, it is the humility of another that one needs to adapt oneself to, the humility of one who is part of one's life, who does not demand, who is ever-ready to forgive and love, no matter how hurtful the pain that has been caused by a loved-one, be it the lack of attention paid, the lack of time spent together or the lack of self-sacrifice in returning the love given so unconditionally.
To experience this humility, one has to lead the life of the humble one for an entire day, a consecutive 24 hours. Only then will one realize what is true humility which begins and ends with a quiet, undemanding, all-forgiving and continuous love.
This love is similar to that which flows from the Sacred Heart of Christ. The difference is that the love of Christ is infinitely more intense, more abundant and uncontainably more expansive, a love that was formed with incomparable humility and etched by immeasurable pain, that grew boundlessly within the enclosed depths of quiet internal suffering beginning with the betrayal by Judas and ending with Christ's last breath on the Cross.
Nobody had before or since experienced what Christ experienced except for His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Who in silence received without mitigation and contained within Her Sacred Heart the full range of pain and humility that Her Son had suffered out of love for God and for man.
The invisible act of humility, the absorption of injustice and pain in the silence of pure love, had been epitomized by Christ and His Blessed Mother. The sin of pride, the antipode, is equally as invisible. Invisibility is true humility's nature, whereas pride inconspicuousness is staged. Pride is invisible because it is camouflaged in self-deceit and self-importance, causing one to be blind to true humility in others and to one's potential to be humble.
Paradoxically, it is true humility that is not seen that one must strive always to see in others and to bring out from within oneself, so that one may catch a glimpse of God in Heaven in all of God's magnificence.
Monday, October 30, 2017
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Idolatry Of Money
The title of this entry are the first three words of an article published by Vatican Radio on October 23, 2017, entitled Idolatry of money starves children to death - Pope. Quoting in part from the article with emphasis omitted [1]:
It is always easy to point the finger at someone else rather than to look in the mirror and reflect on what one sees. What the pope says is true; yet, it is also true today that many live adoring power and in the seat of power, paints an image of self-righteousness and of infallibility.
The Catholic Church has been around for some time, seemingly oblivious the developments around the world. It puts much emphasis on the promulgation of doctrines and rules but puts relatively little emphasis upon the need for faith in God, genuine humility, purity of love, and incessant prayers, including praying the rosary.
Did any pope ask the Catholics of the world to pray every day? If so, this blogger is not aware of it. Do prayers work? Absolutely. Do criticisms that are political, even though they can supported by the teachings of Christ work? No, especially not after the fact, not after disasters have already occurred.
The pope referred to "the case of 200,000 Rohingya children out of 800,000 people in refugee camps, who hardly eat and are malnourished, without medicines." [2] These children did not suddenly appear. Did anyone from the Vatican ever bring the word of the Lord to the attention of their parents, their grandparents and their great grandparents? If not, then why not?
In light of this disaster, the article reported that "the Pope urged for an earnest prayer: 'Lord, please touch the hearts of these people who worship God, the God of money. Touch also my heart so that I don’t fall into that and know how to see.'"
Can the pope not see clearly his reflection in the mirror? What is he worshipping? Money or power, or the God of humility, unconditional love and mercy? Why is the pope not visiting these refugee camps, bringing with him food, medication and other necessities of life? Where is his love for mankind and mercy reflected in the mirror? Does he not see either when he sees clearly the lack of love of mankind and mercy in others and castigates them? What would Bergoglio have them do? He does not say, perhaps he does not even know what needs to be done. Asking the world to pray to God, the one and only Triune God, may be a good beginning.
(By the way, Bergoglio, there is no "God of money." To use the term "God of money", even sarcastically, is to say God's name in vain. It is disrespectful and sacrilegious. It is humility, not sarcasm, that touches the hearts of people.)
Even though Bergoglio is a pope and a shepherd, he is still a servant of God, and ought to be a humble one at that, one that ought to live among his sheep, especially those that are lost, to bring them to God. A true servant of God ought to lead like Christ had led, walk the path Christ had walked, so that others may follow.
[1] http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/10/23/pope_francis_mass_homily_greed_idolatry_money_/1344651
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
The Pope said, “it is God who puts a limit to this attachment to money.” A man enslaved by money is not a tale invented by Jesus, the Pope explained, adding it is true even today, where many live adoring money. The life of those who accumulate riches for themselves, has no meaning, he said. They don’t know what it means to be rich in God.
It is always easy to point the finger at someone else rather than to look in the mirror and reflect on what one sees. What the pope says is true; yet, it is also true today that many live adoring power and in the seat of power, paints an image of self-righteousness and of infallibility.
The Catholic Church has been around for some time, seemingly oblivious the developments around the world. It puts much emphasis on the promulgation of doctrines and rules but puts relatively little emphasis upon the need for faith in God, genuine humility, purity of love, and incessant prayers, including praying the rosary.
Did any pope ask the Catholics of the world to pray every day? If so, this blogger is not aware of it. Do prayers work? Absolutely. Do criticisms that are political, even though they can supported by the teachings of Christ work? No, especially not after the fact, not after disasters have already occurred.
The pope referred to "the case of 200,000 Rohingya children out of 800,000 people in refugee camps, who hardly eat and are malnourished, without medicines." [2] These children did not suddenly appear. Did anyone from the Vatican ever bring the word of the Lord to the attention of their parents, their grandparents and their great grandparents? If not, then why not?
In light of this disaster, the article reported that "the Pope urged for an earnest prayer: 'Lord, please touch the hearts of these people who worship God, the God of money. Touch also my heart so that I don’t fall into that and know how to see.'"
Can the pope not see clearly his reflection in the mirror? What is he worshipping? Money or power, or the God of humility, unconditional love and mercy? Why is the pope not visiting these refugee camps, bringing with him food, medication and other necessities of life? Where is his love for mankind and mercy reflected in the mirror? Does he not see either when he sees clearly the lack of love of mankind and mercy in others and castigates them? What would Bergoglio have them do? He does not say, perhaps he does not even know what needs to be done. Asking the world to pray to God, the one and only Triune God, may be a good beginning.
(By the way, Bergoglio, there is no "God of money." To use the term "God of money", even sarcastically, is to say God's name in vain. It is disrespectful and sacrilegious. It is humility, not sarcasm, that touches the hearts of people.)
Even though Bergoglio is a pope and a shepherd, he is still a servant of God, and ought to be a humble one at that, one that ought to live among his sheep, especially those that are lost, to bring them to God. A true servant of God ought to lead like Christ had led, walk the path Christ had walked, so that others may follow.
[1] http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/10/23/pope_francis_mass_homily_greed_idolatry_money_/1344651
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
Sunday, October 22, 2017
God's Gifts
Many who receive God's gifts most likely already know this, that God's gifts are envied by those who have never received them, besides the gift of life which many take for granted. Those envious of God's gifts received by others will want to take them, by cheating, demanding or some other means. The correct response is to let them take whatever they want. There is no need to assert ownership over them. If the gifts are truly from God, then whatever that was given but taken will be given again, and these subsequent gifts are better and more plentiful. The typical saying goes like this: "When God Shuts One Door, He Opens Another." [1] In this blogger's experience, when God opens a door, and someone else enters and closes it, God will open better doors and many more of them.
Be humble, have faith and live in God's land of plenty.
Be humble, have faith and live in God's land of plenty.
Sin, Purgatory And Love
This entry was inspired by Fr. Paul O'Sullivan's treatise entitled How To Avoid Purgatory published by EWTN. [1]
This blogger thought that Purgatory was a necessary step to expiate sins before entering Heaven. Fr. O'Sullivan said: [2]
This blogger would like to add that nothing is a necessity with God. God's infinite capacity to love allows for all sins to be forgiven so that at death, one's soul is able to bypass Purgatory, and would be taken immediately to Heaven by the angels. Perhaps Archangel Raphael would assist. This blogger is not sure about Archangel Raphael's involvement but he is sure that the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is behind everything known and unknown and can make all things possible that are impossible for man.
Quoting in part (without hyperlinks) from What You Didn’t Know About the Sacred Heart of Jesus written by Gretchen Filz, published by Catholiccompany.com on June 2, 2017: [3]
The beginning of the "latter times" has already started but this "time-worn world" refuses to be warmed up by "such mysteries" but has instead grown colder, unaccepting of the love of God; yet, the love of God continues to be omnipresent.
This blogger believes that the love of God echoes the aggregate love in the hearts of all, and amplifies it infinitely in Heaven. Therefore, when there was ample of love for those who had departed and there continues to be an ample of love for the beloved departed souls, this love becomes a continuous prayer. God does not refuse love that is pure and genuine and answers prayers that blossom out of such love. The ultimate answer to any prayer is an eternity in Heaven without having to suffer in Purgatory. It also helps when one's soul is as pure as a young child's innocence without hypocrisy or pretense.
Quoting again from Fr. Paul O'Sullivan's treatise entitled How To Avoid Purgatory [4]:
[1] https://www.ewtn.com/library/spirit/avoidprg.txt
[2] Ibid.
[3] https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/what-you-didnt-know-sacred-heart-of-jesus-2/
[4] https://www.ewtn.com/library/spirit/avoidprg.txt
[5] This blogger wishes to expand on Fr. O'Sullivan's position and concludes that prayers need not mention explicitly that one be freed from Purgatory, but that every prayer prayed to God, whether it is prayed by a baptized Catholic or not, includes implicitly a prayer for the avoidance of Purgatory for oneself, for one's loved ones and for all before entering Heaven. It is always the purity of love that is important, not the strict adherence to express rules and regulations. In the Gospel of Mark at http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/3, Jesus made it clear that was not sabbath that needed to be observed but the restoration of a man's withered hand was more important than the observance of the rules of sabbath. It is constant prayer that restores one's soul withered by Sin and its manifestations. Certainly, one would like for Jesus to restore one's withered soul at death, no matter on which day one's death arrives.
This blogger thought that Purgatory was a necessary step to expiate sins before entering Heaven. Fr. O'Sullivan said: [2]
The reason why we have to pass through Purgatory after death is that we
have committed sins and have not made satisfaction for them. Every
individual sin must be expiated--in this life or the next! Not even the
slightest shadow of sin or evil can enter the all-holy presence of God.
The graver, the more frequent the sins, the longer will be the period of
expiation and the more intense the pain.
It is not God's fault, nor God's wish, that we go to Purgatory! The fault
is all our own.
We have sinned and have not made satisfaction.
Even after our sin, God, in His infinite goodness, places at our disposal
many easy and efficacious means by which we may considerably lessen our
term of expiation, or even entirely cancel it.
This blogger would like to add that nothing is a necessity with God. God's infinite capacity to love allows for all sins to be forgiven so that at death, one's soul is able to bypass Purgatory, and would be taken immediately to Heaven by the angels. Perhaps Archangel Raphael would assist. This blogger is not sure about Archangel Raphael's involvement but he is sure that the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is behind everything known and unknown and can make all things possible that are impossible for man.
Quoting in part (without hyperlinks) from What You Didn’t Know About the Sacred Heart of Jesus written by Gretchen Filz, published by Catholiccompany.com on June 2, 2017: [3]
The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has its roots all the way back to the time of the Apostles, and arguably even before this in the Song of Songs penned by Solomon. St. John the Evangelist is the Apostle associated with the Sacred Heart devotion because, one, he was known as the disciple whom Jesus loved; two, he was called the “Apostle of Love” due to the theme of love repeated in his Gospel and epistles; and three, because he had the special privilege of reclining on the chest of Jesus at the Last Supper (the significance of which will be discussed below).
...
St. Gertrude experienced the exquisite and divine beatings of Jesus’ heart and wondered why St. John, who had also reclined on the heart of Jesus at the Last Supper, had never written of his experience.
St. John appeared to her in a vision and replied, “Yes, I heard them, and my soul was penetrated with their sweetness even to its very center” and explained that he did not write of this because, “My mission was to write of the Eternal Word . . . but the language of the blissful pulsations of the Sacred Heart is reserved for latter times, that the time-worn world, grown cold in the love of God, may be warmed up by hearing of such mysteries.”
The beginning of the "latter times" has already started but this "time-worn world" refuses to be warmed up by "such mysteries" but has instead grown colder, unaccepting of the love of God; yet, the love of God continues to be omnipresent.
This blogger believes that the love of God echoes the aggregate love in the hearts of all, and amplifies it infinitely in Heaven. Therefore, when there was ample of love for those who had departed and there continues to be an ample of love for the beloved departed souls, this love becomes a continuous prayer. God does not refuse love that is pure and genuine and answers prayers that blossom out of such love. The ultimate answer to any prayer is an eternity in Heaven without having to suffer in Purgatory. It also helps when one's soul is as pure as a young child's innocence without hypocrisy or pretense.
Quoting again from Fr. Paul O'Sullivan's treatise entitled How To Avoid Purgatory [4]:
God promises us in the most solemn and deliberate way (and He cannot fail
to do what He promises) that He will give us everything we ask in prayer,
if it is good for us.
Now two conditions, especially, make prayer infallible, namely perseverance
and faith. God cannot refuse such a prayer.
These Catholics we speak of pray expressly [5] every day of their lives that
God will free them from Purgatory. In every single prayer they say, in
every Mass they hear, in every good act they perform, they have the express
intention of asking God first of all and with all their hearts to deliver
them from Purgatory.
How? That is for God to decide.
It is not easy to see how God can possibly refuse such constant, unceasing
prayer. The fact that such prayers are said daily and many times in the
day, for 20, 30, 50 years, shows that they are said with undoubting faith
and magnificent perseverance.
[1] https://www.ewtn.com/library/spirit/avoidprg.txt
[2] Ibid.
[3] https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/what-you-didnt-know-sacred-heart-of-jesus-2/
[4] https://www.ewtn.com/library/spirit/avoidprg.txt
[5] This blogger wishes to expand on Fr. O'Sullivan's position and concludes that prayers need not mention explicitly that one be freed from Purgatory, but that every prayer prayed to God, whether it is prayed by a baptized Catholic or not, includes implicitly a prayer for the avoidance of Purgatory for oneself, for one's loved ones and for all before entering Heaven. It is always the purity of love that is important, not the strict adherence to express rules and regulations. In the Gospel of Mark at http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/3, Jesus made it clear that was not sabbath that needed to be observed but the restoration of a man's withered hand was more important than the observance of the rules of sabbath. It is constant prayer that restores one's soul withered by Sin and its manifestations. Certainly, one would like for Jesus to restore one's withered soul at death, no matter on which day one's death arrives.
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