More prayers today. I have found recently in my own life paying attention to little Signs in my own life of Our Blessed Lady a Great Consolation. For instance this morning there was dead quiet not the raccous crowing of two roosters waking me up at all hours. Not only are they gone but I did not have to kill them myself but they all got plucked and ready to cook. It is only now they are gone I understand what a problem they both were. Peace and quiet. My poor dog had been very sick and with worms in his eyes and I never knew but now he seems five years younger and happy again. I was invited to a wonderful Christmas dinner this Friday when I was feeling a little isolated. A Spanish gentleman stopped to talk with me when I thought maybe his family had fallen out with me. I could go on and on. But we have to be on the look out for these signs of care in case we miss them. But they are always, always there. Everything happens for a good reason. Everything. Everything. Everything. Even the things that seem the most terrible. Advent. Jesus is coming. Let us pray He brings you great joy and light and peace this Christmas.
I'm worried about a sin I committed in the past but I have confessed everything to the best of my ability.
Sometimes in the darkness I get a sudden urge to reach out and say "Jesus and Mary I love you!!". It gives me consolation, all though it might not last very long.
You have to do what Pax Prima said. Redirect your thoughts and make acts of love and trust to the Sacred Heart. The cold hard facts are what you look to--not emotions especially fear.The Churchhas always taught that a sin no matter how serious once confessed to a priest with true sorrow and absolvedby the priest is GONE. OVER. EXISTS NO MORE. Jesus has told many saints and mystics this. Stick with the truth of our faith and not with the enemy's fear tactics.
As you come to forgive yourself, you will end up with a lot more compassion for others in their struggles. You will have a better understanding of yourself and the human condition. Keep on turning your attention to Christ. At the same time continue to plea to God for His mercy and grace. Speak with Him, He is close. When the conversation ends, continue praying. Even if it is only His name.
Thanks Pax. I'm struggling over a sin from the past but asking God for mercy. I feel like I am being crucified at times but must keep persevering. I find meditating on Jesus' passion helpful. I must trust that good can come from this.
Sanctus, the original Peter lied about knowing Christ and then abandoned him. But Jesus did nor renege on making Peter the "Rock " to feed His sheep. Peter fell a number of times, but what he didn't fail to do was repent. Jesus never refuses Mercy, but then goes on to restore and make fruitful His brothers and sisters.
From the Catechism “There are no limits to the mercy of God.” (CCC 1864) The sin against the Holy Spirit consists in the deliberate refusal to accept God’s mercy by repenting. Simply put.... If you desire forgiveness, the sin is forgivable. The only unforgivable thing is to refuse forgiveness entirely. And you are not doing this I came across this yesterday- it helped me as ive a lot of tge tendencies that are spoken about. Maybe it will help you a but too?
Wonderful insights here. And here too. I never thought of connecting the words with the breathing. I have been aware in the past that every breath is a gift from God and an opportunity for thanking Him, although I admit I failed to practice it very often. This way of praying the Jesus Prayer can be a good way to pray constantly so that we could attain that state wherein St. Paul says, "It is not I who live but Christ who lives in me". And to join thanksgiving to God's mercy - "grace and mercy" which was one of the Messages of Fatima one hundred years ago.
As I continue the practice of turning my attention, my experience has been that a certain grace from God starts to build up where I reject dark minded thoughts more and more. Whereas I used to engage them all, not because I wanted to, but because I didn't know how to handle them. For the most part I immediately recognize dark thoughts and don't engage them. Having this practice of constantly turning attention to the Light makes it easier to go through crosses. Something about crosses which just seem to beg me to become dark minded. I am currently going through one that for me is quite difficult and frustrating. Previously, I would have been a complete disaster mentally. Instead I am only 20% of the disaster I would be otherwise, thanks be to God. There is a lot more light and faith. I don't say this to give myself a pat on the back, and clearly all glory be to God. It is wonderful to be able to go through hard times without being a complete mess. To still have a nice relationship with God as I carry this cross, not constantly crying and pleading and such. Yet I know if a big enough cross hit me, and maybe not even a big one just the right one, I could turn into a pile curled up on the floor. Just trying to get across that I found a way to connect with God that helped me greatly is all.
There is so much wonderful advice here. It reminds me after my conversion a question Father Bernard asked me. He asked how considering all the terrible things I had done I was so at peace with myself. I quoted scripture to him. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. I told the Father that I took God at His word . But looking back on it this was another huge grace from God. The grace of accepting God's forgiveness as real. Plus the maybe even greater grace of forgiving myself. May God grant you these great graces too, Peter.# One thing always gave me a big boost. The fact that I had been saved from hell by Our Lady. In the light of that everything else was a big plus but nothing could compare to this. More prayers today.
Sanctus, praying for you. May you receive sanctifying grace and relief of this darkness. May the sustinance of his presence being the true source of light and joy into your life. Peace my brother.
Don't worry Sanctus. To put your mind at rest you should try to do the five first saturdays. I say this for myself too. I have never managed to do 5 consecutive saturdays. Our Lady promised Sr. Lucy that she would assist with all the graces necessary for salvation at the hour of death, all those who would do the five first saturdays devotion with the intention of making reparation for offenses committed against her Immaculate Heart. I also found Fr. Luzon very consoling. He said that the Sacrament of the Sick can forgive all sins even if one has not confessed, provided that in one's heart one does not reject Christ at the last moment. If you go to about 7:30 you will hear what he says about this. Do not despair, " God will do the rest".
More prayers today. Some lovely advice here. What a lovely scriptural promise is, 'My grace will be sufficient to thee'. It reminds me of the old Irish saying , 'God makes the shoulder to fit the burden'. One thing I have noticed is that when I worry about things that might happen to me if they really do happen they are not nearly as bad as when I imagined them.
