To SoulGuard,


If you sincerely want to improve, then flee to your mother:


WORDS OF THE QUEEN. (The Virgin Mary speaks to Sister Mary of Agreda, Spain.)

My daughter, one of the reasons why men should call me Mother of mercy, is the knowledge of my loving desire that all be satiated with the flood of grace and taste the sweetness of the Lord as I myself. I call and invite all to come with me to the fountain of the Divinity. Let the most poor and afflicted approach, for if they respond and follow me, I will offer them my protection and help, and I will intercede for them with my Son and obtain for them the hidden manna, which will give to them nourishment and life (Apoc. 2, 27). Deny thyself and put off all the works of human weakness, and, by the true light, which thou hast received concerning the works of my Son and my own, contemplate and study thyself in this mirror, in order to arrive at that beauty, which the highest King seeks in thee.

Since this is the most powerful means for perfection in thy works, I wish that thou write this advice into thy heart. Whenever thou must perform interior or exterior work, consider beforehand whether what thou art going to say or do corresponds with the doings of thy Lord, and whether thou hast the intention thereby to honor thy Lord and benefit thy neighbor. As soon as thou art sure that this is thy motive, execute thy undertaking in union with Him and in imitation of Him; but if thou findest not this motive let the undertaking rest. This was my invariable course in pursuing the imitation of my Lord and Teacher though in me there was no reluctance toward the good but only the desire of imitating Him perfectly. In this imitation consists the fruit of his holy teaching, in which He urges us to do, what is most pleasing and acceptable to the eternal God. Moreover from this day on be mindful not to undertake any work, not to speak or even think any of anything, without first asking my permission and consulting with me as thy Mother and Teacher. And as soon as I answer thee give thanks to the Lord; if I do not answer after continued inquiry, I promise and assure thee on the part of the Lord, that He will, nevertheless, give thee light as to what will be according to his most perfect will. In all things, however, subject thyself to the guidance of thy spiritual director, and never forget this practice!

http://www.sacredheart.com/The_Mystical_City_of_God_Book_05_Chapter_03.htm



Wisdom 1:1-12

"Love justice, you that are the judges of the earth. Think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart.  For he is found by them that tempt him not: and he sheweth himself to them that have faith in him.  For perverse thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise:  For wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body subject to sins.  For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful, and will withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding, and he shall not abide when iniquity cometh in.

 For the spirit of wisdom is benevolent, and will not acquit the evil speaker from his lips: for God is witness of his reins, and he is a true searcher of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue. For the spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world: and that, which containeth all things, hath knowledge of the voice.  Therefore he that speaketh unjust things cannot be hid, neither shall the chastising judgment pass him by. For inquisition shall be made into the thoughts of the ungodly: and the hearing of his words shall come to God, to the chastising of his iniquities.  For the ear of jealousy heareth all things, and the tumult of murmuring shall not be hid.

Keep yourselves therefore from murmuring, which profiteth nothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction, for an obscure speech shall not go for nought: and the mouth that belieth, killeth the soul.  Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye destruction by the works of your hands."



...and you must humble yourself and respect your elders:


   

Leviticus 19:32

"Rise up before the hoary head, and honour the person of the aged man: and fear the Lord thy God. I am the Lord."

Keep up the good work!

The fact only that you recognize the temptation is a big improvement already and the first step to overcome it with God's grace. Not matter how many times you fall, always persevere in improving and perfecting your whole self in order to glorify God.

This statement scores more highly for dramatic effect than heartfelt contrition!


But then, I suppose it is something;


....................but then he goes to the "Internet or Mass" thread intoning as if the SSPX is fortunate to have him attending this Sunday and issuing a tacit call for us to "rend our garments" because he may not be on CI for a while.


Moderns especially will see this judgement as harsh; but St Benedict understood human nature and how to treat of it:


Rule of St Benedict CHAPTER XXVIII

Of Those Who Having Often Been Corrected Do Not Amend

"If a brother hath often been corrected and hath even been excommunicated for a fault and doth not amend, let a more severe correction be applied to him, namely, proceed against him with corporal punishment.

But if even then he doth not reform, or puffed up with pride, should perhaps, which God forbid, even defend his actions, then let the Abbot act like a prudent physician. After he hath applied soothing lotions, ointments of admonitions, medicaments of the Holy Scriptures, and if, as a last resource, he hath employed the caustic of excommunication and the blows of the lash, and seeth that even then his pains are of no avail, let him apply for that brother also what is more potent than all these measures: his own prayer and that of the brethren, that the Lord who is all-powerful may work a cure in that brother."


But if he is not healed even in this way, then finally let the Abbot dismiss him from the community, as the Apostle saith: "Put away the evil one from among you" (1 Cor 5:13); and again: "If the faithless depart, let him depart" (1 Cor 7:15); lest one diseased sheep infect the whole flock."

Who cares? He apologized. Leave the rest to him and his confessor. Consider that he may not have had the same advantages as some of us: good parents, financial security, edifying friends, etc. and just let it go.

It does matter!! The boons you mentioned are irrelevant to the necessity of us all to keep God's laws when given the grace of Holy Faith. If we are not truly contrite when we sin and fail in discipline, then hell threatens or a long purgatory. Us moderns are too lax!!!

The following provides perspective:


From "The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life - by Fr Charles Arminjon (d 1885 RIP)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933184388/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1933184388&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwchanco-20


"Moreover, certain saints "have had reason to believe
through revelation, that a large number-of- souls were condemned
to Purgatory until the end of the world, and that, despite the
assistance of the prayers and petitions of the Church, they
have languished in that -prison for some centuries. This may be
true in very exceptional cases, as with great sinners who
returned to God only on the point of death; but there is no
evidence or testimony to show that this view should be extended *
to the greater number of the faithful departed.

It is true you, whose lives are so lax, who do not fear to
stain yourselves with a thousand faults in order to please
the world or spare your body a moment's trouble, tell
us - have you understood the mysteries of God's justice,
and have you meditated upon the length of the torments
that await you? (Indica mihi si habes intelligentiam.)

The primitive Church, cradle of Christianity, model of
all ages, who numbered as many saints as faithful and,
taught by the Apostles, received the oracles of the
incarnate Word at first hand: how frightful was your idea
of the greatness of the penalties due to sin! You made
amends in this life which astound us.

In the Church of the early ages canon law was
applied in its full rigour. There was no remission or
concession. Penance and works of satisfaction were
imposed strictly according to what was required in order to
satisfy completely the justice of God. That penance did
not consist in reciting a few short prayers; it consisted
of long fasts on bread and water, daily recitation of the
psalms, long and painful pilgrimages, and a considerable
number of pious works. A thief, depending on the amount
stolen, was sentenced to two or five years' penance, a
blasphemer to seven years, an adulterer to ten and often
twelve years of fasting, tears and public prostrations on
the threshold of the sacred place. On this frightful
calculation, an entire life spent in the macerations of
the anchorites, even if it were as long as that of the
ancient Patriarchs, would scarcely be enough to atone for
the most ordinary, habitual sins of the men of our time.
How long and terrible the Purgatory of most sinners will
be!

Without doubt, one thought capable of lightening the
sorrow of those suffering souls would be that their memory
is not lost, that the friends whom they have left on this
earth are working to aid and deliver them."

It does matter!! The boons you mentioned are irrelevant to the necessity of us all to keep God's laws when given the grace of Holy Faith. If we are not truly contrite when we sin and fail in discipline, then hell threatens or a long purgatory. Us moderns are too lax!!!

The following provides perspective:


From "The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life - by Fr Charles Arminjon (d 1885 RIP)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933184388/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1933184388&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwchanco-20


"Moreover, certain saints "have had reason to believe
through revelation, that a large number-of- souls were condemned
to Purgatory until the end of the world, and that, despite the
assistance of the prayers and petitions of the Church, they
have languished in that -prison for some centuries. This may be
true in very exceptional cases, as with great sinners who
returned to God only on the point of death; but there is no
evidence or testimony to show that this view should be extended *
to the greater number of the faithful departed.

It is true you, whose lives are so lax, who do not fear to
stain yourselves with a thousand faults in order to please
the world or spare your body a moment's trouble, tell
us - have you understood the mysteries of God's justice,
and have you meditated upon the length of the torments
that await you? (Indica mihi si habes intelligentiam.)

The primitive Church, cradle of Christianity, model of
all ages, who numbered as many saints as faithful and,
taught by the Apostles, received the oracles of the
incarnate Word at first hand: how frightful was your idea
of the greatness of the penalties due to sin! You made
amends in this life which astound us.

In the Church of the early ages canon law was
applied in its full rigour. There was no remission or
concession. Penance and works of satisfaction were
imposed strictly according to what was required in order to
satisfy completely the justice of God. That penance did
not consist in reciting a few short prayers; it consisted
of long fasts on bread and water, daily recitation of the
psalms, long and painful pilgrimages, and a considerable
number of pious works. A thief, depending on the amount
stolen, was sentenced to two or five years' penance, a
blasphemer to seven years, an adulterer to ten and often
twelve years of fasting, tears and public prostrations on
the threshold of the sacred place. On this frightful
calculation, an entire life spent in the macerations of
the anchorites, even if it were as long as that of the
ancient Patriarchs, would scarcely be enough to atone for
the most ordinary, habitual sins of the men of our time.
How long and terrible the Purgatory of most sinners will
be!

Without doubt, one thought capable of lightening the
sorrow of those suffering souls would be that their memory
is not lost, that the friends whom they have left on this
earth are working to aid and deliver them."

Get off your high horse. You can't expect people who are young in age or the spiritual life to live up to your standards. He said he was sorry. Quoting to him, especially something that is beyond where he is, is just arrogant.

How about you pray for him in your daily rosary? His faults are more evident than some. How many rude and arrogant people on this site ever apologize? Few.

Quote from: Guest

It does matter!! The boons you mentioned are irrelevant to the necessity of us all to keep God's laws when given the grace of Holy Faith. If we are not truly contrite when we sin and fail in discipline, then hell threatens or a long purgatory. Us moderns are too lax!!!

The following provides perspective:


From "The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life - by Fr Charles Arminjon (d 1885 RIP)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933184388/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1933184388&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwchanco-20


"Moreover, certain saints "have had reason to believe
through revelation, that a large number-of- souls were condemned
to Purgatory until the end of the world, and that, despite the
assistance of the prayers and petitions of the Church, they
have languished in that -prison for some centuries. This may be
true in very exceptional cases, as with great sinners who
returned to God only on the point of death; but there is no
evidence or testimony to show that this view should be extended *
to the greater number of the faithful departed.

It is true you, whose lives are so lax, who do not fear to
stain yourselves with a thousand faults in order to please
the world or spare your body a moment's trouble, tell
us - have you understood the mysteries of God's justice,
and have you meditated upon the length of the torments
that await you? (Indica mihi si habes intelligentiam.)

The primitive Church, cradle of Christianity, model of
all ages, who numbered as many saints as faithful and,
taught by the Apostles, received the oracles of the
incarnate Word at first hand: how frightful was your idea
of the greatness of the penalties due to sin! You made
amends in this life which astound us.

In the Church of the early ages canon law was
applied in its full rigour. There was no remission or
concession. Penance and works of satisfaction were
imposed strictly according to what was required in order to
satisfy completely the justice of God. That penance did
not consist in reciting a few short prayers; it consisted
of long fasts on bread and water, daily recitation of the
psalms, long and painful pilgrimages, and a considerable
number of pious works. A thief, depending on the amount
stolen, was sentenced to two or five years' penance, a
blasphemer to seven years, an adulterer to ten and often
twelve years of fasting, tears and public prostrations on
the threshold of the sacred place. On this frightful
calculation, an entire life spent in the macerations of
the anchorites, even if it were as long as that of the
ancient Patriarchs, would scarcely be enough to atone for
the most ordinary, habitual sins of the men of our time.
How long and terrible the Purgatory of most sinners will
be!

Without doubt, one thought capable of lightening the
sorrow of those suffering souls would be that their memory
is not lost, that the friends whom they have left on this
earth are working to aid and deliver them."

Get off your high horse. You can't expect people who are young in age or the spiritual life to live up to your standards. He said he was sorry. Quoting to him, especially something that is beyond where he is, is just arrogant.

How about you pray for him in your daily rosary? His faults are more evident than some. How many rude and arrogant people on this site ever apologize? Few.

So true. Many of us may well have graver faults that are not so evident.
And how true that apologies are rare.

Thank you, SG. God bless you on the long, winding road towards holiness. We're all weary travelers in need of God's grace.

So for you and soulguard the road to sanctity is long and winding, is it? With lots of pubs and video-game parlors along the way, I suppose.

Whatever happened to Matthew 7:14: "strait the gate and narrow the way that leads to life"? Too old-fashioned?