Fr. Rippberger hits a home run (begins around the 34 minute mark), and reveals, at least to me personally, how I'm falling short on making reparation to God (and perhaps others) for the sins I commit. How so? Two examples: 1) I am taking half-hearted steps to overcome periodic venial sins I commit that may not involve others directly, but which still grieve God's heart!. 2) I am not taking steps to make reparation for the sins others commit because these sins offend God and there is no indication repentance has occurred. Thus God's Incomparable Goodness is offended; out of love for Him I should respond! Lord have mercy on me a sinner whose love is lukewarm!
I once, in my youth, loved a young woman very much. I was totally devastated when, due to circumstances, it did not work out. It still distresses me. But, to me, it is a measure of how God loves each one of us, but infinitely more. Every venial sin [and we commit them often], is really a rejection of God's infinite love. It is only by God's infinite Mercy that we can achieve heaven. Part of that Mercy is Purgatory. From youth I prayed the Prayer before the Crucifix after Communion ; "I pray that you will impress on my soul... true repentance of my sins and a firm desire for ammendment..." How can we ammend an offence against an infinitely loving God? Restitution of goods is simple but, say, detraction, is not. We must praise God for the opportunites provided by His Church - the Sacraments, indulgenced devotions, charity to our neighbour... Divine Mercy Sunday and Plenary Indulgences are blessings beyond belief [in human terms] and make me praise God more and more.
Human love is a good but it is the equivalent of candle light in comparison to God's love, which is like the raging sun - but even this analogy does not do justice to the love of God for words cannot fathom the height, width and depth of the amazing love of God. He understands us more than we can ever understand ourselves and He is a good teacher revealing our imperfections one by one - if He were to reveal them all at once we would be overwhelmed. That is why I believe the warning is both mercy and justice.
All is not lost. I know of many groups around the world making reparation. One I personally know of has over 250 members throughout approx. 30 countries making reparation 24/7/365 through meditation on the Passion of Jesus for oneself and all others.
Yes! Watched this yesterday and it is gold. My husband goes away for a week skiing every year and I use the time to have a retreat at home. I can watch videos like this one without earphones! One thing (not sure if here) Fr R has said is to ask your guardian angel and Our Lady of Sorrows to reveal your main area of sinfulness which may be totally not what you think. For instance, I made it my aim this week to find my underlying sin which is probably preventing me from getting on top of my other sins. I think this does tie in with reparation because we then know what to mortify and offer up to God. Well. On Monday it was made perfectly clear when I found I was looking at the same YouTube clip that I’d seen only a couple of days earlier and THEN in Monday, week 1 of Morning Prayer… exactly the same scripture that was quoted in the short video. St John Cassian and St Paul informed me quite forcefully that I am beset by listlessness. This is a modern issue in part because you see it when you scroll through Facebook, start watching a holy clip and then wonder if anyone has commented on MOG so reach for the smartphone and check while Fr Goring is speaking. It is displacement activity, getting sidetracked. Feeling one should clear out that cupboard but phoning a friend instead. One should pray but a cup of coffee might come first. Sorry to drone on about myself but it really does help to know what to mortify, and to think I wasn’t sure what to bring to my next confession! “From my hidden sins acquit me” (Ps 19)
I am exactly the same! I always just put it down to procrastination. Any good resources on how to overcome this one?
I pray some short prayers each morning. If I was to recite them from various books it would take me around 10 mins, but seeing as I now know them by heart I say them without the books. It can take some 40 - 60 mins with all the distractions in my mind. One way I have gotten around this is to place the intention to make the distractions themselves a prayer, and offer them in reparation for souls who look for distractions whilst praying.
Listlessness creeps up on us in so many ways. I am being firm with myself to finish the task I started. I find it helpful to tell myself all the things I must do today and then refuse to be sidetracked. The desert fathers are good on this one. Cassian’s essay on listlessness in vol 1 of the Philokalia has a story that for some reason I find funny though it is serious. A monk complained to Abba Poemen that he was beset by listlessness until he visited Abba Paul. Poemen’s reply was that far from overcoming this vice he had been conquered by it. How many times have I emailed a friend to avoid doing a chore first? As a student, how often I would swing by another friend’s room instead of writing that essay! I never had this down as a serious sin before but the fathers teach that it is. And oh yes I get distractions in prayer but that’s another matter. As BC says, best to ignore them and just keep on keeping on. Great idea to offer them up, I must do that.
