The Spiritual Life seems tom e so much like walking up a mountain. Perhaps that's why we here so much mention of Mountains in Scriptures and Catholic Tradition like Mount Sinai or Mount Carmel When we climb a mountain we are bent over so far downwards , it is so steep we can only see the ground. But then there are points when we get to see the bigger picture and see the whole path which we take . We see this so well in the Life and especially the death of St Terese of Liseaux for instance. She could almost a Patron Saint of Atheists; she walked in such total total darkness. But very often looking at my life I can see areas of great healing. I used to be for instance a person of total hate. Now I hate no one. In fact I pray for those who hate me. I think to myself ..well at least that's gotta be a step forward. I used to be such a proud young person (goodness knows why) but the utter human failure of my life has taught me a little humility. I used to be a total unbeliever now I try to go to mass each day. I used to have such trouble getting on with people, now I can at least pass myself. So I count the steps upwards and onwards with the deepest sense of gratitude. At least if I have made no real progress up Mt Carmel at least there has been some healing towards making me , by grace, a more normal likeable human being and I cling to this. When you are totally, totally at the bottom of things any healing at all is met with the greatest joy and happiness. I may never be a saint but at least I know I not someone who drives people nuts around me. 'I am a Great Sinner and Christ is a Great Saviour'.
My Spiritual Director used to say to me that we are in a Marathon, not a sprint. Take the long view. Things take time. Trust on God's Mercy, show great kindness to yourself.
Thanks Padraig. God seems to be showing the importance of relationships with others and how no man is an island in this life.
Thanks be to God. "May He Who has begun a good work in you complete it unto the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." (St Paul)
Thanks AED. The experience seems to change quite alot for some reason. One minute I feel like the person I was years ago and that the healing process is completed and that's it, then it changes again just as quickly and it is like a feeling of being someone else, but change seems to be happening anyway, thankfully!
Marino Restrepo speaks about the "deposit of consented sin" or something to a similar effect and how this accumulates in our lives and how it will eventually" blow up" and come to the surface; sins we aren't even aware we have committed that are subconsciously being stored away all the time that will eventually require examination and reparation for at some point.
Yes. I have experienced this actually. Like peeling an onion. I think the Lord is kind--immensely kind in carefully peeling one layer at a time as we can bear it.
God seems to be revealing and removing years of spiritual and emotional bondage which have blocked Him and others out.
Yesterday I spoke to a gentleman who attended the same Catholic grade school as I. He came from a large Irish family but has struggled with addiction most of his life. He's a very funny man, however, he's very hard on himself. I encouraged him; he acknowledged God's mercy; but trusting in it is a different thing all together. Trust on God's Mercy, show great kindness to yourself. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Reprobate usually means one who is hardened against God and repentance. That is not you. You have been to confession and you've been prayed over by a good priest.you are trying very hard to do God's will and you are experiencing attacks from many angles. I dont know your exact situation but I do know Jesus would never call you a reprobate when you have turned to him with all your heart. He is MERCY itself. I am suspicious of this word interiorly. I would just lay it before the Lord with faith and trust and make acts of faith in His Divine Mercy. Just my thoughts on this.
Thankfully people have been very accepting and non-judgmental through all this, including people and strangers in the "real world" surprisingly enough! Just goes to show how the devil can sew false ideas about others in our minds.
Set forth below are three important prophecies by three modern saints who were all born in Poland. The first prophecy is by Saint Pope John Paul II, and was made during a visit to the United States in 1976 when he was still a Cardinal. The second prophecy is by Saint Maximilian Kolbe, the Franciscan priest who died in a starvation bunker in Auschwitz during World War II, having volunteered to take the place of a married man. The third prophecy is from Saint Faustina Kowalska, the nun whose “Diary” has promoted greater devotion to God’s Divine Mercy. She died in 1938 and was canonized in 2000. FIRST PROPHECY (By Saint John Paul II) “We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think that wide circles of American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel versus the anti-Gospel. “We must be prepared to undergo great trials in the not-too-distant future; trials that will require us to be ready to give up even our lives, and a total gift of self to Christ and for Christ. Through your prayers and mine, it is possible to alleviate this tribulation, but it is no longer possible to avert it. . . .How many times has the renewal of the Church been brought about in blood! It will not be different this time.” SECOND PROPHECY (by Saint Maximilian Kolbe) “Modern times are dominated by Satan and will be more so in the future. The conflict with hell cannot be engaged by men, even the most clever. The lmmaculata alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan. However, assumed into heaven, the Mother of God now requires our cooperation. She seeks souls who will consecrate themselves entirely to her, who will become in her hands effective instruments for the defeat of Satan and the spreading of God’s kingdom upon earth.” THIRD PROPHECY (by Saint Faustina Kowalska) “Jesus looked at me and said: ‘Souls perish in spite of my bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation: that is the Feast of my Mercy. If they do not adore my mercy, they will perish for all eternity. Secretary of my mercy, write, tell souls about this great mercy of mine, because the awful day, the day of my justice, is near.’ “ (Diary, 965)
