Abbey-Roads2

Sometimes people are just too religious.

How do I mean that?  In the censure of a nun - who was deceived in prayer, St. John of the Cross lamented to her prioress that she would be easier to correct if she was not so spiritual - in other words, she was just too darn spiritual.  This happens amongst lay people today as well.

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Some folks know about every recent apparition and contemporary mystic around the world - they devour that stuff.  Others have read the mystics; John, Teresa, Hildegard, Angela, Katherine, Catherine, Therese, and everyone else.  They immerse themselves in mystical theology and spirituality, and they sometimes get to be too spiritual for their own good.  The same can be said for liturgists and other religious people, theology students, scripture students, gay rights activists - whatever be their ”medium”. 

What is essential. 

That said, for most people, just attending Mass on Sunday, along with frequent communion and regular confession, and some form of daily prayer (ideally the rosary), and the fulfillment of their daily duties according to their state in life is more than enough - for salvation, for holiness.

Verify your sources. 

Never rely on blogs for spiritual direction or guidance - always consult your priest, confessor, or spiritual director.  Some of us are just too darn spiritual for our own good - and yours. 

Remember, all any of you can count on from me is my prayer for you.  God bless.

Art:  Our Lady of Mt. Carmel from Tea at Trianon.  Elena has posted Day 2 of the novena to Our Lady here. 

Remembering our sins…

Some people - even priests - object to me that I too often recall my past sins, since they have already been forgiven and forgotten in the Sacrament of Penance.  Yet they misunderstand what happens to me and assume I cannot let go of the past, or that I have an unhealthy preoccupation with past sins, or worse, they think I doubt the mercy of God.  Of course that is not true, yet I am never able  to explain myself very well…  Until today, when I came across this in John of the Cross:

“God having once done away with our sin and uncleanness, He will look upon them no more; nor will He withhold His mercy because of them, for He never punishes twice for the same sin, according to the words of the prophet: “There shall not rise a double affliction.”

Still, though God forgets the sin He has once forgiven, we are not for that reason to forget it ourselves; for the Wise Man says, “Be not without fear about sin forgiven.”[261] There are three reasons for this. We should always remember our sin, that we may not presume, that we may have a subject of perpetual thanksgiving, and because it serves to give us more confidence that we shall receive greater favors; for if, when we were in sin, God showed Himself to us so merciful and forgiving, how much greater mercies may we not hope for when we are clean from sin, and in His love?

The soul, therefore, calling to mind all the mercies it has received… in this it is helped exceedingly by the recollection of its former condition, which was so mean and filthy that it not only did not deserve that God should look upon it, but was unworthy that He should even utter its name, as He says by the mouth of the prophet David: “Nor will I be mindful of their names by My lips.”[262] Thus the soul, seeing that there was, and that there can be, nothing in itself to attract the eyes of God, but that all comes from Him of pure grace and goodwill, attributes its misery to itself, and all the blessings it enjoys to the Beloved.” - Spiritual Canticle: Stanza 32; Note