HUMILITY CURES SIN
Strive towards charity, the
mother of virtue and humility, the foundation of all virtues. Hold
on to them and, with the Lord's help, preserve them. Only those who
hold onto these two virtues can approach the Lord's birthday with
assurance.
Fast, make vigils and pious
mortifications; these weaken the body but cleanse the heart; these
weaken the limbs but strengthen the conscience. Sins of desire are
weakened by the weariness of the bodies. So, mortifications serve
their purpose. . .they make us anticipate death.
Humility consumes sins and, as we
torment the body voluntarily, the fear of death is assuaged. For he
who condemns himself will make God pity him. If you acknowledge your
sins, God will forgive you.
In curing the sickness of the soul,
let's follow the rule of medicine. When the sickness is only on the
skin, we merely apply an ointment on the skin. But if the illness is
within the body, treatment is more severe. And so, if the sins are
slight, like a sin in speech or some censurable desire, these could
be removed by daily prayer and secret satisfaction. But if the sin
is serious, like a lie, these cannot be removed by the usual
moderate secret satisfaction. The cure must be more serious, sharper
and public. If you have ruined others, you must now edify many. Man
loves to deceive himself in that, feeling a burning disease within
him, he merely applies an ointment.
Mortal sin kills the soul. So we
must wail over our soul as a mother weeps with a broken heart over
the loss of her only son. Tears are the only way to revive a soul
killed by sin. And this prayer of tears must be accompanied by
fasting and good works. "God bestows His favor on the
lowly." "Love covers a multitude of sins."
(11-27-03)
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