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| Jeremiah |
As brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a duty, in the spiritual works of mercy, to point out sin. People have done this for me and I have done this for others. Sometimes, one loses a friend, if the sin is serious enough, and that friend refuses to change. One can meet and love people, but one must not pretend to accept evil lifestyles. But, to live in Catholic communities surrounded by the same people for a long time and not to discuss with these brothers and sisters in Christ is also a serious sin, of negligence.
Too many people think that love is merely overlooking sin. It is not. It is confronting sin, in ourselves and in others and repenting. There is a reason why the Hebrew People killed their prophets. They did not want to hear about their sins and repent.
We do not have the leisure to put off sin. We do not have time to carry on as we have. The entire nation of America is carrying on as if there is nothing wrong with abortion, ssm, and other sins which cry out to God for vengeance. If an entire people is blinded, than God will bring them to repentance. The great temple and Jerusalem itself were completely destroyed a generation after Christ's Death and Resurrection.
Where I lived in the last many months, I could get to regular confession. This is not true where I am now. Such a situation is where many of us will find ourselves in years to come.
The Davenport Diocese of 100,000 Catholics will only have 15 active priests in 2015-that is less than two years.
People will not be able to get to daily Mass, Adoration, confession.
The soul needs grace to live...
I am facing my own sin and need for repentance. But, the pain of seeing so many not seeing, even Church leaders, is a penance. Thank God for some good leaders, such as Bishop Paprocki. He is a light in the gathering darkness. Pray for him and other good priests. One must remember that St. Paul did not overlook sin in the early Church communities. There was not an acceptance, and then gossip. Perhaps, we should pray for our priests to be more bold in speaking the truth about sins from the pulpit. But, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot shirk our own role in the lives of others, especially is they are close to us.
Recently, I had to talk to a sister in Christ about the occult in her family. She became angry with me and defensive. She did not repent. But, perhaps a seed of truth was put in her mind. A priest told me this was an act of charity to point out the dangers of the occult in movies, television, books. But, sometimes, Catholics are afraid to be charitable.
Many people have been led astray by poor catechesis. Many Catholics are actually believing heresies, which means they are outside of the life of grace. One cannot grow in holiness and hold on to heresies. Sadly, I heard some people bragging about their children who are living in sin. These Catholic parents could not see the damage in the souls of their own family or in the community. No one said anything.
Right now, in this area, it is commonly being taught in churches that there are no people in hell. Right now, in this area, it is being taught that we did not have one set of parents, but there was group creation and that Adam and Eve are myths, or symbols at best. Right now, in this area, there is disdain for marriage laws concerning valid and invalid marriages. Right now, in this area, civil marriage for same-sex couples is being accepted by some Catholics.
Are we responsible for others or not?
| Cain and Abel |
The Spiritual Works of Mercy
- Admonish the sinner
- Instruct the ignorant
- Counsel the doubtful
- Comfort the sorrowful
- Bear wrongs patiently
- Forgive all injuries
- Pray for the living and the dead