Thought for the Day – 27 January – Blessed are the Clean of Heart

Thought for the Day – 27 January – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Blessed are the Clean of Heart

“There is a purity of heart and chastity, which is an obligation for everybody, even for those who are married or preparing for marriage.

Everybody is obliged to avoid any act of impurity, insofar as it is opposed to his own particular state, to the natural law and to the Divine law.
Do not think that this degree of chastity is any easier than the first.
Sometimes, the obligations it imposes, are even more difficult than those of absolute virginity.

There is only one remedy for impurity.
It is the practice of virtue, to the point of sacrifice.
Only a man who is ready, with the help of God, to make any sacrifice can preserve purity of heart.
It is a difficult struggle but only those who win, can see God.
Our Lord has said: “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8).
Only the clean of heart will be able to see and enjoy Him forever in Heaven and, by means of His grace, will be able to see Him, in a less perfect manner, on earth.
St Thomas Aquinas says, that mental blindness is the main effect of impurity (Summa Theologiae II-II q 55, a 6).
This is because, anyone who gives himself up to impurity, loses all spiritual enlightenment and easily loses his faith, as well!
He no longer sees God and he does not believe anymore because his heart is steeped in the mire of impurity.
“The sensual man does not perceive the things that are of the Spirit of God, for it is foolishness to him and he cannot understand …” (1 Cor 2:14).
He is like the blind mole which creates its own dark little underground world and cannot see the sky anymore.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/29/thought-for-the-day-29-january-blessed-are-the-clean-of-heart/