Category: VENIAL SIN

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 24 February – The Duties of Our State

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 24 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Duties of Our State

“Let us be content, or at least, resigned in the position in which Providence has placed us.
Let us pay special attention to those things which we are obliged to do.
Anything which is not necessary should be left until later, even if it is more pleasant or seems more worthwhile in itself.
Let us never become involved in business which is incompatible with our state or dangerous to our eternal welfare.
Let us not make light of minor offences against the duties of our state.
Smaller transgressions gradually become greater.
Above all, let us try to sanctify our calling.
It is one thing to work conscientiously, another to work in a spirit of holiness.,
Even pagans can do their duty earnestly.
Doing our duty is only a help to our eternal salvation if it is done with God’s grace for the purpose of serving Him, for His love and glory.
This should be our manner of behaviour.
If it is, we can claim to have sanctified our state in life and to have made our work holy.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/16/thought-for-the-day-16-february-the-duties-of-our-state/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/16/thought-for-the-day-16-february-the-duties-of-our-state-2/

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Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on SLOTH, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 5 February – IDLENESS

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Thought for the Day – 5 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

IDLENESS

“There is another weighty reason which should prevent us from living in idleness.
The Holy Spirit warns us that: “Idleness is an apt teacher of mischief” (Ecclus 33:29) and “he who follows idle pursuits, is a fool” (Prov 12:11).
In other words, sloth is a great studity and is the father of the vices.
If anyone is inactive, he learns nothing.
Since our bodily and spiritual faculties were made for action, it necessarily follows that when they are not working for a good or useful purpose, they find an outlet in other directions, which lead to disorder and sin.
Without work and prayer, there is only inactivity which leads to sin.
It is fatal to remain idle.
God warns us that we must render an account of every idle work (Mt 12:36).

St Thomas Aquinas notes that an idle word is usually a venial sin but can also be a mortal sin (Summa Theologiae II-II, q 72, a 5).
What should be said then of those who live in idleness, while there is so much work to be done for the glory of God, for our own good and for the good of others?
Anyone who loves God is never idle, says St Jerome.
The love of God works wonderful things – if it does not, it cannot be called love!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/05/thought-for-the-day-5-february-idleness/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/05/thought-for-the-day-5-february-idleness-2/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on SIN, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 5 January – Venial Sin

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 5 January– Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Venial Sin

“There is another motive too, which obliges us to carefully avoid even commiting a venial sin.
The path of sin leads us down a smooth and slippery incline towards destruction.
Once we begin to descend, it is difficult to stop the momentum and scramble back up the smooth, slippery, steep incline.
Even to begin on this path, is a disaster.

“He who wastes the little he has, will be stripped bare” (Eccles 19:1).

“He who is faithful in a very little thing, is faithful also, in much and he who is unjust in a very little thing, is unjust also, in much” (Lk 16:10).

Whoever is faithful to God in little things, will receive from Him, the grace to remain faithful too, in greater things but a man who despises the lesser falls, rejects the Divine assistance and so, exposes himself to the danger of falling more seriously.

If we reflect on such dangers, we shall have a real fear of venial sin and shall be always on our guard against it.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/01/05/thought-for-the-day-5-january-venial-sin/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on SIN, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 4 November – More About the Sufferings of Purgatory

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Thought for the Day – 4 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

More About the Sufferings of Purgatory

“The vision of Purgatory accorded to St Frances of Rome, is well known.
She saw Purgatory divided into three separate sections.

(1) The firs was the part furthest from Heaven and bordering, as it were, on Hell.
In it two kinds of people were suffering terrible torments, namely, lay folk who had committed grave sins and postponed their conversion until the moment of death;
and – men and women who had dedicated their lives to God but on account of venial sins, neglect of duty, tepidity and lack of gratitude for their great vocations, had heavy debt to pay to Divine Justice.

(2) The second place, was the most crowded.
Here, the physical pain was still unimaginably severe, while the desire to be purified and to b with God was the cause of intense spiritual anguish.
The souls in this region, however, were not only resigned to their lot but, even longed for greater sufferings which would finally wash away the imperfections which kept them apart from God.

(3) The Third section was the nearest to Heaven and was the abode of purer and more perfect souls.
These did not have to endure much sensible pain but, their yearning for God was so insistent that, every moment of separation, seemed like an eternity.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/04/thought-for-the-day-4-november-more-about-the-sufferings-of-purgatory/

Posted in DOCTRINE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PURGATORY, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 2 Novemer – “Purgatory”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 2 Novemer – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Purgatory”

“The clear testimony of the New Testament may also be invoked in support of this teaching.
Jesus refers to sins which cannot be forgiven, either in this life or in the next, (Cf Mt 12:31-32) from which, the Fathers deduce that there are sins, namely those of a venial nature, which can be forgiven after death.

St Paul, moreover, speaks of imperfections which will be expiated and purged by fire after death (Cf 1 Cor 3:10-15).
Obviously, this cannot take place in Hell but, only in Purgatory.
It would be impossible to cite here, all the testamoies of the Fathers and of theological writers.
No-one, can deny, that they exist, however, for they combine to build up a tradition which the Council of Trent (Sess XXV) gathered together, when proclaiming the existence of Purgatory and the obligation of the faithful to pray for the dead, who are expiating their sins there.

This is a very consoling Doctrine.
It is comforting to know that one day, we shall find a way of purifying ourselves of all trace of sin and imperfection and that, meanwhile, we can be spiritually united with our departed loved ones and can help them by our prayers.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/02/thought-for-the-day-1-november-purgatory/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/07/thought-for-the-day-7-february-purgatory/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FRUITS of the SPIRIT, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on HYPROCRISY/HYPOCRITES, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, The HEART, The WORD, VENIAL SIN

Quote/s of the Day – 24 July – Lord, Lord Matthew 7:21

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Quote/s of the Day – 24 July – “The Month of the Precious Blood” – St Christina of Bolsena (3rd Century) Virgin Martyr – Romans 6:19-23, Matthew 7:15-21

“Not everyone who says to me,
‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of Heaven
but only the one who does
the will of my Father in Heaven.”

Matthew 7:21

“We recognise a tree by its fruit
and we ought to be able to recognise
a Christian by his action.
The fruit of faith
should be evident in our lives,
for being a Christian is more than making
sound professions of faith.
It should reveal itself in practical
and visible ways.
Indeed, it is better to keep quiet
about our beliefs
and live them out,
than to talk eloquently about what we believe
but fail to live by it!”

St Ignatius of Antioch (c 35-c 108)
Martyr
Apostolic Father of the Church

“God is Good but He is also Just…
So do not underestimate God –
His love for men
should not become a pretext,
for negligence on our part.”

St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“If anyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord,
resists the Lord’s Commands
by living perversely,
it is evident, that the good,
which the tongue has spoken,
has NOT emanated from the good treasure in his heart.
It was not the root of a fig tree
but that of a thorn bush,
which produced the fruit of such a confession —
a conscience, which is, bristling with vices
and not one filled,
with the sweetness
of the love of the Lord!”

St Bede the Venerable (673-735)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Posted in HOLY COMMUNION, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on MORTAL SIN, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The HOLY EUCHARIST, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 22 June – Frequent Communion

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Thought for the Day – 22 June – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Frequent Communion

“For the practice of daily Communion, however, we should have the approval of our Confessor.
We should be fully determined to preserve ourselves free from every sin, especially from grave sin, for otherwise, we could not approach the Eucharistic banquet (if anyone receives Jesus with mortal sin on his soul, he commits a terrible sacrilege).
This practice, moreover, should help us to avoid every deliberate imperfection and venial sin and should inspire in us, a lively spirit of Christian charity.
“Receive Communion everyday,” said St Augustine, “because it will help you everyday … but you must live in a manner which will entitle you to communicate daily” (De Verbo Domini – Sermon 28).

Frequent Communion, therefore, will enable us to set out upon the road to perfection, without relaxing in our resolution and without any false scruples.
“Two kinds of people,” wrote st Francis de Sales, “should receive Communion frequently – the perfect and the imperfect; the perfect in order to preserve their holiness; the imperfect, in order to reach perfection.” (Introduction to the Devout Life c 2).

Let us ask the advice of our regular Confessor.
We shall be fortunate if we can approach the Sacred Banquet everyday, or at least very often, for we shall be sure that we are on the path to holiness.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/21/thought-for-the-day-21-august-frequent-communion/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The HOLY EUCHARIST, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 20 June – The Eucharistic Life

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Thought for the Day – 20 June – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Eucharistic Life

“The Eucharistic life, which is the life of union with Jesus, especially by means of daily Communion, transforms us and makes us holy.
It preserves and increases in us, the grace which is the supernatural life of the soul.
The Eucharist, of itself, does not bestow grace because, it is a Sacrament of the living.
It is our food and food is not given to the dead but, to the living.
For this reason, we should receive Holy Communion free from the stain of sin.
The Eucharist, moreover, remits venial sin, strengthens us in our resolution and increases our charity.
Venial sin, is a sickness of the soul.
Just as natural food banishes listlessness and vulnerability to disease, our Eucharistic nourishment has the same effect on our spiritual life.

It is because the Blessed Eucharist increases our love for Jesus, that it weakens our evil inclinations.
The Eucharist and sin, are mutually exclusive of one another because, the Eucharist is Jesus and sin is the devil.
Our Eucharistic food, moreover, produces, in our souls, a spiritual consolation which is a foretaste of the happiness of Heaven.

Let us listen to Jesus living within us.
He will enable us to forget our worldly cares and will raise us to a higher plane where, by God’s Infinite Goodness, we shall continue to grow in virtue.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/08/thought-for-the-day-8-august-the-eucharistic-life/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PURGATORY, QUOTES on FREE WILL, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The WILL of GOD, VENIAL SIN

Thought for the Day – 5 January – Venial Sin

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 5 January – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Venial Sin

“Next to mortal sin, the greatest of all evils is venial sin.
Sin is always an offence against the God of goodness,
When we sin, we place our own will above His and put Him in a position secondary to ourselves.
If mortal sin is spiritual suicide because it extinguishes, in us, the divine life of grace, venial sin is an injury, more or less grave, to the soul.
The former completely separates us from God; the latter moves us further away from Him.
Mortal sin means the death of the soul.
Venial sin is a disease of the soul which reduces its supernatural powers and leaves it more open to the ever–increasing attraction of evil.

We cannot speak of small sins, as if sin could be a triviality.
Sin is always something great and terrible because, it is an offence against our Creator and Redeemer, Whom we should love, honour and serve with every impulse of our heart and with the whole strength of our will.
It is the height of ingratitude because, in order to offend God, we make use of the gifts He has given us – our eyes, ears, speech and all our powers of soul and body.

Let us think seriously about this.
We must firmly resolve to be more vigilant so that, with the grace of God, we may avoid ever committing a deliberate venial sin.

The Gospel tells us that we must render an account of every idle word and that nothing tarnished can be admitted into the splendour of Paradise.
In the terrible torments of Purgatory, we must pay the full price for all our faults, even the slightest!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci