Tag: on the number of sins

Thought for the Day – 20 October – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION XVIII

Of the Number of Sins
“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore, the heart of the sons of men
is fully set in them to do evil.”
(Eccles viii: 11)

FIRST POINT:
IF God were to chastise offences, immediately, He would not be nsulted as He is now but because the Lord delays His punishment and waits, sinners take courage to further offend Him.

We must understand, that although God waits and endures, He will not wait and suffer forever. It is the opinion of many of the holy Fathers that, as God has determined for each man, the days of his life, the state of his health, the talents He wills to bestow upon him “Thou hast ordered all things in measure, number and weight” (Wisd xi: 21) so has He determined for each one, the number of sins which He will pardon which, being fulfilled, He pardons no more!
St Augustine says: “We should remember that, for a certain time, the long-suffering of God bears with each one of us but when this time is completed, no pardon is reserved for him.”
St Eusebius of Caesarea also says that “God waits up to a certain number and afterwards, leaves the sinner.”

This opinion of the Fathers is supported by Holy Scripture.
In one place it says that the Lord delayed the ruin of the Amorites. “For the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” (Gen xv: 16). In another, “I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel.” (Hos i: 6). Again, “Because all those men …. have tempted Me now these ten times. … Surely
they shall not see the land which I swore unto their fathers.”
(Num xiv: 22, 23). In another place Job says: “My transgression is sealed up in a bag.” (Job xiv: 17).

Sinners keep no account of their sins but God does, strictly, that He may punish when the harvest is ripe that is, when the number is completed. …
Sinner, you should fear, for the sins which have been forgiven you, for if you add another sin, it may be that the new sin with those already pardoned, will complete the number and then, there will remain no more mercy for you and this Holy Scripture plainly declares: “The Lord patiently expecteth that when the day of judgement shall arrive, He may punish them in the fulness of their sins.”
(2 Mace vi: 14) .
So that God waits until the day in which the measure of sins is full and then, He punishes.
Of this delayed punishment, there are many examples in Holy Scripture and especially in the case of Saul, who was forsaken by God for his last disobedience and who prayed that Samuel would intercede for him, saying: “I prav thee, pardon my sin and turn again with me that I may worship the Lord.” (i Sam xv: 25). But Samuel answered: “I will not return with thee, for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord and the Lord hath rejected thee.” (Ib xv: 26). …

Oh, to how many miserable sinners does it not happen that they live for many years in their sins but when their number is fiull, they are seized by death and are sent to hell! “They spend their days in wealth and in a moment, go down to the grave.” (Job xxi: 13).

Affections andr.Prayers

Oh, my God, I thank Thee; how many, for fewer sins than mine are now in hell and for them there is no more pardon or hope! Whilst I am still living, … I have, if I desire it, the hope of pardon and of Heaven. Yes, my God, I desire pardon. I repent, above every other sin, that of having offended Thee because I have offended Thy Infinite Goodness.

Eternal Father, “Look upon the Face of Thine Anointed.” (Ps Ixxxiv: 9). Look upon that Son, Who died upon that Cross for me. By His merits, have pity upon me.
I promise to choose death rather than to offend Thee more. I may justly fear, thinking upon the sins that I have committed and the graces which Thou hast bestowed upon me, that should I add another sin, my measure would be full and I should be condemned.
Oh, help me by Thy grace – from Thee I look for light and strength to be faithful to Thee and if ever Thou seest that I should again offend Thee, let me die in this moment, in which I trust that I an in Thy grace.
I love Thee, my God, above all things and I fear more than death itself, to find myself agaiagain out of Thy grace ; in mercy gran, this may never be.