As Faith rightly points out in her comment of the previous post, the most obvious thing -- stop sinning -- is easier said than done. But the Lord does send help.
One of the daily prayers is the Litany of the Holy Ghost. And some of the requests seem straightforward -- for piety, virtues, graces, etc.
But here are some things that struck me as unusual ... only because I hadn't thought about them before. But they are just as important. Consider:
Holy Ghost, inspire us with horror of sin. Why? Why should we be horrified? We live in a world where many of us are not moved by the violence of abortion, family breakdown, or sexual immorality that we see or hear of, or even partake in. We are complacent. We take it for granted. I've read articles promoting infanticide because the authors claim there is no difference between a fetus and a newborn. They are right -- a fetus is on the way to becoming a newborn. It is a continuum. But their argument is that if abortion is allowed, then a doctor should also be able to kill a newborn because it is defective, or because it's the wrong sex, or because the parents simply do not want it. Do people like Peter Singer, Alberto Giubilini, Francesca Minerva, and other so-called intellectuals and philosophers, not realize the horror of what they propose?
Parce Domine!
Holy Ghost, engrave Thy law in our hearts. What is God's law? The 10 Commandments? The Beatitudes. Sure. But God's laws are also the natural laws that rule physics, chemistry and biology. This is why homosexuality doesn't fit in the natural order of things. You can't make babies! Woman was made for man, not for another woman. That some people are born with an unnatural attraction towards the same sex must be a heavy cross to bear, but it still doesn't make it "normal." Homosexuality will always be an aberration. I know I hold a very unpopular view. Years ago, I would've said, live and let live. What does it matter what two people do in their bedroom? I even thought homosexual marriage was a good idea because at least they were committed. But I've come to my senses. The sexual liberation has not liberated anyone, but in fact, has made us slaves to sin. Premarital sex, extramarital sex, homosexual sex, divorce, and abortion are all the fruits of this so-called liberation. Western civilization is on a downward spiral; we need to reverse the trend by embracing natural law promoting healthy and holy families. For it is family that is the natural unit of society, not the individual. Where families break down, so do societies.
Miserere nobis.
Holy Ghost, grant us the only necessary knowledge. This is interesting to me. I am so hungry for knowledge. But with this prayer, I am asking not to grasp at knowledge, but to be given the wisdom and knowledge that is necessary, and sufficient. With this prayer, I ask for greater trust and faith in the Lord.
I hope you will be inspired to pray the Litany of the Holy Ghost from time to time.
Come, Holy Ghost! Fill the hearts of Thy faithful
And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
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2 comments:
It is one of the hardest truths that real freedom is found in obedience. But the Holy Spirit is ready to pour love upon us and make obedience sweet if we only reach out our hands to accept it... I find myself often praying for the grace to accept grace, because I am prideful and stubborn and it is easier to turn away.
A priest once told me, "Saints are not perfect people. Saints are sinners who keep saying they're sorry...over and over." Thank God that he works on the hardest of hearts!
Yes! To everything you say. And I tell you what -- it all begins at home -- this path to holiness. If I can be a better person, others will become better too.
I went to Mass today and one of the Dominican nuns who was visiting gave a little talk afterwards. She reminded us to not settle for mediocrity. To reach high, because we are called to be saints.
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