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04-23-2017 (Divine Mercy Sunday)

Introduction:

We are all doubting Thomas’ in some form or anotherin the sense that we constantly struggle totrust in the risen Jesus’ merciful Love towards us especially in Confession. The God-Man, Jesus Christ, still continues to save the world from sin through men, namely, Priests, through this powerful Sacrament.[1]

Major Argument:

I like to tell people, especially children, that Priests are like doctors and Confession is like going to see a doctor when you’re sick.Constantly pray for your Priests because Satan hates their guts and is constantly trying to find ways to destroy them, especially the good ones who are snatching many souls away from Satan’s clutches. This truth was verified in the lives of different Priest Saints, notably St. John Vianney and St. Padre Pio. Jesus once told St. Faustina, “Satan hates you; he hates every soul, but he burns with a particular hatred for you, because you have snatched so many souls from his dominion.”[2]

Minor Arguments:

  • In any event, what Jesus says to St. Faustina in her Diary about Priests is important for us to reflect upon.
  • “When you approach the confessional . . . I Myself am waiting there for you.”[3]
  • “The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen. Never analyze what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light.”[4]
  • “The Lord Jesus greatly protects His representatives on earth. How closely He is united with them; and He orders me to give priority to their opinion over His . . . . Jesus defends whatever the priest says, and often complies with his wishes, and sometimes makes His own relationship with a soul depending on the priest’s advice.”[5]
  • Sadly, though,sinnersstillchoose to stay away from Confession.Jesus says to St. Faustina: “Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy.”[6]
  • Arguably, there are four tactics whichSatan uses, and I believe quite often does, to convince sinners to doubt inGod’s Mercy. These four demonic tactics are:
  • Fear – “The Priest is going to be angry at me.”
  • Shame – “I’m ashamed to confess these sins, especially those against Chastity.” The Devil can use these lines of reasoning to tempt people to intentionally hide some mortal sin(s) or toconfessthem but in a way that makes them sound lessserious than they really are. Adam and Eve fell into this trap; after their sins they tried to hide themselves and their sins from God, as if this were possible. God sees and knows everything, even before it happens.
  • Prideful Self-Deception – Here Satan tries todistort one’s self-image and in turn one’s self-identity. It can manifest with thoughts like: “I’m not a sinner. Or, I’m not a bad person because I haven’t committed murder or adultery and so on,”which, in essence, is simply an attempt to base one’s personal degree of guilt on how bad someone else is. Or, others thoughts are:“My sins aren’t that bad; I’m not committing adultery or fornication because I love this person.” Or, the binging attitude: “I’ll sin now and just go to Confession later.” This is a very dangerous attitude to have, especially when we consider what St. Alphonsus Liguori, a great Bishop and Doctor of the Church, says, namely, that God “has . . . determined the number of sins that he will pardon; and when this number is completed, he will pardon no more.”[7]
  • Impenitence (a heart hardened through repeated mortal sin[8]) – Thiscan lead to a person’s will being seriously weakened and in turn compromised by, what has been called, a
  • Cardinal Spirit:[9]The Latin root of the word cardinalis cardo which means “hinge.”[10]Since a hinge is the device which allows a door to turn the word cardo eventually“came to mean ‘something on which a development turns’ or ‘something very important.’”[11]A Cardinal Spirit enters into a person’s life by way of some habitual sin, which acts as a hinge by which demonic spirits can easily enter into a person’s life in order to hijack, as it were,this person’s will.
  • A person under the influence of a Cardinal Spirit is notdemonically possessed butrather afflicted by acommon but more extraordinary form of demonic bondage called oppression. Betty Brennan, an ex-satanist, who repented and is now actively involved in Healing and Deliverance Ministry, explains that the type of person more inclined to be affected by a Cardinal Spirit is a person who, as she says,“has a well-formed conscience that has consciously entered into a pattern of sin, that it’s aware at times and gets moments and . . . glimpses of grace to respond to the Lord and does not.”[12]Remaining in mortal sin for any length of time, but especially for alengthy period of time, is foolish and dangerous, because in mortal sin one is totally unprotected spiritually. This condition can develop into a kind of spiritual cancer, which, if left untreated,can even lead one to despair of God’s Mercy, like Judas did. Moreover, a Cardinal Spiritcoupled with severe psychological and emotional brokenness on account of being content to live with unconfessed mortal sins,can go so far as to even totally block the Grace of Repentance from entering into a person’s heart in order to heal and convert it.Hence why it is so important to pray for hardened sinners. Jesus says to St. Faustina: “The loss of each soul plunges Me into mortal sadness . . . . The prayer most pleasing to Me is prayer for the conversion of sinners.”[13]
  • If what was said above applies to you or a loved one, family member, or friend, then, you should start praying the Holy Rosary and particularly the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for yourself or them; for Mary is the Mother of Mercy who has total coercive Power against demons and Jesus said to St. Faustina, “Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy.”[14] And when this Chaplet is recited, Jesus says, “in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My father and the dying person, not as the Just Judge but as the Merciful Saviour.”[15]
  • There are three stories concerning the above points that are worth mentioning.
  • With respect to the conversion of the living,
  • St. Faustina once attended a ceremony, preached by her Confessor, Fr. Sopocko, in which the Divine Mercy image was displayed. St. Faustina recounts, “When he began to speak about the great mercy of the Lord, the image came alive and the rays pierced the hearts of the people gathered there, but not all to the same degree. Some received more, some less . . . . When the sermon was over . . . . I was in a hurry to get back home. When I had taken a few steps, a great multitude of demons blocked my way. They threatened me with terrible tortures, and voices could be heard . . . . When I asked them, ‘Where have you come from in such great numbers?’ the wicked forms answered, ‘Out of human hearts; stop tormenting us!’”[16]
  • With respect to the conversion of the dying,
  • Once Jesus said to St. Faustina: “My daughter, help Me to save a certain dying sinner. Say the chaplet that I have taught you for him.When I began to say the chaplet, I saw the man dying in the midst of terrible torment and struggle. His Guardian Angel was defending him, but he was, as it were, powerless against the enormity of the soul’s misery . . . . But while I was saying the chaplet, I saw Jesus just as He is depicted in the image. The rays that issued from Jesus’ Heart enveloped the sick man, and the powers of darkness fled in panic. The sick man peacefully breathed his last.”[17] (Briefly explain some of my cases).
  • In a certain Illinois city, a man lay dying of cancer of the throat which doctors had pronounced as incurable, and had declared that death would follow soon. The good sisters of the hospital, in which he was a patient, had tried in vain to have him go to confession, sending priest after priest to speak to him. Each priest was treated in the same way. As soon as he would mention confession, the sick man simply turned to the wall, saying that there were other sick who wanted to confess their sins, but that it was a waste of time for the priest to talk to him about it, because he did not want to go to confession. The continual insistence of the priests and sisters so angered him that he left the hospital. After a few weeks, another hemorrhage occurred, and the family in haste and desperation again sent for a priest, hoping against hope that he would not die without the Sacraments. Two priests of the parish had visited him previously without success, so this time a priest who had had some experience with a number of cases of exorcism went to the sick man. As usual he turned to the wall. The exorcist stood at the foot of the bed and ordered the devil: “I command you, evil spirit, in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, to depart, I command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Crucified to leave this room so that this soul will return to its God and Creator.” These words were said secretly. The sick man turned and said, “I do not know how to confess.” The answer of the priest was: “I will help you. I will ask you questions, you merely answer yes or no.” Once the confession was begun, the sick man broke into tears, and made a most humble and contrite confession. The priest then hurried back to the Church and brought him Viaticum. . . the next morning, the poor man died.[18]

Applications:

We must haveunlimited TRUSTin Divine Mercy, no matter how numerous and horrible our sins are.The chief Grace of Divine Mercy Sunday has been compared to a “second baptism,”[19]which means that if you were to die today (after performing all the devotions and receiving the appropriate Graces) you would go straight to Heaven! Jesus told St. Faustina to celebrate today’s Feast as follows:

  • Public Veneration of the Divine Mercy Image[20]
  • Deeds of Mercy[21]
  • Confession & Holy Communion[22]
  • Keep in mind that Confession doesn’t necessarily need to be made ON Divine Mercy Sunday but “near the time of Mercy Sunday,”[23]which I believe is generally understood to be 8 days before or after today.[24]
  • Additional Practices:
  • Go to Confession more frequently, at least once/month or even more.
  • If you are in a state of mortal sin, obviously, don’t ever remain in that state. Get to Confession immediately!
  • Go to Holy Mass every Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation and receive Holy Communion daily, if possible; if not, then try to receive it often.
  • Never, never, never receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin, i.e., sacrilegiously.
  • Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, Adoration, Holy Hours.
  • Don’t be a CEO Catholic (briefly explain).

Conclusion:

I recently heard that where Monsignor Sweeney is buried there is an inscription on the tombstone of the Priest buried next to him which said: “Life is short; death is certain; hell is eternal; think about it.”And I hope you do. Therefore,receive today’s Graces well, finally decide to die to that sinful person, place, or thing in your life that is totally separating you from God,and completely amend your life, forthis may be your last opportunity to receive Divine Mercy.Who knows, you could die suddenly in a car accident shortly after this Mass. I’ve seen it happen. (Briefly mention Fr. Finch’s passing; such is the Mercy of God, but such is the fearful and uncertain nature of death, which many times comes like a thief in the night). If even the good die suddenly what can we say about those living badly, in mortal sin? Nevertheless, Jesus says to St. Faustina about sinners:“I am prolonging the time of mercy for the sake of sinners.”[25]“Tell sinners that I am always waiting for them, that I listen intently to the beating of their heart... When will it beat for Me? Write that I am speaking to them through their remorse of conscience, through their failures and sufferings, through thunderstorms, through the voice of the Church. And if they bring all My graces to naught, I begin to be angry with them, leaving them alone and giving them what they want.”[26]“If they will not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity.”[27]“Ido not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart.”[28]

On this Divine Mercy Sunday let us gaze upon the famous image, which Jesus compares to a vessel by which souls are to “keep coming for graces,”[29]and say with complete confidence the well-known inscription below the image which says:“Jesus, I trust in You.”[30]

[1] With respect to Confession, Priests act in persona Christi (that is, in the Person of Christ).

[2]Diary 412. Hereafter, hyperlink references may or may not be quoted.

[3]Diary 1602.

[4]Diary,1725.

[5]Diary 1240.

[6]Diary 965.

[7] St. Alphonsus Liguori, Preparation for Death. Consideration XVIII. The Number of Sins. Kindle App version. Location 59%.

[8] On account of repeatedly committing some mortal sin.

[9]The idea of Cardinal Spirits is taken from a Deliverance Conference series (CD) entitled “Advance Healing and Deliverance.” CD #5. 1st Afternoon Session – Day 1 Fr. McAlear – Betty Brennan. From Christian Healing Ministries, Inc.

[10]Taken from the online version of Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid, footnote, no. 9. Track 4 (~04:58 min) – Track 5 (0:00 min – 00:31 min).

[13]Diary, 1397.

[14]Diary, 687.

[15]Diary,1541.

[16]Diary, 417-419.

[17]Diary, 1565.

[18] This story recounted by Fr. Dominic Szymanski, OFM Conv. in his book Truth about the Devil. This incident shows how there can be a Demonic block preventing a person from receiving the Grace of Repentance. This is where Binding Prayers are very effective. This quote from: Fr. Jose Francisco C. Syquia, Exorcist(Volume Three) Spiritual Warfare And Discernment (ST PAULS: Makati City, Philippines, 2016), 201-203. It’s important to know that any Priest has the power and authority to pray minor exorcisms over people that he suspects have some form of demonic oppression that is blocking God’s Mercy from delivering them. Laypeople also, respecting the proper authority that they have, can also pray for themselves, what are called, deliverance prayers (in the deprecative or imperative form), which are very effective. Fr. Michael Scanlan, T.O.R., a well-known Priest who was active in Deliverance Ministry, explains how to pray deliverance prayers over oneself in the imperative form: “If, . . . bondage persists, the person might minister to himself through what is called self-deliverance, commanding the spirits to leave in the name of Jesus: “In the name of Jesus, I command you, spirit of [lust, anger, etc.] to get out of my life and to stay out.” . . . . It is especially necessary when a person has been freed from evil spirits in a particular area but has subsequently fallen back into a sin which was connected with the original bondage. Thus, someone who had been freed from bondage to a spirit of hate, for example, might later fall back into a sin of hate. Such a person should repent and receive forgiveness, but should also command any spirit of hate to depart in the name of Jesus. This self-deliverance is good protection against evil spirits again establishing a hold in the person’s life.” Michael Scanlan, T.O.R. & Randall J. Cirner, Deliverance From Evil Spirits A Weapon for Spiritual Warfare (Cincinnati, Ohio: Servant Books, 1980), 63-64.

[19]This Grace is distinct from a Plenary Indulgence. Cf. Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, Feast of Mercy, aplenary indulgence,granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff) to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, in any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite theOur Fatherand the Creed,adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!); Full theological analysis of why it is like a second baptism: Rev. Ignacy Różyczki:‚The Devotion to the Divine Mercy‚ Cracow 2008, pp 99-104.

[20]“I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it. (Diary341).”

[21]“But there must also be deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to our neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to absolve yourself from it. (Diary742).”

[22]“My daughter, tell the whole world about My Inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy.The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment . . . (Diary 699).”