>> A READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF GOSPEL OF JOHN. BELOVED: WE HAVE THIS CONFIDENCE IN HIM THAT IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARS US. AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEARS US IN REGARD TO WHATEVER WE ASK, WE KNOW THAT WHAT WE HAVE ASKED HIM FOR IS OURS. IF ANYONE SEES HIS BROTHER SINNING, IF THE SIN IS NOT DEADLY, HE SHOULD PRAY TO GOD AND HE WILL GIVE HIM LIFE. THIS IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHOSE SIN IS NOT DEADLY. THERE IS SUCH A THING AS DEADLY SIN ABOUT WHICH I DO NOT SAY THAT YOU SHOULD PRAY. ALL WRONGDOING IS SIN, BUT THERE IS SIN THAT IS NOT DEADLY. WE KNOW THAT ANYONE BEGOTTEN BY GOD DOES NOT SIN; BUT THE ONE BEGOTTEN BY GOD HE PROTECTS AND THE EVIL ONE CANNOT TOUCH HIM. WE KNOW THAT WE BELONG TO GOD AND THE WHOLE WORLD IS UNDER THE POWER OF THE EVIL ONE. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE SON OF GOD HAS COME AND HAS GIVEN US DISCERNMENT TO KNOW THE ONE WHO IS TRUE. AND WE ARE IN THE ONE WHO IS TRUE, IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. HE IS THE TRUE GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE. CHILDREN, BE ON YOUR GUARD AGAINST IDOLS. THE WORD OF THE LORD >> THANKS BE TO GOD. >> THE LORD TAKES DELIGHT IN HIS PEOPLE. >> THE LORD TAKES DELIGHT IN HIS PEOPLE. >> SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG OF PRAISE IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE FAITHFUL. LET ISRAEL BE GLAD IN THEIR MAKER, LET THE CHILDREN OF ZION REJOICE IN THEIR KING. >> THE LORD TAKES DELIGHT IN HIS PEOPLE. >> LET THEM PRAISE HIS NAME IN THE FESTIVE DANCE; LET THEM SING PRAISE TO HIM WITH TIMBREL AND HARP. FOR THE LORD LOVES HIS PEOPLE, AND HE ADORNS THE LOWLY WITH VICTORY. >> THE LORD TAKES DELIGHT IN HIS PEOPLE. >> LET THE FAITHFUL EXULT IN GLORY; LET THEM SING FOR JOY UPON THEIR COUCHES; LET THE HIGH PRAISES OF GOD BE IN THEIR THROATS. THIS IS THE GLORY OF ALL HIS FAITHFUL, ALLELUIA. >> THE LORD TAKES DELIGHT IN HIS PEOPLE. (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ ♪ ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ ♪ ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ THE PEOPLE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT; ON THOSE DWELLING IN A LAND OVERSHADOWED BY DEATH LIGHT HAS ARISEN ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ ♪ ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELLI SECUNDUM JOHANNEM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES WENT INTO THE REGION OF JUDEA, WHERE HE SPENT SOME TIME WITH THEM BAPTIZING. JOHN WAS ALSO BAPTIZING IN AENON NEAR SALIM, BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF WATER THERE, AND PEOPLE CAME TO BE BAPTIZED, FOR JOHN HAD NOT YET BEEN IMPRISONED. NOW A DISPUTE AROSE BETWEEN THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN AND A JEW ABOUT CEREMONIAL WASHINGS. SO THEY CAME TO JOHN AND SAID TO HIM, “RABBI, THE ONE WHO WAS WITH YOU ACROSS THE JORDAN, TO WHOM YOU TESTIFIED, HERE HE IS BAPTIZING AND EVERYONE IS COMING TO HIM.” JOHN ANSWERED AND SAID, 'NO ONE CAN RECEIVE ANYTHING EXCEPT WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN FROM HEAVEN. YOU YOURSELVES CAN TESTIFY THAT I SAID THAT I AM NOT THE CHRIST, BUT THAT I WAS SENT BEFORE HIM. THE ONE WHO HAS THE BRIDE IS THE BRIDEGROOM; THE BEST MAN, WHO STANDS AND LISTENS FOR HIM, REJOICES GREATLY AT THE BRIDEGROOM'S VOICE. SO THIS JOY OF MINE HAS BEEN MADE COMPLETE. HE MUST INCREASE; I MUST DECREASE.' ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> HE MUST INCREASE; AND I MUST DECREASE. WORDS FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US AS CHRISTIANS. HE, JESUS CHRIST, THE GOD-MAN, THE SECOND PERSON OF THE MOST HOLY AND MOST BLESSED AND ALL ADORED TRINITY MUST INCREASE; AND I MUST DECREASE. AND THE LAST LINE FROM OUR FIRST READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF ST. JOHN, WHICH WE HAVE HEARD FROM ALL WEEK IS VERY, VERY HAUNTING? VERY HAUNTING. THE VERY LAST LINE. "CHILDREN, BE ON YOUR GUARD AGAINST IDOLS." PERIOD. CHILDREN, BE ON YOUR GUARD AGAINST IDOLS. WHY? BECAUSE CHRIST MUST INCREASE IN US AND WE MUST DECREASE. AND WHEN IDOLS GET IN THE WAY, WHATEVER THAT IDOL IS, IT CAN BE ANY ISSUE, ANY DEPENDENCY, ANY ADDICTION, ANY INORDINATE ATTACHMENT TO SOMETHING AS OPPOSED TO PROPER DETACHMENT. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS DEFINES DETACHMENT AS QUOTE, LOVING THINGS IN THE WAY THAT GOD INTENDS US TO LOVE THEM. IS THAT BEAUTIFUL? PROPER DETACHMENT OF PERSONS, PLACES AND THINGS. LOVING THINGS HOW GOD INTENDS US TO LOVE THEM. SO, LIKE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST WE REJOICE GREATLY AT THE BRIDEGROOM'S VOICE BECAUSE IT IS THE VOICE OF THE TRUE GOD AND OF ETERNAL LIFE, PERIOD. LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST, WE REJOICE GREATLY IN THE BRIDEGROOM'S VOICE BECAUSE IT IS THE VOICE OF THE TRUE GOD AND OF ETERNAL LIFE. EVEN IF THE WHOLE WORLD IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE EVIL ONE BECAUSE THE FALL OF OUR FIRST PARENTS WHICH USHERED IN THE ORIGINAL SIN, WE KNOW THAT WE BELONG TO GOD BY OUR CONFIDENCE AND HOPE THAT WE HAVE IN THE ABSOLUTE REALITY OF THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. CAUSED BY THAT EVIL IN THE WORLD THAT WE SOMETIMES FALL UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF, VENIALLY OR MORTALLY. ST. JOHN SAYS IN THE FIRST READING THERE IS SIN THAT IS DEADLY AND SIN THAT IS NOT DEADLY. THE KEY PASSAGE THAT MOTHER MOTHER CHURCH USES FOR THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN VENIAL AND MORTAL. VENIAL SIN IS GRAVE MATTER, IS CARRIED OUT WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S GRAVE MATTER AND IT'S DONE WITH DELIBERATE CONSENT OF ONE'S WILL ANYWAY. GRAVE MATTER, FULLNESS OF KNOWLEDGE, AND DONE WITH DELIBERATE CONSENT OF THE WILL. IF ANY ONE OF THOSE THREE IS MISSING YOU HAVE A VENIAL SIN. IF ANY TWO ARE MISSING, YOU HAVE A VENIAL SIN. BUT IF ALL THREE ARE PRESENT YOU HAVE A MORTAL SIN, IT SERIOUSLY CONTRAVENES GOD'S MORAL LAW. THE 10 COMMANDMENTS. YOU HAVE FULLNESS OF KNOWLEDGE THAT IT CONTRAVENES GOD'S MORAL LAW AND SERIOUSLY SO, GRAVELY SO, AND IT IS DONE WITH DELIBERATE CONSENT OF YOUR WILL ANYWAY: MORTAL SIN. THERE'S SIN THAT IS DEADLY AND NOT DEADLY. VENIAL AND MORTAL SIN. BUT WHENEVER WE DECREASE BY HUMBLING OURSELVES IN THAT SACRED TRIBUNAL OF MERCY, THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION, OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST INCREASES. SO EVEN THOUGH WE MUST DECREASE AND HE MUST INCREASE, HE ACTUALLY INCREASES US WHEN WE CONFORM OUR IDENTITY TO HIM BY STRIVING FOR A LIFE OF GRACE WITHOUT SIN. IN OTHER WORDS, WE, THE MEMBER -- THE MEMBER BECOME LIKE THE HEAD, CHRIST OUR HEAD. OR AS EPHESIANS 4:15 BEAUTIFULLY STATES, "WE WILL GROW TO BECOME IN EVERY RESPECT THE MATURE BODY OF HIM WHO IS THE HEAD THAT IS CHRIST." HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT? NOW, THIS IS A GREAT TRUTH OF OUR FAITH TO CALL TO MIND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR WHEN WE MAKE RESOLUTIONS. WE STRIVE TO DO BETTER, THE SECULAR NEW YEAR. LITURGICALLY SPEAKING OUR NEW YEAR BEGAN THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT. I USE THE PHRASE TRIBUNAL OF MERCY, THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION, THAT'S A PHRASE OUR LORD USES WITH SAINT FAUSTINA WHEN SHE RECORDS IN HER DIARY, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. PARAGRAPH 1448, OUR LORD TELLS FAUSTINA THESE WORDS: "WRITE, MY DAUGHTER, SPEAK OF MY MERCY, TELL SOULS WHERE THEY ARE TO LOOK FOR SOLACE, THAT IS, IN THE TRIBUNAL OF MERCY, THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION. THERE, THE GREATEST MIRACLES TAKE PLACE AND ARE INCESSANTLY REPEATED." CONFESSION IS ONE OF THE SACRAMENTS THAT CAN BE RECEIVED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. HE CONTINUES, "MY DAUGHTER, KNOW OF THIS, WERE A SOUL LIKE A DECAYING CORPSE SO THAT FROM A HUMAN STANDPOINT THERE WOULD BE NO HOPE OF RESTORATION FOR IT IN EVERYTHING WOULD ALREADY SEEM TO BE LOST, IT IS NOT SO WITH GOD. THE MIRACLE OF DIVINE MERCY RESTORES THAT SOUL IN FULL. OH, HOW MISERABLE ARE THOSE WHO DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MIRACLE OF GOD'S MERCY." ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL? NUMBER 1448 OF FAUSTINA'S DIARY. AND THEN HE CONTINUES AND SAYS THESE WORDS AS WELL, A LITTLE EARLIER ON IN PARAGRAPH 975: "MY DAUGHTER, PRAY FOR SOULS THAT THEY BE NOT AFRAID TO APPROACH THE TRIBUNAL OF MY MERCY. DO NOT GROW WEARY OF PRAYING FOR SINNERS. YOU KNOW WHAT A BURDEN THEIR SOULS ARE TO MY HEART. RELIEVE MY DEATHLY SORROW. DISPENSE MY MERCY." AND BOY, DID SHE DO THAT WITH THE APPROVAL OF HER DIARY. SHE DISPENSED HIS MERCY. THE VERY FIRST SAINT CANONIZED IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM, DURING THE GREAT JUBILEE YEAR 2000. ST. JOHN PAUL II WANTED TO DO IT EARLIER BUT HE KNEW THIS WAS THE TIME OF MERCY. HE WANTED FAUSTINA TO PURPOSELY BE THE FIRST SAINT CANONIZED IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM, SO HE PURPOSEFULLY HELD OFF HER CANONIZATION. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN CANONIZED IN THE EARLY TO MID TO LATTER '90s, SOON AFTER HER BEATIFICATION. BUT HE HELD OFF. HE WANTED HER TO BE THE FIRST ONE IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM TO MAKE A STATEMENT NOW IS A TIME FOR MERCY. POPE FRANCIS LAST DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY ON APRIL 19 AT SANTOS SPIRITO CHURCH IN ITALY, WHICH IS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE DIVINE MERCY DEVOTION IN ROME, FRANCIS SAID THESE WORDS REGARDING THE DOUBTING ST. THOMAS AND THE DIVINE MERCY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE GOSPEL USED ON THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER IS THE DOUBTING THOMAS WHEN JESUS APPEARS IN THE UPPER ROOM AND THOMAS FINALLY SEES HIM. POPE FRANCIS SAYS: ON THIS FEAST OF THE DIVINE MERCY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PASSAGE COMES FROM ST. THOMAS, THE DISCIPLE WHO ARRIVED LATE. HE WAS THE ONLY ONE MISSING. BUT YET THE LORD WAITED FOR THOMAS, BECAUSE MERCY DOES NOT ABANDON THOSE WHO STAY BEHIND AND WHO ARRIVE LATE. MERCY IS STILL ATTAINABLE EVEN BY THEM. THOSE WHO STAY BEHIND AND ARRIVE LATE. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE THAT IS, ALMOST SAID AS A QUIP. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE THAT IS FOR SOMEONE WHO MAYBE IS A CRADLE CATHOLIC SINCE INFANCY, BAPTIZED AS AN INFANT BUT FOR DECADES HAS BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE CHURCH. AND THEY FINALLY COME BACK IN THEIR MID-'70s. HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT? AS I SAID EARLIER IN THE WEEK, MERCY IS WHO GOD IS. IT'S LOVE'S SECOND NAME. GOD IS MORE INTERESTED IN OUR FUTURE THAN IN OUR PAST. HE'S MORE INTERESTED IN THE KIND OF PERSON WE CAN YET BECOME THAN IN THE KIND OF PERSON WE USED TO BE. WHILE INDEED TAKING OUR SINS SERIOUSLY, NO DOUBT, WHETHER MORTAL OR VENIAL, BECAUSE THEY HAVE OFFENDED HIM, HE NEVER EVER EVER TAKES THOSE SINS AS THE LAST WORD. WHY? BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE HAS MADE US IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS AND HE CALLS US CONSTANTLY TO A LIFE OF SANCTIFYING GRACE, AND HE KNOWS HE IS OUR GOD WHO IS BIGGER THAN ANY SIN WE MIGHT EVER COMMIT, EVEN THE SIN OF A BAPTIZED CATHOLIC NOT FULFILLING THEIR ANNUAL DUTY FOR EASTER, TO MAKE A GOOD CONFESSION AND RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION IN THE STATE OF GRACE. HE IS BIGGER THAN THAT AND WILL WELCOME THE PERSON BACK. ST. JOHN VIANNEY: GOD'S MERCY IS LIKE AN UNLEASHED TORRENT; IT BEARS AWAY ALL HEARTS IN ITS FLOOD. THINK OF THE TWO RAYS OF THE DIVINE MERCY IMAGE, THE RED SYMBOLIC OF EUCHARIST, THE WHITE OF BAPTISM. GOD'S MERCY IS LIKE AN UNLEASHED TORRENT -- THOSE TWO RAYS JUST EMANATING FROM THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. IT BEARS ALL HEARTS AWAY IN ITS FLOOD. AND SAINT JEROME THE FAMED SCRIPTURE SCHOLAR WHO DIED IN BETHLEHEM WITH HIS HEAD RESTING ON THE VERY MANGER WHERE JESUS WAS BORN, HOW MERCIFUL IS THAT? IT'S PRETTY MERCIFUL. DO YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE SAINT JEROME WAS KNOWN TO BE AN OLD NASTY CURMUDGEON, ALWAYS CRANKY, CAN'T GET ALONG WITH TOO MANY PEOPLE. AND YET, SACRED TRADITION TELLS US THAT UPON FINISHING HIS TRANSLATION OF THE LATIN VULGATE IN BETHLEHEM, HE DIED WITH HIS HEAD RESTING ON THE VERY MANGER WHERE JESUS WAS BORN. GOD'S MERCY IS LIKE AN UNLEASHED TORRENT, HUH? SAINT JEROME SAYS, "DO NOT DESPAIR OF HIS MERCY NO MATTER HOW GREAT YOUR SINS. FOR GREAT MERCY WILL TAKE AWAY GREAT SINS. FOR THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL AND PREFERS THE CONVERSION OF A SINNER RATHER THAN HIS DEATH. OH, HOW PATIENT AND GENEROUS IS HIS MERCY." NOW, ALL OF THIS IS A MESSAGE THAT THE DEVIL HATES. THE DEVIL HATES. HE HATES LOVE, AUTHENTIC HUMAN LOVE. HE HATES THE LOVE OF GOD GIVEN BY A HUMAN PERSON TO GOD. HE HATES MERCY. BUT HE LOVES SIN. VENIAL AND MORTAL BUT ESPECIALLY MORTAL WHICH CUTS OFF SUPERNATURAL CHARITY AND GOD'S SANCTIFYING GRACE. VENIAL SIN WOUNDS SUPERNATURAL CHARITY WORKING IN THE HUMAN SOUL AND WOUNDS ONE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND OTHERS BUT DOESN'T CUT IT OFF. MORTAL SIN CUTS IT OFF. GRAVE MATTER, FULLNESS OF KNOWLEDGE AND DONE WITH DELIBERATE CONSENT OF YOUR WILL, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS YOU'RE DOING. JOHN 8:44 STATES, QUOTE, THE DEVIL WAS A MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING AND HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUTH BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. WHEN HE LIES, HE SPEAKS ACCORDING TO HIS OWN NATURE FOR HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF LIES. JOHN 8:44. SO IT'S TIME TO STOP LIVING A LIFE OF LIES IF YOU'RE DOING THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE REALITY OF SIN AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE REALITY OF RETURNING TO GOD IN HIS SANCTIFYING GRACE, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION AND TO START LIVING HIS TRUTH, THE TRUTH OF GOD, THE TRUTH OF HIS MERCY. ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS. HE TELLS FAUSTINA IN 1784 OF HER DIARY, "MY DAUGHTER, KNOW THIS: MY DELIGHT IS TO ACT IN A HUMAN SOUL AND FILL IT WITH MY MERCY AND TO JUSTIFY IT." IN OTHER WORDS, A STATE OF JUSTIFICATION WHICH IS A STATE OF SANCTIFYING GRACE, NO MORTAL SIN ON THE SOUL, SO GOD'S GRACE IS WORKING FULLY AND THE PERSON BECOMES AN ACTUAL PARTICIPATOR IN GOD'S OWN LIFE. "MY DAUGHTER KNOW THIS, MY DELIGHT IS TO ACT IN A HUMAN SOUL, FILL IT WITH MY MERCY AND TO JUSTIFY IT. WRITE MY SECRETARY THAT I MYSELF AM THE SPIRITUAL GUIDE OF SOULS, AND I GUIDE THEM" AND THAT HE DOES. HE SAYS, MY KINGDOM ON EARTH IS MY LIFE IN THE HUMAN SOUL. A SOUL IN THE STATE OF GRACE, SANCTIFYING GRACE. "MY KINGDOM ON EARTH" -- HE IS TELLING HER -- "MY KINGDOM ON EARTH IS MY LIFE INSIDE THE HUMAN SOUL." IT'S UNFATHOMABLE. IT'S UNFATHOMABLE. AND YET PSALM 103 VERSE 12 SAYS, AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST, SO FAR DOES HE REMOVE OUR SINS. AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST, SO FAR DOES HE REMOVE OUR SINS. SAINT CYPRIAN, EARLY BISHOP AND MARTYR SAYS, TO BE REMINDED THAT WE ARE SINNERS AND FORCED TO ASK FORGIVENESS FOR OUR FAULTS IS BOTH PRUDENT AND SOUND. CHRIST BOTH TAUGHT TO US PRAY FOR OUR SINS AND OUR FAULTS. AND ALSO PROMISE TO SHOW US A FATHER'S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. IT'S RATIONAL. IT'S GOOD. IT'S PURSUANT OF THE GOOD AND TRUE TO BE REMINDED THAT WE ARE SINNERS AND TO ASK FORGIVENESS FROM GOD AND TO ACCEPT HIS MERCY. SAINT AUGUSTINE CROWNS IT ALL BY SAYING "THIS IS OUR GLORY, THE WITNESS OF OUR CONSCIENCE. THIS IS OUR GLORY -- THE GLORY OF EACH INDIVIDUAL HUMAN PERSON -- "THE WITNESS OF OUR CONSCIENCE." WHAT'S THE OLD MAXIM, THAT THE BEST PILLOW AT NIGHT -- EXCUSE ME -- A CLEAN CONSCIENCE MAKES THE BEST PILLOW AT NIGHT? OR THE BEST PILLOW AT NIGHT IS A CLEAN CONSCIENCE? SAINT ISADORE OF SEVILLE SAID, ALL HOPE CONSISTS OF CONFESSION; BELIEVE IT FIRMLY, DO NOT DOUBT, DO NOT HESITATE, NEVER DESPAIR OF THE MERCY OF GOD. HOPE AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN CONFESSION ALWAYS. CONFIDENCE. THERE'S THAT WORD AGAIN. WE HAD IT EARLIER THIS WEEK, "CONFIDE," WITH FAITH. HOPE AND BE WITH FAITH IN CONFESSION ALWAYS. HAVE FAITH IN THE SACRAMENT. OUT OF ALL 7 ONLY TWO RECEIVED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THE EUCHARIST AND RECONCILIATION. THEY GO HAND IN HAND. THREE CAN ONLY BE RECEIVED ONCE, BAPTISM, HOLY ORDERS AND CONFIRMATION. THE LAST TWO WHICH BRING US UP TO SEVEN CAN BE RECEIVED AGAIN, INDEED, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE WITH A LOT OF FREQUENCY LIKE EUCHARIST AND CONFESSION CAN BE RECEIVED WITH A LOT OF FREQUENCY. WHAT TWO SACRAMENTS ARE THOSE? THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY AND THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK. AND THE CHIEF BENEFITS OF PARTAKING FREQUENTLY IN THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE WHETHER IT'S VENIAL SINS CONFESSED OR MORTAL SINS CONFESSED OR WHETHER THAT CONFESSION HAS ELEMENTS OF BOTH SINS CONFESSED, IT DOESN'T MATTER. THESE ARE THE NINE CHIEF BENEFITS OF A FREQUENT CONFESSION. THANK YOU POPE PIUS XII AND POPE PAUL VI. CONSCIENCE IS PURIFIED. GRACE IS INCREASED. THE WILL IS STRENGTHENED. SELF-KNOWLEDGE IS INCREASED. WE TALKED ACT SELF-KNOWLEDGE TWO DAYS THIS WEEK. MORE RAPID GROWTH IN VIRTUE TAKES PLACE. HUMILITY GROWS. BAD HABITS ARE ASSISTED IN BEING OVERCOME. A SPIRIT OF MEDIOCRITY OR LUKEWARMNESS IS ASSISTED IN BEING OVERCOME AND GREATER SELF-CONTROL IS ACHIEVED IN DAILY LIVING. THE NINE CHIEF BENEFITS OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE. FOR EXAMPLE, PAUL VI SAYS, QUOTE, THAT THERE IS GREAT VALUE OF FREQUENT AND FERVENT RECOURSE TO THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION EVEN WHEN ONLY VENIAL SINS ARE IN QUESTION. WHY? BECAUSE THIS IS A CONSTANT EFFORT TO BRING INTO PERFECTION THE GRACE OF OUR BAPTISM. YEAH, THERE'S A LINK BETWEEN BAPTISM AND CONFESSION. WHY? BOTH WIPE AWAY SINS. THIS IS WHY A CATECHUMEN COMING INTO THE CHURCH WHO HAS NEVER BEEN BAPTIZED AND THEY'RE GOING TO COME INTO THE CHURCH AND BE BAPTIZED AT THE EASTER VIGIL, DO THEY NEED TO GO TO CONFESSION FIRST? NO. NOT AT ALL. THE BAPTISM WILL WIPE AWAY ANY ACTUAL SIN OR PERSONAL SIN, USED SYNONYMOUSLY -- ACTUAL SIN IS PERSONAL SIN, PERSONAL SIN IS ACTUAL SIN, MEANING THE PERSON ACTUALLY COMMITTED IT, VENIAL OR MORTAL, WIPED AWAY AT BAPTISM. PROVERBS 28:13 SAYS, HE WHO CONCEALS HIS SINS WILL NOT PROSPER. HE WHO CONFESSES AND RENOUNCES THEM WILL FIND MERCY. ANOTHER GREAT BUMPER STICKER. HE WHO CONCEALS HIS SINS WILL NOT PROSPER. HE WHO CONFESSES AND RENOUNCES THEM WILL FIND MERCY. POPE SAINT CLEMENT SAID, IT IS BETTER FOR A MAN TO CONFESS HIS SINS THAN TO HARDEN HIS HEART. AMEN TO THAT. AND JOHN 1, WE HAVE HEARD FROM FIRST JOHN ALL WEEK, JOHN 1: 8-9 SAYS, IF WE SAY WE ARE FREE FROM THE GUILT OF SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, THE TRUTH IS NOT TO BE FOUND IN US. BUT IF WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SINS, HE WHO IS JUST CAN BE TRUSTED TO FORGIVE OUR SINS AND CLEANSE US FROM EVERY WRONGDOING. AMEN TO THAT. SO OUR GOAL IS TO BECOME MATURE LIKE CHRIST THE HEAD, AS MEMBERS OF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH, HIS MEMBERS. WE WANT TO BECOME AS A MEMBER, MATURE LIKE CHRIST OUR HEAD. SHUN SIN, UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF SIN, VENIAL AND MORTAL, AND STRIVE TO BECOME GREAT, GREAT SAINTS LIVING IN THE MIDST OF THE MODERN WORLD AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS THIRD MILLENNIUM. AMEN? >> AMEN. >> SAINT JOSEPH, TERROR OF DEMONS. >> PRAY FOR US. >> IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. >> AMEN.
