[MUSIC] >> AND WELCOME ONCE AGAIN TO "FR. SPITZER'S UNIVERSE" AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH AND REASON EACH WEEK RIGHT HERE ON EWTN. DON'T FORGET THAT YOUR QUESTIONS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE SHOW. YOU CAN REACH US VIA EMAIL, FACEBOOK, TWITTER. AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT ALL THINGS FATHER SPITZER AT magiscenter.com. WE ALSO VISIT crediblecatholic.com WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH. WE'RE MOVING INTO A NEW TOPIC, THE FIVE GRACES OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST. BOY, CAN WE USE THAT NOW! DON'T FORGET, THE BOOK OF THE MONTH FROM EWTN PUBLISHING IS CARMELITE SPIRITUALITY: THE WAY OF CARMELITE PRAYER AND CONTEMPLATION CARDINAL ANDERS ARBORELIUS, O.C.D. A GREAT FRIEND OF THE NETWORK. THAT'S HIS ORDER, O.C.D. HE WROTE THE BOOK FOR EWTN. IT'S VERY, VERY POPULAR SO FAR. AND WE ARE SURE THAT YOU WILL ENJOY IT. IT'S BASED ON A SERIES THAT HE DID FOR EWTN MANY, MANY YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS HERE. SPEAKING MANY MOONS AGO. WE GO TO FATHER SPITZER OUT ON THE WEST COAST WHO ALSO HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH EWTN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. >> Father: GOOD. GOOD. HOW ARE YOU DOUG? >> GREAT. CAN YOU KICK US OFF ON A PRAYER. >> Father: IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE BLESSINGS YOU GIVE US THROUGH THIS MINISTRY AND WE ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR WORLD, OUR COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY ALL OF OUR FAMILIES, PRECIOUS FAMILY DURING THIS TIME OF PANDEMIC AND BRING THIS TO A SPEEDY END, WE PRAY. ALSO, LORD, WE ASK YOU TO SEND YOUR HOLY SPIRIT DOWN UPON DOUG, MYSELF, OUR WHOLE AUDIENCE THIS DAY AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AND SAY WILL BE BROUGHT TO FRUITION IN YOUR WILL FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR CHURCH AND YOUR KINGDOM. WE ASK THIS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN. OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP, PRAY FOR US. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. >> Doug: AMEN. GOOD TO SEE YOU, FATHER, YOU ARE LOOKING WELL. AND WE'RE MOVING INTO THE NEXT TOPIC. AND ONE THING THAT WAS INTERESTING, I MEAN, WE JUST CAME OUT OF MAY. OF COURSE, WE HAD BE DEALING WITH ST. JOHN PAUL II. THERE WAS A BOOK THAT CAME OUT, TALKED ABOUT, I MEANT TO BRING IT UP IN AN EARLIER SHOW. WE DIDN'T GET AROUND TO IT, THE PANDEMIC TALK AND ST. JOHN PAUL'S MOM WAS ADVISED AT ONE TIME TO ABORT HIM. >> Father: NO. I HAD NO IDEA WHATSOEVER! I DON'T THINK THAT CAME UP IN WITNESS TO HOPE, GEORGE WIEGEL'S BIOGRAPHY. OH, OKAY. NO, I HAD NO IDEA. WHAT A LOSS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN! OH MY GOSH. WHAT A FACTOID. >> Doug: RIGHT. RIGHT. IT'S BASED ON A STORY THAT OUR CATHOLIC REGISTER PUBLISHED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. AND OF COURSE, SHE MADE A BOLD DECISION TO OBVIOUSLY HAVE HER CHILD AND OBVIOUSLY SHOWING THE POWER OF AN IMPORTANCE, THINK, OF ST. ST. JOHN PAUL II'S MOTHEN HIS LIFE. >> Father: YEAH. WAS THAT BECAUSE, YEAH, SHE DID HAVE SOME DIFFICULT HEALTH CHALLENGES, I KNOW THAT. AND SHE DIED QUITE EARLY IN HIS LIFE. AND HIS FATHER RAISED HIM MUCH OF THE TIME. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. >> Doug: IT'S BASED ON P.M. TESTIMONY OF A MIDWIFE AND A REPORT OF TWO OF HER FRIENDS THT WERE FROM VAD VICH I THAT SHE SAID I WOULD TOLLA WAS IMPRESSED BY HER FIRST DOCTOR, DOCTOR MOSCATIA THAT SHE HAVE AN ABORTION. ULTIMATELY THEY CHOSE A JEWISH DOCTOR FROM KRAKOW WHO MOVED THERE AND BECAME THEIR DOCTOR. THERE'S ANOTHER CONNECTION THERE, TOO, BECAUSE HE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE JEWISH POPULATION AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN POLAND WHEN HE HAD THE OUTREACH AS HOLY FATHER. I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING. THE FIRST TIME I MET YOU AND YOU WERE WORKING, YOU WERE MORE FOCUSED ON THE WHOLE PRO LIFE ISSUE IN THE EARLY DAYS. >> OH, YEAHMENT I'M STILL FOCUSED ON IT. BUT I HAD TO SORT OF BRANCH OUT INTO THE AREA OF ATHEISM AND ESPECIALLY THE MILLENNIAL UNBELIEF AND I BRANCHED OUT INTO THAT AREA. NOW, I'M WORKING IN THE AREA OF THE MORAL CONVERSION AREA BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT HAS A NEED RIGHT NOW IN THE CULTURE. I'M THINK KEEPING MY PRO LIFE ACTIVITIES VERY, VERY STRONG AND I'M WORKING ON THE BOARD OF HEALING THE CULTURE. >> Doug: AND IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE, WE'VE SAID IT ON OTHER SHOWS, OBVIOUSLY, RELIGIOUS PRACTICE SEEMS TO BE WANING IN MANY WAYS. BUT ALSO, THE YOUNGER CULTURE WHICH SEEMS TO BE SOMEWHAT MORE SECULAR IN A WAY AND NOT AS QUOTE, UNQUOTE RELIGIOUS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME IN SOME WAYS, MORE PRO LIFE. >> Father: YEAH, IT IS. AND FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE THE CRAZY, YOU KNOW, STATE LAWS, LIKE, IN NEW YORK, ILLINOIS, VIRGINIA THAT WERE JUST GOING OVER THE TOP TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO TRULY KILL A PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION BABIES AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE ARE JUST SO AWFUL. THAT CERTAINLY DID SWAY PUBLIC OPINION IN FAVOR OF PRO LIFE. PEOPLE WERE SO APPALLED AT WHAT WAS ACTUALLY BEING ADVOCATED BY VARIOUS GOVERNORS AND OTHER PLACES, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY TRULY HELPED OUR STATISTICS CONSIDERABLY. BUT EVEN BEFORE THAT, THINK, JUST THE WORK OF THE PRO LIFE MOVEMENT ITSELF AND THE EDUCATION EFFORTS THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON, PEOPLE HAVE A GREAT SENSITIVITY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE HAVING A GREATER SENSITIVITY TO THE PRESENCE OF LIFE THAT'S THERE. BUT I THINK THAT TWO OTHER FACTORS ALSO REALLY HELP. THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND OTHER GROUPS OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, ARE USING THESE TECHNIQUES BASICALLY, ULTRASOUND, SOPHISTICATED SULT RA SOUND TO GIVE THOSE THINGS TO THE BIRTH RIGHT CLINICS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE SO THAT LADIES COULD ACTUALLY SEE THAT BABY UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL BEFORE THEY CHOSE ABORTION. AND THIS IS AN ANATHEMA OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD, BUT REALLY, THE NUMBER OF THESE MACHINES MADE AVAILABLE TO SO MANY BIRTH RIGHT CLINICS AND THE [INAUDIBLE] CLINICS, THAT'S BEEN VERY, VERY HELPFUL. AND THE SECOND THING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK OUT THERE, ABOUT POST ABORTION SYNDROME. IT GOES UNDER A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT NAMES BUT THERE'S A LOT OF POST MORTEM DEPRESSION AFTER ABORTION THAT IS NOW BECOMING GENERALLY RECOGNIZED. SO, IF PEOPLE ARE BEING HIT THAT HARD, THE PERSPECTIVE MOTHER IS BEING HIT THAT HARD, THEN I THINK IT CAUSES PEOPLE TO WONDER, IS THIS JUST, YOU KNOW, AS FREE AND CLEAR AS I MIGHT HAVE ONCE THOUGHT. SO, A LOT OF THINGS ARE JUST AUGURING IN OUR FAVOR RIGHT NOW IN THE PRO LIFE MOVEMENT. BUT THERE'S MUCH, MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. AND WE REALLY DO HAVE TO STAY ON THE ROAD AND SOME OF THE MATERIALS THERE ARE HEALING THE CULTURE AND RECOMMENDING THAT THEY ARE BASED ON MY STUFF, THE BOOK HEALING THE CULTURE AND 10 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES AND SOME OF THE OTHER PRO LIFE STUFF I'VE BEEN WORKING ON. >> OKAY. LET'S GET INTO SOME QUESTIONS, VERY GOOD. WE'VE GOTTEN THESE FROM PREVIOUS PROGRAMS THAT WE DIDN'T GET TO YET. DEAR FR. SPITZER, I RECENTLY LOST MY FATHER, A GREAT, INSPIRATIONAL AND LOVING MAN. HE RECEIVED ANOINTING OF THE SICK FROM HIS PARISH PRIEST. A FEW WEEKS LATER, WE LOST OUR BROTHER FROM A SUDDEN STROKE. HE DID NOT RECEIVE ANOINTING OF THE SICK. WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS SITUATION? DOES GOD MAKE AN EXCEPTION? ALSO, DOES GOD VIEW ALL THE SUFFERINGS IN ONE'S LIFE AS A MEANS OF REDUCING PURGATORY TIME? >> Father: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YES. THERE IS A -- WELL, LET ME TAKE THE SECOND QUESTION FIRST. OKAY. THERE'S A REDUCTION DEFINITELY OF PURGATORY. IF YOU USE THE SUFFERINGS IN OUR LIFE THROUGH OUR FAITH. IF WE USE THEM TO DEEPEN OUR OWN FAITH THERE HAS TO BE PURIFICATION IN THAT. AND IF THERE'S PURIFICATION IN THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE A REDUCTION, I DON'T KNOW TIME PER SE BUT REDUCTION OF THE NEED FOR OUR PURIFICATION IN PURGATORY. YES, I DEFINITELY SAY THAT'S TRUE. BUT THE KEY POINT IS NOT JUST TO SUFFER. WE HAVE TO SUFFER WELL. WE HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH OUR FAITH. WE HAVE TO HAVE A SENSE, RIGHT, THAT GOD IS GOING TO TAKE, DETACH US FROM OUR EGO. AND WE HAVE TO WANT TO LEVERAGE OUR SUFFERING. SO, I RECOMMEND IF YOU WANT TIME OFF FROM PURGATORY, WHEN YOU ARE SUFFERING, DO THREE THINGS. NUMBER ONE, LOOK FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO DETACH YOURSELF FROM YOUR EGO AND DETACH YOURSELF FROM SENSUALITY. TO GET WHAT WE CALL IN IGNATIAN LANGUAGE, GREATER FREEDOM TO LIVE ACCORDING TO CHRIST. THAT'S THE FIRST THING. AND IN MY PROGRAM LAST WEEK, WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, HOW YOUR PRAYER LIFE ACTUALLY CAN GIVE YOU THAT GREATER FREEDOM FOR DETACHMENT. FREEDOM FROM MORAL CONVERSION. AND I WOULD SAY, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SUFFER WELL, START THAT HABIT OF PRAYING FOR A HALF AN HOUR EVERY MORNING, JUST ALWAYS FAITHFULLY. DON'T MISS. IF YOU DO THAT AND YOU TRY TO REMAIN AS FAITHFUL AS POSSIBLE, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THAT THAT FREEDOM WILL COME. AND WHEN IT COMES, IT'S GOING TO REALLY TRANSFORM YOUR SUFFERING INTO PURIFICATION OF YOUR SOUL IN A VERY PERMANENT WAY. AND THAT WILL DEFINITELY REDUCE THE TIME. SECOND THING, WHEN YOU ARE SUFFERING IS DEFINITELY OFFER IT UP TO THE LORD. PRAY FOR SPECIFIC PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO PRAY FOR. IN OTHER WORDS, THAT THAT GRACE THAT YOU GIVE WILL DEFINITELY GO, ASK THE LORD TO TAKE IT TO HIMSELF AND SHOWER IT UPON PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED IT. AND YOU CAN GIVE LOTS OF FOR INSTANCES. AND I WANT TO GIVE THIS TO MY BROTHER, SISTER, MOTHER, FATHER, WHOMEVER IT MAY BE. AND THAT'S THE SECOND THING. AND THAT GENEROUS ACT ALSO LEADS TO PURIFICATION. AND IT'S GOING TO HELP PURIFY YOUR SOUL. AND THE THIRD THING, WHEN SUFFERING HAPPENS, YOU HAVE TO TRUST IN GOD. HAVE YOU TO LET GO INTO HIS HANDS. AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN THE PURIFICATION PROGRAM. TRUST IN GOD IS INTEGRAL. USE THOSE MOMENTS OF SUFFERING TO LET GO. WHEN YOU HAVE TO LET GO, SAY, LORD JESUS, I PLACE MY TRUST IN YOU. I REALLY DO TRUST YOU. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING IN MY LIFE. I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING IN MY LIFE. AND I'M GOING TO PLACE ALL MY TRUST IN YOU. AND THAT, OF COURSE, GETS YOU, AS THEY SAY, PURIFICATION POINT WHICH IS GOING TO SHORTEN YOUR TIME IN PURGATORY. RELATIVE TO, DOES GOD MAKE AN EXCEPTION. IF YOU DIE WITHOUT HAVING AN ANOINTING, YOU CAN STILL OF COURSE GO TO HEAVEN. BECAUSE IF YOU ARE NOT IN A STATE OF MORTAL SIN OR YOU ARE BASICALLY UNREPENTANT IN YOUR MORTAL SIN, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE UNREPENTANT IN MORTAL SIN WHEN YOU DIE. SO, JUST ALWAYS SAY YOUR ACT OF CONTRITION, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T GET TO CONFESSION. AND JUST SAY THAT ACT OF CONTRITION. BE REPENTANT. AND YOU SHOULD BE JUST FINE. NOW, OF COURSE, YOU MIGHT GET SOME PURGATORY, YES. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ANOINTED. DO YOU WANT TO BE ANOINTED? OF COURSE YOU WANT TO BE ANOINTED. AND OF COURSE, YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT FINAL CONFESSION BEFORE YOU DIE. OF COURSE, YOU WANT TO HAVE THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK TO GIVE YOU THAT CONSOLATION, THAT GRACE AND RESOLUTION ISSUE AS YOU BEGIN TO FACE DEATH. OF COURSE, YOU WANT TO HAVE VIATICUM, AND YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT FINAL RECEPTION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST. YES, OF COURSE, YOU ABSOLUTELY WANT TO CALL THAT PRIEST. BUT NO, YOU ARE NOT DEPRIVED OF HEAVEN OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE OR YOU ARE NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY SPEND MORE TIME IN PURGATORY BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE AN ANOINTING. BUT THE ANOINTING WE KNOW HELPS. AND THE ANOINTING HELPS TO KEEP US FOCUSED AND BRINGS GRACE INTO OUR LIVES WHEN WE FACE OUR DEATH. THE ANOINTING PLUS THE CONFESSION IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST COMBINE UP TO BE A VERY, VERY GOOD GRACE OF FINAL COMMENDATION AS IT WERE OF MOVING TOWARD THE LORD AT THAT TIME OF TRANSITION. >> I LIKE THAT COMMENDATION, THAT'S A NICE WAY OF THINKING ABOUT IT. OKAY. HERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION. DEAR FATHER SPITZER, ON A RECENT ADDRESS THE DEVIL DIRECTLY TO DRIVE HIM AWAY. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD NEVER SPEAK TO HIM BUT ONLY GO THROUGH JESUS OR MARY. I WOULD LIKE TO DO WHATEVER I NEED TO KEEP THE EVIL ONE AWAY FROM ME AND MY FAMILY. GOD BLESS YOU, MONICA. >> Father: YEAH, MONICA, THE IDEA OF ADDRESSING HIM, I DIDN'T MEAN ADDRESSING HIM IN THE SENSE OF GETTING ANY KIND OF DIALOGUE GOING WITH HIM AT ALL. BUT INSTEAD, JUST THIS ONE PRAYER AND YOU ARE ADDRESSING IT TO HIM. AND YOU ARE ALSO, YOU ARE THE ONE THAT'S IN THE POWER SEAT BECAUSE YOU ARE USING THE NAME OF JESUS. REMEMBER, WHENEVER YOU USE THE NAME OF JESUS, THE HOLY SPIRIT IN HIS POWER OVER THE DEVIL IS SPEAKING THROUGH YOU. SO, HERE'S THE PRAYER. YOU CAN JUST SAY, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO MENTION, DON'T EVEN MENTION HIS NAME. JUST SAY, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, JUST START THERE. IN THE NAME OF JESUS, BE GONE SATAN. OR YOU CAN ADD SOME THINGS, LIKE, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, MY LORD AND MY SAVIOR, SATAN BE GONE. SO, ALL YOU ARE DOING IS, YOU ARE COMMANDING HIM. YOU ARE NOT REALLY ADDRESSING HIM IN AN ENGAGING WAY. CERTAINLY NOT IN A DIALOGUEICAL WAY. YOU DON'T EVEN USE HIS NAME. YOU JUST SAY, IN THE NAME OF JESUS. YOU CAN EVEN SAY, I COMMAND YOU BE GONE, SATAN. OR YOU CAN JUST SAY, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, BE GONE STATE ANN. I -- SATAN. I TELL YOU, THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE WORKING RIGHT THROUGH YOU AND RELEASE YOU. OF COURSE, YES, YOU CAN ADD THE PRAYERS TOO. SO, IF YOU ARE GETTING TEMPTED OR YOU ARE GETTING BOTHERED BY HIM. DEFINITELY YOU WANT TO USE THAT IN THE NAME OF JESUS, BE GONE SATAN. AND YOU CAN SAY, DEAR MARY, PROTECT ME. DEAR ST. MICHAEL PROTECT ME. DEAR LORD JESUS PROTECT ME. ABSOLUTELY. ALL OF THESE THINGS, YOU CAN COMBINE IT UP AND IT WORKS GREAT. AND REMEMBER, YOU ARE IN THE COMMANDING POSITION. YOU ARE NOT ADDRESSING HIM IN SOME KIND OF ENGAGING WAY. YOU ARE IN CONTROL. >> Doug: EXACTLY. AND YOU ARE NOT GOING OUT OF YOUR WAY TO DO BATTLE. YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO GET HIM AWAY. >> Father: EXACTLY. YOU ARE COMMANDING HIM TO STAY AWAY. >> Doug: OKAY. OUR NEXT QUESTION. HI FATHER SPITZER, IS IT DOGMA OF THE CHURCH THAT FEW SOULS WILL BE SAVED? JESUS SPOKE OF FEW PASSING THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. IF JESUS CAME TO SAVE SOULS, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE HE SAVED FEW PEOPLE. CAN YOU RECONCILE THESE THOUGHTS? THANK YOU, GEORGE. >> Father: GEORGE, I REALLY BELIEVE IN MY FAITH THAT MANY, MANY MORE THAN A FEW WILL BE SAVED. I THINK THAT THE LORD'S INTENTION WAS TO SAVE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE. THAT WAS HIS WHOLE MISSION. AND AS I SAID MANY TIMES ON THE PROGRAM, HIS DEATH WAS A SACRIFICIAL DEATH FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS SO THAT HE WOULD LOSE NO ONE, THAT THE FATHER GAVE HIM. THAT'S THE FIRST POINT. TO REALLY KEY, HE HAD NO INTENTION OF LOSING ANYONE AND HE'S GOING TO DO EVERYTHING HE CAN TO SAVE US. AND BELIEVE ME, HE DOES A LOT TO SAVE US. AND NOW, THE THIRD BOOK OF THE TRILOGY THAT I HAVE COMING OUT HAS QUITE A BIT ON THIS. BUT THAT'S FOR ANOTHER DAY. AND THE MAIN THING RIGHT NOW TO NOTE IS THAT PASSAGE WHICH IS A MUCH MISUNDERSTOOD PASSAGE. JESUS DIDN'T SAY THAT ONLY A FEW WERE GOING TO GET INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHAT HE SAID WAS, THE WAY TO PERDITION IS WIDE. AND HE SAYS, MANY GO THROUGH IT. SO, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. AND YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE PATH TO PERDITION. NOW, DOES JESUS TRY TO RESCUE US WHEN WE GET ON THE PATH TO PERDITION. ABSOLUTELY. HE DOESN'T SAY, WELL, YOU GOT ON THE PATH TO PERDITION. SORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU ARE A GONER NOW. SO, THE MINUTE THAT YOU ARE ON AT PATH TO PERDITION, I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ALL OF THE SAINTS AND BLESSED MARY AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS WORKING TO GET YOU TO GET OFF THAT PATH. AND MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST GIVE A FEW INSTANCES. WHEN YOU ARE ON A THAT PATH, YOU START GETTING DREAMS AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING. MARY IS CRYING, OR YOU ARE GOING DOWN A TUBE AND SEEMS LIKE IT'S AN ENDLESS TUBE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. AND YOU ARE BASICALLY GETTING A DREAM OF CHRIST LOOKING AT YOU WITH THE SAD FACE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. OR, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THING THAT HAPPENS, WHERE YOU DON'T NOTICE IT DIRECTLY LIKE IN A DREAM OR A VISUAL WAY. YOU ARE JUST GOING AROUND IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL EMPTINESS, LONELINESS, ALIENATION AND GUILT. I MEAN, A MEGA FUNK. AND IT JUST CONSTANTLY GOING ON AND ON. ONE DAY, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE YOU LOOK AT A SAICIALGD HEART PICTURE -- SACRED HEART HEART PICTURE, A CRUCIFIX AND YOU PASS BY A CHURCH AND JUST FOR A MOMENT YOU GET BLESSED RELIEF. JUST RELIEF FROM THAT, WHAT WE MIGHT CALL ANGST OF BEING IN THAT SPIRITUAL EMPTINESS, ALIENATION AND LONELINESS. AND YOU GO, HEY, WAIT A MINUTE. THAT'S INTERESTING. I JUST GOT PEACE FOR THE FIRST TIME. I WAS LOOKING AT THIS RELIGIOUS OBJECT. AND I WENT IN THE CHURCH. AND IN FACT, YOU MIGHT GET AS MUCH PEACE AS YOU PASS BY THE CHURCH, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS, JUST SAY, OH, THINK I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO THAT CHURCH AND YOU FIND YOURSELF BEING DRAWN IN BY THE PEACE. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE CLUES. GOD CAN'T PUSH YOU INTO FAITH. HE CAN'T PUSH YOU OFF THE ROAD TO PERDITION. AND REMEMBER, THE ROAD TO PERDITION IS VERY TEMPTING BECAUSE THE DEVIL HAS ALL OF HIS TRICKS IN PLAY. HE IS VERY SEDUCTIVE. HE USES THE EIGHT DEADLY SINS TO KEEP TEMPTING YOU AND DRAWING YOU AND DRAWING YOU. OF COURSE, HE'S NOT GOING TO MANIFEST HIMSELF. HE DOES THAT, MANIFESTS HIMSELF WHEN HE COMES BACK TO EXACT THE PRICE. AND HE ALWAYS DOES COME BACK TO EXACT THE PRICE, I ASSURE YOU OF THAT. HE HAS MANY WAYS OF DOING THIS. HE CAN EXACT THE PRICE BY BASICALLY TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU TO BECOME PART OF HIS LEAGUE. OR HE CAN EXACT THE PRICE BY TAKING AWAY ALL OF YOUR HOPE. YOU HAVE BEEN ON THIS LINE FOR SO LONG. I HAVE THE KEY TO YOUR HAPPINESS AND JUST GIVE IT UP RIGHT NOW. I WANT YOU TO BE IN LEAGUE WITH ME. AND THERE IS NO HOPE. YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR DOWN THE LINE. AND OF COURSE, THAT'S DESPAIR WHICH YOU NEVER WANT TO DO. BUT THAT'S HIS LINE. IT'S A BIG FAT LIE! BUT THAT'S HIS LINE. YOU CAN'T BELIEVE IT. ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT HAPPEN, YOU HAVE TO START LOOKING AT CLUES, RIGHT. BECAUSE THE DEVIL IS SERIOUS ABOUT HIS BUSINESS AND THE LORD NOT JUST GOING TO LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT. ANY TIME A PERSON GOES ON THE WIDE PATH TO PERDITION AND MOST OF US STARTED ON THAT ROAD MORE THAN ONCE IN OUR LIVES. AND WE'VE GOTTEN PULLED OFF, THANK GOD, BY A FRIEND OR BY GOD'S GRACE OR BY A DREAM. OR THAT SPIRITUAL EMPTINESS, ALIENATION OR DARKNESS. AND SOMETIMES WE'VE GOTTEN INTO A PART WHERE WE HAVE THIS LITTLE PERSISTENT THOUGHT IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS. AND THAT PERSISTENT THOUGHT KEEPS GOING AT US, AND GOING AT US. YOU ARE GOING WRONG HERE. THIS IS BAD, DON'T KEEP GOING DOWN THIS WAY. THE MAIN THING, FOLLOW THAT VOICE OF YOUR FRIEND. FOLLOW THAT LITTLE VOICE IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD. GO AWAY FROM THE SPIRITUAL EMPTINESS, ALIENATION DARKNESS AND LONELINESS. GO AWAY FROM THE DREAMS THAT ARE KEEPING YOU THERE. WHAT'S THE WAY TO DO THAT? WHAT'S THE FASTEST PATH, WAY TO GET OFF THE PATH TO PERDITION? I'M GOING TO SHOUT IT OUT HERE, SAY IT A HUNDRED TIMES. GO TO THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION! IF YOU FIND YOURSELF ON THE PATH TO PERDITION OR YOU FIND YOURSELF WITH THE DREAMS, SPIRITUAL ALIENATION, YOU HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN THE EIGHT DEADLY SINS FOR A LONG TIME. I'M BEGGING YOU, JUST GET TO CONFESSION ASAP. DO NOT PASS GO. CALL UP THE PRIEST EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO AND TELL THAT PRIEST, I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR A WHILE. I HAVE SOME SERIOUS STUFF HERE AND I NEED SOME HELP. I'M FEELING A REAL SENSE OF DESPAIR. I'VE BEEN FEELING A REAL, YOU KNOW, DARKNESS, EVIL IS TAKING ME OVER IN MY LIFE. I'M FEELING A SENSE OF PROFOUND GUILT. FOLLOW THE CLUES, I'M TELLING YOU. IF YOU FOLLOW THOSE CLUES, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT THE LORD IS GOING TO ACTUALLY BLESS YOU THROUGH THOSE CLUES. AND THEN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS GET TO CONFESSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE PRIEST, ONCE YOU HAVE GOTTEN TO CONFESSION, DO THAT PENANCE VERY, VERY SINCERELY AND SAY YOUR ACT OF CONTRITION VERY SINCERELY. WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU START GOING TO MASS. WHEN YOU START GOING TO MASS, YOU HAVE TO PREPARE SOME BABY STEPS, SOME LITTLE STEPS, PREPARE THEM TO GET OFF THE PATH. YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP GOING BACK ON IN THE SAME WAY. YOU GOT TO MAKE FIRM RESOLVE TO STAY OFF THE PATH AND TO DETACH YOURSELF FROM WHATEVER THE DEADLY SIN WAS THAT THE LORD HAS RESCUED YOU FROM, THAT SATAN WAS SEDUCING YOU WITH. YOU GOT TO CURTAIL IT IN SOME WAY. YOU GOT TO TAKE SMALL STEPS. YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE A BIG GIANT STEP. WHAT DO YOU DO EVERY TIME YOU FAIL? YOU GO BACK TO CONFESSION AGAIN. YOU KEEP TRYING TO GO TO MASS AGAIN. AND YOU KEEP TRYING TO TAKE LITTLE STEPS TO GET OFF THAT ADDICTION THAT YOU MAY HAVE FORMED TOWARD THE DEADLY SIN. AND IF YOU KEEP DOING THAT, I'M TELLING YOU, YOU ARE GOING TO BREAK FREE OF THE PATH OF PERDITION. ONE THING, LAST THING THAT I I THINK I MENTIONED. LAST WEEK, I TALKED ABOUT HOW PRAYER CAN FREE YOU. EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T FEEL ANYTHING IN YOUR PRAYER, IF YOU PRAY A HALF HOUR A DAY, AND YOU KEEP DOING THAT, YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE FREEDOM OF MORAL CONVERSION. YOU ARE GOING TO GET GREATER FREEDOM TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE DEADLY SIN THAT'S BECOME ADDICTIVE OR PROBLEMATIC. SO, THE MAIN THING FOR YOU IS JUST REMEMBER. A LOT OF PEOPLE GET ON THE PATH TO PERDITION AND A LOT OF PEOPLE GET OFF OF IT. BECAUSE THE LORD REALLY DOES GIVE THEM CLUES. AND THEY REALLY DO TURN THEIR LIFE AROUND. AND THEY REALLY DO GET AWAY FROM THE ADDICTION. THEY REALLY DO GET AWAY FROM THE SENSE OF DARKNESS, EMPTINESS AND EVIL WHICH OF COURSE IS COMING UP UPON YOU. BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM GOD AND YOU GET MORE IN LEAGUE WITH THE ROTTEN SATAN WHO IS JUST CONSTANTLY DOING THESE THINGS TO YOU, I'M TELLING YOU, YOU ARE GOING TO FEEL IT. YOU CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL IT. YOU CAN TRY TO REPRESS IT, SAY, BOY, I NEED ANOTHER 10 SCOTCHES TO KEEP THING ON AN EVEN KEEL HERE. AND IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK FOREVER. BUT YOU MAY BECOME A DRUNK AND FEEL THE ALIENATION, DARKNESS AND EVIL. SO, THE MAIN THING, WHEN THE CLUES COME, LOTS OF PEOPLE FOLLOW THE CLUES AND GO BACK TO THE LORD AND THEN TAKE EVERY STEP THEY CAN TO STAY OFF THE PATH TO PERDITION. AND THEY GET SAVED BECAUSE OF COURSE, THE PRODIGAL SON TELLS US, THE LORD FORGIVES US. HE'S GOING TO TRY TO HELP US. YOU HAVE TO USE THE SACRAMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION AND HOLY EUCHARIST TO BREAK THE SPELL. AND OF COURSE, THAT HALF HOUR OF PRAYER EVERYDAY, I'M TELLING YOU, IT WILL WORK. THEN, YOU ARE ON THE PATH TO LIFE. SOME PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THE CLUES AND OF COURSE, THEN IT REALLY DOES BECOME THE GATEWAY UNFORTUNATELY TO HELL. >> Doug: OKAY. VERY GOOD. STAY OFF THAT ROAD! STAY ON THAT ROAD AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH AN REASON. THAT'S THE IDEA OF THIS PROGRAM! >> Father: THAT'S RIGHT. >> Doug: ALL RIGHT. NEXT QUESTION. DEAR FR. SPITZER, THERE HAS BEEN AN OBVIOUS UPTICK IN SATANISM. MANY DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. TO SOME, IT'S SOMETHING TO LIVE BY, NO BETTER OR WORSE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. HOW CAN I EXPLAIN THE DANGER OF SUCH A BELIEF? FRANK >> Father: OH,MAN, FRANK, I WAS JUST KIND OF INTO THAT TWO SECONDS AGO. AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT ABOUT THE INCREASE IN SATANISM THERE. AND I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU THREE THINGS THAT SORT OF SUMMARIZE WHAT I SAID IN THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. THE FIRST THING TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE GETTING SUCKED IN AS IT WERE, I MEAN, SATANISM IS TERRIBLE. THAT'S LIKE TAKING A DEADLY SIN AND COMPOUNDING IT. AND YOU ARE GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE ARMS OF THE DEVIL. NOW, IF YOU USE YOUR FREEDOM TO GO INTO THE ARMS OF THE DEVIL, HE'S NOT GOING TO ONLY TAKE IT, HE'S GOING TO ABSORB YOU INTO HIS EVIL SELF. BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO DO IT IN AN OBVIOUS WAY. HE'S GOING TO RICHLY REWARD THE PERSON, AS IT WERE, FREELY ENTERING INTO HIS DARK DOMAIN. AND OF COURSE, AS HE RICHLY REWARDS YOU, YOU SEE, OH, MAYBE THERE'S SOME MORE RICHES AND HONORS AND GLORY AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS THAT HE WILL FIRST PLY YOU WITH UNTIL HE HAS YOU AT THE POINT WHERE HE THINKS HE HAS YOU AT THE BRINK OF DESPAIR. THEN, HE'S GOING TO PULL THE RUG RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER YOUR FEET. IT'S ALWAYS THE WAY IT HAPPENS. ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE'S GOING TO EXERT POWER OVER YOU. AND YOU ARE GOING TO GO WHOA, HE'S GOT CONTROL OVER ME. HE'S INSIDE OF ME. OH MY GOSH. I THINK I AM PRACTICALLY POSSESSED BY THIS PERSON. AND YOU ARE, OR AT LEAST AT THE STAGE OF OBSESSION. NOW HE HAS CONTROL, HAS POWER. AND WHEN HE HAS THE POWER AND THE CONTROL, HE'S GOING TO EXACT THAT PRICE. HE'S GOING TO SAY, I HAVE POWER OVER YOU, I WANT YOU TO SERVE ME. I WANT YOU TO DO MY WILL. WHEN HE HAS THAT KIND OF POWER OVER YOU, YOU SAY, I AM SEDER T. AND CALL A PRIEST. THIS IS GOING TO BE HIS LINE. HE'S GOING TO SAY, DON'T CALL THAT PRIEST. IT'S HOPELESS. YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR. YOU BELONG TO ME NOW. YOU HAVE GONE FAR ENOUGH WITH ME. GOD WILL NEVER HAVE YOU BACK. THIS AGAIN IS A BIG, FAT LIE! AND THE MAIN THING TO REMEMBER, WHEN YOU HEAR THE LIE, KNOW THIS. THE FIRST THING THAT YOU WANT TO DO IS GET TO A PRIEST. THE FIRST THING THAT YOU WANT TO DO IS CALL THAT PRIEST, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE A SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT, DO A SPECIAL CONFESSION, YOU NEED THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION, THE GRACE OF ABSOLUTION, THAT WILL BREAK THE SPELL, SPELL OF THE DEVIL. YOU HAVE TO DO THAT. THAT'S THE FIRST THING. DO NOT PASS GO. DON'T TALK YOURSELF OUT OF IT. MERCY TO GET YOU OUT OF THE JAM YOU HAVE GOTTEN YOURSELF INTO. AND REMEMBER, JESUS CHRIST DID NOT JUST WAVE OFF THE PENALTY FOR YOUR SINS. YOU REMEMBER THIS: HE PAID THE PRICE FOR YOUR SINS. HE PAID IT LOCKE, STOCK, AND BARREL WITH THIS TERRIBLE PAINFUL PERSECUTION AND ALL OF THE SUFFERINGS THAT HE ENDURED UP UNTIL HIS DEATH BEING NAILED ON A CROSS. AND THE MAIN THING, THE PRICE HAS BEEN PAID, GET TO THE PRIEST. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE POWER OF ABSOLUTION WHICH THE LORD GAVE TO THAT PRIEST. START YOUR LIFE ALL OVER ANEW. >> Doug: ABSOLUTELY. >> Father: BUT THAT'S HOW DANGEROUS IT IS. PHASE 1 IS SEDUCTION, PHASE 2 IS COMING TO CALL YOU NOW. I'VE GOT POWER OVER YOU. I'M INSIDE OF YOU. JUST REMEMBER, YOU GAVE YOURSELF OVER TO ME IN YOUR FREEDOM. THAT'S THE SECOND STAGE. AND WHEN YOU GET SCARED ENOUGH TO WANT TO TURN BACK TO GOD, YOU FEEL THE DARKNESS ALIENATION AND YOU ARE SCARED TO DEATH, YOU KNOW YOU ARE HEADED RIGHT TOWARD HELL. SO, THE THIRD THING, HE TRIES TO PUSH YOU INTO DESPAIR TELLING YOU THERE'S NO HOPE FOR YOU NOW. GOD DOESN'T LOVE YOU THAT MUCH. WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW THE ALARM BELLS ARE ON, SWING FULL AHEAD. AND YOU MUST GET TO CONFESSION ABSOLUTELY IMMEDIATELY. >> Doug: AND YOU GOT TO PLAY THAT GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD THAT YOU HAVE THERE. AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR YOURSELF. NOW, WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK AND WE HAVE MUCH MORE WITH FATHER SPITZER COMING UP, MORE QUESTIONS RIGHT AFTER THIS VERY SHORT BREAK. STAY WITH US. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> Doug: AGAIN. WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE WITH PART TWO OF "FR. SPITZER'S UNIVERSE." WE'LL TURN BACK TO FATHER AND HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, BEFORE WE TALK TO THE TOPIC OF THE DAY, FIVE GRACE OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST, FROM crediblecatholic.com. NOW, WE HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS TO CATCH UP ON. DEAR FATHER SPITZER, JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS AND I MYSELF SUFFER SO MUCH AFTER SINNING. EVEN AFTER CONFESSION I HAVE TREMENDOUS REMORSE AND GUILT. WHY DO I HAVE TO SUFFER EVEN MORE IN PURGATORY? KATE >> Father: WELL, KATE, FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU STILL HAVE THE REMORSE AND GUILT, THAT'S NOT ALL TOGETHER A BAD THING UNTIL IT REALLY GETS TO THE POINT OF DISTURBING YOU. SOMETIMES IT CAN BE JUST PART OF YOUR CONTRITION, THAT YOU ARE GENUINELY SORRY FOR HAVING OFFENDED THE LORD. AND YOU DON'T WANT TO KEEP RELIVING IT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER, WHEN YOU RECEIVE THAT ABSOLUTION AND IT SOUNDS LIKE HONESTLY, YOU SINCERELY ARE CONTRITE FOR YOUR SINS. SO, WHEN YOU RECEIVE THAT ABSOLUTION, I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, IT'S FOR ALL OF YOUR SINS. THERE'S NO NEED TO KEEP RELIVING IT. THE LORD KNOWS THAT YOU ARE SORRY. THE LORD KNOWS THE REMORSE THAT YOU FEEL. AND SO, YOU TRULY DO NOT HAVE TO SORT OF RELIVE IT. I KNOW THAT IT'S HARD TO TURN IT OFF. WHEN IT'S SORT OF GOING. AND EVEN ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, AT MANRESA HAD A HARD TIME TURNING IT OFF. IT WAS HARD FOR HIM BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED WHAT HE HAD DONE WHEN HE WAS A LADY'S MAN AND A DO YOR IN HIS LIFE. HE HAD DONE A LOT OF THINGS AND HE REGRETTED IT. YOU TO SAY, OKAY, I'M SORRY, LORD, I TRUST IN YOU, AND I'M GOING TO LET YOUR MERCY REALLY EFFECT ME. HERE'S A LITTLE PRAYER FOR YOU, KATE. I WOULD JUST SAY, LORD, I ACCEPT YOUR FORGIVENESS. I ACCEPT YOUR FORGIVENESS, LORD. AND NOW, I'M GOING TO GIVE IT ALL TO YOU. SO, JUST SAY THAT. I ACCEPT YOUR FORGIVENESS AND I'M GOING TO GIVE IT ALL TO YOU NOW. YOU JUST GOT TO LET IT GO INTO HIS HANDS, SORT OF LET THAT, LET THE REMORSE GO. YOU DON'T WANT TO KEEP RELIVING IT UNTIL IT BECOMES REALLY NEWER ON THEICALLY GUILTY. IT WILL HARM YOU IN TERMS OF YOUR PSYCHIC CONDITION. SECOND THING TO REMEMBER, KATE, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU FEEL THAT CONTRITE AND YOU FEEL THAT DEEPLY AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE OFFENDED OUR LORD WHOM I LOVE VERY, VERY MUCH. DO YOU REALIZE THAT TAKES TIME OFF YOUR PURGATORY. IN OTHER WORDS, GENUINE CONTRITION FOR YOUR SINS IS ACTUALLY PURIFICATION OF YOUR SOUL. SO, THAT REMORSE AND THAT GUILT, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY DOES TAKE TIME OFF YOUR PURGATORY. WHAT YOU SAID AT THE END OF YOUR QUESTION, WHY DO I HAVE TO HAVE PURGATORY ON TOP OF IT. WELL, MAYBE YOU WON'T HAVE PURGATORY ON TOP OF IT. PRECISELY BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN PURGED IN THE GOOD CONTRITION THAT YOU HAD AND THE TRUE REMORSE THAT YOU FELT. YOU MAY HAVE HAD A LOT OF TIME, OR A LOT OF PURGATORY, THE NEED FOR IT TO BE COMPLETELY REMOVED. SO, THINK OF IT THAT WAY. >> Doug: OKAY. >> Father: JUST PUT IT IN THE LORD'S HANDS >> Doug: AND HERE'S ANOTHER SEGUE INTO THAT QUESTION. FR. SPITZER AND DOUG, HOW CAN WE SPEAK OF 'TIME' IN PURGATORY? ISN'T IT THE SOUL THAT IS IN PURGATORY AND TIME IS AN EARTHLY CONCEPT? THERESE >> Father: WELL, THERESE, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE BIG, HUGE THEOLOGICAL-PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUES MUCH DEBATED. I TRY NOT TO USE THE TERM TIME WITH RESPECT TO PURGATORY. I TRY TO PUT IT IN SCARE QUOTES MOST OF THE TIME. BUT OFTENTIMES I FORGET JUST USING A FEW PUNS THERE. BUT TRULY I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT MAY NOT BE AN APPLICABLE CONCEPT. MAYBE THERE'S SOME SORT OF NON LINEAR TIME WHERE THINGS ARE ACCELERATED. I JUST DON'T KNOW. BUT I KNOW ONE THING, GENERALLY, WE NEED SOME SORT OF SPAN TO USE WHAT WE ORDINARILY CALL TIME, RIGHT. A NON SIMULTANEOUS CURRICULUM, CONTINUM, EXCUSE ME. YOU NEED SOMETIME TO MAKE CHOICES IN YOUR FREEDOM TO LET GO OF WHAT FORMERLY WAS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU. MAYBE THEY WERE WORLDLY THINGS OR MAYBE IT WAS PROUD, EGOCENTRIC THINGS BUT TO LET GO OF THOSE THINGS AND TO, YOU KNOW, PROCEED EVER CLOSER TO THE LORD. SO, PROBABLY WOULD TAKE SOME TIME. AND I'LL JUST USE THAT THING. BUT HOW THAT TIME WOULD BE MEASURED OR WHAT IT REALLY IS, OR WHETHER IT'S ACCELERATED COMPARED TO THE LINEAR ITY OF TIME, YOU KNOW, HOW IT EXISTS IN THE SOUL. I DO NOT KNOW. MAYBE WE'RE BROUGHT TO A STATE WHERE OUR FREEDOM CAN BE, AS IT WERE, ACTUALIZED WITHOUT THE ELAPSE OF TIME AS WE KNOW IT IN THIS WORLD AND MAYBE IN A MUCH MORE ACCELERATED WAY. SO, YOU ARE RIGHT. BUT IT'S MUCH DEBT DEBATED AND I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE AND SAY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I GET TO HEAVEN TO SEE THE RESOLUTION. >> Doug: AND HERE'S THE NEXT QUESTION. DEAR FR. SPITZER, WILL NON-CATHOLICS ENTER PURGATORY EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT THEIR BELIEF? LOVE YOUR SHOW, CARMEN. >> Father: NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, CARMEN. WILL GOD BELIEVE IN YOU EVEN THOUGH THE ATHEISTS DIDN'T. YES. GOD'S REALITY IS NOT DETERMINED BY YOUR BELIEF IN THE PURGATORY OR DETERMINED BY YOUR BELIEF OR FITTINGNESS FOR PURGATORY OR TO MOVE BEYOND PURGATORY WHICH IS GOD'S WILL. AND NOT DETERMINED BY YOUR BELIEF. SO, THE QUICK ANSWER TO THAT, IS YES. >> Doug: THAT'S A PROBLEM WE HAVE IN THIS WORLD TODAY, IN THE SENSE THAT PEOPLE DECIDE SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT OR DON'T BELIEVE IT, RATHER THAN THE FACT BECAUSE IT IS OR IT IS. >> Father: EXACTLY. THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM. THAT'S THE OLD PROBLEM OF IDEALISM. AND SOMEHOW I CAN CONTROL REALITY THROUGH WHAT I EXCEED TO OR WHAT I WILLED TO. AND I TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS WOULD HAVE WANTED MY PARENTS, WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID TO BE MUCH MORE OPEN TO ME HAVING A GO-CART. BUT THEY WEREN'T! [LAUGHTER] SO, EVEN THOUGH I REALLY, REALLY WANTED IT AND BELIEVED IT, IT JUST DIDN'T, DIDN'T HAPPEN. >> Doug: THAT'S RIGHT. AND EVEN THOUGH AT THE TIME YOU DIDN'T APPRECIATE THAT YOUR PARENTS KNEW BETTER, THEY DID. >> Father: THEY DID, EXACTLY. YES, I WOULD HAVE KILLED MYSELF GOING DOWN THE HILL ON THAT GO-CART, WITHOUT A DOUBT. >> Doug: THEY COULD SEE INTO THE FUTURE AND THEY DIDN'T WANT IT NOT TO BE YOUR FUTURE. NOW, ONE LAST QUESTION HERE. DEAR FR. SPITZER, IF JESUS ATONED FOR OUR SINS, WHY DID THE BLESSED MOTHER ASK US TO DO REPARATION FOR OUR SINS? CAN WE DO REPARATION FOR OTHERS? THANKS, MELANIE. NOW, I THINK THAT AGAIN OUR HUMAN FREEDOM, THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, THE DESIRE THAT THE LORD HAS FOR US TO WANT TO MAKE REPARATION FOR OUR SINS AS PART OF OUR CONTRITION, THAT WE WANT THE HARM THAT WE HAVE CAUSED TO BE UNDONE. YES, JESUS HAS ATONED FOR THE SINS AND GIVES US A PLACE TO PLAY AND OUR FREEDOM AND DESIRE FOR REPARATION IS PART OF OUR PURIFICATION PROCESS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PURGATORY IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT QUESTIONS HERE. BUT KNOW THIS, WHEN YOU REALLY WANT REPARATION FOR YOUR SINS, KNOW THAT YOU ARE PURIFYING YOUR SOUL. KNOW THAT YOU ARE DETACHING FROM YOUR EGO AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE DETACHING FROM, AS IT WERE, LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 DESIRES. MAYBE FOR CONVENIENCE, ET CETERA. REPARATION IS REALLY GOOD FOR THE SOUL. IT'S REALLY GOOD FOR PURGATION. IT REALLY DOES HELP YOU THROUGH THAT PURGATION PROCESS WHICH WE ALL HAVE TO GO THROUGH, EITHER HERE OR IN PURGATORY. SO, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT BUT THAT DOESN'T MITIGATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF JESUS' ATONEMENT. HIS ATONEMENT IS COMPLETE. AND WE CAN HAVE A PART IN OUR PURIFICATION TO OUR REPARATION AND WE CAN HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO MAKE UP FOR THE HARM WE HAVE CAUSED BY DOING SOMETHING TO MAKE UP FOR IT. >> Doug: OKAY. VERY GOOD. LET'S MOVE IN, IN THE LAST 15 MINUTES OR SO. I WANT TO MOVE INTO crediblecatholic.com AT CHAPTER 6. THE FIVE GRACES OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST WHICH YOU TALK ABOUT, WHAT DID JESUS INTEND THIS TOTAL GIFT OF HIMSELF TO BRING. AND YOU BREAK IT DOWN INTO FIVE CATEGORIES. DO YOU WANT TO GO OVER THOSE? >> Father: SURE. AND BASICALLY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT LIMITED TO THESE FIVE. I JUST LIMIT TO IT FIVE. WE TALK ABOUT PEACE, HEALING, FORGIVENESS. IT'S HEALING SLASH FORGIVENESS OF OUR VENIAL SINS. AND CERTAINLY, THERE'S A WHOLE AREA OF TRANSFORMATION WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. INTEGRATION INTO THE MYSTICAL BODY. AND OF COURSE, WE DON'T WANT TO FORGET THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL, ETERNAL LIFE. HE WHO EATS MY LIFE AND DRINKS MY BLOOD WILL HAVE LIFE IN ME AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP ON THE LAST DAY. FIRST OF ALL, LET'S GO TO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE RECEIVE THE HOLY EUCHARIST. I CAN'T UNDERESTIMATE FOR A SINGLE MOMENT THE GRACE OF PEACE THAT CAN OVERCOME US. AND IT IS THE PEACE BEYOND ALL UNDERSTANDING. HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE GONE TO MASS, AGAIN AND AGAIN. SOMETHING IS ON MY MIND OR I AM REALLY ANGRY AT SOMEBODY WHO HAS JUST DONE SOMETHING REALLY CRAZY TO ME. OR MAYBE I'M JUST AT PEACE WITH SOME DISTURBING EVENTS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD. AND I'M NOT AT PEACE, I'M VERY DISTURBED BY SOMETHING. AND YOU KNOW, I JUST, AFTER I RECEIVE THE HOLY EUCHARIST, I JUST TELL THE LORD, PLEASE, LORD, JUST BRING ME SOME PEACE, SOME DETACHMENT FROM THIS ISSUE. THIS GUY JUST BUSTED MY CHOPS. AND NOW, JUST LET ME FORGIVE HIM AND GIVE ME THAT PEACE THAT I NEED. ONE OF MY FRIENDS IS REALLY SICK. PLEASE, GIVE ME SOME PEACE. AND HE DOES. THAT'S THE THING. IF YOU KEEP ASKING FOR THAT PEACE AFTER YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY EUCHARIST, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T HAPPEN INSTANTANEOUSLY. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS ONE DAY AFTER THE FACT. BUT I'M TELLING YOU, PEACE IS ON THE HORIZON WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY EUCHARIST AND YOU ASK FOR THAT PEACE OF SOUL AFTER MAYBE YOU HEARD SOME GRIEVOUS NEWS OR DISTURBING THINGS OR MAYBE YOU KNOW, YOUR KIDS ARE GOING CRAZY OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE. YOU JUST ASK FOR THAT PEACE AND YOU WILL GET THAT PEACE. YOU WILL GET THAT EQUINIMITY, SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD NEVER HAVE BROUGHT TO YOURSELF. I'M AN EASILY EXCITABLE TYPE. BELIEVE ME. I NEED THE PEACE TO JUST GET NORMAL ECKNIMITY, AS A NORMAL PERSON. AND BY THE WAY, I'M NOT UNDERETHING -- UNDERESTIMATING THIS, EITHER. THE GIFT OF PEACE CAN BE REALLY PROFOUND. NOW, THE SECOND THING, THE HEALING FACTOR, FORGIVENESS OF OUR VENIAL SINS. VENIAL SINS, THAT IDEA OF GETTING FREE FROM SIN IS REALLY IMPORTANT. NOW, VENIAL SINS, YOU SEE THOSE VENIAL SINS DO HAVE AN EFFECT ON YOU, ALMOST, LIKE AN CUMULATIVE EFFECT ON YOU OVER THE COURSE OF TIME. AND WHAT THE HOLY EUCHARIST IS DOING IS FREEING YOU WHEN YOU ASK FOR THAT. I'VE GOT MY LITTLE LITANY OF THINGS THAT I ASK FOR AFTER HOLY COMMUNION. IN MY OWN MIND, WHEN I AM CLEANING THE CHALICE AND SO FORTH, I THINK IN MY MIND, LORD, PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR THESE VENIAL SINS OF MINE. PLEASE, LORD, RELEASE ME FROM THIS BONDAGE TO THESE THINGS, THESE KIND OF INCLINATIONS THAT I HAVE. PLEASE, GIVE ME THE FREEDOM. AND HE'S GOING TO FIRST OF ALL, COMPLETELY RELEASE YOU FROM THE SINS. AND THEN THERE'S A HEALING EFFECT THAT HAPPENS AT THE SAME TIME SO THAT YOU ACTUALLY ARE GETTING THIS POSSIBILITY OF IMPROVING. YOU ARE GETTING HEALED OVER FOR THAT GUILT, REMORSE, THAT SOMETHING IS COMING INTO YOU THAT'S KIND OF MAKING UP FOR THE DEEP DAMAGE THAT SIN HAS DONE. AND TRULY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE THE HOLY EUCHARIST FOR HEALING EVEN IF YOU HAVE A MORTAL SIN, AND IF YOU CONFESSED IT. AND MAYBE YOU HAVE HAD LOTS OF MORTAL SINS AND CONFESSED THEM. BUT THE MAIN THING TO REMEMBER, THAT HEALING EFFECT OF THE EUCHARIST IS HELPING YOU ALL THE TIME TO GET OVER THE DAMAGE FROM THOSE SINS. AND THERE'S AT LOVE TESTIMONY TO THAT. SAINT AMBROSE HAS A BEAUTIFUL PASSAGE ABOUT THIS. I HAVE IT IN ONE OF MY -- NO, I HAVE IT ON THE WEB SITE ACTUALLY. >> Doug: IT'S IN THE SECTION RIGHT HERE FROM -- >> Father: THAT'S RIGHT. GO TO crediblecatholic.com. GO TO VOLUME 9. THAT'S ON THE MASS AND THE HOLY EUCHARIST. JUST GO TO CHAPTER 6, THERE YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THAT LITTLE PASSAGE FROM SAINT AMBROSE WHICH IS VERY GOOD >> Doug: IS THIS THE ONE THAT SAYS, IF WE PROCLAIM THE LORD'S DEATH WE PROCLAIM THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS >> Father: YEAH, THAT'S THE ONE. AND HE HAS A COUPLE OF LITTLE PRAYERS THAT I DIDN'T PUT IN THE CHAPTER BUT YOU CAN JUST LOOK UP PRAYER OF SAINT AMBROSE DURING COMMUNION AND YOU CAN GET THOSE PRAYERS REALLY QUICKLY. DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE HEALING POWER TO MAKE UP FOR ALL OF THE DAMAGE THAT WE'VE DONE TO OURSELVES AND OUR SOULS OVER THE COURSE OF TIME. THAT HEALING POWER THAT COMES FROM THE HOLY EUCHARIST AND THE MORE FREQUENTLY WE RECEIVE IT, THE MORE THE HEALING COMES. AND YOU NOTICE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, YOU GET A CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD. YOU GET TRUST IN THE LORD AS WELL. SO, WHEN YOU COMBINED THE HOLY EUCHARIST WITH YOUR HALF HOUR OF DAILY PRAYER, YOU WILL SEE THAT YOU GET THE SAME THREE GRACES THAT I TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY. THE GRACE TOWARD MORAL CONVERSION, GREAT FREEDOM AND TO A MORAL CONVERSION AND YOU ARE ALSO GOING TO GET THAT GRACE OF INTIMACY AND AWARENESS AND PRESENCE OF THE LOVE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE WHICH IS GOING TO BE AGAIN, IT'S A TRUE FREEDOM THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND OF COURSE, THESE FREEDOM SUDDENLY, COME INTO YOUR LIFE AND THERE'S A COMPOUNDING EFFECT OF PRAYER LIFE AS WELL IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST. AND THE HOLY EUCHARIST IS GOD'S GRACE AND FREE GIFT AND YOU COMBINE IT WITH THE PRAYER AND BOY, FREEDOM STARTS ABOUNDING. AND IF YOU ARE ASKING IT, LET'S GET TO THE THIRD ONE REALLY QUICKLY. AND THAT'S THE WHOLE AREA OF TRANSFORMATION. HERE AGAIN, HERE'S A PASSAGE WHICH I DIDN'T CITE FROM JOHN HENRY CARDINAL NEWMAN, HE'S TALKING ABOUT HEART SPEAKING TO HEART. WHEN WE RECEIVE THE HOLY EUCHARIST, AND AGAIN, MY LITANY, WHEN I'M CLEANING THE CHALICE AND SO FORTH, MY LITANY IS NOT JUST ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS AND HEALING, AND PEACE. I ASK FOR TRANSFORMATION AS I AM PRAYING THERE. I AM SAYING, LORD, I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU. SO, PLEASE, TRANSFORM MY HEART INTO YOUR HEART. I THINK I TOLD THAT LITTLE STORY WHEN I WAS AT GONZAGA AND IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY BECAUSE WHEN I WAS THERE, I DECIDED TO GO TO DAILY MASS AND THE GUY KIND OF CHALLENGED ME AND I SAID, OKAY. I'LL GO TO DAILY MASS DURING LENT. WELL, I GOT HOOKED ON HOLY COMMUNION, GOT HOOKED ON MASS, GOT HOOKED EVEN ON THE HOMILIES DURING MASS WHILE I WAS THERE IN LENT. AND I NEVER GOT OFF. AFTER THAT LENT, I JUST KEPT RIGHT ON GOING TO DAILY HAS. I NEVER BROKE THE HABIT. I WAS REALLY HOOKED. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, PEOPLE WOULD COME UP TO ME AND SAY, SPITZER YOU ARE REALLY CHANGING. AND I SAY, NO, I'M THE SAME BRUTISH, UTILITARIAN SELFISH SELF THAN I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN. AND THEY SAY, NO, NO, YOU ARE THE SAME BRUTISH, UTILITARIAN SELFISH SELF YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN. BUT THEY WERE ACTUALLY SEEING THE TRANSFORMATION IN ME >> Doug: YOU COULDN'T SEE KNIT YOURSELF AT THE TIME >> Father: RIGHT. I COULDN'T SEE KNIT MYSELF, I REALLY DIDN'T. AND THEN I LOOK BACK IN RETROSPECT AND I SAY, YEAH, I DID UNDERGO A CHANGE THAT PEOPLE COULD SEE. SO, THE LONG AND SHORT, THE EUCHARIST HAS A TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT EVEN WHEN WE DON'T RECOGNIZE IT. AND YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME, WHEN I WAS JUST A YOUNGSTER I WAS NOT PRAYING FOR THE GIFT OF TRANSFORMATION, BUT THE LORD WAS BUSY TRANSFORMING ME ANY WAY. I CAN'T THINK OF ANOTHER EXPLANATION OF WHY I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED. BUT I THINK THAT IT WAS HOLY MASS, RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION. AND THINK IT WAS LISTENING TO THE HOMILIES. AND ABOVE ALL IT WAS RECEIVING THE LORD'S HEART INTO ME AND HAVING THE HEART SPEAK TO MY HEART AND TRANSFORM MY HEART EVEN WHEN I DIDN'T KNOW IT OR RECOGNIZE IT. NOW, IT'S A POWERFUL GIFT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST. I'M JUST GOING TO ZIP OVER QUICKLY HERE TO THE WHOLE AREA OF THE MYSTICAL BODY. BECAUSE YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE FORGET WHAT A GREAT GRACE THIS IS. WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT, WE'RE GIVEN THIS GRACE THROUGH THE HOLY EUCHARIST TO KIND OF ENTER MORE DEEPLY INTO THE WHOLE BODY OF CHRIST. REMEMBER, ST. PAUL SAYS, RIGHT, THAT WHEN WE'RE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, AT FIRST WE GET THE ENTRANCE IN THERE TO OUR BAPTISM, IN CONFIRMATION. AND AS WE RECEIVE THE HOLY EUCHARIST, THAT STRENGTH OF THE GRACE, THAT PULLING INTO, OUR BEING BECOMES MORE INTEGRATED INTO HIS WHOLE BEING WITH ALL OF THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN. REMEMBER, WE ARE ENTERING INTO THIS KOINEA, WE'RE ENTERING INTO A COMMUNION WITH THE SAINTS. AND THERE, THEY ARE, LIKE, OUR BEST FRIENDS. THEY START INFLUENCING US. YES, THE PEOPLE AROUND US IN THE CHURCH ARE ALSO INFLUENCING US. BUT WOW, THINK ABOUT THIS. YOU ARE ENTERING INTO A COMMUNION THROUGH THE BODY OF CHRIST WHERE ALL OF THESE SAINTS ARE THERE. AND THEY ARE TRULY MANIFESTING A GRACE, RIGHT? AND THEY ARE FRIENDSHIP, ETHOS AND A UNIQUE WAY OF BEING HOLY, AND UNIQUE GOODNESS OF LOIFENLT AND GOODNESS COURSING THROUGH OUR VEINS A LITTLE BIT MORE. THIS IS HAPPENING AND ALL OF OUR FRIENDS ARE THERE. YOU ARE KIND OF FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THEIR JOY AT CHRISTMAS AND EASTER. LET'S SAY, LITURGICAL SEASONS OR YOU ARE FEELING THEIR HOLINESS, THEIR SPECIFIC KIND OF HOLINESS. THROUGHOUT THE DAY, SOMETHING IS KIND OF QUAKING IN YOU. AND YOU SAY, OH, I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST BEING PULLED INTO THE HOLINESS OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. WELL, WHAT THAT FEELING IS THAT YOU ARE HAVING OF BEING PULLED IN THERE, HONESTLY, THAT IS, LIKE, THE IMPHUNNION OF SAINTS -- COMMUNION OF SAINTS, THE EAT OST, THEY ARE --ETHOS AND THEY ARE YOUR FRIENDS AND JOY AND HOLINESS AND YOU ARE FEELING THAT DEEP HOLINESS OF THE AGES, THE DEEP HOLINESS OF ALL OF THOSE SAINTS THAT IS BUILT UP BECAUSE THEY ARE PRESENT IN YOU WHILE YOU ARE BEING BUILT UP INTO THE DEEP MYSTICAL UNION OF THE BODY. AND I THINK MAYBE I RECOGNIZED THIS ONE TIME AND MAYBE I TOLD THE STORY IN crediblecatholic.com >> Doug: WELL, IF YOU DID, WE MAY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK FOR YOU TO TELL US AGAIN! WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND ROLLING INTO EVERLASTING LIFE AND UNFORTUNATELY, OUR CLOCK IS NOT EVERLASTING. SO, WOULD YOU GIVE US YOUR BLESSING, FATHER. WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT! >> Father: BOW YOUR HEADS AND PRAY FOR GOD'S BLESSING. AND MAY THE LORD WHO HAS PROVIDED US IN HIS UNCONDITIONAL MERCY AND LOVE, WHO HAS GIVEN US THE GRACE OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST, PAR EXCELLANCE, TO SUPPORT US AND HELP US IN OUR TRANSFORMATION, OUR PEACE AND OUR HOLINESS AND OUR FORGIVENESS AND HEALING, MAY THAT LORD OF MERCY AND OF LOVE JUST ENTER INTOAR LIVES THROUGH THAT HOLY EUCHARIST MORE AND MORE INCISIVELY AND UNCONCERTEDLY THAT YOU MAY BE JOINED IN THE KINGDOM AND BE JOINED WITH THEM IN THE KINGDOM FOREVER AND EVER. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. >> Doug: AMEN. AND THE ONE AND ONLY FATHER SPITZER. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. STAY WELL, FATHER. FOR ALL OF YOU WHO WANT SOME OF THOSE ONE AND ONLY FATHER SPITZER BOOKS, THEY ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR ewtnRC.com. AND WE'RE GOING CONTINUE NEXT WEEK FOR THE FIVE GRACES OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST. AND WE'LL GET THAT STORY HE WANTED TO TELL! AND NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE THE SPECIAL BOOKMARK SUNDAY MORNING AT SPECIAL TIME OF 9:30AM ET HOPE TO DIE, SCOTT HAHN LOOK FOR THAT ALL OF GOOD PROGRAMMING WE HAVE COMING YOUR WAY FROM EWTN EACH AND EVERYDAY. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK RIGHT AT THE HEART OF FATHER SPITZER UNIVERSE AT THE BUSY INTERSECTION OF FAITH AND REASON. IT ALL MAKES SENSE. SO, STAY WITH US. [MUSIC]
