“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy”
We are called to conversion. Conversion is not only needed but imminent if we are to share in the eternal glory of Jesus Christ. Conversion, because it is change, is difficult and it includes pain and sadness.
“Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life, with hope in God’s mercy and trust in the help of his grace. This conversion of heart is accompanied by a salutary pain and sadness which the Fathers called animi cruciatus (affliction of spirit) and compunctio cordis(repentance of heart). (1451, 368)”[i]
What is affliction of spirit? To understand this we can look at the Latin words animi cruciatus. Animimeans “at the heart”. This is our very being, our soul, the core. Cruciatus means pain or torture. This is where we get the words “excruciating” and “crucifixion.” Athletes go through a type of pain or torture in order to perfect their bodies of the event for which they train. In like manner, the Christian goes through pain or torture in order to perfect their heart and soul. Our Lord, although He did not need either conversion or perfection, went through the pain and torture of crucifixion. Why did He do this? He underwent the pain and torture, not so that we would not have to, but rather so that we would be able to. For we only have the strength to endure the pain and torture necessary for our conversion because we are crucified with Christ. As the priest says in the Mass it is only, “with Him, through Him, and in Him” that conversion takes place. Jesus knew that we could not do this alone and so He was crucified so that we might as Saint Paul says be “crucified with Christ; yet I live, not longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.”[ii]
Leadville Trail 100 [Mile] Run 2009
One of the hardest races in the world is the Leadville 100 Mile race. Less than half of all participants even finish the race. Many people look at marathoners and other ultra athletes as crazy, but as mentioned above, it is to challenge and push through barriers of self. What barriers do we put on ourselves spiritually? What sins do we need to purge and fight to kill off?
What are the five things necessary for a good confession? Examination of Conscience. Sorrow for Sin. Resolve to not sin again. Confession to a Priest. Penance.
Which of the five corresponds to affliction of spirit? Sorrow for sin, the resolve to not sin again, is the correspondent to affliction of spirit. What a beautiful gift to feel sorrow for sin. If we were to cut our self but were never to feel the pain, we might bleed to death. If we sin, separating our self from God and were never to feel the pain, we would remain separated from God, spiritual death. Physical pain and spiritual pain are necessary, because they indicate that there is a problem which needs healing. “Penance requires…the sinner to endure all things willingly, be contrite of heart, confession with the lips, and practice complete humility and fruitful satisfaction.”[iii]
What is repentance of heart? Once again we can look at the Latin compunctio cordis. Cordis is our heart. Compunctio is to sting. Repentance of heart is a sting to the heart. Insects are very small and can go unnoticed until they sting us. Once they sting us, they seem to be all that we notice. The sting therefore brings about a recognition. The human heart and it’s inclination to sin, which we call concupiscence, can sometimes go unnoticed. Repentance is that sting, the prick or pain that enables us to not only recognizes our heart, but change our heart. Jesus says in the Gospel, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy.” Our hearts will not become drowsy if we are repentant experiencing the “sting” of the heart.
What are some ways in which God “stings” our heart with His love?
We spoke of affliction of spirit being the crucifixion of the spirit. Repentance of heart is a sting or prick to the heart. Repentance of heart also is tied to the crucifixion of our Lord, for it was at the crucifixion that the Roman soldier not only pricked the heart of our Lord but drove a lance through His Sacred Heart. From this wound, blood (Eucharist) and water (Baptism) flowed forth. This blood and water are necessary for our repentance. If our Lord’s heart was pierced, how can we expect our own heart to not be pricked?
VIDEO – OFFERTORY • 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
The De Profundis (Out of the Depths) are the first words of Psalm 130. This Psalm is used in the Liturgy during the Introit (Entrance Antiphon) for the 10th and 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time and is an option for Funeral Masses. It is also used in the Offertory Antiphon for the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time and the Communion Antiphon for All Souls. Repentance must be “from the depths”. “The spiritual tradition of the Church also emphasizes the heart, in the biblical sense of the depths of one’s being, where the person decides for or against God.”[iv]
ACTIVITY – Scripture Search
Look up the following scripture verses:
Jer. 31:33; Deut 6:5; Deut. 29:3; Isa 29:13; Ezek 36:26; Matthew 6:21; Luke 8:15; Rom 5:5
What do each of these verses tell us about having a conversion of heart and deciding for or against God with our whole heart?
What must happen for conversion to take place? Our soul must be crucified and our heart must be stung.
Why is prayer necessary for conversion? “He [Jesus] calls his hearers to conversion and faith, but also to watchfulness. In prayer the disciple keeps watch, attentive to Him Who Is and Him Who Comes, in memory of his first coming in the lowliness of the flesh, and in the hope of his second coming in glory. In communion with their Master, the disciples’ prayer is a battle; only by keeping watch in prayer can one avoid falling into temptation.”[v]
Prayer increases in us a devotion to the Incarnate Word, fills us with hope of Our Lord’s return, keeps us in communion with Jesus our master, and helps us always to keep watch, to stay on guard, thus avoiding falling into temptation. Prayer is the battle; this is why Padre Pio would call his Rosary a weapon.
What are the many weapons (various types of prayer) that we have in our larger battle of prayer? The greatest weapons are the liturgy. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Liturgical Rites of the Sacraments, and processions are at the top of our spiritual armory. We also have popular devotions such as the Rosary, novenas, chaplets, etc. Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) which is meditation on the scripture or spiritual reading also is a weapon in our battle of prayer as is every thought or action of our life if offered for the Greater Glory of God. We are always at battle and thus must as Saint Paul says, “Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.”[vi]
[i] Catechism of the Catholic Church - 1431
[ii] Galatians 2:19-20
[iii] Catechism of the Catholic Church - 1450
[iv] Catechism of the Catholic Church - 368
[v] Catechism of the Catholic Church - 2612
[vi] 1 Thessalonians 5:17-22