A sin that does harm
The sin of laziness (sloth) is one of the most frequent sins, and one that does great harm. It is one of the seven capital sins. People usually think of sin as an action that one performs. But sin can also consist in not performing an action. There are certain kinds of omissions that can have fatal consequences. In the 25th chapter of Matthew, Christ gave us a description of the last judgment, with a parable or comparison of a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats, the elect from the reprobate. The elect were placed at his right side and the reprobate at his left. Then he pronounced the two sentences. And He gave the reason why they were saved or condemned. The reprobate were condemned because of actions they failed to perform. They were condemned because of laziness, indifference, and blindness. Sometimes the recitation of one Hail Mary or a small action, can have effects and consequences that will last for all eternity. And to omit such an action could have grave effects.
Where there is no vision, the people perish
The sin of indifference does immense harm. Sometimes this sin is caused by ignorance. People do not have sufficient instruction or knowledge or experience, and therefore they cannot make correct decisions: it is not surprising if they make mistakes. If a father or mother of a family does not have an idea or concept of how a Catholic father or mother should act, then they will make mistakes and omissions. If a bishop or priest does not have the concept in his mind of how a priest should act, then they will make mistakes. If people really knew the effects of one mortal sin, they would be scared to death. And they would use great care before making a decision. They would be afraid of an action or an omission that could cause great harm to themselves and to their relatives and neighbors. But since so many people do not know about all this, they make mistakes and sins so often. Our Lord told the Portavoz that the greatest evil at present is spiritual darkness. They are in darkness. They are without light. It is not surprising that they make mistakes and errors so often: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."
The Value of Little Actions
The majority of people are not called to perform heroic actions. They may admire heroes but they have no plans to be one. That is fine. Victim souls are called to atone for all kinds of sins. They can realize their vocation simply by offering all their acts of obedience to God, in reparation for disobedience, that is, for all sins, since all sins are acts of disobedience, not doing what God wants. Obedience does not always mean that someone gives us a command and we obey. Obedience means: doing one’s duty. The little actions that people do when performing their duty are all acts of obedience, and all such acts can be offered to God, in union with the obedience of Christ. Victim souls fulfill their vocation by sacrificing themselves for their neighbors. Doing one’s duty involves sacrifices, usually small ones. All these little actions can be offered to God, and if they are thus offered, with great purity of intention, they are of great value. St. Therese did not perform great actions. She attained sanctity by performing little actions with great love of God and great purity of intention. The intention is always what God sees in every action. The intention is what determines the value of an action.
Kissing the floor is a small action: the Franciscan Minim brothers and sisters do this action often during the day. If it is done with a good intention, it is so pleasing to God and helps to atone for all kinds of sins: it may be considered as an act of universal atonement. Our Lord revealed to a mystic that one of the most frequent sins is ingratitude. People receive spiritual and temporal favors from God constantly, but of this number only a few thank him for what they have received from him. Kissing the floor may be offered as an act of thanksgiving, to thank God for all that he gives us. Chesterton said that thanksgiving is the highest form of thought. Acts of thanksgiving and gratitude help to lift up our minds toward God.
God will have the last word
In the prophecy of Isaias it is written: "The nation and the kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish: and the gentiles shall be wasted with desolation." At the present time this prophecy is being fulfilled. Many reject God (even after having had an opportunity of knowing and receiving him). They refuse to serve God. If afterwards they find themselves in darkness and desolation, it is their own fault. In 1917 the most Blessed Virgin Mary said that she and her Son would triumph in the end. At present it seems as if Satan is triumphing, but his victory will only last a short while. In the Psalms it is written: "The just shall see, and shall rejoice; and all iniquity shall stop its mouth." We hope we will live to see that prophecy fulfilled: it will be almost like a dream come true.
May it be for the glory of God
The Vergel of the Immaculate Virgin of Guadalupe
August 27, 2004 • Feast of St. Joseph Calasanctius
"All those who yield themselves to My way of the cross and suffering, will be blessed for all eternity." -- April 23, 1969
Manichaeism. Doctrine of Manes, who taught that matter is evil. The Manichaeans rejected the Old Testament and admitted in the New Testament only what was in accordance with their opinions: the body being the work and effect of the Supreme Bad Principle, all marriage is wrong and the begetting and bearing of children a crime. In common speech Manichaeism usually refers to the particular doctrine of the intrinsic evil of matter. Manichaeism contradicts what the Bible says, that "God saw all the things that he had made, and they were very good." (Gen. 1, 31). All the material creation is good. Physical things can be used in a way contrary to what God wants, but in themselves they are basically good.
Puritanism. 1. A movement, rather than a party, in English history, active and powerful from the reign of Elizabeth till the Restoration in 1660. It regarded the English Reformation as incomplete, and rejected all ritual and religious holidays whatsoever.
2. An exaggerated rigorism which sees in remote or no occasions of sin proximate occasions, and in proximate occasions actual sin: condemning the use of fermented liquors, betting and gambling, Sunday games, dancing and recreation, as bad in themselves. It is found among some English-speaking non-Catholics. Among individual Catholics rigorism or scrupulosity sometimes results in a kind of Jansenistic Puritanism.
