Sin is the major enemy to acquiring peace of heart, mind and soul! Pope Pius XI stated: “The sin of the century is the loss of the sense of sin.” If indeed we deny that we are sinners then it will be impossible to receive forgiveness and experience the infinite mercy of God and peace of heart, mind, and soul that every individual earnestly longs for, even though he may not know it.
YEAR OF MERCY, YEAR OF FORGIVENESS, YEAR TO ATTAIN PEACE!!!
One of the devils major tools that he utilizes to deceive us is that our sin is too great and goes beyond the realm and capacity of God’s mercy. Therefore, the other extreme of denying the existence of sin is to deny the limits of God’s mercy.
JESUS INVITES US TO MERCY!
Constantly in the Gospels Jesus invites us to TRUST in His infinite mercy. The conversion of the woman at the well(Jn 4), the forgiveness of the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8), the “Lost and found Parables”: the lost and found sheep, the lost and found coin, the lost and found son (also known as the Prodigal Son or Merciful Father) Lk 15, the triple affirmation of love of Simon Peter, (Jn 21)– all of these and many more invite us to trust in the infinite mercy that Jesus wants to extend to all of humanity, and that includes you and me!
GREAT EXPERIENCE OPEN TO ALL WHO TRUST HIS MERCY!
One of the greatest experiences I have experienced as Christian, Catholic, Religious, and most especially as a priest is the Sacrament of Confession, also called Reconciliation, Forgiveness, Penance, Sacrament of God’s mercy. When I go to confession to another priest, I am keenly aware of the fact that the priest that is hearing my confession is really acting in the person of Christ. It is not so much the priest that forgives me, but it is really Jesus my Lord, Savior, Redeemer and the Divine Physician who came to heal my soul and give me that peace that surpasses all understanding. Indeed to hear those words: “And I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ Then: “Your sins have been forgiven; go in PEACE!!! These words bring such consolation because through faith I know firmly and without the slightest shadow of doubt that Jesus has forgiven me totally and completely and has no longer record of my sins. As the Prophet Isaiah reminds us: “Thous your sins be red as scarlet, I will make them white as the snow.” (Is. 1)
Then on the other side of the fence, when God uses me as priest, minister, physician to heal souls through administering the Sacrament of Confession and to impart those words: “And I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son of and of the Holy Spirit.” Then: “Your sins are forgiven, go in peace”, what a humbling experience that Jesus has chosen me, unworthy as I am, to carry out His role in the reconciliation of sinners to His Sacred Heart. We invite all to pray for priests, future priests and all involved in forming priests that we might understand the peace that goes beyond imagination of the graces that flow from the Sacrament of Confession.
Saint Damien of Molokai had many crosses and sufferings. Eventually he would die of the same disease of those he loves so much and gave his life for– that of leprosy. What is interesting to note, however, is that his greatest suffering on the island of Molokai was not the heat, the stench, nor the difficult living conditions. Rather, it was the fact that there was no priest that he could have recourse to so as to hear his now confession. In the movie “Molokai” a fascinating scene portrays Father Damien, rowing in his boat ashore from the island of Molokai so as tor reach a ship on which was the Bishop, who would not disembark for fear of contamination. Then from the little rowboat, Father Damien yelled out his sins to the Bishop onboard. What a sacrifice this great priest, religious and saint made so that he could experience the infinite mercy of Jesus poured out in abundance in the Sacrament of Confession. Be thankful that we do not have to get in a rowboat and cry out our sins publicly so as to receive absolution!!!
OUR LADY OF MERCY. When we finish praying the Holy Rosary, we conclude with the prayer HAIL HOLY QUEEN. In this prayer we invoke Mary under the title and patronage of mercy: “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of MERCY, our life, our sweetness and our life.. Saint Pope John Paul II once stated, with reference to Mary, that the Marian sanctuaries are SPIRITUAL CLINICS. That is to say, Lourdes, Guadalupe, Fatima, are all Marian Sanctuaries where many make pilgrimages to receive God’s infinite mercy through the Sacrament of Confession. In this year to God’s infinite mercy, why not turn to Our Lady and beg for the grace to experience God’s infinite mercy in your life. Why not have trust in God’s love for you, and tell all of your sins to the priest who represents Christ and you will hear those most consoling words: “And I absolve you of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Then: “Your sins are forgiven, go in peace.” As a result of this encounter with the merciful Lord Jesus who is our Divine Physician you will experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. Finally, you will experience peace of heart, peace of mind, peace of soul. The you can be a living SHALOM in our world torn apart by so much war and tension. SHALOM– PEACE BE WITH YOU!
Father Ed Broom, OMV, is Associate Pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and was ordained by Saint John Paul II on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction.
