Exhale sin, inhale Holy Spirit
As we prepare for the celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost, I am disturbed by the fact that this celebration, if lacking a serious commitment to integration into Christ, will be merely emotional, and not transformative.
This concern came as I reflected on the fact that Jesus, as the head of his Mystical Body, had to suffer, die, rise and ascend into heaven in order for us to receive the Holy Spirit.
Just as a drowning man can only breathe if his head is above the water, so also Christ’s Mystical Body can only breathe spiritually if its Head is able to regularly inhale the Holy Spirit.
But he can only inhale the Holy Spirit into his body to the degree that he is allowed first of all to exhale the pollution of sins. And such spiritual exhalation can only take place through an ongoing repentance of its members in humble docility to the whole truth of God.
Sadly, however, over the past 60 years, only a small number of the members of the Mystical Body regularly exhale their sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. The vast majority, completely ignoring the precept of the Church that they humbly and contritely receive this sacrament at least once a year and being seduced into forming their consciences by perverted secular values, rather than by the objective virtues proclaimed by the Church’s Magisterium, often receive Holy Communion in the state of objectively serious sin. This, in turn, has subtly and incrementally brought many to the point where their spiritual lives are guided not by a sincere conscience, but a sin-seared conscience.
As indicated above, Jesus can only inhale the Holy Spirit into his Mystical Body to the degree that the members of that Body first exhale the pollution of sin through sincere repentance. If such repentance is lacking, there is little room for the breath of the Holy Spirit to be inhaled into that body. And shallow breathing is not an indication of good health.
Note also that breathing is not a once-only activity, it is an essential dynamic for preserving and enhancing life. This is true also for the Mystical Body of Christ. The members of the Church can only live the life of grace to the degree that they make sincere repentance an integral part of their spiritual life.
On the first Pentecost, 3,000, guided by the proclamation of God’s Word by St. Peter, humbly and contritely exhaled the pollution and perversion of their sins so as to allow the head of the Mystical Body to inhale the Holy Spirit into their lives.
Lacking a commitment to regularly exhale the poisons and perversions of sin through life-giving repentance, a person’s spiritually life and relationships will continue to be poisoned and perverted by festering resentments.
Thus it is that, gratefully relying on the gracious assurance of Divine Mercy by Christ, members of his Mystical Body are free, through sincere repentance, to fully exhale the toxins of their sins, so as to share in the awesome blessings infused into them as the ascended Christ continues to inhale the Holy Spirit into his Mystical Body. -Fr. Thomas Collins, Hot Springs
‘Prayer is not enough’
Terrible news in Texas from latest school shooting. Heartbreaking.
I’m mad, sad and everything in between.
I will say it again: prayer is not enough. Sorry, it’s just not. The country needs to have a serious discussion on gun violence, obsession of guns, effects of social media and basic morals just to name a few — none of which are occurring. – Eddie Baird, Glen Allen
Pro-life advocates have ‘broad scope of action’
In response to the letter “What now for the Pro-Life Movement? (Catholic Virginian, May 16), I trust he is not one of the misinformed crowd that assumes that pro-life advocates are only interested in preventing abortion and not the woman and her child. In fact, the pro-life movement in our area has a broad scope of action. For those encountering our pregnancy center, there are teams dedicated to helping women with support and caring, including connections to childcare and education.
There is a vibrant ministry known as “Young Lives,” which offers support and fellowship to mothers who carry their pregnancies. We also have an outreach to fathers, who should be the woman’s best support but unfortunately are not.
Our Catholic community in Charlottesville is known for its advocacy and leadership in social ministry, including work across denominations. There is outreach by Catholic students not just in 40 Days for Life, but at local nursing homes, food banks and support of homeless shelters’ needs. I know from 40 years’ experience with our pregnancy center that the community cares not about placards or pressure politics, but for each woman and born and yet-to-be born children that come through our doors.
I am not sure the intent in the comment that “ending access to abortion will most impact poor women,” but it is certainly accurate that abortion disproportionately impacts poor women, especially those of color, with some areas of the U.S. having more Black babies aborted than born. Yet, our pro-life efforts are focused on nurturing the people we meet in their unique material and spiritual circumstances, and showing them the love of Christ in both. – Dr. Kurt Elward, MD, Charlottesville
Mary’s Choice RVA aids poor women
Dr. Frank Morgan of Henrico asks how the pro-life movement will respond to the needs of poor women after Roe v. Wade (Catholic Virginian, May 16).
In Richmond, Mary’s Choice RVA, a Catholic non-profit (501c3) home for pregnant single women and their children, is seeking to do just that. They provide a free home and support, including help with job training or education, childcare, financial and parenting education and access to social services and mental health care for up to four years.
The Catholic community in Richmond has stepped up generously to support this organization with private donations and volunteers. Mary’s Choice RVA has been a recipient of the Diocesan Respect Life grant for two consecutive years in a row.
The maternity home movement, of which Mary’s Choice RVA is a part, is a wonderful way to reduce abortions, and it provides women with a meaningful choice to parent (or make an adoption plan). It should be supported by those who are pro-life and those who are “prochoice.”
For more information about Mary’s Choice RVA please see their website: http://www.maryschoicerva.org. – Pamela H. Pilch, Henrico