Friday, June 12, 2009

Cutting off What Keeps Us from God

I was led back to the opening pages of the Book of Genesis, to the event known as "original sin." Saint Augustine, with extraordinary perceptiveness, described the nature of this sin as follows:...self-love to the point of contempt for God. It was amor sui (self love) which drove our first parents toward that initial rebellion and then gave rise to the spread of sin throughout human history. The Book of Genesis speaks of this: "You will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Gn 3:5), in other words, you yourselves will decide what is good and what is evil.
The only way to overcome this dimension of original sin is through a corresponding...love for God to the point of contempt of self.
Pope John Paul II
For a full version of this text, click here (or see Magnificat, June 2009 pps. 164 & 165)
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Novena to the Holy Spirit

"Wait for the promise of the Father...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." Acts 1:5,6

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.