Do not spurn a broken heart

Finally, in the 19th verse of Psalm 51, the penitent offers up themselves:

Psalm 51:19: "My sacrifice, God, is a broken spirit; God, do not spurn a broken, humbled heart."

(Via USCCB.)

The penitent's soul and very being is offered as a sacrifice. The penitent is stating that their entire self depends upon God for their happiness, and in order to maintain that union they are offering up as a sacrifice all that they are in repentance and conversion.

This is an utterly humble declaration. Some saints have stated that they are perfectly willing to be completely annihilated if it glorifies God more. An ultimate sacrifice for the beloved.

No sacrifice

The 18th verse of Psalm 51 reminds us of the need for sincerity in repentance.

Psalm 51:18: "For you do not desire sacrifice; a burnt offering you would not accept."

(Via USCCB.)

True repentance is needed as outward signs are insufficient. By outward signs I mean the actions that imply a changed behavior or a newfound piety. An inner conversion of one's self is required for the conversion to work and for the penitent to remain on the path to Heaven. Sincerity and honesty is a key factor in this. The penitent needs to get to the root cause of the sin and work on eliminating it and maintain a firm purpose of amending one's behavior.

In essence, the sacrifice is of oneself. The old, sinful person is sacrificed on the altar of conversion; the old, sinful ways are cast aside. While we will always sin, as no one can be completely free of the attachment to Earthly things and self-interest, we will try as best we can to avoid that which may make us susceptible to sin.

We have that responsibility to ourselves and those about us.

Let the words pour forth

The 17th verse of Psalm 51 is also the beginning of the Church's prayer day in the Divine Office (See the Universalis link at the top of the page, should be a yellowish bar.)

Psalm 51:17: "Lord, open my lips; my mouth will proclaim your praise."

(Via USCCB.)

Every day the Church begins her prayer with a petition for the Lord to enable the prayerful to sing God's praises. In this verse, the penitent continues to show their gratitude for the Lord's work in their lives. A daily reminder for the penitent, as we all begin the day anew. And in our start each day, what do we remind ourselves? Gratitude and love for the Lord, Who saves us from ourselves. Each day is a new beginning, a new chance to grow closer to God, but also a new chance to mess things up again.

The practice of daily prayer, particularly in the beginning, enables us to start the day right, with a proper orientation to the divine.

Rescue me

The 16th verse of Psalm 51 is about gratitude, in a fundamental and loving way:

Psalm 51:16: "Rescue me from death, God, my saving God, that my tongue may praise your healing power."

The penitent fully realizes that life depends upon God, and only God can save them from death. I think the eternal death, damnation. The petitioner seeks to eventually arrive in Heaven and sing God's praises for eternity.

The petitioner hopes to return the love God showed in forgiving the sinful past by praising (loving) God forever. The soul of the penitent will be in blissful union with its beloved, never to be parted.

Psalm 30:10-11: "What gain is there from my lifeblood, from my going down to the grave? Does dust give you thanks or declare your faithfulness? Hear, O LORD, have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper.'"

(All Scripture passages via USCCB.)

I will teach

The series on Psalm 51 resumes...

The 15th verse of Psalm 51 illustrates one of the benefits to others of the penitent's conversion:

Psalm 51:15: "I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you."

(Via USCCB.)

Because of the experience and happiness over their conversion, the penitent will go and teach others of this. We do not keep our experience to ourselves, we share it with others. Others will be brought closer to God and experience the same joy of forgiveness and re-union with the Lord. Although some may balk at the Psalmist's use of the word "wicked", it can be an accurate adjective for those who have strayed from the path of the Lord. The penitent clearly felt "wicked", hence the depth of their remorse and desire for forgiveness.

Responding to the annoying

Nice article from Spirit Daily about reacting to the annoying people in our lives, and how to profit from them:

"WHEN SOMEONE IRKS YOU, CAST OUT DEFECT THAT MAY CONNECT YOU AND RISE ABOVE IT":

Restore my joy

In the 14th verse of Psalm 51 the penitent looks towards their destiny:

Psalm 51:14: "Restore my joy in your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit"

(Via USCCB.)

Happiness is being on the path to Heaven, it is the true joy that fills your soul and gives your life its meaning. This particular happiness is not an attachment to Earthly things. It is the "true joy" that fills our soul with a desire for union with God and a yearning for our true home and helps free us from our addictions. It is the desire for holiness and virtue.

God is necessary to sustain that desire. With the assistance of the Lord our human will is directed towards our eventual union with Him. We place our will and our trust in Him, and He will bring us safely home.

Don't send me away from you

The penitent pleas with the Lord in the 13th verse to keep him close:

Psalm 51:13: "Do not drive me from your presence, nor take from me your holy spirit."

(Via USCCB.)

A persistent fear that the sin was so grievous that God may cause banishment as a consequence of the penitent's action motivates the sinner to plead for additional mercy. The penitent prays to remain in God's presence, and to continue to receive His guidance through the workings of the Holy Spirit. The penitent desires not to be lost forever, for without God's presence and guidance, Hell is certain.

Ask God to remain near. He is always close to the humble and sorrowful.

Renew My Steadfast Spirit

(My series on Psalm 51 resumes.)

In the 12th verse of Psalm 51, the penitent is granted a new start.

Psalm 51:12: "A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit."

(Via USCCB.)

Sin has sullied and degraded the penitent. It had ruptured the relationship with God. The penitent, after the first half of the Psalm, is now ready to start anew.

But, not content with just picking up and moving on as before, now cleansed of sin. The penitent wants to be strengthened with "a steadfast spirit", a renewed conviction to lead a virtuous life, holy in the sight of God.

Made clean by God's grace and perhaps having learned from the experience, the penitent now strives to live according to God's will.

What are Indulgences?

Indulgences are among the more recognizable of Catholic Christian beliefs, like devotion to the Blessed Mother. They are often misunderstood, and have been a source of scandal to the Church in the past (a cause of the so-called Protestant "Reformation.")

This is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches:

1471: " The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance.

What is an indulgence?

'An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.

'An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead."

(Via USCCB.)

The connection to sin and the remission of guilt is described in the following paragraphs, along with the relationship to the dead, and why it is important to pray for them:

(The CCC continues:)

"The punishments of sin":
1472
To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the 'eternal punishment' of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the 'temporal punishment' of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.

1473
The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the 'old man' and to put on the 'new man.

In the Communion of Saints

1474
The Christian who seeks to purify himself of his sin and to become holy with the help of God's grace is not alone. 'The life of each of God's children is joined in Christ and through Christ in a wonderful way to the life of all the other Christian brethren in the supernatural unity of the Mystical Body of Christ, as in a single mystical person.

1475
In the communion of saints, 'a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things. In this wonderful exchange, the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others. Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin.

1476
We also call these spiritual goods of the communion of saints the Church's treasury, which is 'not the sum total of the material goods which have accumulated during the course of the centuries. On the contrary the ‘treasury of the Church' is the infinite value, which can never be exhausted, which Christ's merits have before God. They were offered so that the whole of mankind could be set free from sin and attain communion with the Father. In Christ, the Redeemer himself, the satisfactions and merits of his Redemption exist and find their efficacy.

1477
'This treasury includes as well the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They are truly immense, unfathomable, and even pristine in their value before God. In the treasury, too, are the prayers and good works of all the saints, all those who have followed in the footsteps of Christ the Lord and by his grace have made their lives holy and carried out the mission the Father entrusted to them. In this way they attained their own salvation and at the same time cooperated in saving their brothers in the unity of the Mystical Body.

Obtaining indulgence from God through the Church

1478
An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity.

1479
Since the faithful departed now being purified are also members of the same communion of saints, one way we can help them is to obtain indulgences for them, so that the temporal punishments due for their sins may be remitted."

(Via USCCB.)

The link to these in the online CCC has supporting Scriptural references.

This stuff is important to the recovering alcoholic and addict as we do have our sinful past to contend with. He we completely cleaned it up and atoned for it?

November: the Month of the Dead

An excellent article by Susan Tassone appears in Spirit Daily: Spirit Daily - Daily spiritual news from around the world: "'MONTH OF THE DEAD'"

(Via Spirit Daily.)

It reminds us that November is a particularly good month to remember our deceased loved ones.

Indulgences for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

One of the things that you can do as a Catholic, and reconnect with your Catholic spirituality and heritage is to gain indulgences. Tomorrow, November 2nd, is the Solemnity of All Soul's.One can gain indulgences by praying for them. See the link:

Indulgence for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

(Via Latin Mass.)

I shall attempt to write, either tonight or tomorrow, a post on what indulgences are. I had already done this, but the post for some reason crashed my blog editor. Not only crashed, but reverted it to an "Evaluation Copy". I had to search around for the registration code I got when I purchased it, and re-registered it. Not too enthusiastic about re-writing it now!

Solemnity of All Soul's

On November 2nd we celebrate the Solemnity of All Soul's. It is the day that we as Catholics offer up the Mass and pray for the deceased who are suffering in Purgatory. Here are links to two posts in a blog of mine that I had discontinued. (I thought I had transferred them to this blog, but I cannot find them in my editor) :

Purgatory

and

Prayers for the Dead and Dying

This is the Catechism of the Catholic Church's teaching on Purgatory. It is authoritative, and is a required belief for Catholics:

Purgatory:

1030:All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031: The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire.

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.

1032: This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: 'Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.' From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them."

(Via USCCB.)

Attend Mass on November 2nd. Remember the dead who have gone before you. Remember your deceased loved ones, family and friends, think of people long ago. Remember all those alcoholics and addicts who died a lonely death, still caught in the slavery of their addiction.

If you do not remember them, who will remember you after you have passed?

Solemnity of All Saints

From last year: Feast of All Saints

Venerable Matt Talbot for "All Saints Day"

As today is the Solemnity of All Saints, I decided to post this nice article on Matt Talbot, the "Patron Saint of Alcoholics":

Venerable Matt Talbot

(Via American Catholic.)

Blot out all my guilt

The 11th verse of Psalm 51 is a repetition of verse 3.

Psalm 51:11: "Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my guilt."

(Via USCCB.)

The Lord forgives, and the Lord "forgets." The slate is clean, it is "as if" the sin never happened.

Sounds of glad rejoicing

Verse 10 of Psalm 51 recalls a happy and healthy benefit to forgiveness:

Psalm 51:10: "Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice."

(Via USCCB.)

When God forgives, you are restored to your inheritance. You who were lost, are now found once again, and you can claim your rightful place as one of His children, eligible to enter into His home once He calls you to it.

Luke 15:21-24: "His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.'

But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began."

You were crushed by your sin. You have repented and petitioned Him for forgiveness,and He has answered. You rejoice, as with the Saints in Heaven.

Luke 15:7: "I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

All Scripture quotes courtesy of:

(Via USCCB.)

Go to Confession, soon.

Death Quotes - Quotations and Famous Quotes on Death

From across the philosophical spectrum (from a non-Catholic site).

Death Quotes - Quotations and Famous Quotes on Death

(Via StumbleUpon.)

Cleanse me that I may be pure

In the 9th verse of Psalm 51 the penitent asks for a total cleansing:

Psalm 51:9: "Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow."

(Via USCCB.)

The penitent asks for a restoration of their purity. In a way, a "recovery" of what they were before their sin disfigured their soul.

This is what we should be seeking when we are involved in our recovery from addiction. Alcoholism and addiction seriously distorts our true selves, it disrupts the "normal" path of life that we should have been on. Recovery seeks to restore what was lost. (This is for most people. For some, like me, recovery has been more than just "recovering" a normal life, it has been part of a call to spread the Gospel, although in not very traditional methods.)

We are children of God and as such our lives and souls should be a reflection of that. Although it is extremely hard to accomplish that in today's world, purity can be achievable by heroic efforts. With God's help, it can be done.

Teach me wisdom

In 12 Step groups you hear the acronym "HOW", which stands for "Honesty, Open-mindedness and Willingness". The 8th verse of Psalm 51 covers this:

Psalm 51:8: "Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom."

(Via USCCB.)

Sincerity clears away the self-deception and lies that pervade our thinking. In our alcoholic and addictive fog we do not always have a clear-headed view of ourselves and others. We are still very much broken and wounded people, perhaps healing slowly or quickly, but our addiction still affects us.

The psalmist recognizes that God "insists on sincerity of heart", meaning (to me) sincerity of belief, without "human" thinking to mess it up; raw, pure conviction. This opens the doorway for God's wisdom to be taught to the petitioner, in their "inmost being". Directly into their heart, mind and soul.

God's truth illuminates your soul. You gain wisdom, the best thing one can ask of God.

I was born guilty

The Notes in the NAB version of this Bible state that this verse...:

Psalm 51:7: "True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me."

(Via USCCB.)

...means that in no time was the penitent without sin. This, I think, refers to the Original Sin of Adam and Eve. A sin that we inherited as their descendants, from when they turned away from God at the temptation by Satan under the pretext that they can "be like God" and discern good from evil under the guidance of their own conscience.

What guides and form your conscience? Is it God, through the ministry and teachings of the Catholic Church? Or do you "keep your own conscience" and decide "for yourself" what is moral and right, perhaps depending upon the circumstances? This pretext is a false one, as everyone's conscience is formed by something. Some people are just honest and humble and readily admit as to what guides their conscience. Others are delusional and feel (rather that think) that they are in control of their moral decision-making.

So, who or what does your thinking for you?

I have done such evil in your sight

Psalm 51:6: "Against you alone have I sinned; I have done such evil in your sight. That you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn."

(Via USCCB.)

So begins verse 6 of the Miserere.

Sin harms and ruptures one's relationship with God. If it is a mortal sin, it kills it. The sin may involve others, but the thing to remember is the importance of repairing the relationship with God. The penitent's admission of guilt and recognition of it before God initiates the process of repair. In reconciliation, you recognize God's perfect justice.

If one's conscience is well formed and you engage in contemplative introspection, you see the root causes of your sinning. As such, you know yourself better. You see why you sin and work towards amending your life. As God brings good out of evil, this knowledge strengthens you and your spiritual progress.

How is your relationship with God? Does it need amends?

I know my offense

If in verse 4 of Psalm 51 the penitent recognizes their responsibility, verse 5 is an outright declaration of it:

Psalm 51:5: "For I know my offense; my sin is always before me."

(Via USCCB.)

The penitent fully admits and recognizes their sin. The penitent does not and cannot hide from it. No excuses, a straightforward and humble admission that the sin is theirs. Not only that it is theirs, but its commission is troubling to the conscience, "Is always before me." And until there is reconciliation with God by asking forgiveness, the sin will be a hindrance to further progress in spiritual growth and holiness. No getting closer to God with this on the conscience.

How great is our desire for holiness. That is,how great is our desire to live as God wants us to live? How ready and willing are we to remove the obstacles that are in our path of getting closer to He who created us?

Cleanse me

The fourth verse of Psalm 51 continues from verse 3 the penitent's petition for a clean slate:

Psalm 51:4: "Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me."

(Via USCCB.)

It is a recognition on the part of the penitent that the sinful offense has dirtied and sullied the soul. We are made in the image and likeness of God, our soul is a reflection of that image. Only God can forgive sins and therefore only He can wash our souls clean of our offense.

The penitent clearly states their sole responsibility in the sin. Even though someone else may have been involved, the sinner says "my guilt", "my sin". No blame is placed upon another. The sinner bears responsibility for their wrongdoing. We alcoholics and addicts are known for shirking responsibility. It is "people, places and things", or our weakness, our disease, or some other such matter. Although there are mitigating circumstances that can lead us into our addictive behavior, in the end we committed the sin. At what point do we stop making excuses and just say that, "Yeah, these factors came in to play in my demise. But I could have said 'no.' I could have reached out for help that is their, even if it is a plaintive prayer into the darkness."

We bear responsibility for recognizing our true nature as sons and daughters of God, and in seeing that since our souls were made to reflect His goodness, we must strive to keep them clean and on the path to holiness. We allow our consciences to be formed and guided by the Gospel.

Have mercy on me

The first verse of Psalm 51, after the introduction, is a plaintive cry for mercy:

Psalm 51:3: "Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offense."

(Via USCCB.)

The repentant sinner in uttering this cry asking for nothing less than a clean slate. The penitent knows that mercy springs forth from God's inherent and eternal goodness. Furthermore, God's compassion for the sinner puts and end to the offense, it is as if it never happened.

God is incapable, as a human understands it, of harboring resentment. The seemingly never-ending rehashing of a grudge or psychological wound is an imperfection of our human nature.

Verse 3 of this Psalm is therefore a confident understanding by the penitent that God will blot out the offense, and start over with the sinner.

As alcoholics and addicts, we have plenty to "blot out". But also much to learn about compassion. Are we as ready to blot out the offenses of others against us? And how long are we capable of taking to do this? And does reconciliation always result?

Psalm 51 Meditations

One of my favorite Psalms is the 51st, "The Miserere". The first 2 verses explain it:

Psalm 51:1-2: "For the leader. A psalm of David,

when Nathan the prophet came to him after his affair with Bathsheba."

(Via USCCB)

Nathan the Prophet confronted King David with his adultery, and the Psalm is David's repentence.

I have written up some notes that form the basis of some meditations on each verse of the Psalm. I think it is appropriate it since the Church's liturgical year is winding down. As Advent approaches, the Church will start to remind us of the coming of Christ, and the need to repent.

(These meditations also serve as a revival of something I started in 2007, called the "The Wisdom Dose", a series of originally daily, then occasional, then discontinued, meditations on the Wisdom Books of the Bible, including the Psalms. I will do these again, on an irregular basis.)

Approaching the Throne of Grace

The Second Reading for the Mass of the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time speaks to us of Jesus as our helper in our weakness:

Hebrews 4:14-16:"Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help."

(Via USCCB.)

Jesus is not some mighty deity who reigns distantly from Heaven and judges us for our misdeeds. Although His divinity prevented Him from sinning, He experienced the temptations and sufferings that we experience. Perhaps His divinity made Him acutely aware of the pain temptation brings. He couldn't sin to temporarily relieve the painful desire of temptation. Not that our succumbing to temptation to relieve the pain is any excuse for us.

Therefore, knowing full well that Jesus understands what we go through, because He's been there,we can "confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help." Grace is all you need to heal from your addiction. The sacraments are the primary instruments of God's grace, and the sure means of receiving it.

Go to Confession soon and the attend Mass and receive the Eucharist. Go to Confession frequently, for as addicts and alcoholics we are a tough bunch to maintain our holiness.

Suffering Servant

The First Reading for the Mass of the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time is one that serves as a foreshadow or prophecy of Jesus as the Messiah, and of His suffering mission:

Isaiah 53:10-11:"The LORD was pleased
to crush him in infirmity.

If he gives his life as an offering for sin,
he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his affliction
he shall see the light in fullness of days;
through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
and their guilt he shall bear."

(Via USCCB.)

God was "pleased" to crush Him, inasmuch as He was sent to Earth incarnate for one reason, to suffer and die for our sins. Jesus fulfilled His Father's will, and in doing so bought for us salvation. His suffering will be the instrument by which His followers will be saved. We shall be with Him in Eternity.

I had a weird thought while I was reading this before the Saturday Vigil Mass I attend. As Christians we are called to be like Christ, to accept suffering as our part in working out our redemption. My weird thought was connected to the lament often heard by the newly sober: "Why am I an alcoholic?"

Well, I think the answer to that lies in the passage from Isaiah. If it can be rewritten from the perspective of an alcoholic being like a "suffering servant" using his addiction as a means of fulfilling God's will, perhaps alcoholics can take some comfort, or strength, in their addiction. So, here is a paraphrase of the Suffering Servant passage from Isaiah (feel free to substitute "her" for "him"):

"God was pleased to crush him in his infirmity.

If he uses his life and offers it up for his addiction,
he shall see his fellow addicts in a long life,
and the will of God shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his addiction he shall see the light in fullness of days;
through his suffering, my servant help many to be righteous,
and their guilt he shall hear."

(The inspired writer of Scripture is much better than I!)

In short, by adapting the Suffering Servant passage, alcoholics and addicts can see their addiction as a means of fulfilling God's will. By combining their understanding of addiction with their personal experiences of it, they can help others. They can "hear" other people's pain and sorrow, and begin to see the brokenness in them. The addict's woundedness and suffering can be used to alleviate other people's pain.

The Spirit of Wisdom Came to Me

There is a nice excerpt from the First Reading for Mass for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time:

Wisdom 7:7: "I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me."

(Via USCCB.)

As alcoholics and addicts we are familiar with seeking wisdom and prudence. It's there in the short form of the Serenity Prayer said at most 12 Step meetings:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

One of the greatest gifts you can ask for is wisdom. It enables you to discern the good from the bad, to make rightly formed decisions as opposed to those based on feelings and emotion. It helps you to navigate the rough terrain and churning seas of daily life.

Pray for it.

Catholic Recovery Chat

I am just trying to get to word out that this blog's sister site Catholic Recovery has a chat room. This is a post that serves as a "primer" on using it: Catholic Recovery Chat

I am trying to promote it for 2 reasons:

One) To help build the social network's community. We have all been there when we needed some human contact and no one's been around. A lonely night at the keyboard, staring at the screen.... a chat might be good.

Two) To get more people to use the network. This would significantly assist with point # one. :-)

So, check it out if you're a member. Or join up if you're not!

Our Lady of Victory

On October 7th the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Here is a post written a few years ago on its background (it also has a great litany prayer for your use):

Our Lady of the Rosary

The old name for this feast day is Our Lady of Victory. We can beseech Our Lady of Victory to be our own special intercessor in Heaven for us alcoholics and addicts. We can ask for the Blessed Virgin Mary's maternal help in keeping us safe from our weakness over our addictions. She can aid us in turning our weakness into a strength. She has worked miracles in my life and can be a major intercessor for you as well.


As a personal historical sidenote: this is a copy-and-paste of a post from last year:

Today was the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. That link is a post I wrote last year.

It has been quite a year for me since that post. In that year I relocated to a new city to be closer to my then-girlfriend (after commuting weekly 360 miles/580 km round-trip for nearly 2 months), took a low-paying part-time job just to be near her, got a new job a few months later - just before the actual wedding, and endured a lot of change and trials on that job these past 8 months on it. I proposed to her 10 months ago today on the Vigil of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Rose said "Yes" but made me propose again the next day as she felt it was more proper to do so on the day of the feast instead. Women... (!!!). ) All in all, a new life, and a year that most people would have taken several years to live out. No boasting, just a lot of life development and such all packed in to one year, that others would have experienced over a longer period.

A strong faith and strong sobriety was key in my surviving this past year. There was much that could have undermined my sobriety, ask any long-term member of a 12 Step group and they would have said something about too much change too soon. Change, or big change and a lot of it, isn't good for any recovered/recovering alcoholic. Having something worthwhile to achieve (like a great lady) helps.

From Romans 12:12: "Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer."

(Via USCCB.)

Armor of God

We are engaged in a battle when we are addicts and alcoholics. For all the talk of the medical, genetic or environmental causes of alcoholism and addiction, we cannot ignore the spiritual side of the affliction. I think even the founders of AA said that alcoholism is a spiritual problem. In acknowledging the spiritual side of addiction we cannot just assume that it is a problem in our relationship with God. The spiritual world has its dark forces, too. If you read the New Testament, demons were among the earliest to acknowledge the truth of Jesus. Jesus did battle with them, from His being tempted in the desert to casting them out of people they inhabited.

People who are "rational" scoff at the notion of demonic activity, yet it is a Church teaching that they exist and it is sensible to assume that they use whatever tools are available to them to destroy us and keep us from God.

If addictions fill the "hole in our soul" that should be filled by our desire for God, then possibly demons use them as the best means at their disposal to fill that hole and divert us from God. Our addictions satisfy a spiritual longing that is better taken up by devotion to God. But they are immediately satisfying instead of the longer time that spiritual conversion usually takes.

And so we are not just engaged in a battle against our desires. Our desires may be merely tools used against us. For whatever the reason, we who are alcoholics and addicts have an increased sensitivity to our desires and an inordinate need to fulfill them.

But we have weapons at our disposal. St. Paul writes:

Ephesians 6:10-17: "Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.

Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.

For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.

Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.

So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,

and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one.

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

(Via USCCB.)

The Faith is our shield. Studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church (available in most bookstores, plus there are links to online versions of it in the sidebar), which is the summary of our Faith, is one weapon. Prayers to the Holy Spirit is another. Regular reading of the Bible is another weapon. Prayerfully study the Catechism and the Bible, and your "armor of God" will be strengthened against the onslaught of the devil and his demons.

I heard in an AA meeting once (and this has been repeated in various ways by other people) that meeting attendance interrupts the thought processes that lead to a relapse. If that is so, then there can be no better way to interrupt the slide to a relapse that calling upon the graces of God that result when you build up your Faith through the reading of the Bible and the Catechism. If a mere meeting can help stave off a relapse, how much more mighty a shield is there than Scripture and the Catechism?

Sin and concupiscence

I have added two new labels: "sin" and "concupiscence" to identify the subjects of posts. I shall be discussing these off and on over the next few weeks or months and their relationship with addiction and alcoholism.

One reason I haven't blogged much recently (there are many) is that I've been studying the Catechism and other books about these subjects.

"Grace" and the "sacraments" will be integral to these posts.

Do you have a drug problem?

Much thanks to Jesse Romero:

Triumph and Sorrow

Earlier this week (September 14th and 15th) the Church celebrated two feasts which I had written about before in these two posts: Triumph of the Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows.

I think it is intentional that these 2 feasts are linked by being placed a day apart.

The triumph of Jesus on the Cross was His death. Death is usually a defeat but His liberated us from the prison that was ours. He opened the gates of Heaven for us. Heaven is now attainable, whereas previously it was prohibited to us by the Original Sin of Adam. ( Genesis 3) The Sorrows of Mary were many but in tying these dates together, the Church is perhaps emphasizing Jesus' suffering, death and burial and how they must have ripped apart the heart of Mary as she witnessed them.

Both Jesus and Mary are marked in their obedience to God the Father's will. Jesus accepted that His role and mission was to suffer and die for our sins. Mary accepted hers as being the bearer of the Messiah, the Savior of Humanity. Her willing submission to God's will linked her life to that of Jesus.

So it can be said of us. If we accept that our duty as Christians is to submit ourselves to God's will in our lives, looking to the Church for guidance, then we open ourselves to the sufferings and sorrows about us. In accepting God's will for us, it is necessary for us to "die to ourselves" so that the inspirations and beckoning of the Holy Spirit can be felt. We decrease, so it can increase. In so dying, we are reborn into the person God intended for us to be and therefore are able to fulfill His plan for our lives. The sufferings and sorrows we feel are our compassion for others.

As addicts and alcoholics, we are especially attuned to this. Our old selves died when we gave up drinking and using. Our truer selves were resurrected from the Cross we nailed our addictions to. And in our new lives we see others about us differently. We see others and broken and wounded souls, as we are also. Our hearts are pierced by the swords of their pain and suffering. ( Luke 2: 34-35)

As Jesus on the Cross gave Mary to each of us to be our Mother, we, in our recovery, are given to others to nurture and sustain them. (John 19: 25-27)





(All Scriptural links courtesy USCCB.)

Faith without works is dead

The Second Reading for the Mass for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time is a statement that faith in Jesus is no good if works do not spring from it:

James 2:14-18: "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear
and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them,
‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, ’
but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it?
So also faith of itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.

Indeed someone might say,
‘You have faith and I have works.’
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works."

(Via USCCB.)

The idea is simple and obvious: If you have faith in Christ, where is the evidence of it? To merely say that "Jesus is Lord" and other such declarations of faith is meaningless unless there is proof of it. What distinguishes believers of Christ from non-believers, then? What outward sign of your faith is visible to those who are non-believers,or even believers? I do not mean garments or things like crosses about the neck. I mean, how does your faith change the world about you? How does your faith make a difference? How does your faith preach the Gospel, by your actions?How do you respond to Jesus' call in the Gospel to preach to all peoples, even if "all peoples" is just your family, friends and co-workers?

"Good works" do not get you saved. No one can earn their way into Heaven by doing good things. Heaven is so unreachable by mere human means that Jesus had to die on the Cross to gain it for us. It is our faith in Him and the seed planted in our souls by that faith which grows into a desire to do something about the world that makes our salvation possible. Our belief in Him coupled with our working out of the Gospel message is what we are judged by.

"So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James says in his letter. I have heard "Faith, without works, is dead" many times in AA meetings as it is a quote from AA writings.

The good works that spring from faith is the work of grace in our souls. God calls us by His free granting of grace, and we respond.