Friday, March 14, 2008

Mea Culpa...

I know that when we are not open to God's graces, we shortchange ourselves. God LOVES US!!! He knows our struggles, and He yearns to hear our heart. He knows my sins - and He is simply waiting to absolve me from them in the sacrament of reconciliation.

So many times, before I became Catholic, I heard that "Catholics can do anything they want and then they go to confession and confess their stuff and then they go back and do exactly the same thing."

How can that be I often wondered. Well - it was an untruth about the Catholic Church, like so many other things that are oft repeated. The truth, and the Church is TRUTH, is that when I sin I break my connection with God. No one sins in a vacuum. When I sin I hurt the Body of Christ. I distance myself from God with my sinfulness.

As a Christian, I am all too well aware of my sinful nature - can't help it! It is the way us humans are. What I do with my sinful nature is what is important.

Do I sin and continue on without regard to how it has affected those around me? That is me, selfish and unconcerned. . .without using the God-given grace that was imparted to me within my baptism and confirmation.

Do I sin and reflect on that sin, ask for pardon and move on? That is also me, self centered and having a Jesus and me attitude irregardless of the graces I have been given.

Do I sin, reflect on the sin, recognize I am at fault (mea culpa), speak the fault to my confessor, ask for forgiveness in a sorrowful act of contrition and be absolved through Holy Mother Church? YES! That is also me - taking complete advantage of what God has set up for all Christians. I recognize and speak the words in the act of contrition, that I am agreeing to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. I strive to do better not to sin, not to repeat that sin - not on my own, but with the help and grace of God, who loves me so.

The three "me's" all rolled up into one. For those times I have sinned, through my OWN fault, and been the first "me", I recognize my pride. Those times when I have sinned and not gone to confession, I recognize my pride and my select theology. For the times when I have availed myself to confession - WOW! Those are the times, that I know that we do indeed have a Loving God who has given us all we need in this life...and am so grateful that me, all three of my "me's" is Catholic!

Mea Culpa and Deo Gratis

3 comments:

Christine said...

Amen Sissy! We are indeed members of a wonderful Family.I love this prayer.

O my God! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future.

Leslie K. said...

I used to joke with friends of mine about the Catholic Savings Plan...see, while I was growing up I attended 12 years of Catholic School..that means, I went to Mass 6 of 7 days for 12 years...so that means 12 years of 9 First Fridays in a row, along with the monthly Confession...so I got 12 years of plenary indulgences built up..and they had better be honored when I die or I am in BIG TROUBLE!!!

Love you!

Macile Hooper LeJeune said...

First Friday; I forgot that we did that on our own ... growing up; but also, I attended a Catholic girl's school for my last 5 years. Soooooo, heads not tooo good today, so I will not bore ya'll with the math ... uhhhh, Leslie ... do mine for me like you did yours, OK??? And yes, Lee Anne ... am proud that all 3 of my 'me' characters are Catholic together. >>>Mags, ma cherie; that prayer sure does hit the spot.<<<
DIEU TE BENISSE!!! Cajun Sissy

































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