Even though our sins offend God and can separate us from God, why is it so important to not focus so heavily on our faults?
St. Francis warns against “self-love.” What would the difference be between “self-love” and a proper love of one’s self?
If we are to lean on God’s mercy and the redemption and forgiveness of sins won for us on The Cross, then why do we need this emphasis on avoiding sin and being sure to “fall no more”?M

VisitationSiste: So in this Movie it was made clear God’s mercy overlooks all faults when we come close to Him

Nov 20 2016, 7:34 PM

Lisa C: Ok, so that brings up questions. Don’t we still have to do penance for the sins?

Nov 20 2016, 7:34 PM

VisitationSiste: Yes- that was expressed by a woman in the audience too- we have to do our part

Nov 20 2016, 7:34 PM

Guest475 (guest): (Judy) Well, I’m going to get the ball rolling with question 1. Why is it so important not to focus so heavily on our faults? If we focus heavily on our faults, we could fall into discouragement or even despair. Rather we should make a resolve to overcome the fault and rely on the grace and mercy of

Nov 20 2016, 7:35 PM

Lisa C: It seems the plenary indulgence with the holy doors bypasses the pennance

Nov 20 2016, 7:35 PM

Guest3042 (guest): Hi SisterSusan , Carol Ann , Lisa , Dawn , and Judy ! God Bless You ! Brian

Nov 20 2016, 7:35 PM

Lisa C: I do not understand how, but I read that it does.

Nov 20 2016, 7:36 PM

Dawn (guest): Hi Brian

36 PM

Lisa C: I gave it to my Grandparents, though

Nov 20 2016, 7:37 PM

Guest475 (guest): God to direct us. If we find ourselves being intensely angered or vexed by our failures (How could I have done such a thing?) we are probably acting out of pride. We need to recognize our weaknesses and failings and trust in the Lord to lead us out of them

20 2016, 7:38 PM

VisitationSiste: That’s true-pride does not help us face our limitations well, 7:38 PM

Guest3042 (guest): If we focus too much on our faults we are not looking to the Lord and all kinds of things can happen.

Nov 20 2016, 7:38 PM

Lisa C: Even though our sins offend God and can separate us from God, why is it so important to not focus so heavily on our faults? We cannot really be perfect. We can only try. Only Jesus and Mary are perfect. We must try to be like them. Perfection does not consist in being perfect or in acting perfectly. It is the striving for perfection that is important. – St. Francis de Sales

Nov 20 2016, 7:39 PM

Carol Ann: another insidious form of idolatry

Nov 20 2016, 7:39 PM

Guest475 (guest): (Judy) I have it heard it said that focusing on our faults will not help us. We should, rather, focus on the goodness of God. Gazing upon His should move us to conquer our faults.

PM

VisitationSiste: Looking at faults vs focusing are differnt I think

Nov 20 2016, 7:41 PM

Lisa C: If we are to lean on God’s mercy and the redemption and forgiveness of sins won for us on The Cross, then why do we need this emphasis on avoiding sin and being sure to “fall no more”? …. Forgiveness requires repentance. If we repent we really want to be good and to stop sinning.

Nov 20 2016, 7:41 PM

Guest475 (guest): (Judy) We do need to look at our faults to see where they come from and determine a course of action to overcome. But focusing on them would be obsessing about them. That is not goodl

Nov 20 2016, 7:41 PM

Guest3042 (guest): As we grow in our relationship with God we begin to make changes in our life and do those things that are important to God !

7:42 PM

VisitationSiste: and yet saints often say they are the worst of sinners! PM

VisitationSiste: and yet saints often say they are the worst of sinners!

Nov 20 2016, 7:42 PM

Lisa C: Saints are more offended by sin.

Nov 20 2016, 7:43 PM

Lisa C: They are more holy so it bothers them more.

Nov 20 2016, 7:43 PM

Carol Ann: Someone told me the other day that saints are sinners that became holy anyway

Nov 20 2016, 7:44 PM

Guest475 (guest): (Judy) I think that saints probably probably have better sight than the rest of us. When they look at even their slightest faults and view them in light of the perfection of God, they consider themselves serious sinners.

Nov 20 2016, 7:44 PM

Guest3042 (guest): We also begin to realize how far away we are from God’s perfect will ! Very very humbling !

Nov 20 2016, 7:45 PM

Lisa C: Romans 3:23

7:45 PM

VisitationSiste: The closer we come to the pure and burning Holiness of God the more we see our weakness 5 PM

 

Nov 20 2016, 7:46 PM

Guest3042 (guest): Amen Sister Susan and Lisa !

Nov 20 2016, 7:47 PM

Lisa C: 3 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

7:47 PM

Lisa C: Saints know that it is all about Jesus, not us.

Nov 20 2016, 7:47 PM

Guest475 (guest): Jesus once said that He had come to light a fire on the earth and how He wished that it were set. How I long for Him to light a fire in me, so that I might be filled with zeal for His word and love for Him!

Nov 20 2016, 7:48 PM

Carol Ann: yes!

http://www.desertwisdom.org/dttw/truth/fr-seraphim-rose/russia.html#5 PM

Lisa C: Saints know that it is all about Jesus, not us.

Nov 20 2016, 7:47 PM

Guest475 (guest): Jesus once said that He had come to light a fire on the earth and how He wished that it were set. How I long for Him to light a fire in me, so that I might be filled with zeal for His word and love for Him!

Nov 20 2016, 7:48 PM

Carol Ann: yes!

Nov 20 2016, 7:50 PM

VisitationSiste: Are we on fire?

Nov 20 2016, 7:50 PM

Dawn (guest): very thoughtful question Sr!

Nov 20 2016, 7:51 PM

Lisa C: Fire on our heads when the Holy Spirt comes…it must mean something

Nov 20 2016, 7:51 PM

Carol Ann: I say yes, but many times i get distracted, or my own failings get in the way

Nov 20 2016, 7:51 PM

Guest3042 (guest): All we have to do is ask believing ! Jesus said that each one of us is capable of doing greater things than what He has done ! We forget to ask the. Holy Spirit for help ! He is quietly waiting to help us !

Nov 20 2016, 7:52 PM

Dawn (guest): what I may perceive as on fire could be imperfect, or distracted

7:52 PM

VisitationSiste: we can havefaults and still be on fire for Him

Nov 20 2016, 7:53 PM

Guest475 (guest): Self-love vs. proper love of self. Self-love might also be called self-indulgence. It is perhaps close to narcissism. The focus is on self, on doing all for our comfort, seeing ourselves as number 1. Appropriate love of self is doing those things that are necessary for our well-being, both spiritual and temporal. It also means seeing others in the proper place and being of help to them in their needs.

 

Guest475 (guest): Briefly put, self love = me, me, me! 9 PM

VisitationSiste: yes and also in a more deceptive way perhaps giving in to comforts on occasion

Nov 20 2016, 8:02 PM

Guest475 (guest): Back in the old days of the first “folk masses” there was a song with lyrics “Let me be a little kinder, let me be a little blinder to the faults of those about me, let me praise a little more. Let me be a little meeker with a brother who is weaker, let me think more of my neighbor and a little less of me.”

Nov 20 2016, 8:03 PM

Guest3042 (guest): When we make ourselves available to God , He puts us in unique situations and with people throughout our day to encourage and to learn from ! He is always teaching us !

8:04 PM

Carol Ann: I don’t remember that 05 PM

VisitationSiste: Proper love of self also means trying to do God’s Will for us because He knows what is best for us

Nov 20 2016, 8:05 PM

Dawn (guest): maybe good song for younger too, or the younger in us

Nov 20 2016, 8:05 PM

Guest3042 (guest): Awesome Judy ! Try and find that for Kairos Weekend !

Nov 20 2016, 8:05 PM

Guest475 (guest): I wonder how many times in a day the Lord has presented Himself to me in the guise of someone else to teach me some lesson, and I was completely unaware.

Nov 20 2016, 8:06 PM

Guest3042 (guest): Soo true !

Nov 20 2016, 8:06 PM

Lisa C: Jesus is in everyone every time we meet them.

Nov 20 2016, 8:06 PM

Guest475 (guest): Brian, I think that it is called “A Little Less of Me” but I have no idea who is the composer. Might be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Nov 20 2016, 8:08 PM

Guest8504 (guest): The less self-willed we are, the easier it will be to us to follow God’s will.

M

Guest3042 (guest): Thanks Judy ! We might have it in our song book ! The guys really learn soo much from the lyrics in the songs we sing together !

Nov 20 2016, 8:09 PM

Carol Ann: youtube can be a good place to search, even if all you know is a few lines. found many old favorites from those days there

Nov 20 2016, 8:10 PM

Lisa C: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TT2P1N3s-8

LESS OF ME – YouTube

Nov 20 2016, 8:10 PM

Dawn (guest): awesome!

 

VisitationSiste: If we are to lean on God’s mercy and the redemption and forgiveness of sins won for us on The Cross, then why do we need this emphasis on avoiding sin and being sure to “fall no more”?M

Nov 20 2016, 8:13 PM

Carol Ann: because we follow Jesus. He faced temptations and so must we. trials prove virtue

Nov 20 2016, 8:13 PM

Dawn (guest): I am a sinner but sure of his love and mercy

Nov 20 2016, 8:13 PM

Lisa C: If we truly repent, we no longer want to sin.

Nov 20 2016, 8:13 PM

Guest3042 (guest): Such a privilege too meet with you all Sunday nights ! I learn soo much from you all ! Thank You Jesus !

8:14 PM

Dawn (guest): I choose to avoid sin and ask for the grace to do so

Nov 20 2016, 8:14 PM

Guest475 (guest): Bravo Lisa! I checked it out and it is the one. Brian, check the You Tube address Lisa put in the chat. It is the right song.

Nov 20 2016, 8:14 PM

Dawn (guest): because everything is grace and from Him

Nov 20 2016, 8:15 PM

Guest3042 (guest): Thank You Judy and Lisa !!!

Nov 20 2016, 8:16 PM

Guest3042 (guest): Amen Dawn ! Amazing Grace !

Nov 20 2016, 8:16 PM

Ruth (guest): Don’t we want to give comfort, as best we can, to our Lord who gave Himself for us?Sin would do just the opposite.

PM

Guest3042 (guest): Soo true Ruth !

Nov 20 2016, 8:17 PM

Ruth (guest): Part of saying “THANK YOU” for the gift of God’s love and mercy — and his redemptive act — is to try to live as he would have us live.

Nov 20 2016, 8:17 PM

Carol Ann: i think we do comfort him when we turn back and ask to be united to him

Nov 20 2016, 8:18 PM

Guest475 (guest): While God’s love and mercy are always there for u, we cannot expect to live in His pleasure unless we take action to eliminate sin from our lives. There is an old saying “Work as if everything depends on you, and pray as if everything depends on God.” And “God helps those who help themselves.” One who does not make any effort to overcome sin (perhaps by acts of penance or mortification) can be seen as not taking his spiritual life seriously, or not being serious in his journeying toward Tod.

Nov 20 2016, 8:18 PM

Guest475 (guest): Toward God.

Nov 20 2016, 8:18 PM

Guest3042 (guest): That is the real evidence that we really know and Love God !

, 8:20 PM

VisitationSiste: We need His mercy even to make the effort to repent sometimes

Nov 20 2016, 8:21 PM

Guest3042 (guest): By their fruit you will know them !

Nov 20 2016, 8:21 PM

Guest475 (guest): We all need to be like the Publican in the temple who stood afar and struck his breast saying, Lord be merciful to me a sinner.

Nov 20 2016, 8:22 PM

Guest3042 (guest): Amen Judy ! Real conviction leads to real Love !

Nov 20 2016, 8:22 PM

Ruth (guest): We ARE products of his Mercy. We need his Mercy to be able to do ANYTHING at all.

3 PM

Ruth (guest): We have no BEING, no LIFE, without God.

Nov 20 2016, 8:24 PM

Guest3042 (guest): Asking for Mercy truly from God is real conviction that leads to real repentance!

Nov 20 2016, 8:24 PM

Ruth (guest): That He even gives us the freedom to sin, or to err, is merciful, in that we could not Love without that Freedom.

Nov 20 2016, 8:24 PM

Guest475 (guest): Today, we ended the Jubilee Year of Mercy. I am sure that this year has made us all more aware of the tremendous mercy of God. While the celebration is over, the mercy of God continues on until the end of the world. All those who have been fit to enter the Kingdom will be at home with the Lord, and those unrepentent souls will be in there proper place. Mercy will no longer be needed for the reign of sin will be ended.