Mercy triumphs over judgment

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St. James in his New Testament Letter offers us a compelling reason to practice mercy:

This is the Reading from the Morning Prayer in today’s Liturgy of the Hours:

James 2:13: “For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.”

“Mercy” can be directly related to practicing forgiveness, and this is connected to the Lord’s Prayer verse in which Jesus essentially connects your desire for God’s forgiveness with you forgiving others:

Matthew 6:14-15: “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

You show mercy to others and it will be shown to you.

Forgiveness does not mean, at least to me, reconciliation with the person or people who have offended or hurt you. It may mean cutting the emotional ties and resentment over the deed they have done. You may pray for them and offer up sufferings for their salvation, but reconciliation may be too much to handle and cope with.

All Scripture passages courtesy of: USCCB.

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Lord, forgive the wrong I have done

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The Responsorial Psalm for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time is a hymn of forgiveness:

Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11: “Blessed is the one whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile.

I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, ‘I confess my faults to the LORD,’ and you took away the guilt of my sin.

You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me; with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just; exult, all you upright of heart.”

(Via USCCB.)

There are Steps in the 12 Step Movement to remove character defects (“faults”), and prayer and humility are the primary means for this to happen. It might not happen overnight, but instead over time, but as one’s descent in alcoholism and addiction may take place over time, so to does the healing.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Sacred Heart and the Sacred Heart Badge

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I wish I saw this yesterday, but I was busy with some projects impacting this site, but Spera Rose, over at Speramus- We Hope has an excellent post on the history Sacred Heart devotion, but especially some useful information on the Sacred Heart Badge:

The Broken Heart of Jesus, the Merciful Saviour—-History of the Sacred Heart Badge

The Sacred Heart Badge was used as an early “award” for people in early recovery back in the 1930’s and 1940’s. It was the inspiration for the “chips” that AA members receive nowadays. (This isn’t from her post.)

You can obtain one for yourself by clicking on a link near the end of her post. 🙂

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is about the Divine Love of God for humanity and the Divine Mercy He has showed upon us because:

John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

(Via USCCB.)

The Sacred Heart of Jesus devotion is an old one for Catholics. It is about love and mercy and reparation for sins and forgiveness.

More information can be found in this post.

It also has a connection to AA history.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Your light must shine before others

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Jesus reminds us in today’s Daily Mass Gospel reading that our religious faith is not to be kept to ourselves:

Matthew 5:13-16: “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.’”

(Via USCCB.)

You have Faith, obtained by the free gift of God’s grace. As much as the world, for all of its lip service to tolerance and diversity, tells you that religion is a private affair not to be shared lest you offend, Jesus exhorts His followers to be a beacon to the world.

Jesus also tells us to act. Faith alone does not save, others must also see “your good deeds”. From this, God is glorified. He is seen as the source of your goodness.

Those of us who are sober, clean and chaste, also must tell others of God’s role in their recovery. Credit is given where it is deserved. Humility demands that.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The dam breaks!

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You’re sitting around or going along minding your own business. Then all of a sudden someone says something to you or some thing doesn’t cooperate and BLAMMO off you go on a tirade.

(This never happens to me. LOL LOL LOL)

From St. Dorotheus:

“The man who thinks that he is quiet and peaceful has within him a passion that he does not see. A brother comes up, utters some unkind word and immediately all the venom and mire that lie hidden within him are spewed out.”

From the teachings of St. Dorotheus, abbot

(Via Idaho Lay Dominicans.)

Clearly there is a hidden turmoil that didn’t take much to reveal. St. Dorotheus says that this is a gift from the offender, that the trigger of your temper is a clue that not all is well with you. You need to seek out God’s Mercy and forgiveness, repent and seek to amend your life all the better for the sinful acts.

With this interior self-examination and repentance, you can grow in holiness and perfection.

Matthew 5:48: “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

(Via USCCB.)

This concludes the series’ on St. Dorotheus teachings. I may revisit them year after year when they show up in the Liturgy of the Hours.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

"But, I'm innocent!"

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St. Dorotheus understands that a common objection to his teachings on these subjects is that what if you do an examination of conscience and you find yourself innocent of anything and yet someone still had hurt you? What then?

The Saint would say as he did in the latter 4 paragraphs in the link at the end of this post:

“This kind of thinking is surely ridiculous and has no rational basis.”

The mere fact that someone has “issues” with you indicates that something is awry in your relationship with him. The issues may be either real (grounded in something that you did that the other took offense) or perceived (grounded in something that you thought was harmless but they took offense at. Perhaps an misunderstanding on their part. Nevertheless, you did something.)

Humility in either case begs forgiveness and amendment of purpose. You may see your actions in a different light if they can be misunderstood. Of course, no one can completely control how others perceive their actions, yet humility allows for reasons and methods to heal the wounds caused by misunderstandings.

From the teachings of St. Dorotheus, abbot

(Via Idaho Lay Dominicans.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Humility as the root of peace

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From the teachings of St. Dorotheus, abbot: “The man who finds fault with himself accepts all things cheerfully – misfortune, loss, disgrace, dishonor and any other kind of adversity. He believes that he is deserving of all these things and nothing can disturb him. No one could be more at peace than this man. “

(Via Idaho Lay Dominicans.)

Humility can be defined as accepting reality for what it is, adjusting your life to fit that reality and being content with the results.

Well, the reality is that we are broken and wounded people. Wounded by Original Sin and its continued effects in our lives and in the world around us, and broken by our own failings and shortcomings.

If you are truly humble, you accept all as such. And as St. Dorotheus says in the quote above “nothing can disturb (you).”

We live in a Fallen world and therefore entropy and concupiscence are a natural part of it. Accept that and your part in it and peace will happen within.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Virtue without examination is wasted

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St. Dorotheus reiterates the importance of an examination of conscience (what he call “self-accusation”).

It does not matter how many virtues a man may have, even if they are beyond number and limit. If he has turned from the path of self-accusation, he will never find peace. He will always be troubled himself, or else he will be a source of trouble for others and all his labors will be wasted.

From the teachings of St. Dorotheus, abbot

(Via Idaho Lay Dominicans.)

The interior self is the root or cornerstone of your being. If it is in conflict due to your defects of character it is causing you to sin. Therefore, whatever virtues you are practicing are merely external ones, and do not reflect your true self. They serve as a cover. Just like a homeowner who puts up aluminum or vinyl siding on a house with a rotting interior, it is a facade.

Works have no meaning without a sincere underlying faith that generates the works. Doing good deeds for the sake of them may be beneficial to others, but are useless to yourself without the accompanying interior mortification and reflection.

In short, your “true self” is liberated with a good examination of conscience, and the resulting amending of your life. From this basis, your virtues are sincere and their application in daily living bears more fruit, both for yourself and for others.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The source of all annoyance and distress

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Continuing on in this series, St. Dorotheus goes on to say that the only path to peace (an internal peace) is for us to be what we would call nowadays reflective. We must be always aware of our defects and seek to remedy them. And we must look internally, be aware of what is wrong inside us, in order for true internal peace to reign within.

St. Dorotheus writes: “We have seen that this is true in many cases, and, in our laziness and desire for rest, we hope or believe that we have entered upon a straight path when we are impatient with everyone, and yet cannot bear to blame ourselves.”

If you find fault with everybody but yourself and constantly look to external sources for the causes of your distress, you will never find peace within. I suppose people who are “comfortable in their own skin” have dealt with their interior distress and character defects, or are humble in their admission of them and are dealing with them.

From the teachings of St. Dorotheus, abbot

(Via Idaho Lay Dominicans.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)