At the end of many of these groups, my only thought is that the beauty of the writings of the fathers is exquisite. Often when reading them one is both pierced to the heart, but also raised up and consoled. This is surprisingly so in this hypothesis on contrition. None of the fathers’ writings appear to be an abstraction, but rather their words reverberate with the pain and the love of

One comes to know not only the weight and burden of sin, but a kind of otherworldly darkness to which it drags the soul. A soul begins to understand how the demons act as accusers; seeking to cast it down into the depths of despair after having coaxed it into sin.

There are two kinds of contrition with which we must become familiar. The first is rooted in fear; the acknowledgment of the coming judgment and the consequences of turning away from God. The soul becomes painfully aware of what it is to turn away from He who is light and life. The second kind of contrition, however, arises out of desire for the kingdom. Once a soul has tasted the sweetness of God‘s compassion they weep tears over any way that they turn from the depths of that Love. That are hearts would be watered with this kind of contrition is an extraordinary gift!

To see contrition as a gift is admittedly difficult. Yet in reading the fathers one comes to see that it is not only the prerequisite for the spiritual life, but also the path that opens one up to the deepest consolation. To see ourselves as we truly are, to stand in the light of the truth, may be extremely painful, but that light comes from the Physician of souls, who in the very act of revealing our sins removes them.

It is then with freedom that the soul can entrust itself to God to chastise it; knowing that “a broken and contrite heart the Lord will not scorn”.  Every breath becomes a groan; a cry of love that is united to the groan of the Spirit that dwells within the human heart. The humbled soul is then elevated, exalted, to God who embraces his prodigal child and rejoices. This bitter path then is the path to true joy. And taking it, the soul loses interest in anything else around him; most of all the actions of others or their sins. He will judge no man, knowing that he himself will soon stand before the Judge of all.

Imagine hearts that take up the burden of their own sins, that do not say so much as a word on their own behalf and that confess what they have done and accept that whatever comes to them is just and fitting for it comes from the hand of the Lord!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:13:35 Myles Davidson: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/9068317091?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_nz

00:23:24 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 241 A paragraph starting “For many….”

00:23:45 Catherine Opie: Reacted to "P. 241 A paragraph s..." with 🙏🏻

00:38:44 Anthony: The Communion of the Saints.

00:41:19 Anthony: Then it is a blessing to endure the enemies' false accusations now to be vaccinated against them and hope in God at the moment of death.

00:58:10 Suzanne Romano: So important to understand that these lamentations are not hyperbole, but rather the depth of the anguish of self knowledge in this vale of tears.

01:00:41 Anthony: When I would hear about people's great Sins, I would realize the root of every one I could see in myself in small ways and it was terrifying.  I think maybe this realization is also part of Isaiah's grief?

01:05:05 Forrest Cavalier: ps 51:19 My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn. (Much of the previous paragraphs from Ephraim mirror Ps 51, too)

01:05:22 Suzanne Romano: It's interesting to consider whether this depth of the remorse of self knowledge, and the pain and crying out to God that is engendered, becomes the seed of perfect confidence in God as Physician and Helper.

01:05:37 Anthony: Then we should pray for the greatest of sinners as if we are praying for our own souls?

01:09:05 Sr. Mary Clare: I think of St. Mary Magdalene weeping for her sins on the feet of Jesus and how He says to her that her sins are forgiven because she has loved much. Her compunction of heart was seen in it's depths by Jesus Christ

01:09:14 Maureen Cunningham: Jesus prayer

01:11:27 Suzanne Romano: One of the most heartening thoughts for the contrite, is that their suffering is love. It doesn't feel like love, but it is love, and the God of Love recognizes it.

01:12:00 Sr. Mary Clare: Reacted to "One of the most hear..." with ❤️

01:20:26 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You , Blessing to all

01:21:16 Sr. Mary Clare: St. Peter sees the miracle of Jesus multiplying fish, He says, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." In the confessional we approach the mercy seat of God, and we almost want to say the same as Peter did. God's mercy is so great!

01:21:22 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂

01:21:24 Catherine Opie: Once again thank you Fr. and God bless 🙏🏻❤️