The first concern of the young priest, as soon as he was alone, was to go and visit his church. There he knelt down and made one of those fervent imperative prayers to which he had the secret, imploring, crying out for God's mercy. His first thought on seeing his village was: "How small it is!" And then, illumined with one of those presentiments that would light his way through life, he added: "This parish will be too small to contain all those who will some day come to it!"
(From the Remarkable Cure of Ars by Michele de Saint Pierre)
It has been written that the Cure of Ars spent up to 17 hours a day hearing confessions. Recently, I read a story of a priest assigned to a new parish. He related that he spent his first Saturday there in the confessional for 45 minutes waiting for penitents to arrive. During that time he heard only two confessions.
I'm sure most of us witness Sunday after Sunday, people flocking to Communion, but hardly any crowds flocking to the Sacrament of Penance. While we cannot judge people, we can safely say that our society is suffering from a lack of the sense of sin.
The Secular Carmelite has a great opportunity for witnessing to the world our charism of contemplative prayer through our love for the Sacrament of Penance. In fact, our Secular Rule states:
"The Secular Carmelite will, in addition, have a great esteem for the Sacrament of Penance, or Reconciliation..."
Why do we need to have a great esteem for the Sacrament of Penance? The Secular Carmelite seeks the face of God in prayer-this is the heart of our calling-to pray without ceasing-to ponder the law of the Lord in our heart. We are striving for purity of heart, therefore, we are working with God's grace to overcome our faults and imperfections. We need the grace of the Sacrament of Penance to help us gain self-knowledge to see ourselves as we really are, painful though this may be.
We need the Sacrament of Penance to help us live more perfectly our promises of chastity, poverty, and obedience. We can examine our conscience as to how we are being faithful or unfaithful to our spiritual marriage to the Order of Carmel.
The Cure of Ars, like many other saints, experienced a deep sense of sin that caused him to weep over his sins and failings. The Cure of Ars lived a life of Beatitude-offering forgiveness and mercy to the sinner. We can ask ourself this question: When was the last time I wept over my sins? Have I truly mourned over my sins before the Lord?
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to give us a deep sense of sin and compunction of heart, that we will truly be among the blessed-"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
Let us pray for each other.
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"Death cannot be bitter to the soul that loves, for in it she finds all the sweetness and delight of love. The thought of death cannot sadden her, for what she finds is that gladness accompanies this thought. Neither can the thought of death be burdensome and painful to her, for death will put an end to all her sorrows and afflictions and be the beginning of all her bliss. She thinks of death as her friend and bridegroom, and at the thought of it she rejoices as she would over the thought of her betrothal and marriage, and she longs for the day and hour of her death more than earthly kings long for kingdoms and principalities."
Sister Marie of the Eucharist approached with a candle to get a closer view of that sublime look. In the light of the candle, there didn't appear any movement in her eyelids. This ecstasy lasted almost the space of a Credo, and then she gave her last breath.
It has been written that the Cure of Ars spent up to 17 hours a day hearing confessions. Recently, I read a story of a priest assigned to a new parish. He related that he spent his first Saturday there in the confessional for 45 minutes waiting for penitents to arrive. During that time he heard only two confessions.
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