June 16, 2023 is the solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
“My Divine Heart is so passionately in love with men that it can no longer withhold the flames of that burning love.”
—Autobiography of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
“My Heart is mercy itself. From this sea of mercy, graces flow out upon the whole world. No soul that has approached Me has ever gone away unconsoled.”
—Diary of
Saint Faustina Kowalska, 1777
Today I happened to reflect on the mercy of God.
Did you know that God shows mercy to human beings but not to angels?
Why not?
According to exorcist Father Chad Ripperger, it’s because when the angels were created they had the perfect knowledge required to choose whether or not to love and serve God, but we don’t. We’re “stupid.”
The fallen angels chose to reject God out of pure malice.
Also, according to Father Ripperger, God shows mercy only if we repent. His mercy is not unconditional.
Yet the
abyss between God and humanity means that only a God who is mercy itself would
bridge this abyss.
Public domain photo
ReplyDeleteGonzalinho
There are no “saved” angels because salvation is not for them, but for us. Jesus died to redeem fallen men and women, not the angels. There are elect and non-elect angels; there are good angels and bad angels; there are obedient and disobedient angels, but there are no “saved” angels. Only humans can be saved. Only humans can be redeemed. We alone of all the creatures in the universe can experience the wonders of God’s saving grace. This fascinates the angels, and causes them to study and ponder the mysteries of a salvation they do not share.
ReplyDeleteHere is Peter’s message made plain: God loves you so much, the angels are amazed. They know nothing about grace and mercy and forgiveness. They’ve never experienced new life, the new birth, regeneration, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or the wonder of deliverance from sin. That which we have experienced in Jesus Christ, the angels never knew and will never know. We are far more privileged than they.
https://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/what-angels-wish-they-knew/
—Ray Pritchard, “What Angels Wish They Knew: 1 Peter 1:10-12,” Keep Believing Ministries, August 29, 2004
Angels do not experience God’s mercy. It is a grace vouchsafed to humanity only.
Gonzalinho
WHY DOESN’T GOD SHOW MERCY TO THE ANGELS?
DeleteTheologians say that the devils or fallen angels do not experience God’s mercy. It is a point that begs the question, “Why not?”
After all, isn’t God mercy itself? Hasn’t God revealed his infinite mercy by sending his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die on the cross for all humanity, opening up the gates of heaven for everyone who accepts the grace of salvation?
Father Chad Ripperger, U.S. exorcist popular in social media, has explained that the fallen angels chose to reject God out of “pure malice.” What does he mean by using the term “malice” in relation to the primal sin of the fallen angels?
Roman Catholic theology tells us that angels are highly intelligent beings who when they were created were shown God’s plan for all time and then afterwards given the choice to reject God and his plan or to love and serve God by cooperating in accomplishing his plan.
It has been said that they were shown in particular that Jesus, the Son of God, would become man as part of God’s plan to redeem humanity and that Jesus’ mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, would be raised higher than all spiritual beings, the angels included.
It has been proposed that Lucifer, the greatest of the created angels, together with the rest of the fallen angels, rejected God’s plan to join the inferior nature of humanity to that of the Godhead through the Incarnation of Jesus and to elevate Mary, also of human nature, higher in the spiritual order than all the angels, indeed, to raise her above all spiritual beings.
In what then did the malice of the angels consist? Their malice consisted in their decision to reject God’s plan and thereby to reject God himself.
At the point when the angels were asked to decide for or against God, they did not possess the beatific vision, that is, the perfect vision of God, “perfect” in the sense they received according to the limit of their finite capacity the vision of God’s essence and were thereby united to God in perfect love.
No one who sees God can choose anything other than God—in this sense the perfect vision of God in effect determines the exercise of free will.
Although the angels were granted by God an encompassing knowledge of God’s plan—in the sense of the panoptic scope of their knowledge, it was perfect—theirs was still an imperfect knowledge, because it did not include the beatific vision. They were asked to make a decision in a state of ignorance, so to speak. Still, their knowledge was sufficient in itself for them to decide for or against God.
Analogously, the same condition defines that of humanity. Our knowledge of God and spiritual things is obviously limited, and with respect to faith and morals in particular, we are sometimes asked to make decisions in a state of incomplete knowledge.
We also differ from the angels in one important respect—we are impaired by concupiscence, that is, our inherent weakness consisting in attraction toward sin and the tendency to sin, all the result of original sin.
To be continued
Gonzalinho
WHY DOESN’T GOD SHOW MERCY TO THE ANGELS?
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Theologians have suggested that the decision of the angels for or against God depended on two attributes of their free will—affectio commode or desire for happiness, which is directed toward possession of the good, meaning, created goods, or God, the ultimate good; and affectio iustitiae or desire for justice.
The sin of each of the fallen angels was to prefer a created good to God’s plan, to which they owed obedience to God in justice. This created good appears to have differed individually for each fallen angel.
Saint Michael the Archangel’s name, meaning “Who is like God,” affirms that obedience to God’s plan is owed by all the angels because God, the creator, who is perfect and transcendent, is owed obedience by all creation.
A rather intricate theological account of the primal decision of the angels is provided by following article.
https://www.anselm.edu/sites/default/files/Documents/Institute%20of%20SA%20Studies/Why%20Can%27t%20the%20Devil%20Get%20a%20Second%20Chance%20-%20Final%20for%20St.%20Anselm%20Journal%20updated%2012-20-17.pdf
—Michael Barnwell, “Why Can’t the Devil Get a Second Chance? A Hidden Contradiction in Anselm’s Account of the Devil’s Fall,” The Saint Anselm Journal (Fall 2017) 13(1):39-56
The article explains Saint Anselm’s argument as follows.
“In order for the angels to have a chance of being both happy and just, Anselm supposes that God endowed them with both affectiones. By possessing both affectiones, the angels could freely choose to will in accordance with the affectio commode without regard for the dictates of justice as indicated by the affectio iustitiae. Alternatively, they could choose to moderate their desire for unbridled happiness by willing in accordance with the affectio iustitiae. In this way, an angel could will justly solely for the sake of being just and thereby merit true happiness so long as the two inclinations tended toward opposite choices. Doing this would count as properly ‘coordinating’ the affections. To fail to moderate the affectio commode by the affectio iustitiae would count as a failure of proper coordination.
“…God [created] a scenario in which the affectio commode inclined the angels to pursue some good and the affectio iustitiae inclined them not to pursue it. Let’s call this good the ‘forbidden good.’ Anselm does not specify what forbidden good may have been, but he is insistent that the angels must have known that justice demanded they not choose it; otherwise, the affectio iustitiae would not have inclined them away from forbidden good.”
The malice of the fallen angels, therefore, consisted in giving their desire for a created good precedence over the obedience they owed to God in justice.
To be continued 2
Gonzalinho
WHY DOESN’T GOD SHOW MERCY TO THE ANGELS?
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Going back to our starting question, “Why doesn’t God show mercy to the angels?”
He doesn’t show mercy to the angels because their nature as free creatures is different from that of human beings, in particular:
- They have angelic intelligence.
- They are not impaired by original sin.
- Their decision for or against God is instant and irrevocable.
Because the angels are different, God treats them differently.
The story of the fallen angels at the moment of their decision for or against God parallels that of each and every individual person. We might put it this way—we have to be utterly solicitous for ourselves in the conduct of our spiritual lives so that we do not make the same irreversible, evil choice as that of the fallen angels. Although our decision for or against God is worked out over the course of our mortal life and in this respect is entirely unlike the instant volition of the angels, yet at the end of our lives it will also be a decision just as irrevocable and final as that of the fallen angels.
Many other interesting theological points are made in the article referenced above—for example, the author raises the question, “Why doesn’t God give the fallen angels a second chance?”—but is unable to offer a satisfactory answer. Mysteriously, God doesn’t give the damned in hell a second chance either.
Gonzalinho
MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY
ReplyDeleteIn The Glories of Mary, Saint Alphonsus de Liguori expounds the prayer, “Hail Holy Queen.” Concerning the title, “Mother of Mercy,” he says:
“Kings must do works of mercy but, they must also punish the guilty. Mary is not a Queen of Justice, who punishes the guilty. She is a Queen of Mercy, intent on pardoning sinners. ‘The Kingdom of God was divided into justice and mercy. The Lord reserved justice for himself and yielded the mercy to Mary. He ordered that all mercy would pass through her hands’ (John de Gerson). St. Thomas confirms this, ‘When the Blessed Virgin brought forth the Eternal Word, she obtained half of the Kingdom of God. She is Queen of Mercy. Jesus is King of Justice.’”
Mary playing the role of Queen of Mercy is illustrated in the recent private revelation of Father Steven Scheier, who passed away on April 16, 2020.
“On October 18th 1985, Fr. Scheier was traveling from Wichita to his parish (Parish of the Sacred Heart) in Fredonia, Kansas, 86 miles away. …That morning he had gone to Wichita to meet a priest and was returning that afternoon. He was involved in a terrible accident: a head-on collision with a pickup truck and with God. …He was saying the Hail Mary over and over by himself. He was taken to a small hospital in Eureka, Kansas. He had suffered a broken neck. The C2, the second cervical vertebra, was broken—the hangman’s fracture. Had his head been turned either way at the scene of the accident he would have asphyxiated. …The accident happened in October and on December 2nd he was released from hospital and still had the halo—as he called it—a support around his head. He recuperated at home until they could take the halo off in April. He returned to his parish in May 1986.
“[Father Scheier]…remembered a spiritual conversation that had taken place shortly after the accident. In that conversation, Fr. Scheier found himself standing before the judgment of Jesus. He doesn’t know how long it lasted. He says the Lord took him through his entire life and showed him how he had failed in his priestly service. Fr. Scheier said ‘Yes’ to everything Jesus said about his life. …At the end of his judgment, his sentence from Jesus was ‘Hell.’ Fr. Scheier said ‘Yes’ as that was the only logical thing he deserved. At that moment, however, he heard a woman say, ‘Son, will you please spare his life and his eternal soul?’ The Lord replied, ‘Mother, he’s been a priest for twelve years for himself and not for me, let him reap the punishment he deserves.’ ‘But Son,’ she said, ‘if we give him special graces and strengths, then let’s see if he bears fruit; if not, your will be done.’ There was a very short pause, after which Jesus said, ‘Mother, he’s yours.’”
https://www.frtommylane.com/homilies/year_c/lent3.htm
—Fr. Tommy Lane, “Fr. Steven Scheier and the Parable of the Fig Tree: Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent Year C,” www.frtommylane.com
Citing the story of Father Steven Scheier, Father Chris Alar says that Mary is a creature created by God as his gift of mercy to us because she is only mercy.
While it is true that God is mercy itself, it is also true that God is perfect justice. Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, exercises in a particular way this role of judge over all humanity.
A long tradition in the Church says that Mary embodies God’s mercy as our all-powerful intercessor before the throne of God and especially with her son Jesus.
Understanding and accepting in faith this truth, we have recourse to the Mother of Mercy’s intercession.
Gonzalinho
Now is the time of mercy. After we leave this mortal life, only God’s perfect justice remains.
ReplyDeleteGonzalinho
THE PLENARY INDULGENCE ON DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
ReplyDelete“Before I come as a just judge, I first open wide the door of my mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of my mercy must pass through the door of my justice.”
—Diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska, 1146
There are two types of indulgences. Plenary indulgences remove all punishment for sin. Partial indulgences remove some of the punishment. Indulgences can be applied to the living and the dead; for example, you can pray and do penance for souls in Purgatory to help to lessen their suffering.
Divine Mercy Sunday is an opportunity for plenary indulgence. The usual conditions are as follows:
Sacramental confession [according to previously issued norms, within about 20 days before or after]
Eucharistic communion [according to previously issued norms, preferably on the day, or the days before or after]
Prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff [certain prayers are not specified]
The specific conditions for this indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday are:
In any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy
Or, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!”)
https://www.avemariapress.com/engagingfaith/indulgences-and-divine-mercy-sunday?srsltid=AfmBOopCs3bHlSr_Jz0XRcFGT0i6YWAbR0PWKu-X2PY2T5DhD881h0pY
—“In connection with Divine Mercy Sunday…,” Ave Maria Press, 2024
Q. How can I explain to my parishioners the difference between the plenary indulgence available to the faithful on Divine Mercy Sunday, and the extraordinary graces of Divine Mercy Sunday mentioned in St. Faustina’s Diary?
A. It is important to remember that both are available to your parishioners on Mercy Sunday.
The plenary indulgence for Mercy Sunday was something granted by the Church, whereas the special graces offered on Divine Mercy Sunday mentioned in St. Faustina’s Diary were promised to the faithful through a revelation from Jesus Christ given to St. Faustina (Diary, 699).
Moreover, a plenary indulgence can only be received if the indulgenced acts (e.g., going on pilgrimage, or reciting special prayers) are undertaken out of pure love for God; otherwise the indulgence is only partial. The extraordinary grace of Divine Mercy Sunday, however, was promised to all those who receive Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday in a state of grace, with trust in God’s merciful love. Furthermore, a plenary indulgence can be obtained for oneself, or for the poor souls suffering in purgatory, whereas the special grace promised by our Lord for Divine Mercy Sunday can only be received for oneself.
Finally, a plenary indulgence removes any temporal punishment still remaining for sins already forgiven, whereas the extraordinary grace that our Lord promised to devout communicants on Mercy Sunday amounts to a complete renewal of baptismal grace in the soul.
https://www.thedivinemercy.org/celebrate/prepareparish/faq/plenary-indulgence-special-graces
—Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, “How can I explain to my parishioners the difference…,” The Divine Mercy
To be continued
Gonzalinho
THE PLENARY INDULGENCE ON DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
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Q. Can I receive Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday and offer those graces for someone else, living or deceased?
A. Our Lord’s promise to grant complete forgiveness of sins and punishment on the Feast of Mercy is given to those who accept His invitation to come to the Fountain of Life. These graces are for ourselves.
I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy (Diary, 1109).
Whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment (Diary, 300).
The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment (Diary, 699).
However, given the extraordinary graces that the person receives from Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday namely, the complete renewal of baptismal grace the time after that Communion is an excellent time for the communicant to intercede for loved ones on earth, and to begin to undertake indulgenced works, as established by the Church, for the sake of the souls in purgatory.
In fact, Pope John Paul II granted a plenary indulgence for special devotions to The Divine Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday, and these indulgences can be obtained for the suffering souls in purgatory.
https://www.thedivinemercy.org/celebrate/greatgrace/faqanswers05
—Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, “Can I receive Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday and offer those graces for someone else…,” The Divine Mercy
The plenary indulgence granted by the Church for Divine Mercy Sunday may be offered and obtained by individuals for the holy souls in purgatory.
The special graces granted on Divine Mercy Sunday that Jesus promised to Saint Faustina according to her private revelations are only for individuals who fulfill the necessary conditions (Diary, 699).
Now is the time of mercy. After we pass through the irreversible separation of the soul from the body, we face the perfect justice of God in the person of Jesus.
“Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” (Matthew 5:26)
“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.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
Gonzalinho
FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTION
ReplyDeletePope Francis highlights many aspects of the Sacred Heart devotion in his fourth encyclical, Dilexit nos, but one that he heartily recommends is the traditional First Friday Devotion.
He first explains the context in which it was born and why it was relevant at that time:
“The promotion of Eucharistic communion on the first Friday of each month, for example, sent a powerful message at a time when many people had stopped receiving communion because they were no longer confident of God’s mercy and forgiveness and regarded communion as a kind of reward for the perfect. In the context of Jansenism, the spread of this practice proved immensely beneficial, since it led to a clearer realization that in the Eucharist the merciful and ever-present love of the heart of Christ invites us to union with him.”
Pope Francis then points out that this practice can still be beneficial in our modern world:
“It can also be said that this practice can prove similarly beneficial in our own time, for a different reason. Amid the frenetic pace of today’s world and our obsession with free time, consumption and diversion, cell phones and social media, we forget to nourish our lives with the strength of the Eucharist.”
What is the First Friday Devotion?
In 1673, a French Visitandine (Visitation) nun named Margaret Mary Alacoque had visions of Jesus, wherein he asked the Church to honor His Most Sacred Heart.
In particular, Jesus asked the faithful to “receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months.”
The request was connected to a specific promise made to all who venerated and promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart. After Margaret Mary’s death, the First Friday practice steadily spread in the Church — endorsed by popes and promoted by saints — but it greatly increased in popularity when Margaret Mary was canonized a saint in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.
Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary, “In the excess of the mercy of my heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.”
https://aleteia.org/2024/10/25/pope-francis-recommends-first-friday-devotion-in-encyclical
—Philip Kosloski, “Pope Francis recommends First Friday Devotion in encyclical,” Aleteia, October 25, 2024
“The grace of final repentance”—invaluable.
Gonzalinho