And now… a message to you from the Holy Spirit.

A reader alerted me to this great PC and PIXEL cartoon.

We have moved into the period between Ascension THURSDAY and Pentecost during which we, as a Church, pray in a particular way for the help of the Holy Spirit.

If we are full of ourselves, it is hard to accept the graces God offers.

Yesterday I heard a priest celebrating his 60th anniversary of ordination lay out plainly what a priest’s role is:

To try to keep as many people as possible out of hell and help as many as possible to heaven.

Pretty straight forward.

So… in the spirit of the cartoon, above… in the spirit of praying to the Holy Spirit, especially in the words of the Veni Sancte Spiritus…

Wash that which is unclean,
water that which is dry,
heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible,
warm that which is chilled,
make right that which is wrong.

GO TO CONFESSION.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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15 Comments

  1. Arieh says:

    How about: “Wipe your souls before receiving.”

  2. Young Canadian RC Male says:

    Go to confession in larger font and Captial letters as a post ender. Love it Father! :)

  3. APX says:

    I feel like someone’s nagging at me to go to Confession. I’ve been procrastinating for a month now. My laundry list is still well-concealed in my wallet waiting for me to quit driving past the Cathedral.

  4. JaneC says:

    I will definitely be in line on Saturday!

    Last night was the celebration of confirmation for our whole deanery. The good part was the presence of our good bishop and 120 young people being confirmed. The bad part was 100F and 80% humidity in the choir loft, dismal musical choices, and the first outing of our parish’s newly-purchased drum kit. I think that must be a good preview of purgatory: knowing Christ is very near, and yet enduring terrible heat and ear-splitting cacophony. I have no desire to suffer that in the afterlife as well as in this life.

  5. flyfree432 says:

    Okay, I will.

  6. eyeclinic says:

    To try to keep as many people as possible out of hell and help as many as possible to heaven.

    Shouldn’t that be the mantra for ALL Catholics, not just the clergy?

  7. fieldsparrow says:

    I like the large-print “GO TO CONFESSION.” Maybe I should just make that my new blog title. Catchy! and catechetical-y, too.

  8. APX says:

    @fieldsparrow

    Four words- Custom Licence Plate Frame. They’re one of the cheapest ways, which don’t damage the paint on your car (I loathe bumper stickers), to get messages out to thousands of people every day.

  9. Dr. Eric says:

    You got it, Father. I’ll go right after I’m done with my morning patients.

  10. AnAmericanMother says:

    Saturday sounds like a good time.

    Our choirmaster has composed a setting of “Veni Sancte Spiritus” which we will sing for Pentecost. The vocal line is chant-based, with some organum and double choirs and other nice effects . . . and he really, really REALLY cuts loose on the organ part. Think Pierre Cochereau in full cry . . . .

  11. Ignatius says:

    We should ask for the intercession of St. Leopoldo Mandic de Castelnuovo.

  12. Glen M says:

    Sadly, too many priests hardly ever speak of sin or salvation and Confession is either by appointment or for half an hour on Saturday afternoons. As a former patron of the cafeteria, I suspect the vast majority of Catholics live in a state of perpetual mortal sin. St. Leonard’s “The Fewness of the Saved”, St. John Bosco’s Vision of Hell, Our Lady of Fatima, and our Lord Himself reveal how tough it is to make it to Heaven.

  13. I am on my annual retreat. Will certainly go to confession. Pray for me!

  14. Brooklyn says:

    To try to keep as many people as possible out of hell and help as many as possible to heaven.

    Ah, how beautifully stated. Now, if only more priests would start to believe this, and come to understand that theirs is the most important vocation in the entire universe – the salvation of souls. Thank you for being one priest who does take this seriously, Father. I’ll be going to confession tonight!

  15. benedetta says:

    OK I will. Good idea. And our Church is always filled with excellent ideas.

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