Yesterday, 06:23 AM
Mgr. Louis de Ségur: Short Answers to Common Objections Against Religion - 1908
FIFTY-THIRD OBJECTION. I AM NOT WORTHY TO APPROACH THE SACRAMENTS: WE OUGHT NOT TO ABUSE HOLY THINGS.
Answer. True, indeed, you are not worthy, but will you become worthy by not approaching? No, we should not refuse the grace of the Sacraments, nor abuse it, but we should use it.
Next to sacrilege, the greatest insult we can offer to Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is neglect of it.
There are two kinds of persons who should approach the Sacraments: the pious who desire to persevere in good; and the bad who desire to become good.
In abstaining from them, you fly from life. To heat water again, do you take it away from the fire? To cure a malady, do you leave off the remedy?
The Sacraments are like remedies to the sick. Approach them, then, not because you are worthy (no one is worthy of God), but to become less unworthy; not because you are strong, but to heal your weakness.
Go to Jesus Christ; without Him you cannot be saved. Go and seek Him where He is to be found; in confession, by which He purifies His temple of your heart; in the Holy Communion, where He enters in person into that dwelling which He has purified.
Do all that depends on yourself, and fear not. Only have a willing heart; you will always return better from it.
FIFTY-THIRD OBJECTION. I AM NOT WORTHY TO APPROACH THE SACRAMENTS: WE OUGHT NOT TO ABUSE HOLY THINGS.
Answer. True, indeed, you are not worthy, but will you become worthy by not approaching? No, we should not refuse the grace of the Sacraments, nor abuse it, but we should use it.
Next to sacrilege, the greatest insult we can offer to Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is neglect of it.
There are two kinds of persons who should approach the Sacraments: the pious who desire to persevere in good; and the bad who desire to become good.
In abstaining from them, you fly from life. To heat water again, do you take it away from the fire? To cure a malady, do you leave off the remedy?
The Sacraments are like remedies to the sick. Approach them, then, not because you are worthy (no one is worthy of God), but to become less unworthy; not because you are strong, but to heal your weakness.
Go to Jesus Christ; without Him you cannot be saved. Go and seek Him where He is to be found; in confession, by which He purifies His temple of your heart; in the Holy Communion, where He enters in person into that dwelling which He has purified.
Do all that depends on yourself, and fear not. Only have a willing heart; you will always return better from it.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre