There are sins of omission, the things we should have done but did not do. This also teaches us that a good intention is not enough. We must have actions that correspond to our good intentions. How can we gather the strength to be “justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24)? On the other side, Catechism no. 1753 says that “an added bad intention (such as vainglory) makes an act evil that, in and of itself, can be good (such as almsgiving).” Therefore, how might we avoid the temptation to do good things with a selfish motive?Similar to question 1, Catechism no. 1756 also warns us that it is “an error to judge the morality of human acts by considering only the intention that inspires them.” How might avoid doing bad things with a good intention (e.g. white lies, gossip, etc.)?How might we consider this reflection in light of
SrSusan (guest): How might we consider this reflection in light of what Saint John says in his second letter: “Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son (2 John 1:9)?
How is Our Lady the perfect example for answering all of these questions?
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Judy K: This week’s discussion questions are kind of tough. The first is about justification and good works. I think that we need to remember that we are justified by faith alone, however, we will not enter into the Kingdom without good works. See Matthew 25:46. Those who have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, etc. were admitted to the Kingdom. Those who did not were not. We must keep this always in our minds and of course, prayer is a constant need.
SrSusan (guest): Hi! Yes questions are getting tougher but this group is spiritually developed enough to ponder them
May 3 2015, 7:31 PM
SrSusan (guest): I think our motives are the areas we need to examine in our consciences and do we do all for the Glory of God, to please God
, 7:31 PM
Dawn L: AS the topic is tonight, so I have been aware of doing this…or not doing…my actions with my intentions. PM
Karen P: Having been a Lutheran, I have had to think about the justification and the works piece. I always understood it to be that we cannot earn our way into salvation and so it took Christ to make us worthy through His sacrifice in our place. But I always felt that it was then up to us to do the works that He commanded us to do such as loving our neighbor and being charitable. :32 PM
Judy K: We need to pray for purity of intention, then stop before acting to check our intentions. 2015, 7:32 PM
Lisa C: Karen, we do not earn our way in we accept the gift to come in and then we do works33 PM
Dawn L: yes, Judy. My heart is growing closer to Christ, but there are this old habitual actions….not moral sins, but how I may reply to someone for example
May 3 2015, 7:33 PM
Karen P: Right Lisa! Christ did for us what we could never do for ourselves.
May 3 2015, 7:33 PM
Judy K: Welcome Guest 1916!
May 3 2015, 7:34 PM
Lisa C: I sometimes think that silence in a Monastery would be a gift, because it would cause me to think more before I jump to say something.
May 3 2015, 7:34 PM
Karen P: I wish that I was as pure in motive as I should be, but thankfully, I can always ask for forgiveness when I realize I was not pure in thought.
May 3 2015, 7:34 PM
Guest1916 (guest): Thank you- Sorry to interrupt- challenges logging in for 1st time
May 3 2015, 7:34 PM
Lisa C: Then I would have more times to make sure it is the right thing to say
May 3 2015, 7:35 PM
Judy K: Also the right thing to do.
May 3 2015, 7:35 PM
Karen P: Welcome Guest1916 – people come in and out throughout the chat so you are not interrupting!
May 3 2015, 7:35 PM
Lisa C: Yes, doing is not always as fast as speaking
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SrSusan (guest): In terms of intentions I don’t think we always know the fullness of what lies behind them but we can ask for them to be purified
May 3 2015, 7:38 PM
Dawn L: yes, slowing down important. very.and I think of speaking as acting….is this right?
:38 PM
Judy K: I pray for purity of intention each night before bed. 7:39 PM
Lisa C: Maybe we do not know as soon as an idea comes to us, but I think if we think about it we can figure out whether or not it is selfish or really meant to please God
May 3 2015, 7:40 PM
Karen P: Hello Ruth! I think praying for purity of intention is a good idea, Judy.
SrSusan (guest): Good will grows by effort, in the performance of duty, it will awaken and is ready to be translated into action as the Virgin Mary who after uniting with God’s Will set off to help her cousin Elizabeth.
May 3 2015, 7:40 PM
Lisa C: Sometimes I think we can go through life as robots not really thinking. Praying more I think makes us better at focusing our intentions.
May 3 2015, 7:40 PM
Ruth (guest): Oh, and Brian. Sorry
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Judy K: Remember the old warnings about railroad crossings-stop, look, listen. Maybe our process for acting should be stop, think, evaluate, act. M
SrSusan (guest): despite our good will,sometimes we lack courage
Karen P: I agree, Lisa. The more we pray, the better we are at having intentions that are more in line with what the Lord would have us do. 2 PM
Ruth (guest): I remember a missionary friend complaining that some of the volunteers working with him would just talk and talk and nothing would get done.
May 3 2015, 7:42 PM
Karen P: But you also have a point, Mother. Sometimes we know what would be a Spirit inspired action and we fail to carry through.
May 3 2015, 7:42 PM
Dawn L: yes, lack of courage.
3 PM
Lisa C: Mother could you give an example
May 3 2015, 7:43 PM
Ruth (guest): Courage and even ENERGY.
:43 PM
Karen P: I do think more about my sins of omission in the things that I leave unsaid or undone for the Lord these days then I used to. 4 PM
Ruth (guest): And ability to organize time productively.
May 3 2015, 7:44 PM
Judy K: Yes Ruth that can happen. But we need to encourage one another to stop, think, evaluate and then act. But not to take forever to do so.
May 3 2015, 7:44 PM
Guest4038 (guest): I think as we grow closer to God we become like young children and we begin to Love everyone where they are and we just do what God wants us to do very naturally !
May 3 2015, 7:44 PM
Judy K: We cannot be frozen in inactivity.
May 3 2015, 7:44 PM
SrSusan (guest): An example from my life might be wanting to call a Sister in for a correction but being tired myself I might lack the courage to approach her on that particular day
May 3 2015, 7:44 PM
Judy K: Another old adage–not to decide is to decide.
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Karen P: Guest 4038 – I think we do get better at loving others where they are, but I still feel that I often miss the opportunity to let them know that or to reach out to others to share God’s love. PM
Lisa C: Mother would it be ok to wait until you are not tired
May 3 2015, 7:45 PM
Ruth (guest): Or: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. That one scares me.
May 3 2015, 7:46 PM
Judy K: Me too!
May 3 2015, 7:46 PM
SrSusan (guest): I think so unless the Lord was saying NOW and I resisited
Sins of omission! Is there any way of being free of those sins?
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Karen P: I have often pondered that road to hell saying. It makes me aware that what I think are good ideas or actions may not always be as God pleasing as I think.
May 3 2015, 7:47 PM
Dawn L: is that saying from scripture?
May 3 2015, 7:48 PM
SrSusan (guest): Turing to the Heart of Christ for wisdom, knowledge and courage and asking what He wants of us and trying to accept what He sends-
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Karen P: I don’t think it is Dawn – I was trying to remember who it was attributed to. 9 PM
Judy K: Regarding avoiding doing bad things for good reasons.We need to pray to see things (actions) as God sees them (wisdom) and then to act accordingly. Do only good things keeping in mind Jesus’ words “Not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father.”
SrSusan (guest): The saying is thought to have originated with Saint Bernard of Clairvaux who wrote (c. 1150), “L’enfer est plein de bonnes volontés et désirs” (hell is full of good wishes and desires).[2] An earlier saying occurs in Virgil’s Aeneid: “facilis descensus Averno (the descent to hell is easy)”.[
, 7:50 PM
Karen P: Thanks Mother Susan!
May 3 2015, 7:50 PM
Lisa C: Narrow gate vs wide gate
May 3 2015, 7:50 PM
SrSusan (guest): Source: Wikipedia
7:50 PM
Ruth (guest): I Dn’t think the saying is from scripture, but there are other scripture verses exorting ACTION.
May 3 2015, 7:50 PM
Dawn L: Thank you for clarifying
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Guest4038 (guest): God wants us to be who we are in Him .Our culture is addicted to over productivity ! When you travel to other countries you see the joy in a simple loving life ! Being too busy is one of the warnings given to us in the parable of the sower by our Lord Jesus ! It prevents us from growing closer too God ! PM
Karen P: I was just thinking about what Judy posted – Sometimes we think we are doing the work of Christ but it’s consequences may not be what we anticipate. I always pray that if I act in a wayward way while wanting to do well for Christ, that He will somehow straighten it out to be what He desires.
May 3 2015, 7:52 PM
SrSusan (guest): We need to grow in tenderness with our Lord- looking for the simplest ways to please Him
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Karen P: Yes, and I think trusting in Him that the outcomes of our actions will be as He intends.
May 3 2015, 7:52 PM
Ruth (guest): Thank you Judy and Sr. Susan for the info.
:53 PM
Ruth (guest): Brian, I think you have an important point, too.
May 3 2015, 7:53 PM
Judy K: And what is the will of the Father–to keep the Commandments, do good works, and think about things. To think about doing an evil is the same as doing it. Jesus tells us that anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his mind. (in the Sermon on the Mount.)
May 3 2015, 7:53 PM
Judy K: Think about good things.
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SrSusan (guest): Yes emphasize Goodness!
May 3 2015, 7:54 PM
Karen P: Good point, Judy. Our thoughts can betray us to God. We need to stay focused on what is pure to keep our intentions pure.
May 3 2015, 7:54 PM
Ruth (guest): Tenderness. I like that.
May 3 2015, 7:55 PM
SrSusan (guest): Like Mary we can ponder things in our heart, before we act, and then again, reflect after the action, or thought
7:55 PM
SrSusan (guest): Like St Joseph, who did so much, but silentlyPM
Guest4038 (guest): God knows our true heart and even if our actions are truly directed too His will the outcome does not matter the impact for the Kingdom of God will be eternal !
May 3 2015, 7:56 PM
Judy K: Today’s Gospel tells us to remain in Jesus (the vine) and if we do, the Father and the Spirit will be with us with Jesus. We have to abide, remain, in His doctrine, teachings, in order to remain in Him. He cannot be separated from His teachings.
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SrSusan (guest): Even when those teachings by the world’s standards are tough
May 3 2015, 7:57 PM
Guest1916 (guest): (Carroll) Courage- rousing the energy of our will to act- order- being attentive to time- surrender… wow, you all are covering so much of what I most recently discussed with my spiritual director… I’m completely convinced that when our Dear Lord knows our intentions are to be in His Will, then even when we get it “wrong” He has a way of making it more “right” than we ever could have imagined…
May 3 2015, 7:57 PM
Ruth (guest): Yes, seems to me we do not have one word Joseph said — but his dreams and his actions helped bring Savation into the world.
58 PM
Lisa C: Sometimes my job does not give me a lot of time to ponder, i.e. emergencies, but I find myself always praying for help when I am in those circumstances and it comes
7:59 PM
Karen P: I think we are very fortunate to be aware that God can work through us, even when we don’t do the work well, and still make it come out right. It takes the burden off of us and lets it rest on God who can carry it. I love thinking that He can use me, even though I am so imperfect!
SrSusan (guest): Yes pondering means contemplative time which not all have alot of access to- but regular prayer time helps
:00 PM
Judy K: That is shy we need to abide in Him. Only He can guide us and lead us to do the right things. We come back again to the matter of trust. We must trust in the Lord’s care for us. If we are in union with Him, He will aid is in doing right. Hi Amy!
May 3 2015, 8:00 PM
Karen P: I am finding that I can make my prayer time more contemplative if I really seek to do so. I often fail to do it, but I recognize that I can if I make that an important piece in my life.
May 3 2015, 8:00 PM
Judy K: That is why.
May 3 2015, 8:00 PM
SrSusan (guest): Finding God’s Will isn’t easy but having “good will” or right intention, helps keep us in HIS Will whether we know it or not, I think.
01 PM
Karen P: I think He knows if we are truly trying to do His will.
May 3 2015, 8:01 PM
Ruth (guest): Yes, Karen and Sr. Susan. Welcome, Amy.
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SrSusan (guest): He needs to lead us and we need to let Him do so without always figuring everything out. I work on that internally many times
May 3 2015, 8:02 PM
Lisa C: Mother that reminds me of when I was not in Catholic school anymore and I felt kind of upset thinking that I would not have religion classes every day anymore and how would I know what to do or not do. So I went to a priest and asked him and he said the fact that you are worried about it means you should dnot worry about it.
2 PM
Guest4038 (guest): I think about Mary and her great decision too accept Gods will and the great difficult and long suffering life that she had raising our Lord Jesus in such difficult surroundings ! What a life of Love ! Let’s do the same !
May 3 2015, 8:02 PM
Judy K: It would nice if we could actually hear God’s voice telling us loud and clear what He wants of us. But since He does not, we must try to increase our sensitivity to what He is saying within us.
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Lisa C: Yes, Mother, I also find that sometimes if I do not know I can just wait for God, since no matter what if I let Him He will show me
May 3 2015, 8:03 PM
SrSusan (guest): Yes and circumstances often indicate God’s Will. If we are trying to follow Him, we can be sensitive to those circumstances
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Judy K: I think that St. Benedict calls it listening with the ear of the heart.
May 3 2015, 8:04 PM
SrSusan (guest): Beautiful!
May 3 2015, 8:04 PM
Karen P: I often struggle with wanting to know His will on my time frame, but I am getting better at knowing that He will reveal all that I need to know at the right time if I just trust.
5, 8:04 PM
Ruth (guest): Yes, Circumstances
SrSusan (guest): Good will or intentions also apply to our relationships with each other
Ruth (guest): In German the upper chambers of the heart are called “heart ears.” (translated)
Ruth (guest): Was Mary Roberta your baptismal name or did you get a new name when you became a sister. Just wondering.
May 3 2015, 8:07 PM
SrSusan (guest): Interesting Ruth!!
May 3 2015, 8:07 PM
Dawn L: Ruth, that is beautiful discriptive
May 3 2015, 8:07 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Oh, my goodness. We hadn’t heard.
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Mary Roberta Viano: Ruth, we each get a new “name in religion”. Mine is my husband’s name and the Virgin Mary’s.
Guest4038 (guest): If we were able to spend time with our parents or parent or a close friend we began too understand who they were and what they wanted us to do . As we make effort too truly know God He reveals Himself to us ! We begin to know what he wants us to do and what he does not want us to do !
May 3 2015, 8:07 PM
Lisa C: Which Monastary was she from?
May 3 2015, 8:08 PM
SrSusan (guest): Mendota Heights MN
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Judy K: Our Blessed Mother certainly always listened with the ear of her heart. She did only the will of God. Therefore she was sinless and did only good works, or deeds, good thoughts, loving thoughts. We need to try to imitate her.
SrSusan (guest): Did we cover this yet? How might we consider this reflection in light of what Saint John says in his second letter: “Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son (2 John 1:9)?
1 PM
SrSusan (guest): The quote does not resonate right I wonder which translation it was I will look for another translation
May 3 2015, 8:12 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: It’s that “going ahead” part that gets me every time. Was what I did according to God’s will or did I jump ahead at something that wasn’t His will?
Dawn L: that is the question I ask Sr Mary
May 3 2015, 8:12 PM
Guest4038 (guest): Many prayers for the Sisters !!!
May 3 2015, 8:12 PM
Judy K: Yes Mother. That is where I said that we need to remain in His doctrine, that He cannot be separated from His doctrine.
May 3 2015, 8:13 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: and remaining in the doctrine really means remaining in obedience to the Church’s Magisterium
May 3 2015, 8:13 PM
SrSusan (guest): Anyone who is so “progressive” 7 as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.
8:14 PM
Lisa C: This all makes me scratch my head in confusion right now
May 3 2015, 8:14 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, anyone who think’s he/she knows better than the Church (Christ’s body) is jumping off the deep end! My own son is one of those.
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him;
Judy K: Yes, Mother, I found that translation in the New American Bible.
Karen P: I think it means keeping what Christ has taught us and not being convinced that it means something else (the world’s interpretation).
:15 PM
Guest1916 (guest): Seems like abiding in His teaching= abiding in His Word? … If so, then we’re simply talking about abiding in Him…
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, our priest this morning talked about the 9 times “remain” was in today’s Gospel. So PERSEVERANCE is central to living as a follower of Christ. PM
Lisa C: I am not trying to judge, but reconcile what seem to be opposites
May 3 2015, 8:17 PM
Karen P: Keeping what Christ taught us and persevering in the faith even as the world and others leave it for teachings they like better.
17 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Right, Karen. PM
Guest4038 (guest): We must nurture the people around us by living every moment with Jesus ! He who has the Son has Life ! He has not Th
May 3 2015, 8:17 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: staying on the Vine
Ruth (guest): Yes, Sr. Mary Roberta. I have attended a church group “Catholics on the Ground” where NO ONE except me — not even the priest — accepted the Church Teachings.
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Amy Cochran: what do you mean Ruth? All the Church teachings?
May 3 2015, 8:19 PM
Judy K: If we truly abide in the Lord, then we will surely take action in a way that the Lord makes known to us.
May 3 2015, 8:19 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: One of my sons is a new gnostic, who doesn’t believe in revealed truth. Our own minds are all we need, according to him.
May 3 2015, 8:19 PM
Karen P: Isn’t this kind of like when Daniel was in Egypt and kept God’s commandments about food and his actions even though it meant that those around him thought he was wrong. Even to the point of putting him into the lion’s den.
May 3 2015, 8:19 PM
Lisa C: I was watching EWTN re runs on youtube and Fr Mitch was talking about how the faithful hold the world together and keep it from imploding….that the people who are holy and praying are keeping the world together and on track to avoid destruction
May 3 2015, 8:20 PM
Amy Cochran: Yes, people under-rate the value of prayer
May 3 2015, 8:20 PM
Karen P: Yes, I think our prayers will keep it together long enough for things to right themselves or for Christ to return, whichever God decides to do first!
May 3 2015, 8:20 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: We each come up against something in our lives that makes us understand there’s MORE than our small selves.
8:21 PM
Lisa C: Sister was he ever a Christian? M
Guest1916 (guest): That’s got to be frustrating, Ruth. It seems so very important for the door to always be open to folks who are misled or “lost” in the world… yet, the truth of Christ’s teachings must be clearly defined and offered… As a convert, I’m so very grateful such was offered to me!
May 3 2015, 8:21 PM
Judy K: Guest 1916, abiding in the Lord does not mean inertia. It means remaining with Him and listening to His promptings. Then taking action.
May 3 2015, 8:21 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, he was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church but left it as an adult.
Lisa C: Sister, I will pray for the Holy Spirit to come to him M
Guest4038 (guest): He who has not the Son has not Life ! People can see the Life in us when we are truly walking with Jesus ! They will see over time they can choose God ! And they will know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
21 PM
Karen P: Hopefully, Sr. Mary, his own thinking and seeking will lead him to the truth!
SrSusan (guest): I think we need to be spiritual athletes of goodness and truth!
M
Dawn L: I believe God works in ways we simply can not understand ( thinking of your son Sr Mary and mine , but with our prayers….
May 3 2015, 8:24 PM
Judy K: I am asking the Lord to take control of those people who advance the homosexual lifestyle and same sex marriages. I really believe that only He can change the direction in which this country is moving.
May 3 2015, 8:25 PM
Lisa C: The supreme court needs prayers now
May 3 2015, 8:25 PM
Karen P: Ruth – those are tough topics. I think that often people have good intentions when they go against what they perceive as a wrong that the church is doing to people. Prayer and waiting for God to reveal the answers will be what we need to do. I think that is an example of good intentions (disagreeing with the church for what they think are good reasons) being a path to hell.
May 3 2015, 8:25 PM
Amy Cochran: Yes, it seems like our country is moving rapidly on a strange course
Mary Roberta Viano: lots of prayer needed!!
May 3 2015, 8:26 PM
Lisa C: Maybe letters to the justices too
May 3 2015, 8:26 PM
Guest1916 (guest): My understanding is the USCCB is urging us all to pray the Rosary daily for 60 days with the intention of the Supreme Court’s ruling…
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Karen P: There is a theory about how increased same sex attraction is in response to all the contraceptives that have entered the water and affected our hormonal make up. Maybe God can help correct this and provide a reason to review the contraceptive issue all at the same time.
Karen P: I can pray the rosary with that intention. I am also praying for the terrorists to be converted and for the secular humanists to recognize that what they believe is good in mankind is actually from God.
May 3 2015, 8:28 PM
Ruth (guest): Interesting connection you make , Karen.
Mary Roberta Viano: SFdS, our founder, was a Christian humanist.
May 3 2015, 8:28 PM
Guest1916 (guest): Absolutely, Judy… and true conversion of hearts is the only answer to our world as we know it
Karen P: We have created many of the problems in our world by trying to solve other problems with science instead of keeping what God has given us as a way of life that takes care of us and nature.
May 3 2015, 8:30 PM
Dawn L: and that goes back to Adam and Eve
May 3 2015, 8:30 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: right, Dawn!
May 3 2015, 8:30 PM
Karen P: Yes!
May 3 2015, 8:31 PM
SrSusan (guest): We are in such challenging times but there are many who hold on to true values
15, 8:31 PM
Judy K: That’s a lot of history to try to undo!
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Mary Roberta Viano: so let’s pray for them and one another this week