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MONDAY March 13, 2000 vol. 11, no. 51 SECTION ONESee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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In his column today, Pat Ludwa delves into the reasons people often embrace vice or give up: depression and that depression stems from not having total faith in God. It also evolves from making excuses in trying to rationalize a behavior that is adverse to the Will of God because they aren't willing to do all God expects as Pat points out in the Scriptural passage where the young man walked away from Our Lord because he wasn't willing to go that extra length and give up worldly possessions to follow Jesus. Too often worldly trappings do just that, trap us into a void that is devoid of hope. But there is always hope if we are willing to rise from the depths of depression and despair through the spiritual prescriptions offered by Christ and His Church.
For his column today, Why many wallow in the depths of depression and despair , see VIEW FROM THE PEW
In contrast, some four years later in the town of Bastogne, elements of the 101st Airborne, surrounded and hopelessly out gunned and outnumbered, replied to the German demand for surrender with the now famous phrase, "NUTS!"
The difference is obvious for all to see. A sense of hopelessness, depression, and despair leads to a sort of death. Death of spirit, death of the soul. But hope can bring an almost illogical joy, a sense that, regardless of the odds, regardless of how it seems, life goes on and thrives.
On October 13, 1884, Pope Leo XIII saw a vision of satan asking God for 100 years so that he might destroy the Church, destroy faith and hope, and drag the world into hell. Satan's greatest weapon, which he uses to open our defenses, is depression and despair.
Consider why many people do the sins they do? Is it out of a real desire to sin? No, though I'm sure there are those who do. Chances are they've taken to embracing their sin in the false hope that it will give them fulfillment, satisfaction, escape.
Consider this. A man and a woman marry. The man, depressed over the cost of things he perceives he needs (or really needs) begins to spend more and more time at work, and less time at home with his family. Maybe his wife, depressed, joins him, out of need, in getting a job to make ends meet. One or the other, or both, begin to feel that they are no longer loved by the other. Depressed, their actions and words begin to convey those feelings, until one, or the other, in despair, seek comfort in the arms of another. Upon being discovered, in despair, they divorce. Their children, seeing this, despair of ever finding that ideal marriage, that ideal partner. So they enter into a marriage haphazardly, almost expecting it to fail, setting themselves up for a self fulfilling prophecy. And so, through years of failed marriages, future marriages begin in despair rather than hope.
The above contributes to children having sex with children. A sense of despair. Do their parents love them? So they seek this 'love' in the arms, or rather, bed, of another. Any love is welcome, even if it's an empty, selfish love. And if that 'love' comes from a member of their same gender, what of it.
Consider what what Dr. Kinsey discovered in his studies in the RESULTS OF THE KINSEY SURVEYS ON REASONS FOR HOMOSEXUAL ORIENTATION:
This is a recipe for depression. Being teased as a sissy or tomboy (reinforcing in their minds that they're gay), poor relationships with their parents, etc. In despair, depressed, they seek out love, maybe even suicide, or violence against those they feel are causing their depression.
In the Army, I saw many of my friends become alcoholic or drug addicts due to depression. Sex was an escape. In all of these cases, and others, depression seems to be the catalyst for greater sins. If society, in a vain attempt to gloss over the root cause, tries to makes these 'escapes' acceptable, then the results aren't a healthier, happier world, but a world driven deeper into depression.
Depression and despair drove Judas to commit suicide. Depression and despair drove the Hebrews to erect a golden calf to worship. Throughout history, we can see how depression and despair have brought mankind to do evil. In fact, we can see how despair and depression throughout the Scriptures drove a wedge between God and mankind. "And behold, one came up to Him, saying, 'Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?' And He said to him, 'Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.' He said to Him, 'Which?' And Jesus said, 'You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The young man said to Him, 'All these I have observed; what do I still lack?' Jesus said to him, 'If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.' When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions" (Matthew 19:16-22).
When we surrender to depression and despair, we give up the fight, we forfeit the race. Life on this earth is a battle, that's why many call our lives a spiritual warfare, and we are called the Church Militant.
But our faith isn't based on fear, or depression, but in faith and hope. "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
Most parents are loving parents, but due to their imperfection, cannot adequately show it. Often times, the anxieties and cares of the world drown out the love that is there. Even if parents and others don't love us, there is always One Who does Who we should not dismiss so readily. "And He said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt'" (Mark 14:36) Christ didn't surrender to despair, but relied on His Heavenly Father, for the strength to continue with His mission. "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is the Spirit Himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him" (Romans 8: 15-17).
"And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir" (Galatians 4:6-7). Abba, that is Dad. As it's been said, anyone can be a father, it takes someone special to be a Dad.
St. Francis, speaking to Brother Leo speaks of perfect joy as not being able to convert sinners, speak with the tongues of angels and/or men, or even know all the mysteries of the universe. No, perfect joy was being able to accept all things, even abuse and hardship, as coming from God for our benefit. "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4).
In his Admonitions, St. Francis of Assisi speaks of Virtue and vice. In it he writes: "Where there is poverty and joy, there is neither cupidity or avarice." (Admonitions XXVII, Omnibus pg. 86) When we give in to depression, we may easily find our way into sin in a vain attempt to grasp at a false sense of happiness and fulfillment. But joy in the Lord, faith in Him, lifts us out of our depression, for we know that even if all the world hates us, God does. "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in Heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets" (Luke 6:22-23).
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows... And He said to His disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith!'" (Luke 12:6-7;22-28).
Despair and depression are not part of our faith, since we have a loving Father in Heaven. "If western man persists in seeking satisfaction through power, through money, through erotic excitement, through indulgence in drugs; all these different things they're doing to give their lives some point, they'll destroy themselves and their way of life. And that will be God's way of indicating that such a way of life is not viable." (Malcolm Muggeridge)
Ours is a Spirit of life, not the escape of death. "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would... Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:16-17;19-24).
With marriages failing and marriage portrayed as only an ideal...with children killing children, and mothers killing their children...with the realities of the world making it difficult to live the Gospel message...and with the Church coming under attack from without and within - it's easy and understandable to feel the urge to feel depressed and despair. "I have said this to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Pax Christi, Pat
Today we bring you the Holy Father's unprecedented Universal Prayer yesterday on "Mea Culpa Sunday" at Saint Peter's in which he pronounced publicly the past general faults and sins of the Church's children over the centuries in a ceremony where, joined by seven prelates of the Curia - five cardinals and two archbishops, the Vicar of Christ asked forgiveness of sins and called down Divine Mercy on the entire Church and world in one of the most significant events ever conducted by the Holy See and especially this Jubilee Year. See THE VICAR OF CHRIST SPEAKS
UNIVERSAL PRAYER: CONFESSION OF SINS AND ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS
Brothers and Sisters, let us turn with trust to God our Father, Who is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, great in love and fidelity, and ask Him to accept the repentance of His people who humbly confess their sins, and to grant them mercy.
Let us pray that our confession and repentance will be inspired by the Holy Spirit, that our sorrow will be conscious and deep, and that, humbly viewing the sins of the past in an authentic "purification of memory", we will be committed to the path of true conversion.
The Holy Father:
Lord God, Your pilgrim Church, which You ever sanctify in the blood of Your Son, counts among her children in every age members whose holiness shines brightly forth and members whose disobedience to You contradicts the faith we profess and the Holy Gospel. You, Who remain ever faithful, even when we are unfaithful, forgive our sins and grant that we may bear true witness to You before all men and women. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Cantor:
Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie eleison.
The assembly repeats: Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie eleison.
Let us pray that each one of us, looking to the Lord Jesus, meek and humble of heart, will recognize that even men of the Church, in the name of faith and morals, have sometimes used methods not in keeping with the Gospel in the solemn duty of defending the truth.
The Holy Father:
Lord, God of all men and women, in certain periods of history Christians have at times given in to intolerance and have not been faithful to the great commandment of love, sullying in this way the face of the Church, Your Spouse. Have mercy on Your sinful children and accept our resolve to seek and promote truth in the gentleness of charity, in the firm knowledge that truth can prevail only in virtue of truth itself. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Response: Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie eleison.
Let us pray that our recognition of the sins which have rent the unity of the Body of Christ and wounded fraternal charity will facilitate the way to reconciliation and communion among all Christians.
The Holy Father:
Merciful Father, on the night before His Passion Your Son prayed for the unity of those who believe in Him: in disobedience to His will, however, believers have opposed one another, becoming divided, and have mutually condemned one another and fought against one another. We urgently implore Your forgiveness and we beseech the gift of a repentant heart, so that all Christians, reconciled with You and with one another will be able, in one body and in one spirit, to experience anew the joy of full communion. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Response: Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie eleison.
Cardinal Edward Cassidy:
Let us pray that, in recalling the sufferings endured by the people of
Israel throughout history, Christians will acknowledge the sins
committed by not a few of their number against the people of the
Covenant and the blessings, and in this way will purify their hearts.
The Holy Father:
God of our fathers, You chose Abraham and his descendants to bring Your
Name to the Nations: we are deeply saddened by the behaviour of those
who in the course of history have caused these children of Yours to
suffer, and asking Your forgiveness we wish to commit ourselves
to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant. We ask this
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Response: Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie eleison.
[Silent prayer.]
[A lamp is lit before the Crucifix.]
Archbishop Stephen Fumio Hamao:
Let us pray that contemplating Jesus, our Lord and our Peace, Christians
will be able to repent of the words and attitudes caused by pride, by
hatred, by the desire to dominate others, by enmity towards members of
other religions and towards the weakest groups in society,
such as immigrants and itinerants.
The Holy Father:
Lord of the world, Father of all, through Your Son You asked us to love
our enemies, to do good to those who hate us and to pray for those who
persecute us. Yet Christians have often denied the Gospel;
yielding to a mentality of power, they have violated the rights of
ethnic groups and peoples, and shown contempt for their cultures and
religious traditions: be patient and merciful towards us, and grant us
Your forgiveness! We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Response: Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison.
[Silent prayer.]
[A lamp is lit before the Crucifix.]
Cardinal Francis Arinze:
Let us pray for all those who have suffered offences against their human
dignity and whose rights have been trampled; let us pray for women, who
are all too often humiliated and emarginated, and let us acknowledge the
forms of acquiescence in these sins of which Christians too have been
guilty.
The Holy Father:
Lord God, our Father, You created the human being, man and woman,
in Your image and likeness and You willed the diversity of peoples
within the unity of the human family. At times, however, the equality of
Your sons and daughters has not been acknowledged, and Christians have
been guilty of attitudes of rejection and exclusion, consenting to acts
of discrimination on the basis of racial and ethnic differences. Forgive
us and grant us the grace to heal the wounds still present in Your
community on account of sin, so that we will all feel ourselves to be
Your sons and daughters. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Response: Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison.
[Silent prayer.]
[A lamp is lit before the Crucifix.]
Archbishop François Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân:
Let us pray for all the men and women of the world, especially for
minors who are victims of abuse, for the poor, the alienated, the
disadvantaged; let us pray for those who are most defenseless,
the unborn killed in their mother's womb or even exploited for
experimental purposes by those who abuse the promise of biotechnology
and distort the aims of science.
The Holy Father:
God, our Father, You always hear the cry of the poor. How many times
have Christians themselves not recognized You in the hungry, the thirsty
and the naked, in the persecuted, the imprisoned, and in those incapable
of defending themselves, especially in the first stages of life. For all
those who have committed acts of injustice by trusting in wealth and
power and showing contempt for the "little ones" who are so dear to You,
we ask Your forgiveness: have mercy on us and accept our repentance. We
ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Response: Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison; Kyrie, eleison.
[Silent prayer.]
[A lamp is lit before the Crucifix.]
The Holy Father:
Most merciful Father, Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Judge of the living
and the dead, in the humility of His first coming redeemed humanity from
sin and in His glorious return He will demand an account of every sin.
Grant that our forebears, our brothers and sisters, and we, Your
servants, who by the grace of the Holy Spirit turn back to You in
whole-hearted repentance, may experience Your mercy and receive
the forgiveness of our sins. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[As a sign of penance and veneration the Holy Father embraces and kisses
the Crucifix.]
Today's and tomorrow's liturgy are both Lenten Weekdays For the readings, liturgies, and meditations, see DAILY LITURGY.
"And answering the King will say to them, 'Amen I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of My brethren, you did it for Me."
Convert us, O God our Savior: and that this fast of Lent may profit us, instruct our minds with its heavenly discipline. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.
