Pondering Tidbits of Truth - September 4, 2025
Pondering Tidbits of Truth is my simple and inadequate way of providing nuggets of spiritual wisdom for you to chew on from time to time.
|
Vinny
Flynn “The
first level of contrition is a contrition of fear. It's called,
"imperfect contrition" or "attrition," because it's
motivated by awareness of the ugliness of sin and by fear of eternal
damnation. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, it begins a process of inner
conversion that disposes us to grace and is completed by sacramental
absolution...The second level of contrition, called "perfect
contrition," [is] motivated not by a self-oriented fear, but by love for
God and the awareness of how good He is. This is much more personal, leading
to a deeper relationship with God and a growing desire to avoid anything that
might offend Him." (From 7
Secrets of Confession) |
|||
|
|
|||
|
St.
Teresa of Avila "I
believe we shall never learn to know ourselves except by endeavoring to know
God, for, beholding His greatness we are struck by our own baseness, His
purity shows our foulness, and by meditating on His humility we find how very
far we are from being humble. Two advantages are gained by this practice.
First, it is clear that white looks far whiter when placed near something
black, and on the contrary, black never looks so dark as when seen beside
something white. Secondly, our understanding and will become more noble and
capable of good in every way when we turn from ourselves to God: it is very
injurious never to raise our minds above the mire of our own faults." (From Interior
Castle)
|