Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk 
5th July 2015

The least sin is so great an evil that the Saints say: "If we could open the gates of Hell and liberate all the souls enclosed therein, and could release all the suffering souls from Purgatory - all this by one little lie (that is, by committing a venial sin), we would not be permitted to do so". By preventing one mortal sin, we render an inestimable service to the honour of God - and how easily this can be done! Father Faber writes: "If every evening, before we retire, we would ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to offer to God the Precious Blood of her Divine Son Jesus for the intention that thereby one mortal sin which might be committed somewhere that night might be prevented, and if every morning this offering were renewed from day to day, we could prevent many mortal sins". What joy and happiness this practice would bring to us! We could thereby atone for our own sins and merit immeasurable treasures for Heaven.

Here follows a striking example: St. Paphnutius (died circa 350) had for many years lived in a desert and laboured at his sanctification by austere works of penance. Once a peculiar thought came to his mind, and he dared to express it to God in prayer. He petitioned the Lord, in all humility and simplicity, to reveal to him a person who had the same degree of merit as he himself. God deigned to grant his request, and He gave Paphnutius to understand that at this moment a certain flutist living in Egypt ranked equal to him in merit.

The Saint at once started on a journey to find the flutist. Having arrived at the appropriate village, and making inquiries there, he was informed that the man he was seeking was engaged at a neighbouring tavern, playing for the amusement of those who patronized the place. "How strange!" thought Paphnutius. Nevertheless, he sent word to the musician, begging him for a short interview. When the musician came, the Saint took him aside and spoke to him regarding the condition of his soul. "What good deeds have you ever done?" asked Paphnutius. "Good deeds?" replied the flutist; "I do not remember ever having done any; all I remember is that one day, while I was pursuing my former trade of stealing, I saved the honour of a virgin consecrated to God, and another time I gave my money to a poor woman who, in her great distress, was about to commit a crime". From this, our Saint realised that God had given the flutist graces similar to those he himself had received, because for the honour of his Creator, this man in his crude life had prevented two mortal sins.

Resolve to say the following little prayer every morning and evening:

O Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of thy Divine Son for the intention that one mortal sin may be prevented this day.

You may add a Hail Mary in honour of the Mother of God for this intention. Perform this devotion with great fervour and perseverance, and teach it to other devout souls. You will thereby acquire immeasurable merit. If we truly love God, we cannot feel indifferent when God is offended.