Men's Rosary

We were created to be perfect.  Obviously, we are not.  At the root of this imperfection is sin.  Sin eats at our spiritual life like cancer.  It is an insidious condition that, left unchecked, will leave us spiritually dead.  This is a death worse than physical death.  The reason being, eternity is real.  We will spend it in Heaven or in Hell.  Eternity in Hell is the spiritual death I speak of here.

We let sin into our lives, and it changes who we are, who we were created to be. What we need to be privy to is that sin is disguised many times in things that at first look do not seem bad or disordered.  Sometimes these things are fun and enjoyable.  Left alone our appetite for them increases and we start to be consumed by them and our sanctity eroded.  “Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits a sin is a slave to sin.’” (John 8:34) When we let our guard down the enemy, the devil strikes.  This is when we can become hard-hearted, stubborn, proud, self-centered, and overconfident in our own importance.  The sin brews a despicable disposition that comes out in how we live our lives and this is what can destroy us. “And he said, ‘What comes out of a man is what defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man.’”  (Mark 7:20-23)

The good news is that God always lets us start anew!  Despite our failings, be they many or few, we have recourse to correct our course and seek to live a righteous life – to strive for perfection.  We are all in this boat of imperfection.  The question becomes whether we are going to get out of the boat and sail in one to Heaven.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 6:23) The decision must be made to either walk in the light of Christ or to walk with the world.  There is no middle ground.  You are either in or out.  If you think you can find a spot in the middle; that will only find you out, in the end.  Sin and the devil have created the non-existent middle ground.  “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.”  (Revelation 3:16)

Prayer is what will protect us from sin. Make no mistake, it is difficult to sin if you have a strong prayer life. Not that we will not sin, but when we do, it will be easier to recognize, and we will be able to reconcile that sin with God and the Church. The sin will not fester and grow as we pile more sin upon it. The Rosary is a powerful way to pray throughout the day.  It has been said that it is nearly impossible to sin while praying it.  “The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin.”  (Pope Pius XI)

We are all called to perfection.  We are all called to serve God and the Church.  To answer that call we cannot be lazy about the work of the spiritual life.  We must engage with our faith and keep Christ in the center of our life.  We can all do this, regardless of our state in life.  The question becomes, despite our mistakes, failings, and weakness, “How can I live my vocation better?  As a single person, as a married person, as a father, as a priest, as a religious, as a deacon, as a member of the Body of Christ.  If we do not take time with God in prayer, we will never hear the answer to these questions.  The quest for perfection will escape us and we will be found wanting.  We cannot go back and change the past and what is done.  We can start now for a better tomorrow.  Let us strive to be men of virtue and build up the Church and our families. What is hard today can be easier tomorrow.  “Always remember your end and that time lost can never be regained.  Without applying yourself diligently, you will never acquire virtue.  The moment you begin to be lukewarm, your trouble begins.  But, if you give yourself to fervor, you will experience great help from God and you will find the pursuit of virtue less burdensome than you did at first.” (Imitation of Christ; Book 1, Chp. 25, Par 11)

May God grant us the wisdom to seek out those things and people which edify our soul.  We need to keep the weeds pulled from the garden, so it bears much fruit.  May what comes from within us not defile but sanctify ourselves and others.

“Not all of us are expected to die a martyr’s death, but we are all called to the pursuit of Christian virtue.”  (Pope Pius XII)