Jesus entered the solitude of the desert conscious of his particular mission, his vocation. There he encountered ever more deeply an awareness of the Father’s love, how he truly was the “Beloved Son.” There the Spirit continued to instruct and guide him in his humanity in how to be God’s Anointed, the Suffering Servant on behalf of the whole creation. In the desert solitude Jesus also confronted the demons, the forces of evil that would attempt to distract from and even derail this work of our salvation. He learned their “names” and specifically confronted their deceptions, vanquishing them by the power of the Word.
Enfolded in God’s unconditional and forgiving love, with Jesus in the desert, we too face the particular demons that have in the past or presently do assault and disturb us. Like Jesus – and by the power of His Word and Spirit – we too can diminish or vanquish the power of those demons to bother or afflict us any longer.
The Grace We Seek: Through the Sacrament of Penance to recognize and reject with His power the personal demons that have tempted and troubled us.
Reflection Material
A. From the Rule of Life
16. Because of our need for God’s mercy in our brokenness, we are to approach the Sacrament of Penance frequently for reconciliation and healing. By our experience of sacramental forgiveness, we grow in mercy and compassion towards others.
B. From the Word of God
The power of sin with us – Rom. 7:14-25
Returning frequently to the Sacrament of Penance – Luke 15:10-32
Growing in mercy and compassion towards others – John 8:2-11
The love we had in the beginning – Rev. 2:1-4
C. From Father Thomas Augustine Judge, C.M.
1. Conference to Missionary Servants (February 1922)
“And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.” (Luke 2: 51) We are just now, in our devotion, inter-season. The Christmastide has waned and the Lenten Season is not yet in its dawning. The liturgy of the Church that brings before us the infancy of our Divine Saviour and His boyhood has fluttered these Christmas pages into the past but it does not yet introduce us into the public life of our dear Lord. At present we commemorate the hidden life of our blessed Saviour.
The hidden life of our dear Lord teaches us many salutary lessons and none of these is of more value than that at times we too should withdraw from the busy haunts of men. Privacy is ever easily possible and privacy is necessary for self-reflection, and self-reflection is very necessary for advance in perfection. Graciously our blessed Lord permits us to companion Him in His hidden life. We can withdraw in prayerful seclusion; we can give ourselves over to the work of introspection, to adore Jesus and to imitate Him in His hidden life. This, indeed, will please Him very much . . .
Christmas has gone with its days of peace and its chiming of joy and gladness. It is well at this moment to take note again of any holy inspirations and resolutions we might then have had. It is likewise well for us to forecast the long penitential days, whose shadows will soon begin to creep toward us. We are in this inter-season, with our Lord in His hidden life, and many are the offerings we may make to Him in hidden ways. No work we engage in will give us more delight and our souls more profit than the purgation of ourselves from all that may be displeasing to Him and to begin seriously to labor for a greater perfection.
If we will but put into practice the self-examination spoken of above, if, prayerfully, we beseech the Holy Spirit to make known to us that in which we may be amiss, we will be greatly helped in our cleansing and great advance also will be made in the work of sanctification. This two-fold spiritual process should ever be before us and we should give ourselves to it with avidity.
It is surely of good logic that he who wishes the end, wishes the means to that end. All wish such a blessed end (as perfection) and if we be sincere, we just as ardently wish the means to procure that end. The means, you know, are the pious exercises of the day, the work, the devout application of ourselves to prayer and to our devotions, the faithful and generous living out of Cenacle practices, and above all to ever cherish a very particular love of our dear Lord, to strive to make this more and more personal so that our every thought, word and action may be for Him and contribute to His honor and glory.
(Let us) correct old faults, long-lived bad habits, and ever advance in perfection. O Jesus, Mary and Joseph, teach us the sweetness of holy solitude. Grant us grace at times to prayerfully withdraw from the unwise multitude. May our hearts be in union with yours and may it be our blessing that we will do much unknown to the world and for you alone. [MF:673-74]
2. Retreat Conference To Missionary Servants (August 24, 1921)
Our Blessed Lord came into this world to teach and to have human experience in all ways like ourselves, except sin. He found there are certain chords in the human heart, likes and dislikes, need of sympathy. He experienced all these joys and griefs – only knowledge of sins committed He did not have. He felt the need of sympathy. He reached out for help in the hour of trial. He found there are certain griefs in the human heart that unless let out, kill the man.
Therefore to give us a sacramental consolation, Jesus instituted the sacrament of Penance. How deep down in His heart Jesus had to think to institute that sacrament of peace and consolation which confession alone gives. The beneficent effects of salvation! The relief of confession! The penitent enters accursed and comes out blessed.
What happens? It is so short a time for so great a change. We kneel down and say, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.” Then we tell the history of our life since our last confession. Then comes the act of contrition. Then the priest lifts his hands over the sinner’s head and says some words, and the most wonderful thing happens, more wonderful than the rising of the sun. “Thy sins are forgiven thee.” (Matt. 9:2) We come forth, determined to sin no more.
Outside of the Church death is unbearable, sickness hateful. They marvel at Catholic deaths but we are happy in our deaths, because we have those words “Whatsoever you shall loose on earth is loosed also in heaven.” (Matt. 16:19) The power to release, unbind sins, is a wonderful thing. The priest has the power to forgive sins as Jesus has, but with this difference: Jesus has this power of Himself, the priest only by delegation. The effects are the same.
Think of the torments that Jesus endured that we might have the Sacrament of Penance. We are all troubled about the examination of conscience. We should rather think how good Jesus is to give us this opportunity. How many of us really thank Jesus for permitting us to go to Penance? When you go to confession you receive infinite grace. Sanctifying grace is that grace which makes the soul more pleasing to God. We get grace through prayer and the Sacraments. The more grace we receive the more we cooperate in the will of heaven. So we should be hungry for graces. [MF:12337-38]
Missionary Cenacle Spirituality 