An Authentic Declaration to Impress on the Soul its Resolution to Serve god and to Conclude the Acts of Penance


20: “An Authentic Declaration to Impress on the Soul its Resolution to Serve god and to Conclude the Acts of Penance”

Mary is the Queen of Heaven, certainly, but before that, in her humility, she is the Mother of Jesus. Her Fiat serves as the perfect declaration of fidelity to God. (photo P. Smith)

                De Sales tells us to take seriously a sort of preamble to Confession. It looks like an Act of Contrition, prior to the confessing of sins. This model of prayer creates a sort of predisposition to confess rightly and effectively. We can think of it as a sort of self-assessment before we take a class whereby we identify that which we desire to work on and to refine. If we make this sort of “authentic declaration” regularly, then we will be more open to the Grade and Mercy that God offers us. But De Sales is not without practicality. He knows that in our fallen state, we cannot possibly be perfect in our contrition and humility…not without the Grace of God, at least. So, we need to constantly place ourselves in His presence so we can confess effectively. This is the same in Catholic schools. We cannot teach on our own. We cannot Love our students as much as they need to be Loved. We need the help of Jesus.

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