Contrariwise

Finally, I have managed to get to Carnival 164–on publication day. Okay, so I knew it came out today because I got a direct email thanking me for participating, but small victories are victories nonetheless. The posts that stood out in this Holy Week Carnival are about sin and our relationships with God.

I always enjoy Soccer Mom Christine’s posts. This time, she writes about her first confession in a while. Christine’s description of her confession is spot-on. From her lovely pre- and post-confession prayers to keeping her daughters occupied, she had all her bases covered. If she can make it to confession, anyone can.

I have an odd relationship with confession. I make it a point to never go more than six weeks between confessions, aiming for once a month. I’ve never had a regular confessor, but I have an inkling that doing so would help me grow spiritually. Despite all my issues, however, I am contrite, I seek out the sacrament, and I am that much better at cooperating with God’s grace.

Cathy at From the Field of Blue Children comments there on issues I’d examined before–some right here in my own blog, but with new perspectives. She reminds me why community exists. We need the voices of others to keep us alert. Concerning the Spitzer prostitution scandal, she and her commenters point out that the media is rightly recognizing the impact of Spitzer’s crime on society. It’s a sin. Sin is not private, no matter how many doors you close. Concerning the “new sin list,” she hones in on Bishop Girotti’s explanation of this principle. Sin affects us all.

As for Jen’s post at Daughter of the King, I have to echo what I’ve seen others say: I will never look at the Creation of Adam the same way again.

I have much to keep in mind for my next confession.

I was actually in this carnival (with my post about Cardinal Arinze, language, and liturgy), and I didn’t even get to read it until tonight. I lose.

Red Neck Woman at Posts from the Catholic Spitfire Grill writes about learning from the example of St. Catherine of Siena as she reads a biography of her to her children. First of all, I have to applaud her for taking such an active role in her kids’ catechesis! Second, I love St. Catherine of Siena, too. I keep a favorite quote from her on a virtual Post-It on my desktop: “If you are what you should be, you will set the world on fire.” RNW draws from St. Catherine’s example of admonishing the sinner by prayer and good example. I know calling out obvious sin is a corporal work of mercy, but we are also called to do all things in love. Somehow it just doesn’t feel like love to walk up to someone and shout, “SINNER!” Sacrificing your own time and spirit for the conversion of sinners—now that’s love.

Sieglinde at Eastward, Catholic Soldiers! offer us an older post about confession as a stumbling block of faith. I am sure that so many people would enter the Church if not for confession. Now, don’t think I’m advocating getting rid of such a crucial sacrament—far, far from it. I agree with Sieglinde that it’s a lack of faith in the sacrament. If you don’t truly believe that the “man” to whom you’re confessing is just a conduit for Jesus (like he is during every other sacrament), then confession seems ludicrous. Once you do, though, nothing will ever feel quite as euphoric as that post-confession high.

Marcel of Aggie Catholics posts about the evils of pornography and fighting pornography addiction. CDA observes White Ribbons Against Pornography (WRAP) Week every year at the CSC. This year, I left a white ribbon pinned to my backpack as a daily witness. I can’t stress how destructive I believe pornography is, but Marcel does a great job. Over the summer, I read the pastoral letter Bought With a Price by Bishop Loverde of Alexandria. It was fabulous; download the PDF or read it at the link. My favorite part of Bishop Loverde’s letter is the final section about holy use of our sight. These eyes are the same ones we will use to behold the face of God. The last thing we want to do is mar them with the memories of unholy images like pornography.

Most encouraging is Denise’s post at Catholic Matriarch in My Domestic Church about a pro-life homily her priest gave on the Sunday preceding the March for Life. Bravo for him! I remember being similarly shocked and overjoyed when two visiting concelebrating priests gave a long homily on Humanae Vitae at my family’s old parish. I’m so glad her priest connected artificial contraception to the wider acceptance of abortion. When you’ve been fighting conceiving for so long, it’s only natural to try to fight back if you do happen to conceive. Thirty-five years of legalized abortion is long enough. Let’s go back to giving human rights to unborn humans, too.