tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post713824322753149951..comments2024-02-26T09:30:54.111-06:00Comments on Domine, da mihi hanc aquam!: Nothing to fear but faith safely guarded (revised)Fr. Philip Powell, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14970857401221305221noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-69440883907842855272007-04-18T11:50:00.000-05:002007-04-18T11:50:00.000-05:00What an amazing homily on Sunday evening. I only w...What an amazing homily on Sunday evening. I only wish more of UD could have heard it. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-5333305403046786292007-04-16T14:15:00.000-05:002007-04-16T14:15:00.000-05:00Anon,Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'm c...Anon,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'm confused about why you're confused. It's obvious from your comment that you read my homily with attention. This quote from my homily should clear things up: "Don’t stop praying, of course, but stop thinking that you’re saved in these exercises of piety. You’re not."<BR/><BR/>You ask, "At what point do I need to be concerned about being a religious athlete?"<BR/><BR/>The point at which you begin to believe that your works can save you. Prayer, good works, etc. are fine for growing in holiness, but they do nothing for our salvation. We are able to pray and do good work only b/c God has graced us to do so. I'm preaching here against the ever-present heresy of Pelagianism.<BR/><BR/>My point throughout this last addition to the homily proper is that there we are all radically dependent on God's mercy for everything...nothing, absolutely nothing we can do or will do or are doing right now gains us one tinsy little iota of grace. Belonging to groups, paraliturgical devotions, etc. are all perfectly fine, but they cannot earn us God's love. Grace means gift and any gift that one earns is by definition not a gift but payment. <BR/><BR/>Fr. Philip, OPFr. Philip Powell, OPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14970857401221305221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-7187535408050349482007-04-16T10:56:00.000-05:002007-04-16T10:56:00.000-05:00I am feeling a bit confused. I haven’t thought of...I am feeling a bit confused. I haven’t thought of myself going through “Religious Athleticism” before. I am a convert. I thought the things I was doing, and encouraged to do, were part of spiritual growth. It was my understanding that making efforts to go to daily mass was a spiritually growing activity, not just an act of piety. If one belongs to a “paraecclesial group” (whatever they are), does it mean they are self righteous? Going to Bible study is to increase my understanding of the Word and how to apply it to life. Reading your blog, and sharing it with others, another means of challenging my look on life and building my faith. I know you are reacting to something you see at UD that I am not privy to. I guess I don’t know what you are referring to and how to relate to myself. If I am active in my church and become visible, does that mean I am trying to look pious? If I have an attraction to the old songs rather than the new, isn’t that an allowable preference of taste and not a holier than thou outlook? I thought I was supposed to pitch in where and when I can, according to my talents and abilities. At what point do I need to be concerned about being a religious athlete?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18842286.post-17007152114596238702007-04-15T20:54:00.000-05:002007-04-15T20:54:00.000-05:00Father, could you please post your Divine Mercy se...Father, could you please post your Divine Mercy sermon that you gave at the end of this one? It was excellent, and I was hoping to send it some of my friends.<BR/><BR/>Thanks!Sean Malonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270276838786291447noreply@blogger.com