Comments on: Five Hard Truths That Will Set You Free

By: luzvimindarp

luzvimindarp — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:43:19 +0000

I love your 5 hard points of truth in life that every christian must learn in order for them to love God and God alone. That is the ultimate practice that we have to accept and cherish as we travel in this world. If you have accepted this truth and practicing them you will find peace within your heart, joy and a loving heart.
God bless us all. My prayers go with you always.

By: Msgr. Charles Pope

Msgr. Charles Pope — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:47:19 +0000

They are powerfully compelling points and I am grateful to have stumbled upon them. I think it was Fr. Robert Barron who first called them to my attention.

By: Alan

Alan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:27:53 +0000

Yes I agree with this essay. I also remember you giving a sermon on these points and it was compelling.

God Bless You

By: Joshua

Joshua — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:51:22 +0000

Greetings from Texas Your Excellency,

Thank you, Your Excellency for the most wonderful reminders. We need so many more refreshing truths such as this you have written. God bless you.

By: anon

anon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:49:45 +0000

In the last couple of posts on grief and suffering, as well as rule #5 (we will die), I found myself thinking about the life of another.

I read about Viktor Frankl, who was a Holocaust survivor, psychologist and author of a series of books about man’s search for meaning. He converted to Catholicism as a result of a fundamental truth he learned. He wrote about his experiences in a concentration camp where he witnessed incredible acts of human kindness while, at the same time, witnessed people behaving like animals. For a while he was puzzled by why some people would be so selfless and others selfish. One day, when he was working out in the fields, where the conditions were harsh and guards would regularly beat prisoners, he realized that he was able to transcend that to experience a separate joy. He didn’t know if his wife was alive or dead, but thinking about her connected him to the love he felt for her, would always feel for her and would never go away. He drew a connection between that experience and others’ selfless acts. Those who are able to give selflessly understood that their bodies would not survive this world but love of one another would. To those people, loving others became a driving force.

In terms of suffering, he had a beautiful saying (not exact):
“To be a bright light, one must endure the burning.”

By: Msgr. Charles Pope

Msgr. Charles Pope — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:02:31 +0000

Yes, I think your last point is right. It’s odd sometimes we even think we’re being contrite when we say, “How could I have done such a thing?” Even as the words come out of our mouth we are sinning with pride. The answer to the question, How could I have done such is thing” is the words from an Old Song: “Not brother nor my sister but it’s me O Lord, Standin in the need of Prayer!”

By: Msgr. Charles Pope

Msgr. Charles Pope — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:55:40 +0000

Yes, the whole concept of control is a hard one to manage. On the one hand we must accept that we are free and responsible for choices we make. On the other is that many if not most things are beyond our absolute control. Like everything with orthodoxy balance is the key. And also you are right, there are some time or areas of our life where we are very good at accepting that we are not in control. And other times or areas where that is most difficult indeed, especially when we sense we are responsible for something.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:40:08 +0000

I particularly struggle with #3. It’s especially contradictory because I went to a retreat a couple of years where I was not in control, and I loved it! Nonetheless, it’s difficult to take that lesson and make it last more than a weekend.

By: anon

anon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:35:31 +0000

On the same note; Here’s pieces of a conversation I have had, and continue to have with my children, myself and friends: “If you make a mistake, all one can do is admit to it, accept responsibility for it and try not to do it again.” Basically, get yourself into “the box” so you’re back in a state of Grace with God. We need to own the sin, try and figure out how not to commit that sin again and then take advantage of His forgiveness offered through a priest with absolution. Then it’s time to let go of the baggage and move on. I sometimes speak of choices; i.e., one can learn or not learn from a mistake – it’s our choice. Lastly, I can’t resist mentioning – “Guess what. The one thing I think life guarantees is that we’ll make another mistake. Hopefully it will be a different one! Thanks Adam and Eve.”

By: This is the fact, so powerful and profound, common words but with wisdom.

This is the fact, so powerful and profound, common words but with wisdom. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:46:26 +0000

This is the fact, common words but profound and full of wisdom