Continual Conversion

My Dear Parishioners,

Our readings for the first few weeks of Lent call us to continual conversion and to a spirit of compunction.

We are reminded this First Week of Lent why continual conversion is necessary, and also why it is often a challenge. The Fall of Adam and Eve allowed Original Sin to enter into the world and through Original Sin, suffering and death entered into the world: through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, in as much all men have sinned (Romans 5).

Original Sin is a sin inherited from our first parents. It has since been passed down through the generations.

Original Sin has weakened us. It has darkened our intellects and weakened our free wills. It has disrupted our bond with God and our bonds with each other. It has given us irrational fear, especially the fear of suffering and death. Original Sin has also left us with an inclination to sin that we call concupiscence. Original Sin, we can say, has left us targets for the devil.

Thankfully, however, Jesus refused to allow the devil to have the last word: Indeed, one man’s sin, that of Adam, had the power to bring death to the world. If by the transgression of one man, death reigned over the world, why should not life more fittingly reign by the righteousness of one man [Jesus]? If they were cast out of paradise because of the tree and the eating thereof, shall not the believers now enter more easily into paradise because of the tree of Jesus [the Cross]? If that man first formed out of the earth ushered in universal death, shall not he that formed him out of the earth bring in eternal life, since he himself is life? [John 10:10, 14:6] (Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril of Jerusalem)

Which then brings us to continual conversion. Conversion is not a moment in time but a continual journey. Continual conversion strengthens us similar to the regular training that strengthens athletes. As regular athletic training helps develop skills and muscle memory, so continual conversion helps us see the temptations of the devil for what they are and how to seek the Grace to overcome those temptations.

Continual conversion helps to clear our minds and strengthen our free wills. Continual conversion helps to rebuild our relationships with God and neighbor. Continual conversion helps us to become warriors for the good and enemies of evil. As St. Paul writes: Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus, I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified (I Cor: 9: 24-27).

Continual conversion leads us then to a spirit of compunction. Compunction is a Christian virtue. It is a constant desire to do good and avoid evil, and it causes remorse and a desire for reconciliation when one does fall into sin. It leads to a greater love and respect and appreciation and devotion for Jesus and a greater desire to please Him at all times.

Compunction has as its root the word “puncture.” It is a puncturing of our often-cold hearts: It is said that after his conversion, Saint Ignatius could not stop weeping. He shed tears all the time. This is so much the case that only through the gift of tears do we really understand the spiritual exercises that he proposed. Saint Teresa of Ávila also recommends this way of tears. In them is found a mysterious consolation that only God’s presence can give.

For great mystics like Saint Teresa of Ávila or Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the heart-piercing awareness of the Lord’s presence that they sought by faith often caused them to weep — both exteriorly and interiorly. Prayer rooted in conversatio morum [ongoing dialogue with God that takes up our whole existence, our judgments, dreams and behaviors] is always open to these tears. In their case, this holy sorrow helped them pray and to grow in virtue because it is a sorrow informed by love and gratitude.

Pondering Christ’s Incarnation and work of redemption against her own indifference, Saint Teresa would wash her memory with hope. As she learned to invoke the Holy Spirit in the midst of difficult spiritual struggles, her heart was pierced by love, and she was freed from attachments that held her back. At the end of each day, she would spend an hour weeping with Jesus in the Agony of the Garden before falling asleep (Compunction: Tears and Prayer by Charlies McKinney, April 2017, catholicexchange.com).

So, compunction, we can say, is a puncturing of our consciences and a deflation of any sinful pride and false ideas that we may hold. The “puncture” then allows the Holy Spirit and God’s Grace to enter more deeply into our hearts, filling us with many good gifts from Heaven. It is compunction that allows us to overcome habitual sins, if we suffer from any, and allows us to grow more and more into the Image and Likeness of Jesus Christ.

What is key here is allowing in the Holy Spirit and God’s Grace. For our Catholic Christian Religion, and the continual conversion to which we are called, is not a self-improvement program. It is not! In fact, if we try to take on the devil on our own, we are guaranteed to fail. Let me repeat that, if we try to take on the devil on our own, we are guaranteed to fail. This is why compunction is essential to continual conversion, because it allows ourselves to rely less and less on ourselves and more and more on the Holy Spirit, God’s Grace, the power of His Sacraments, and the intercession of His Holy Angels and Saints.

May this Lent, and our continual conversion, fill us with a spirit of compunction and make us ever stronger warriors for Jesus Christ.

St. Joseph, Patron of the Church, and our Patron, pray for us!

Fr. Michael J Pawelko, Pastor