Reparation and Compensation

Lately I've been trying to comprehend aspects of reparation and compensation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Well, these works involve God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and all mankind. In reading Fr. Raoul Plus's "The Folly of the Cross," the terms are used somewhat interchangeably, but there does seem to be distinctions drawn, which in turn help the Victim Soul of the Sacred Heart further the good work.

Three motives or aspects of compensation are mentioned by Fr. Plus. One is homage to God the Father to compensate for our outrageous sins, for blasphemies and indifference by so many of His creatures. The second is due to the many who scorn Jesus's love for all of us, our love is offered Him to help counterbalance the hatred and mockery. The third motive is to help save souls who are on the brink of eternal loss of the love of God--who stand at the abyss of hell. This needs to be done in order that Jesus's blood is not shed in vain.

St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, a victim soul and stigmatist with whom God the Father revealed private revelations was told the following:

"The wickedness of creatures is so great that were it not that my anger is appeased by my elect and by the spouses of the divine Word, my vengeance would be such that thou wouldst not be able to bear the sight. Do not let thyself slumber in cowardly indifference, but together with my elect, set to work to make expiation for the many outrages that are committed against me and against my truth. Understand that those who remain inactive before sin render themselves in some sort its accomplices. The inequities of mankind cry aloud for vengeance with greater force even than the blood of Abel....O my daughter, do not cease to offer the blood of my Son to me to appease my wrath. See how all mankind is within the devil's clutch, and his mouth is open to devour them. Far from avoiding it, they are throwing themselves into it. There is not one who will escape unless my elect save them by their prayers. For my part, I write down in a book unknown to thee all the iniquities of the wicked, and beside them, the succour rendered to them by the elect....At the day of judgment, I shall open this book before the divine Word."

Doubts may arise, as we are in an age of comfort-seeking and being seduced by ideas that Jesus loves us no matter what, and that we must have "balance". This balance is misconstrued by many to mean material goods, worldly distractions, and the "just wanna have fun" mentality. But many chosen souls have experienced God the Father, Jesus, or even the Virgin Mary tell them otherwise. These private revelations are so numerous and experienced by such holy souls, that it is sheer ignorance to doubt the veracity of what they and many lesser known souls report.

Do these conversations seem extreme and irrelevant to our circumstances? Here at Panera I just met a customer who, with like-damaged friends, have started their own worship service on Sunday evenings because they have all been so hurt by ministers and members of non-denominational "churches." And don't think that sinners are in just one category of Christians. We are all sinners, and some of us more than others, and some of us more outwardly offensive to each other and to Jesus than others--not to mention the sins of omission and indifference.

St. Catherine of Siena heard Jesus say, "See the Spouse who is the Church, and note how those who seek the interior life, who seek the fruit of my blood are lacking."

She cried out in response, "What can I do, O my unspeakable Love?"

Our Lord replied, "Offer thy life anew, and give thyself no rest; it is for this that I have chosen thee and all those who follow thee and will follow thee in the future...."

St. Catherine then gave the Eternal Father the sacrifice of her very life, offered her heart, and asked that all her life which God had given her be used for the sake of the Church.

This is not just the work of recognized, canonized saints. We are each saints-in-the-making; we are saints ready to happen if we but offer ourselves back to God Who has given us all, anyway. Yes, we owe Him everything--everything!

Reparation, as has been previously discussed, means literally "to repair." Compensation means to pay for, or to make recompense for a loss, injury, or death usually by payment with money or like replacement. So, to repair something does not carry the same consideration as to compensate. To repair means to fix; to compensate means to pay.

Reparation seems to offer opportunity for interior work of restoration but also allows for exterior repair of wrongs and hurts. Compensation seems to encourage tangible outlay of capital or physical effort.

For example, a fellow Christian is rude or sets up obstacles to an activity which a fellow Christian is organizing. The activity potentially will draw many people to Christ and His Church; much good can occur. But through envy, resistance, anger over being challenged from mediocrity, the other person sabotages the efforts through various, petty means and talk. Reparation can be made for this attack by praying for the sabateurs or persecutors, through fasting and other modes of mortification, and through steadfastly proceeding around any obstacles with a cheerful, hopeful attitude. Compensation can be made by pouring more labor, energy, and material goods into the project attempted for the glory of God and His Church, either directly or indirectly. The compensation effectuates even more progress as payment to ensure that the holy work will proceed with even greater stability and structure.

The practice of these nuances of reparation and compensation may be practice in small or large, hidden or noticed, and simple or complicated sins of others--and yes, of sins of our own! The challenge becomes quite fun and interesting, for this work takes a willingness to have great humility and trust. Compensation particularly requires a letting go of material goods, phsyical effort, and time in order to actually pay for the wrong done, even if the wrong is not in itself a tangible product.

I have read in several books on victim souls, saints, and the topic of reparation to the Sacred Heart that a sacrificial life is a happy life. Jesus says so in Scriptures, in various ways and examples. One must begin right away to practice and experience this form of happiness. One must be willing to pour out his own blood to douse the flames of ugliness and sin.

Taking Courage from My Chains

A few weeks ago I read this in Philippians, I believe. St. Paul was encouraging others to increase in faith and love of Christ, to follow Christ all the way to (and beyond) the cross. St. Paul hoped the readers of his letter would take courage from his suffering for Christianity. At the time, I, too, needed to take courage from his chains.

I needed to take courage from my own chains. What are these chains? This morning at Mass, the guest priest spoke about the types of "gods" we have--some which we don't even see as gods. He mentioned "gods" such as the economy and being so dependent upon it, of thoughts, of whatever it is that takes our minds and hearts and souls and LOVE from God. He mentioned how early Romans worshipped the sun. Our "gods" aren't always that which is perceivable with the external senses. They often are thoughts which consume us and to which we become enslaved.

The only chains around us should be those which bind us to Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit: One God in Three Persons.
The links of such chains should be our thoughts, words, actions; they should be the virtues, especially the theological virtues of faith, hope and love.

I've considered the agony of the last few days in which I took time away from praying at the Tabernacle and reading, to shop for, purchase, and learn to figure out a new laptop. It is overwhelming in many ways, and at one point I felt chained in a negative way to this little machine. I much prefer life in utter simplicity, in adoration, spiritual reading, and floating upon the waters of bliss. I came to despise that our world has become so dependent upon computers. But, alas, it has.

What if I live and suffer another 30 years upon this earth? The ideas for evangelization and communication flashed before interior eyes. Ah, I could see good use of this little machine in spreading the Faith and strengthening Catholicism even here at "Arsdale." The parish is starting to become enlivened by the priest who is taking off running, flying for holiness and willing to wing us along with him. Some people can't handle the pain of change and the exorcising of complacency from their minds and souls. There are rumors that some might leave. This is equivalent to simply saying they are dropping to the ground before the ground disappears from under them. It is all right if they do; not everyone has the stomach for heights. This is a shame, in the long haul. However, they can change their minds and hang on for dear life, as it is dear eternal life which is at stake for souls.

In order to possibly be of writing use for Christ and His Church, I have decided to persevere in learning some new tricks, old dog that I am. This little machine can do amazing things if I but learn what and how. There can be much good for teaching and encouraging Victim Souls of the Sacred Heart. I pray Jesus wants me to take some time away from the Tabernacle and reading in order to read how to utilize this machine for the glory of God. It is a suffering to do so, in my case; but I am willing to suffer this being chained to technology for a greater good. I wonder if St. Paul felt chained in some ways to the slow process of dictating to a scribe or of writing on fragile papyrus?

In shopping for a laptop, the thought came to find a thrift shop in hopes of an old, manual typewriter. But then, I would have to find typewriter ribbons, and that is doubtful in today's world. I thought of how slow and tedious, how difficult to correct errors--and that notion left for good. Then when I considered the whole vista of podcasting--and what fun this could be--well, the lot was cast in favor of a laptop that can do more than I know yet what.

A couple of weeks ago I experienced hell for several days. It was terrible and in such contrast to the adventure of writing for Jesus in hopes that He might use some little part for even one soul--or for His own adoration. Writing can be a form of adoration, surely! Words are ideas and utterances painted upon His Sacred Heart, spoken silently, aloud, or visually to Him, for Him, and even within Him. Words seem to be my art form.

This little machine is now a link in the chains which bind me to the Most Holy Trinity. It is well to take the time God allows in learning and understanding how this link can be a vital part of the whole chain which ties my body, mind, heart and soul to God, in love. Giving up what was and striving on to what is before, to run the race set out in this technological world, I take courage from St. Paul's chains as well as my own.

It is well to make sure that our chains are only that which bind us to Him. Remove all other chains, such as thoughts of the vices and capitol sins. Remove chains of wanting things how they "used to be", for they are not now. The means of preaching and teaching Christ crucified have changed, and computer technology is a vital link. We must embrace this link.

While I have no idea if anyone out there even reads these blogs, I do have an e-mail: victim souls@hotmail.com, and you are free to leave comments. The web site is still a hope, as is now podcasting. The book is on hold due to the lapse in not having this tool of writing, the laptop, and so please pray that I can begin afresh with continuity and momentum renewed.