May 27, 2019
St. Augustine of Canterbury
Dear Family of Mary!
"Dear children! God permitted me, out of His mercy, to be with you, to instruct and lead you towards the way of conversion. Little children, you are all called to pray with all your heart for the plan of salvation to be realized for you and through you. Be aware, little children, that life is short and eternal life waits for you according to your merit. Therefore, pray, pray, pray to be worthy instruments in God's hands. Thank you for having responded to my call." (May 25, 2019)
Our Lady again tells us that the Father has sent her to us to teach us the way of conversion. She has told us the conversion is an everyday process, something we do until the day we die! Conversion is a turning of our inner compass toward our ultimate goal, union with God. And we all know how easy it is to veer off that path!
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us there are two conversions. The first is the awakening of faith and choice to be Baptized. The Second is the daily struggle to remain faithful and pure to Jesus:
II. THE CONVERSION OF THE BAPTIZED
1427 Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essential part of the proclamation of the kingdom: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."16 In the Church's preaching this call is addressed first to those who do not yet know Christ and his Gospel. Also, Baptism is the principal place for the first and fundamental conversion. It is by faith in the Gospel and by Baptism17 that one renounces evil and gains salvation, that is, the forgiveness of all sins and the gift of new life.
1428 Christ's call to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians. This second conversion is an uninterrupted task for the whole Church who, "clasping sinners to her bosom, [is] at once holy and always in need of purification, [and] follows constantly the path of penance and renewal."18 This endeavor of conversion is not just a human work. It is the movement of a "contrite heart," drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first.19
1429 St. Peter's conversion after he had denied his master three times bears witness to this. Jesus' look of infinite mercy drew tears of repentance from Peter and, after the Lord's resurrection, a threefold affirmation of love for him.20 The second conversion also has a communitarian dimension, as is clear in the Lord's call to a whole Church: "Repent!"21
St. Ambrose says of the two conversions that, in the Church, "there are water and tears: the water of Baptism and the tears of repentance."22
16 Mk 1:15.
17 Cf. Acts 2:38.
18 LG 8 § 3.
19 Ps 51:17; cf. Jn 6:44; 12:32; 1 Jn 4:10.
20 Cf. Lk 22:61; Jn 21:15-17.
21 Rev 2:5,16.
(From the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Paragraphs 1427-29)
So the second conversion is a work for the whole Church, gathered in faith to love and serve the Lord. Conversion is the realization that not all of our natural dispositions are oriented to holiness and that many of our decisions can be counter to the call of God. Like St. Peter, we make mistakes and lose our way. But Jesus calls us back with His great compassion and forgiveness. We have only to turn to Him again.
He will say to us, as He did to Peter: "Do you love me?" And we will again search our hearts to find the answer and hopefully respond like Peter, "Lord, you know I love you!"
Thank you, dearest Mother, for taking on this incredible task of coming to us in this time and calling us to conversion. You are the most loving ambassador God could have chosen to send in this time to our wayward Church and world. May we respond like Peter and turn every day to Jesus with love.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2019
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