Begin Again, Now And Always

“Begin again.” Good advice from Venerable Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. If we’ve been away from the Church, no matter how long, now is the time to begin again, to come back to the fullness of the faith of the Catholic Church.

Whether we’ve been away for a while or not, we’re called to begin again whenever we’ve failed or fallen in our pursuit of sanctification. It’s in our best interest to do so. The devil knows this and will try to discourage us, to keep us from coming back to the love and grace that Our Lord gives us through His Church.

Begin Again After Being Away

Many people have left the Church over the years. There probably are as many specific reasons for doing so as there are people. A few common categories might include:

• Poor, or simply no, catechesis. Many Catholics have never learned the basics of the faith. It’s not, therefore, a priority for them in their day-to-day lives. In addressing this, to begin with, consider picking up and reading a good, Catholic book that helps explain the faith simply and clearly.
• Beefs with other Church members. Perhaps a priest, religious or lay person has treated a person uncharitably or have given scandal through their behavior. We all need to recognize that God’s Holy Church comprises many diverse individuals, all in need of God’s grace. Pray for those who’ve treated us uncharitably, and for those who’ve given scandal. Pray, as well, for the grace of God to forgive them as an act of the will, from the bottom of our hearts, and to ask God’s mercy upon them and us.
•  Lifestyle complications. Marriage issues can create some challenges. Marriage outside of the Church without your bishop’s permission, or divorce and remarriage without having obtained an annulment of the first marriage commonly cause such issues. Talk to a priest or deacon about your situation and how to address it.

You probably can think of more themes and examples. However, I believe that a major obstacle to coming back has to do with our own poor thinking, influenced by the devil.

Of Course, You Can

After years away from the Church, we may think it’s virtually impossible to return. The devil is behind this thinking- he is the accuser and the father of lies. He’ll do all he can to keep us from coming back to God’s open arms. In this case, we need to talk with a friend who is a faithful Catholic, or a priest or deacon, about coming back. Abbot Eugene Boylan, OCSO writes:

Jesus comes into our souls not because we are good, but because He is good…Our Lord has a special soft spot for sinners. Our past sins are no barriers to our union with God…If only we knew the gift of God’s mercy. The worse we are, the more reason for having confidence in God our savior…The only complaint He has to make against us is our lack of confidence. That was His agony in the garden. It is not our sins that broke his heart but the lack of confidence in His mercy.

In any event, if you, or someone you know, has been away for a while, think about it. The Catholic Church, founded by Christ with its sacraments, provides an easy way to begin again and come back into the fold. It provides a path that will allow you to live in a state of grace and be ready for whatever circumstances life places in your path. When you begin again, your life will change immensely for the better. Why not do so–now–while you still can? It’s never too late! If have any doubt about this, just take a look at Matthew 20:1-16.

Begin Again Frequently

Even if we’ve tried to stay faithful to Christ’s teachings, we should not be shocked that the circumstances of this life give us plenty of opportunities to begin again–daily. Our Lord told us we’d have a constant battle on our hands:

In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (Jn 16.33).

Tribulation indeed and what about St. Paul? In his letter to the Romans, he tells us:

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Rom 7:15, 22-24)

St. Paul, author of numerous letters to Christian communities in the early Church, struggled with failing and falling just as we do! With God’s grace, he got right back up, began again and continued on his path toward union with God. We all are called to do that- we’re all saints in the making- He wants to deliver us from the death of sin.

Run to Him

Of course, Our Lord delivers us from the death of sin when we come to him with sorrow, repentance and a firm purpose of amendment. The operative clause here is “when we come to him.” He’s always ready to take us back, but how often do we go back to him and begin again immediately?

Consider the parable of the prodigal son (Lk 15:11-32). While the son who’d squandered his inheritance living a life of dissipation was still far off, his father spotted him and ran out to meet him. Thereupon his father threw a party for him. Our Eternal Father has that kind of enthusiastic love for us. Do we believe it? If we believed it, we ought to be running to Him for His merciful forgiveness.

He’s Waiting for Us

The Lord waits for each of us to turn back to him. In the Prologue to his Holy Rule, St. Benedict tells us:

the Lord waits for us daily…[and] our lifespan has been lengthened…that we may amend our misdeeds. As the Apostle says: Do you not know that the patience of God is leading you to repent (Rom 2:4)? And indeed the Lord assures us in his love: I do not wish the death of a sinner, but that he turn back to me and live (Ezek 33:11) (RB Prologue: 35-38).

In our day-to-day activities, how are we responding to God’s grace, including to His call for us to begin again?

It’s About Getting Back Up, Not About Falling

For that matter, do we begin again and continue letting the Lord help us along in our spiritual progress? Or, when we fall, do we get down on ourselves, letting the devil cause us discouragement and doubt, thereby impeding our spiritual progress?

Fr. Jacques Phillippe tells us, in Searching for and Maintaining Peace,

He who falls but immediately gets up has not lost much. He has rather gained in humility and in the experience of mercy (p. 64)

It’s good to acknowledge our faults and to experience true contrition for them. We need to then give our sins to God, asking for his merciful forgiveness and be grateful for the chance to begin again.

Take Advantage of God’s Grace

Many reading this piece may already be in the habit of routine, periodic sacramental confession. We ought to be going to confession when we become aware of grave sin, and absent that, at least monthly; more often is even better. If you’ve been away from the Church for a while, set up an appointment for confession with your priest. This way, you’ll have time to talk with the priest and won’t be holding up a line of people waiting in a daily confession line. And as Jesus tells us in Scripture, “do not be afraid,” (cf. Lk 12:32) the priest will help you through the confession.

Another good (really–indispensable is more apt) habit to get into is the daily examen. At the end of the day, we look back at the day’s activities, briefly calling to mind the blessings of the day with gratitude to God. Then, we look at where we might have done better in responding to His graces, and any sins or attachments, telling God we’re sorry for the failures. We commit to correcting the failures (to begin again, in other words) the next day with His amazing love and help, and close with a brief prayer, such as the Our Father. Noting these ups and downs in a journal gives us spiritual food for thought and discussion with our spiritual director and confessor.

No matter how long, or how far away we’ve been–no matter the quantity or severity of our sins–the Lord is looking for us to come back to Him. He wants to pour out His transformative, healing love and grace on us. Any doubt, discouragement or hesitation is the devil’s attempt to keep us from receiving those graces. Let’s turn back to Our Lord now–let’s not wait, but rather, begin again immediately.

in the world of souls there are abysses of weakness as there are heights of holiness…the Divine Mercy gives this person the grace of rising again (Bl. Columba Marmion, Christ, the Ideal of the Monk).