Throughout the ages God is merciful to the contrite of heart

Every now and then I pick up the book Confessions, by St. Augustine, and reread parts that resonated with me, and there are many. I am drawn to the candor of his words and the hope and consolation that I derive from his writing. From the perspective of a sinner, I find it encouraging that a saint, bishop and Doctor of the Church struggled so profoundly with sin and then, through God’s grace and his mother’s prayers, overcame his struggles. From the perspective of a mother, St. Augustine’s poignant descriptions of his mother’s tender heart, unwavering faith and deep devotion to God offer solace to the weary of heart.

Speaking to God of his former ways, Augustine writes, “Meanwhile I was sinning all the more … and because I was more of a slave to lust than a true lover of marriage, I took another mistress without the sanction of marriage.”

Augustine journals his personal repentance and conversion, and thereby leaves a gift to mankind and a perfect example for us to follow. The honesty of his words transcend time and, after nearly 1600 years, have the power to move hearts in our present day world replete with modern inventions and egoism.

“This meant that the disease of my soul would continue unabated,” he continued, “in fact it would be aggravated, and under the watch and ward of uninterrupted habit it would persist into the state of marriage.”

Augustine’s writings confirm that neither time nor progress can mitigate human weakness, nor can it diminish our propensity to sin, but to the contrite, God will always be merciful. Augustine shows us that God’s grace enables us to objectively scrutinize our former self once we have “put on our new self” (cf. Eph 4:22-24).

The practice of contemplating and reevaluating past choices through the lens of our spiritual growth was further revealed in the 16th century writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola. St. Ignatius penned his Spiritual Exercises while undergoing his own repentance and conversion, teaching us how to discern between good and evil spirits, and his Examen, a prayerful reflection on daily experiences in order to better understand God’s will.

Just as Jesus died and descended to the dead, and then rose again, we too must die to ourselves and descend in order to ascend into a new creation through Christ and in Christ. We must take up our cross, descend with him and rise in him, renewed and remade (cf. Col 3:10). For then, no longer will our stony hearts cause us harm or bring harm upon others. Through him we will have hearts of flesh, and eyes that see, and ears that hear (cf. Ezk 36:26). And our new hearts will love fully and truly, as Christ loves.

Speaking to God of his dear mother, Augustine writes, “But to you, from whom all mercies spring, she poured out her tears and her prayers all the more fervently, begging you to speed her help and give me light in my darkness.” St. Monica, who overcame her own struggles with her marriage and with alcohol, never gave up on her family and steadfastly trusted in God’s mercy.

Just as we desire that God be merciful to us, we should be merciful toward each other and ourselves. Just as God never gives up on us, we should never give up on each other, especially our spouses and children.

St. Augustine of Hippo, who was baptized in 387 and ordained a priest four years later, shows us that we should not be afraid to go before God as we are: “Praise and honor be yours, O Fountain of Mercy! As my misery grew worse and worse, you came the closer to me. Though I did not know it, your hand was poised ready to lift me from the mire and wash me clean.”

Beginning in 1931, Jesus appeared to St. Faustina in a series of visions. He said, “My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” (Diary 699).

On April 30, 2000, Pope St. John Paul II established Divine Mercy Sunday, our “last hope of salvation” (Diary 965), on the second Sunday of Easter.

Anna M. Githens is a freelance writer with a career background in finance, teaching and journalism. She holds an MA in Theology, a BA in Economics and a Certification in Theology of the Body.