To engage in a decisive fight against sin, it is necessary to recognize our daily mistakes without excuses or apologies, calling them by their name, without seeking justifications that would prevent sorrow, contrition, and the struggle to avoid them: omissions in our professional duties, in fraternity, in our relationship with God; negative judgments about others; less noble or disordered ambitions—such as being the center of attention, commanding, or having more than one needs; movements of envy, bad mood poured out onto others; little consideration in family life; indulged desires to be served instead of serving… These are true venial sins, because the will resists conforming to God's will, preferring one's own whim or judgment in something contrary to God's will, even if it does not imply a rupture with Him. The effort to be closer to Jesus Christ every day is incompatible with allowing things that separate us from Him. Every deliberate venial fault is a step backward in our journey toward God; it is hindering the action of the Holy Spirit in the soul.
To us, who are thirsty for God, who want to put aside and truly abhor everything that separates or delays us, Jesus Himself says: *If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink…*
This living water promised by the Lord cannot be kept in vessels broken by mortal sin or cracked by venial sins. Confession restores the soul, purifies it, and fills it with grace. Let us approach this sacrament with true contrition. May we be able to say with the Psalmist: *streams of tears flow from my eyes because your law is not kept.*
We ask Our Mother, Holy Mary, Refuge of Sinners, to grant us the grace to abhor all venial sin and a great love for the sacrament of Divine Mercy. As we finish this time of prayer, let us examine how often we turn to this sacrament, with what love we approach it, and what effort we put into the counsel we receive.
HCD