A crucifix is a reminder of God’s radical, limitless love. It also confronts us with a daunting challenge as we recall God’s command for us to love as He does. How is this possible for a mere human being crippled by sin? Serafina reflects on all this in her meditation upon Jesus Crucified.
On this feast of St. Joseph the Worker, I thought it fitting to share some reflections on an short, potent prayer written by Pope St. Pius X.
In this prayer, St. Pius X mentions the virtues necessary to employ in our work, the specific faults we’re inclined to commit, and the spiritual mindset with which we should approach our work.
Sloth can be a difficult sin to identify. The other capital sins are “active” sins: we consciously choose to do something evil. Sloth is a sin of omission: we fail to do something good. It is easy to dismiss because we’re not actively doing any harm—or so we think.
The account of David committing adultery with Bathsheba opens thus: “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.”
Take note of that last bit, “but David remained in Jerusalem.” That’s where the trouble begins.