Albert Haase, OFM

St. Augustine hit the nail on the head when he famously said, “Love and then do as you please.” All the commandments align as we try to love God and love our neighbor.

The most authentic sign of God’s grace—and a modern miracle—are the simple words, “I confess . . . I’m sorry,” spoken from a repentant heart turned toward God.

Though I might think myself far from gluttony’s traditional bountiful banquet, it’s squeezing me tightly whenever I have a driven need or insatiable appetite for any activity—be it feast, famine, exercise, or dressing up.

The sin of greed arises from the belief that God cannot be trusted to take care of my needs and so I horde and hide the essentials of daily living. Greed’s antidote is trust in God and charity toward others.

Don’t confuse pride with healthy self-esteem and gratitude for God-given talents, gifts, and accomplishments. Pride takes credit for everything and denies God’s grace working in my life. Its antidote is humility—the virtue that keeps my feet on the ground.

The goal of prayer is not some thoughtless state of consciousness. Prayer’s real goal is a surrendered heart of love. And we attain that surrender by having a heart-to-heart conversation—including sharing our distractions and mental diversions—with a God who loves us unconditionally.