One of the operas of Richard Strauss is a one-act "song-poem" called Fauersnot. Fauersnot means Fire Famine. The plot of the play, written by Ernst von Wolzogen, is based upon an old Dutch legend about a maiden named Diemut who grievously offended Kunrad, her beloved.
By her offense she brought great suffering and distress upon herself and her entire town. Her beloved Kunrad was a powerful magician. He took immediate revenge by casting a spell whereby all fires in the town were extinguished. Houses and streets were wrapped in pitch darkness. The people were uncomfortable and unhappy. Finally the maiden relents and listens to the voice of love.
The climax of the story is reached when Diemut yields to her love for Kunrad. Once more the fires burn warmly and brightly on the hearths of their little homes.
Imagine the distress and misery of a town without fire of any kind, without the light and heat so necessary for comfort and health. Fire is absolutely necessary for the body of man.
Fire is no less necessary for the soul of man. It is just as necessary to light and warm our souls as it is to light and warm our bodies.
Before the first Pentecost the entire world was in the condition of the little town where Diemut lived. The fire of the Holy Spirit had not yet enlightened the minds of men, had not yet warmed their hearts to the love of God. What a change that first Pentecost made.
"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a violent wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as of fire, which settled upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts, 2:3,4.
Here was the Holy Spirit whom Jesus had promised. Here was the Holy Spirit sent by the Father at the request of the Son. Here was the Holy Spirit who would teach them all things. Here was the Holy Spirit who would remind them of all that Christ had told them. Here was the Fire that would enlighten their minds and warm their hearts.
As we are considering confession at the present time, it will be well to consider that both priest and penitent need the light and heat of the Holy Ghost for this sacrament. Read again how Christ gave the power of forgiving sin:
"'Peace be to you! As the Father has sent me, I also send you.' When he had said this, he breathed upon them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.'" St. John, 20:22,23.
Note the words, "Receive the Holy Spirit." By the Holy Spirit the priest has the power of pardoning. From the Holy Spirit he receives the light to guide and direct you. Through the Holy Spirit the priest has the power to know the human heart and to heal it.
Often the priest is face to face in the confessional with the darkness brought on by the devil himself. Often the priest sees in the heart of the sinner the fire famine of neglect of the Holy Spirit. Well he knows that his human learning and wisdom are helpless before the darkness of sin. Help from above is absolutely necessary. That is why the priest will utter a little prayer to the Holy Spirit before he hears confessions. That is why the zealous priest will often lift his heart in humble entreaty to the Holy Spirit to give him the right direction for the sinner kneeling before him.
That same Holy Spirit is needed by the penitent. Like Diemut, the offending maiden of Strauss' opera, we have brought darkness and chill upon the soul by our sins. Only by returning the love of the One who loves us with a boundless love can we win back the light and heat so essential for our souls.
Be sure to ask the Holy Spirit to help you make a good confession. Ask Him to help you think of your sins and realize their ugliness. Ask Him to fill your heart with the fire of love, so necessary for being truly sorry for your sins. Beg the Blessed Spirit to help you determine never to offend your Beloved again. Ask Him for the courage to make a complete and sincere confession of your sins.
You might even ask the Holy Spirit to guide your spiritual guide, the priest. His work is an awe-inspiring one, a humbling one, a fearful one. He needs strength and help for it.
Perhaps you know some sinner who did not yet made his Easter duty. There is still time for that important obligation. In addition to talking tactfully to the sinner about it, be sure to talk to the Holy Spirit about him, begging the God of light and love to fire the heart of the sinner to repentance.
Every day in every way we need the Holy Spirit, but especially we need Him in regard to confession. What better time to ask that help than on this glorious feast, this glorious anniversary, this glorious commemoration of the day when that loving Light came down upon the Infant Church. May the poet's lines be our prayer this Pentecost day -
"Light immortal, light divine!____________________
"Visit Thou, these hearts of Thine -
"Bend the stubborn heart and will;
"Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
"Guide the steps that go astray."
Adapted from Talks on the Sacraments
by Fr. Arthur Tonne,OFM (© 1947)
No comments:
Post a Comment