Thoughts of Blasphemy against God

[Shin]

First some quotes to help. 

'The enemy kept to this particular method by giving her for a long time the temptation of blasphemy – for which she never found any remedy either in confession or in any other way – until finally the devil came to her one night while she was sleeping and opened her ears and told her to blaspheme God. She, still sleeping, refused, saying: "I will not do that." And when the evil one saw how much she despised him, he made such a loud racket that she woke up and felt him depart. And in this way, she realized clearly that it was the enemy who had afflicted her so by putting in her heart such blasphemies and then leading her to think that they came from herself in order to make her fall into despair. And after this, she remained victorious over temptation, seeing openly how the enemy insinuated such blasphemies into her spirit. So if any of you, beloved sisters, should be tempted in a similar struggle, do not be alarmed nor saddened by thinking that it proceeds from yourself rather than only from diabolic envy which cannot stand it that God be adored and praised. But in eternity, without any respite, he will be blessed and praised and magnified and superexalted in despite and derision of Lucifer and all his companions and the dark brigade. Amen. Amen.'

St. Catherine of Bologna

'The incensive power usually troubles and confuses the soul more than any other passion, yet there are times when it greatly benefits the soul. For when with inward calm we direct it against blasphemers or other sinners in order to induce them to mend their ways or at least feel some shame, we make our soul more gentle. In this way we put ourselves completely in harmony with the purposes of God's justice and goodness. In addition, through becoming deeply angered by sin we often overcome weaknesses in our soul. Thus there is no doubt that if, when deeply depressed, we become indignant in spirit against the demon of corruption, this gives us the strength to despise even the presumptuousness of death. In order to make this clear, the Lord twice became indignant against death and troubled in spirit (cf. John 12:27, 13:21); and despite the fact that, untroubled, He could by a simple act of will do all that He wished, none the less when He restored Lazarus' soul to his body He was indignant and troubled in spirit (cf. John 11:33) - which seems to me to show that a controlled incensive power is a weapon implanted in our nature by God when He creates us.

St. Diadochos of Photiki

'My children, we are going to speak of hope: this is what makes the happiness of man on earth. Some people of this world hope too much, and others do not hope enough. Some say, "I am going to commit this sin again. It will not cost me more to confess four than three." It is like a child saying to his father, "I am going to give you four blows; it will cost me no more than to give you one: I shall only have to ask your pardon."

That is the way men behave towards the good God.

They say, "This year I shall amuse myself again; I shall go to dances and to the alehouse, and next year I will be converted. The good God will be sure to receive me, when I choose to return to Him." . . . Do you think that He will adapt Himself to everything in your will? Do you think He will embrace you after you have despised Him all your life? Oh, no, indeed! There is a certain measure of grace and of sin after which God withdraws Himself. . . God would not be just if He made no difference between those who serve Him and those who offend Him. My children, there is so little faith now in the world, that people either hope too much, or they despair. Some say, "I have done too much evil; the good God cannot pardon me." My children, this is a great blasphemy; it is putting a limit on the mercy of God, which has no limit -- it is infinite. You may have done enough to lose the souls of a whole parish, and if you confess, if you are sorry for having done this evil, and resolve not to do it again, the good God will have pardoned you.'

St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars

[Shin]

"if you confess, if you are sorry for having done this evil, and resolve not to do it again, the good God will have pardoned you."  

The Holy Spirit moves even the worst, blackest, and darkest sinners to repentance.

'You could not love Jesus if you did not possess the living source of holy and pure love, namely, the Holy Spirit. Our divine Redeemer said, "He that believeth in Me, out of his belly shall flow streams of living water." (John 7:38.) This He said of the spirit which they should receive who believed in Him. Therefore, when God enkindles in you the flames of divine love, holy, pure, and without stain, let yourself disappear in the infinite Good, and, like an infant, sleep the sleep of faith and love in the bosom of your heavenly Spouse.'

St. Paul of the Cross

So if you feel the slightest movement towards repentance, is not God at work in you? And why should He be at work in you if He does not love you and intend to save you? Isn't this proof He has not abandoned you?  

'If the devil tempts you, follow the example of a certain young man, who, when tempted to blaspheme, went for advice to the Abbot Pemene. The abbot told him, that as often as the devil tempted him to commit this sin, his answer should be: Why should I blaspheme that God who has created me, and bestowed so many benefits upon me? I will forever praise and bless him. The young man followed the advice, and Satan ceased to tempt him. When you are excited to anger, can you speak nothing but blasphemies? Say on such occasions: "Accursed sin, I hate thee: Lord, assist me: Mary, obtain for me the gift of patience." And if you have hitherto contracted the abominable habit of blaspheming, renew every morning, as soon as you rise, the resolution of doing violence to yourself to abstain from all blasphemies during the day; and then say three Hail Marys to most holy Mary, that she may obtain for you the grace to resist every temptation by which you shall be assailed.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

This along with St. Diadochos's words show that it is sometimes useful to become angry at certain thoughts that the devil sends to tempt you. Anger has a use against temptations and demons, properly controlled.

The Holy Spirit's especial role is to bring graces to us, and so too the grace of repentance. So I think that it is well said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit truly means denying God under the form of repentance and despising that grace of the Holy Spirit. I think that, if a person were to blaspheme in such a way against the Holy Spirit that the Holy Spirit left for good, rather than the person denying God in permanent decision, you would see such a black sinner as never has been seen before on this earth. I don't think I've ever read or known of such a person, there always is the sense that while there is life there is hope, a chance, a possibility for repentance even in the worst. Though the saints thought themselves the worst sinners they never gave up hope of repentance and the mercy of God! 

The devil attacks people in prayer, to make them cease praying by discouraging them or driving them to despair. But why would he attack someone who was already his? He has much more important people to spend time on. So in fact, that you have to fight is a positive sign, a sign of hope.

We should always hope beyond hope in the infinite goodness and mercy of God, who desires our salvation not our condemnation.   With that trust and confidence in Him rather than ourselves.. we can begin the work of Heaven.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psalm 23

Dear and gentle Jesus.. we thank you for all your love.. sweet Jesus.. keep us in your arms forever.

[Consecrated one]

I find it very interesting that I was writing about my own conflicted feelings while this was going on.  Do you think this is all tied in with the approach of Lent?

[Shin]

I find it very interesting that I was writing about my own conflicted feelings while this was going on.  Do you think this is all tied in with the approach of Lent?

I always feel more peaceful during Lent.. I think it's because of the penance going on.. the spiritual air is clearer.. life is better..

But today it isn't Lent yet for the West.. and there's Mardi Gras.. and the devil is at work against Lent, starting the first charge..

I wonder? 

[Consecrated one]

I wonder, also

[MarysLittleFlower]

Thank you so much for this!!

Last night, was really difficult because I felt so strongly that there's no hope for me and that God doesn't want to show me mercy. I felt that He is just but not merciful, and that I lost Him for all eternity or He is rejecting me..  I saw my will being involved in these sins, even though not fully or completely freely. I read Matthew 12 over and over and it seemed to say, if you say (and I suppose, think) any words against the Holy Spirit, you can't be forgiven! I felt a lot of fear then. The problem that I'm dealing with, is that these weren't always just thoughts in my mind, but sometimes the devil made me feel - or imagine to feel - hatred towards the Holy Spirit and for anything holy... even though i never wanted to feel this way, and tried to go against it... but it's like the temptation was not only in my mind but in my heart as well. I asked God to help me understand if I've committed this sin or not... and then, I felt SO strongly that I had. I felt this with a lot of certainty... with almost complete certainty, though something in my heart was still hoping in His mercy. I then felt that He completely rejected me.

what helped was praying to our Blessed Mother I have a picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in my room... and there's a prayer that goes along with it. I said the prayer and 9 Hail Marys.. and put on my Rosary... and held the Divine Mercy picture... (lol! I was pretty desperate). And all of a sudden, I just felt this really deep peace. The temptations ceased, and I felt so close to God again.. and felt that I could love Him again properly. (before, I only loved God through my will, my feelings were all confused and I felt anxiety whenever I'd pray). This made me so happy and really gave me hope! I think God finally answered my prayer at that moment because I was so close to actual despair. (He never allows us to be tested beyond our strength..). Then I started thinking about whether I committed the unforgiveable sin again.... it seemed to me that - the reason it's unforgiveable is because the person's heart is so hardened against God that they can't repent. In that case, the words (against the Holy Spirit) need to truly come from the person's will. But in my case, my will was always against these thoughts, and I gave in to them sometimes out of weakness, but not malice.. so in my heart, I'm not against God and am not rejecting His grace. I saw pretty clearly that these temptations come from something external to me, - so I can block them out simply by remembering that in my will I love God. I think that the times I did give into the thoughts, - they're probably mortal sins but not unforgivaeble because they didn't come from my free will/actual beliefs/deliberate consent.

I was finally able to go to sleep after that.. lol.. and surrounded myself with sacramentals 

However this morning I still feel that little bit of fear.... I don't think I really understand WHY the unforgiveable sin is not just thinking some words. Im afraid that this interpretation of the passage is incorrect. Is the Church teaching on this infallible? (are encyclicals infallible?)  I think it's silly that I'm still doubting, after ALL the ways that God has helped me and showed me His mercy.... so I'll try to resist these doubts and believe in spite of them.... but all this is making it really difficult to love God.

Sorry this is so long   to tell the truth I don't know who to talk to about this, so that's why I'm posting here lol. I have a spiritual director and will be talking to him soon, but I can't see him this week.

Thanks again for all your help
God bless!

[Shin]

To Jesus My Friend
by St. Claude de la Colombiere

Jesus! You are my true Friend, my only Friend. You take a part in all my misfortunes; You take them on Yourself; You know how to change them into blessings; You listen to me with the greatest kindness when I relate my troubles to You, and You have always balm to pour on my wounds.

I find You at all times; I find You everywhere, You never go away: if I have to change my dwelling, I find You there wherever I go. You are never weary of listening to me, You are never tired of doing me good. I am certain of being beloved by You, if I love You; my goods are nothing to You, and by bestowing Yours on me, You never grow poor; however miserable I may be, no one nobler or cleverer or even holier can come between You and me, and deprive me of Your friendship; and death, which tears us away from all other friends, will unite me forever to You. All the humiliations attached to old age, or to the loss of honor, will never detach You from me; on the contrary, I shall never enjoy You more fully, and You will never be closer to me than when everything seems to conspire against me to overwhelm me and to cast me down. You bear with all my faults with extreme patience, and even my want of fidelity and my ingratitude do not wound You to such a degree as to make You unwilling to receive me when I return to You. O Jesus, grant that I may die praising You, that I may die loving You, that I may die for the love of you.

"If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself."

Here is a thought: If there were such a sin so that a person could commit, later repent, and still be condemned -- then the Church would not forgive it in the Confessional. She would have special instructions for that sin, just like she has for excommunications. But she does not have any such instructions or forbidding of absolution for someone thinking or saying blasphemy specifically against the Holy Spirit. So how can it not mean that it is correct to say that blasphemy is a continual denial?

Christ said to His apostles, "those sins you forgive, are forgiven, those sins you retain, are retained."

I have never read of a person who was turned away in the confessional and told he could never be forgiven for his sins, especially this sin.

Trust in God who loves you and desires your salvation. The road of the Cross is difficult, but He is your Friend, of Friends..

Put worry and anxiety aside.. and be grateful for such a loving God.. The battle you're facing right now is trust.. so.. trust in the infinite goodness of the Lord.   There is no one more trustworthy than Our Lord. Here He is, working in your life, sending you comforts, consolations. . . He would not do this if you were not in His love.. He would not do this if you were finally condemned..

So.. set your mind at rest.. and focus on loving God the more greatly where you truly need to do the work.. heed not the devil.. but focus on growing in virtue and trust in God.  

I pray God gives you peace.. and other people offer good advice here too, I feel so helpless. I am a poor advice giver, and don't know what to say. I hope what I am saying is helpful. Treat yourself as gently as you think Christ would treat someone else in your situation.. have pity on yourself.. He is not looking for your condemnation.. but for your salvation. And He is pointing to that joyful light with a smile. We will be so happy with Him forever.. that is the end of our road and what gives us strength for the journey. The joy of our salvation.

[MarysLittleFlower]

Hi, thank you so much for all your help!! and I think you give very good advice

I've been praying a lot about this, and yesterday at 3 pm, for the entire 'hour  of mercy' I felt so close to God and to the Holy Spirit. This didn't come from me at all and I'm unable to make myself feel this way!! Despite all my doubts, etc, God gave me a confidence in His mercy..... my mind still protested, lol... in the end I decided that I need to be humble and believe God *without requiring explanations*, but believe things He says simply because He says them! Several times I felt this desire to KNOW, to have an explanation, to undestand... but tried pushing it away, and God really helped me. Afterwards I didn't feel His presence anymore but I'm trying to be faithful to God despite all my feelings! whenever the temptations come (which is less now than it was, thankfully) I try to remember that my WILL is to love God. This makes it easier to resist. Thank you for all your help and prayers I still feel very weak spiritually and I don't think it's over just yet, but getting better... the strange thing is that sometimes my feelings seem so different from what I actually want. In the past, I knew I wanted to love God and in accordance with that, felt love for Him. Now, sometimes, due to these temptations, I feel apathetic or even hatred! but I push it away and try to love God anyways. At first this made me afraid, what if I did commit the unforgiveable sin and it turned my heart forever against God? but then again I remember that my will is different and I KNOW what I want, and there are times when I do feel close to Him.

Maybe this is a test to see if I'll still choose God despite all the obstacles.

thanks again and God bless you

[Shin]

To feel so close! Happiness!

Thanks be to God in all difficulties and trials, and the overcoming of them with Him!

 

Be strong with His strength!