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Episode 2663: Living the Faith with Integrity - Nightly Episode
“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”
Living the Faith with Integrity
Welcome back to Tradition and Truth, where we explore the timeless wisdom of the Catholic faith. Today, we’re diving into the profound simplicity of prayer and the importance of integrity in living our beliefs. As Catholics, it’s not enough to know the faith intellectually; we’re called to embody it in everything we do. Let’s begin by contemplating a powerful reminder from St. Charles Borromeo:
"Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head."
St. Charles challenges us here, and his words are more relevant than ever. It’s easy to talk about virtue and faith, but when it comes to living these truths when it requires sacrifice or humility that’s where real faith is tested. Living a double life can damage not only our own souls but also the souls of those who look up to us as witnesses of the faith. We have a duty to inspire, not to scandalize.
This principle isn’t just a personal responsibility. It’s a mark of authentic discipleship. In the Gospels, Jesus condemned hypocrisy fiercely. He warned the Pharisees about the dangers of appearing holy on the outside while harboring corruption within. The Christian life, if it is to be effective and powerful, must be genuine. Only then can our lives reflect the light of Christ and attract others to the truth of the Gospel.
The Mystery of Prayer and God’s Presence:
Prayer is one of the most intimate ways we commune with God, and C.S. Lewis offers a beautiful reflection on this in his work Mere Christianity:
"An ordinary simple Christian kneels down to say his prayers. He is trying to get into touch with God. But if he is a Christian, he knows that what is prompting him to pray is also God: God, so to speak, inside him. But he also knows that all his real knowledge of God comes through Christ, the Man who was God that Christ is standing beside him, helping him to pray, praying for him. You see what is happening. God is the thing to which he is praying the goal he is trying to reach. God is also the thing inside him which is pushing him on the motive power. God is also the road or bridge along which he is being pushed to that goal. So that the whole threefold life of the three-person Being is actually going on in that ordinary little bedroom where an ordinary man is saying his prayers."
Lewis captures the essence of the Trinity at work in the most personal moments of our lives. This insight reminds us that prayer is never a solitary activity. When we pray, we’re drawn into the life of the Holy Trinity: God as our Father, Jesus as our Mediator, and the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. Even in the quiet solitude of our own rooms, we’re enveloped by the presence of God.
This connection is deeply traditional and resonates with teachings from St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, who saw prayer as a way of entering into God’s divine life. It’s the Holy Spirit that prompts us to pray, that desire within our souls calling us toward the Lord. And through Jesus, we have access to the Father, as Christ intercedes for us, guiding our prayers in accordance with God’s will. What an incredible mystery that an ordinary act like kneeling down to pray brings us into communion with the Almighty.
Applying Prayer and Integrity to Daily Life:
How can we let these truths transform our daily lives? We start by acknowledging that our faith is not a compartmentalized practice. We don’t “do” faith once a week at Mass; we live it every moment. Prayer, as Lewis describes, is a reminder that our lives are intimately bound up with God’s grace. Every action, every word, and every choice is an opportunity to reflect God’s love and truth to the world.
St. Charles Borromeo’s advice on integrity flows naturally from this understanding of prayer. If we truly believe that God is within us, prompting us to good, then living with integrity isn’t just a moral duty; it’s an act of love. It’s how we honor God’s presence in our lives. When people see us living out our faith with honesty and consistency, they see a glimpse of God. In contrast, if we fail to live up to what we profess, we risk leading others away from God.
To live with this kind of authenticity, we must be vigilant in our spiritual lives. This means frequent confession, a strong devotion to the Eucharist, and regular examination of conscience. Let’s follow the example of the saints who lived out their faith without compromise, regardless of the cost.
Conclusion Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of prayer, for calling us into Your presence and drawing us ever closer to You. Grant us the grace to live our faith with integrity, that we may be true witnesses of Your love and truth in this world. Help us to recognize Your presence within us and to honor You in all we do, saying with St. Charles Borromeo, “Preach by the way you live.” Strengthen us to avoid hypocrisy, that our lives may reflect Your goodness and inspire others to seek You. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in union with Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
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