Our Mother of Perpetual Help Assist Her Devotees to Overcome Lukewarmness

Yesterday we saw how great is the tenderness of Our Lady with great sinners, but it is no less great with another class of souls in need, those who are called tepid and are in a state almost as dangerous as that of mortal sin.

Although these negligent souls, who at times frequent the Sacraments, do indeed wish to avoid mortal sin, nevertheless they do not try to serve God, filling their lives with voluntary venial sins. With superficiality they recite their prayers and carry out other devotions. They hear Mass, perhaps they go to Confession and receive Communion, but they do it out of routine and for human considerations, without fruit, without advancing in virtue. Anger, lies, murmuring, rash judgments, nasty words, envies, laziness, vanity, impurities, dangerous and useless conversations, disordered attachment to the things of the world and other similar faults easily find their place in the hearts of tepid persons.

Think of the great risk of being condemned for being in this state. St. Teresa saw the place in Hell for which she was destined if she were not more fervent. In the opinion of St. John Chrysostom we must have more fear of habitual venial sins than of mortal sin because, says this great saint, mortal sin is monstrous and in itself inspires horror, while tepidity leaves us calm and unconcerned.

And was it not perchance against tepidity that Our Lord has proffered these tremendous words, "I would that thou wert cold," that is, that you would be in mortal sin! Who would believe it if God Himself had not said it? "But, because thou art lukewarm. . .I will begin to vomit thee out of My mouth."

Who does not have a horror of vomit? That is why St. Gregory writes, "I do not despair of seeing a sinner, as yet unconverted, saved, but rather for the salvation of a soul that has fallen into tepidity."

A terrible sentence the doctors confirm when they teach that it is almost impossible for a tepid soul to be converted. O careless soul! It is sufficient to commit an habitual sin deliberately to be tepid and to find oneself in this danger. What will become, then, of you who commit so many faults with as much ease as the thirsty swallow water?

But then, the soul who finds herself in that state will say to me, "Is there then no remedy for me and must I abandon myself to despair?"

O unfortunate soul! It is difficult for you to be converted. But with all that do not despair. Consider that what is impossible on earth is not so in Heaven. If you wish with all the earnestness of your will to throw off this dismal yoke, I will tell you a way as efficacious as it is easy. Lift up your glance. Contemplate the image of your most kind Mother of Perpetual Help. Do you not see a brilliant star on Her forehead? It is the symbol of your hope. Place your confidence in Her, begin to serve Her with fidelity and you will feel your heart transformed. Devotion to this Mother of fair love is incompatible with culpable negligence. Oh, how many souls have given up their tepidity on the same day they have begun to be Her devotees!

What is lacking to you is the powerful love that fears to displease the lovable Jesus, for She is the Mother of this fervent charity that beautifies souls. She wishes to grant it to you more than you want to receive it. Do you want the miracle of Cana reenacted for you? Invoke Her with love. She will present you to the Divine Infant Who rests in Her arms, saying to Him, "Vinum non habent." (They have no wine.) "My Son, see this poor soul who does not have true love."

And then your coolness will be converted into fervor as the water was converted into wine. Our Lady will inspire in you a living desire to consecrate yourself without reserve to the Lord. She will give you a special delight in meditating on eternal truths. She will communicate to you a singular devotion to the August Sacrament of our altars. And thus you will be able to break the chains that imprison you and again be the delight of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.