Michael Corleone: It was Hyman Roth that tried to have me killed. I know it was him.
The Godfather Part 2 1974
Frankie Pentangeli: Now — Jesus Christ, Mike, Jesus Christ. Look, let’s get ’em all — let’s get ’em all now, while we got the muscle.
Michael Corleone: This used to be my father’s old study — it’s changed. I remember there used to be a big desk, right here. I remember when I was a kid, Frankie, we had to be very quiet when we played near here. I was very happy that this house never went to strangers — first Clemenza took it over, now you. My father taught me many things here — he taught me in this room. He taught me — keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Now, if Hyman Roth sees that I interceded in this thing, and the Rosato brothers failed him, he’s gonna think his relationship with me is still good. Capide?
Frankie Pentangeli: Capide.
Michael Corleone: That’s what I want him to think. I want him completely relaxed, and confident, in our friendship. Then I’ll be able to find out who the traitor in my family was.
Tomorrow is Divine Mercy Sunday and for the first time in a lot of years I won’t be around for the many Divine Mercy events that are taking place in churches around the world as part of this day.
But I CAN complete the Divine Mercy Novena with this prayer that really is critical:
Today bring to Me SOULS WHO HAVE BECOME LUKEWARM,* and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.
Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.
At the conclusion of the prayers pray the chaplet. Instructions are here.
The site for the National Shrine of Divine Mercy is here.
- Day 1 Prayers:
- Day 2 Prayers
- Day 3 Prayers
- Day 4 Prayers
- Day 5 Prayers
- Day 6 Prayers
- Day 7 Prayers
- Day 8 Prayers
Let me close with three things about lukewarm souls:
First in Scripture Christ specifically admonishes being Lukewarm
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea, write this: ” ‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this:
“I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.”
‘”Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, (then) I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne.”
‘”Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘”
Revelation 3:14-22
Second in the Screwtape letters C. S. Lewis talks specifically about how easy the lukewarm follow the gentle path to damnation.
You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts,
Finally it is the lukewarm that need this mercy the most because they don’t realize or are in denial of the danger they are in. The best explanation of how this works comes from the end of a sermon from St. Leonard of Port Maurice which was on the subject of if most Catholics are damned or saved:
As for the rest, compare these two opinions: the first one states that the greater number of Catholics are condemned; the second one, on the contrary, pretends that the greater number of Catholics are saved. Imagine an Angel sent by God to confirm the first opinion, coming to tell you that not only are most Catholics damned, but that of all this assembly present here, one alone will be saved. If you obey the Commandments of God, if you detest the corruption of this world, if you embrace the Cross of Jesus Christ in a spirit of penance, you will be that one alone who is saved.
Now imagine the same Angel returning to you and confirming the second opinion. He tells you that not only are the greater portion of Catholics saved, but that out of all this gathering, one alone will be damned and all the others saved. If after that, you continue your usuries, your vengeances, your criminal deeds, your impurities, then you will be that one alone who is damned.
That’s why being lukewarm is of the greatest danger. When you feel completely safe is the time of greatest peril. There is a reason why I led this post with Michael Corleone’s instructions to Frank Pentangeli. The Devil wants you to feel safe, to feel secure, to decide that your sins are not a big deal. To decide you don’t need confession, that your sins are trivial, that you don’t need Divine Mercy. He wants you completely relaxed and confident so that when the day of your death comes you will not be prepared and it will not only be too late but he will take great pleasure in reminding you of all the chances to had to take advantage of the mercy of God, but passed them up.
So do not fail to take advantage of this great feast of Divine Mercy. Wash yourself clean via the blood of Christ and get yourself going in the right direction.
Because you are not promised tomorrow, cripes you aren’t even promised the rest of today.
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