(Note: Those looking to deepen their spirituality sometimes do not discern where best to achieve their goal. Deacon Pasquella, a spiritual adviser to the Confraternity of Penitents, suggests that the best way to begin and progress is through honest and joyful admission of sin.)
One should always get proper spiritual direction before engaging in any form of intensive spirituality or seeking membership of any prayer group that is engaged is unique devotional practices. It is most dangerous to get involved in one form of deep spirituality or the other only to discover, after stirring up the hornets’ nest of demons, that we are not quite prepared for the battle that follows. The Lord says, “Or what king, about to go to make war against another king, does not first sit down, and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, comes against him?” (Luke 14: 31). We are not all called to be ‘prayer warriors’ in spiritual warfare.
However, we are all called to repentance; to do good and avoid evil. These we are enabled to do by grace received through regular prayers and frequent reception of the Sacraments. Indeed, the most comfortable and joyful spiritual seat is reserved at the penitential table. Sitting there continually, we are sorrowfully and humbly acknowledging what we truly are –sinners, and pleading for God's mercy crying: "Lord Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on me". And so are we confident before God and man. No pretense, no false self, and we have nothing to lose but everything to gain...God’s forgiveness. Being in a state of continual repentance is the express way to spiritual perfection. This is a stable and humble spirituality open to all. It is the spirituality of the Confraternity of Penitents.
Your servant in Christ,
Deacon Joseph Pasquella
Diocese of Buffalo
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