Many of the ancient Church fathers compare the work of the priest to that of a physician. It is why in Latin we have the term, “cura animarum,” meaning “the care of souls.” To have the care of souls means to have devotion to and solicitude and responsibility for the spiritual health of those entrusted to the priest. The English word, “cure” derives from this same word. This care for souls is not simply opening a book and giving the answer. It involves making judgments about the person in front of you. The Church fathers say that the priest must know how to provide the right amount of medicine at the right time to the right patient. St. John Chrysostom says that the medicine is the Word. At times, this Word is like a balm that soothes. At other times, the Word is like a surgeon removing a deadly tumor. Too little medicine can, at times, fail to bring the patient to health, making him spiritually listless. Alternatively, too much medicine can, at times, overwhelm the patient and cause him to decline from despair. The art is in knowing what dosage of medicine will help this patient at this particular moment. We all grow gradually in holiness and virtue. When the priest attempts to help the person in front of him, he keeps this in mind. It is better, for example, to give the medicine of encouragement and help this person to take one step forward than to apply a dosage that will crush him by causing him to despair. In the confessional, it is almost always the case that the patient himself desires to be cured. The very fact that he is there humbly confessing is itself an indication of a desire for spiritual health. There, the priest does his best to imitate the Divine Physician and to be a minister of healing. One obstacle to healing is the obstinate refusal to admit the need for healing. In other words, if someone adamantly rejects that they have any need for conversion, repentance, or healing, it is very difficult–if not impossible–for healing to occur. Let me provide a couple of random (made up!) examples to help. One person attends Mass only sporadically. She knows that missing Mass is a grave sin that prevents her from receiving the Eucharist. So, once every couple of months when she responds to the grace that the Lord is giving her, she comes to confession, humbly and sincerely begs the Lord for mercy and expresses her resolve to change this situation in her life, and then goes to Mass and receives the Eucharist. She is humble, repentant, and open to changing. Might she fail again? Yes, but she is trying to begin again. The other person goes to Mass every Sunday, donates regularly to church, and serves on numerous church committees. Last Sunday (again this is a made up example!) he was infuriated when the priest at Mass gave a homily in which the priest said that we are bound to forgive those who have injured us. The man admits that there are a few people for whom he has absolute hatred and, he thinks that nobody has the right to tell him that he cannot hate these individuals. He thinks the priest went over the line in suggesting that we are required to forgive others. Now, it would be one thing if that man came to confession and said, “I find it so difficult to forgive this person because of this. I sometimes think I’ve forgiven him, but then it comes back. I don’t even know if I really want to forgive him, but I know I’m supposed to.” Okay, this is someone trying to grow, to heal, and to follow the Lord. His heart is wounded, but not hardened. But, in this instance, his heart is hardened. He wants to be told that he does not need to change. He wants his hatred to be okayed and validated. He, in fact, is angry because the priest had the audacity to repeat the words of Jesus that we must forgive those who have wronged us. He thinks it is not him who needs to change, but rather Jesus and the Church. He will refuse to ever go to confession because the very suggestion that there is anything in his life that needs to be changed is an insult. His heart is hardened. Perhaps something we could all pray about this week: Is there something in my life that I know is contrary to the Commandments or to the teachings of Christ and His Church? What is my reaction when I hear that Commandment or teaching? Does it cause me to bristle and become angry and resentful? Or, does it cause me to feel crushed and overwhelmed? Does it cause me to desire to repent and to be healed? If it causes anger, resentment, and an obstinate refusal to repent, be careful. That is a hardened heart. (Even if the obstinate refusal merely comes in the form of blocking one’s ears and pretending that that particular Commandment or teaching does not apply to me.) If it causes you to feel crushed or overwhelmed, don’t be! The Gospel is good news, even when it requires difficult things for us. God wants to help you and so does the Church! If it causes you to want to repent and to be healed, blessed be God! All of us–whether we know or admit it–are afflicted with some spiritual malady or another. Christ, the Divine Physician, wants to treat us and restore us to full spiritual health. This takes time, humility, and grace. Let each one of us begin anew today. Your Brother in Christ, Fr. David Barnes