Some of us, including myself, enjoy using social media … but do you ever feel like it’s using you?
Sometimes, I get on my phone to look something up and suddenly find myself scrolling and have completely forgotten why I got on in the first place. Other times, I’ll sit watching tv with a sister and resolve not to look at my phone and suddenly find myself scrolling and I don’t even remember when I picked up my phone.
At times, it feels like the internet is a portal into the seven deadly sins: pride, avarice (greed), lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and especially sloth.
Yet, there is a holy antidote for these sins, and they are the opposing seven capital virtues: humility, generosity, chastity, patience, temperance, kindness, and diligence!
How do we choose these virtues instead of getting sucked into the sins?
By making one sacrifice at a time, one good choice at a time.
Just like when we exercise, we might start with a lighter weight – but with regular reps and perseverance, we can lift a heavier weight. After some time, someone sees us exercising and says, “Wow, you’re strong!” You might say, “Who, me?” but then realize how far you have come.
If we set parameters on our scrolling, such as not doing so during work, at meals, or when we’re in conversation with others, we can then practice more self-control during our free time as well. Do you tell your kids or grandchildren they have to put their phones away at a certain hour? Do the same yourself, so you are not only setting an example but protecting yourself from the same snares from which you are trying to protect the children in your life!
We can and should ask the Holy Spirit to help us discern which of the sins has the biggest place in our hearts and ask for His help in practicing the opposing virtue. You can also ask the Blessed Mother, your patron saint, and your guardian angel for help in making those choices and responding to the grace God gives you.
I had an amazing guardian angel miracle recently! I have had a situation with which I have been struggling for some time now.
Last year, God granted me many graces and signs on how He was going to help me. By following His promptings, I seemed to get a hold of it at that time, but lost control over the situation again – through my own fault. I tried again to get a hold of the situation several times but to no avail.
For various reasons, I thought I would try again on the first Friday of the month, in which we honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is always a good day to make a special intention. Then, I realized it was also Guardian Angel Day! So, I entrusted this situation to my guardian angel.
I don’t usually ask for signs, but I did that day. I had lost a spiritual self-help book about this matter and had been going crazy looking for it … for months! That day, I asked my guardian angel that if he was going to help me, would he please put this book in plain sight. Guess what I found that day in the normal course of my work, in a place I hadn’t looked yet, just peeking out?
In the beloved hymn “On Eagle’s Wings,” whose lyrics are based on Psalm 91, a particular verse jumps out at me: “For to His angels He’s given a command to guard you in all of your ways …”
These aren’t just pretty words, they are God’s promise to us! We do well to remember this and to live this out in confidence – not in ourselves and our frail human conditions – but in God Himself and in the power of the angel He has appointed to us!
To overcome these battles, it may seem like we need a miracle, but don’t worry about that. God performs miracles all the time!
Sister M. Emily Vincent Rebalsky, IHM, is the program director at Villa Maria by the Sea Retreat Center, Stone Harbor.
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