THE DARKENING OF SOULS

Divine Appeal Reflection - 220

Today, consider in Divine Appeal 220:  "The red lucifer has darkened the spirits which had already been turbid. Evil turns against itself like a horrible serpentine monster that unconsciously coils around souls."

Sin exists as more than just a human weakness; it is a force that draws the soul tighter and tighter into the jaws of destruction. Like a venomous serpent, it coils around the will, paralyzing resistance and darkening the intellect to divine truths . Each consent to sin strengthens its chains, making it harder to return to the light of grace. Our Adorable Jesus, in His infinite mercy, warns every soul of this enslavement and calls for conversion before the grip of vice becomes inescapable. The Catechism teaches that repeated sin weakens the moral conscience, forming vices that make repentance more difficult (cf. CCC 1865-1866). Saint Augustine, before his conversion, was bound by worldly desires and self-indulgence. Despite his brilliant mind, he remained shackled to sin until divine grace shattered his spiritual blindness (cf. Confessions).

Sin distorts the soul’s very nature, making it incapable of seeking God with a pure heart. The will, meant to love God above all, grows feeble under the weight of vice, while the intellect, created for truth, becomes deceived by fleeting pleasures. Many souls, like Augustine in his youth, desire holiness yet resist the sacrifice required for true freedom. The world lures with empty promises, offering illusions of happiness while starving the soul of true peace. But our Adorable Jesus never ceases to call, waiting for the soul’s surrender to grace. Scripture warns of the grave consequences of sin, yet it also proclaims the boundless mercy that awaits those who return with contrition (cf. Romans 6:23, Proverbs 14:12).

Sin, if not uprooted, spreads beyond the individual, corrupting entire societies. In Augustine’s time, moral corruption was celebrated, and impurity and pride were exalted. Today, the enemy employs the same strategies, making sin appear harmless and suppressing the voice of truth. Yet, no darkness is beyond redemption. When Augustine finally turned to our Adorable Jesus, the chains that held him fell away, and grace transformed his life. The Church assures us that no soul is beyond restoration—through sincere repentance, sacramental confession, and a firm purpose of amendment, one can be renewed in divine grace (cf. CCC 1453, Isaiah 55:7).

Every moment wasted in sin is a moment lost in eternity’s light. The serpent’s grip tightens with delay, but grace is always near for those who choose to break free. Saint Augustine’s journey proves that even the most hardened sinner can become a saint through a radical turning away from vice and a wholehearted surrender to our Adorable Jesus. 

Prayer

Our Adorable Jesus, we are weak and often fall into sin. Do not let us be trapped by its grip. Pour Your mercy upon us, open our hearts to conversion, and give us the strength to walk in Your grace. Help us to love You more and reject all that leads us away from You. 

Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.