Toward Easter - Daily Readings & Meditations for Lent 2025 - Day 19

Avoiding Babylon

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The battle against impurity might be the most crucial spiritual struggle of our time. In this Lenten reflection, we explore what St. Gregory the Great called "the most common cause of man's damnation" – the devil of impurity that seeks to transform souls from spiritual beings into carnal ones, degrading human dignity below even that of animals.
When children as young as eight are being exposed to pornography, we must recognize the urgency of this fight. The beatitude "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God" reminds us what's at stake – our very capacity to encounter the divine. Through practical wisdom from tradition and modern application, this reflection offers a roadmap for maintaining purity in a world designed to compromise it.
The sacraments provide our strongest defense – Confession heals wounds already inflicted while the Eucharist strengthens our spiritual immune system against future attacks. Yet the enemy is clever, using shame to keep us from confession while removing it during the act of sin itself. We must be "ashamed of the sin, but not of admitting the sin."
Beyond supernatural means, practical strategies matter: implementing technological safeguards, carefully selecting media, avoiding occasions of sin, practicing custody of the eyes, and eliminating idleness – "the mother of all vices." The battle begins not in society but in our own hearts and homes, creating environments where innocence can flourish and virtue is celebrated.
Join us this Lent in recommitting to purity of heart. Share your own strategies for maintaining dignity in a challenging world, and remember that this fight isn't about prudishness but about preserving our capacity to see God clearly, both in this life and the next.

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Chapters

1. Welcome to Day 19 of Lent (00:00:00)

2. The Devil of Impurity Explained (00:02:09)

3. Means to Combat Impurity (00:04:02)

4. Prayer and Daily Resolutions (00:05:42)

5. Prevalence of Impurity in Society (00:06:37)

6. Practical Steps to Maintain Purity (00:09:18)

7. Taking Action Within Our Families (00:14:18)

8. Closing and Prayer Request (00:15:21)