LIPA, Batangas, May 10, 2013—Take away God from society and the world is left to grapple with a plethora of social ills like contraception, an increasing gap between the rich and the poor and environmental degradation, among others, a priest said.
“[There is ] a denial or a removal of God from our lives, our families, our nations,” Fr. Yulito Ignacio, head spiritual director of the Philosophy Department of San Carlos Seminary said during a talk to some 1,300 pilgrims last May 1.
Fr. Ignacio explained how the ‘spirit of the world’ will always concretely go against the ‘spirit of Christ’ and this gives rise to socio-economic problems like birth control, environmental pollution, drug abuse and increasing poverty.
“Pagpigil sa pag-aanak… ‘Di ba RH [Law] ‘yan (Preventing child birth…Isn’t that the RH Law)?,” he asked, specifically pointing to R.A. 10354 as a denial of God and His dominion, which is manifested in practice.
No sin, no guilt
Closely tied to this spirit of the world is a decreased sense of sin and guilt.
“Ayaw mo aminin na masama (You don’t want to admit that something is bad),” Ignacio described this modern sentiment that people and institutions use to justify certain practices.
To counter this spirit of the world and to live in the spirit of Christ, he suggested examining one’s conscience, praying, denying one’s will, personal sacrifices and practicing purity of heart.
Ignacio gave the second talk of the Total Consecration Conference and Pilgrimage titled “Spirit of the World vs. the Spirit of Christ” held at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Lipa, Batangas. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]
