Spirituality of Transition

This is a follow-up, a deepening rather, of previous reflections on the paschal mysteries.

In those reflections I kept repeating the meaning of the word Paschal as originating from the Hebraic word Pasch which gives the idea of passover or passing over from one condition to another. Simply said, Jesus passes over from the sadness of death to the joy of the resurrection.

Passing over from one situation towards another involves a transfer or transit. This process is Paschal.

When we say there is a spirituality of transition we are referring to the personal experience of voluntary pain of physically “dying to sin”. This expression, when it is a personal experience, must evoke or bring to mind sinful thoughts, desires, actions, relationships for which a person must be sorry and repent, and remove them totally from his life.

To qualify the experience as “dying” it must be painful or at least difficult. This will happen when sinful thoughts, desires, words and actions have become strong habits. To get rid of strong bad habits is really painful and difficult. This becomes even more painful and difficult when habits become addictions.

This is why rehabilitation of addictive persons like drug addicts, alcoholics, porno addicts, etc. are almost impossible to achieve. As far as we know there are not many successes. The reason is, there are many factors involved.

Perhaps the spirituality of transition can be part of the rehab programs of the Church, the private sector and government.