Within a matter of hours, my heart problem was corrected. Although surgery enabled my heart to function at nearly full capacity, I still required an extended period of healing. To accomplish this, my physician ordered me to change my diet, exercise and get more rest. I tell you this not to tout my medical record, but rather to make a comparison designed to shed light on indulgences during this Holy Year, this Great Jubilee of Redemption. This analogy isn't as far-fetched as you may think.
Sin is a lot like the calcified cholesterol that clogs the arteries of the heart.
It blocks the flow of God's love in our heart of hearts, our soul. Venial sin constricts that flow to one degree or another and predisposes us to the danger of complete constriction. A primary remedy for sins, big and small, is the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation. Examining our consciences, confessing our sins in sincere sorrow to a priest, receiving absolution and performing the assigned penance - all this is like a form of spiritual surgery, removing blockages in our souls caused by sin. The mercy of Christ, conveyed by the Holy Spirit and administered through the skill and pastoral love of the confessor, enables the Father's love to flow more freely through out hearts.