Do we receive punishments when we sin?

I. - A man offended by another would like to take revenge, but he cannot easily, apart from that revenge generates the worst. God, on the other hand, can and has the right, nor does he have to fear retaliation. It could punish us by taking away our health, substances, relatives, friends, life itself. But it is rare that God punishes in this life, it is we ourselves who punish ourselves.

II. - With sin each of us makes a choice. If this choice is final, each one will have what he has chosen: either the highest good, or the highest evil; eternal happiness, or eternal torment. Blessed are we who can obtain forgiveness for the blood of Christ and the pains of Mary! before a definitive choice!

III. - It is urgent to put a "enough" to sin, before God pronounces his "enough!". We have many warnings: family misfortunes, a lost place, disappointed hopes, slander, spiritual torments, dissatisfactions. And if you had lost even the remorse of conscience, you would have the greatest punishment! We cannot say that God never punishes even during our life. For a long time, many natural scourges, illnesses or accidents that have occurred have been considered as God's punishments for sins. It just can't be true. But it is also certain that the goodness of a father resorts to some punishment for a call from his son.
EXAMPLE: St. Gregory the Great - In the year 589 all of Europe was devastated by a horrible plague, and the city of Rome was the most affected. It seems that the dead were so many that they didn't even find the time to bury them. S. Gregorio Magno, then pontiff on the chair of s. Peter ordered public prayers and processions of penance and fasting. But the plague persisted. Then he particularly turned to Mary by having her image carried in procession; on the contrary, he himself took it in his hand, and followed by the people crossed the main streets of the city. The chronicles say that the plague seemed to disappear as if by magic, and the songs of joy and gratitude soon began to replace the moans and cries of pain.

FIORETTO: Recite the holy Rosary, perhaps depriving yourself of some vain recreation.

OBSERVE: Hold back some time in front of an image of Mary, begging her to appease the divine justice in your regard.

GIACULATORIA: You, who are the Mother of God, powerful supplications for us.

PRAYER: O Mary, we sinned yes, and we deserve God's punishment; but you, good Mother, turn to us your gaze of mercy and plead our cause before the throne of God. You are our powerful advocate, remove the scourges from us. We hope everything from you, or lenient, or pious, or sweet Virgin Mary!