The Call to Deeper Conversion

It takes the whole life.

Twice a month, on Saturday morning, there is a meeting of the men’s group at our church. A speaker gives a reflection. There is time for group discussion. We close with prayer intentions. It has been an important part of my life in recent years and is often an inspiration to listen to men of faith talk about how God is working in their life.

This weekend, the discussion shifted to the troubles in our society and evangelization—how can we effectively evangelize in this culture? We want to make Jesus more known and loved. We want to share the good news of salvation and what God has done for us. How can we be effective at this?

Various ideas and thoughts were offered. The speaker asked for my view on the issue. I responded by noting that the Holy Spirit is the instrument of evangelization and the problem today is a lack of the Holy Spirit, which is rooted in a lack of conversion. If more Christians were truly converted, then the Holy Spirit would begin to work and we would see things start to change.

The discussion shifted course, but I was left pondering this issue the entire weekend. Is there a connection between deeper conversion and successful evangelization? If so, what kind of conversion are we talking about?

It is a foundational truth that the Holy Spirit is the instrument of evangelization. “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.”¹ “Evangelization will never be possible without the action of the Holy Spirit.”²

Because evangelization is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit, evangelization starts with true conversion of heart in the believer.³ We are not talking simply about one’s “first conversion” to the life of faith. Rather, as one cultivates a real relationship with Jesus Christ by reading and meditation on the Scriptures and through daily prayer, one experiences an inner transformation—a so-called “second conversion.” There are, in fact, several conversions that happen in the course of the spiritual life as one approaches perfection (perfection in the sense of “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”⁴).

The first conversion is often described as one in which the person devotes himself to the service of God; the second is one by which he gives himself entirely to perfection.⁵ This second conversion is what Jesus references when He says, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”⁶ This second conversion is necessary “to enter the intimacy of the kingdom, to penetrate deeply into it, that ‘the depths of the soul,’ . . . might no longer contain any egoism or self-love, but belong wholly to God so that God might truly reign in it.”⁷ It is a passage from mercenary love (i.e. serving God out of self-interest) to filial love (i.e. serving God out of the love of a son, irrespective of one’s own personal advantage).⁸

The second conversion is part of the ordinary path of sanctity in a Christian. But few enter through the narrow gate.⁹ “The reason why we are so slow in arriving at perfection, or never arrive at it at all, is that in almost everything we are led by nature and human views. We follow but little, if at all, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to whom it belongs to enlighten, direct and animate.”¹⁰

Why do so many fail to follow the light of the Holy Spirit into deeper conversion? The gifts of the Holy Spirit remain bound by attachment to venial sin¹¹—”they are like sails that are furled and not spread.”¹² The Bible confirms that our decisions and actions can have an effect on the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are told not to quench, grieve or resist the Holy Spirit.¹³ Thus, each of us must work diligently to overcome attachments to sin and self-love, sustained by a life of prayer.

In order for our efforts at evangelization to touch hearts and bring about conversion to the gospel, it must have the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon it. This anointing only comes in the spiritual life after a second conversion. “This second conversion involves the whole human being in all his or her fundamental relations. The gospel conversion is a personal experience with God. It is not only a fundamental decision to be liberated from sin but to become a decision partner with Jesus Christ in the on-going work of redemption and salvation through the actions of the Holy Spirit.”¹⁴

What does it take to enter into this second conversion? Ultimately, the second conversion is a gift of grace from God. Nevertheless, we can prepare ourselves to enter into deeper conversion by our disposition. To quote a friend of mine, “it takes the whole life.” Complete surrender is required.¹⁵ “A superficial oblation of self does not suffice; there must be a genuine new conversion, a turning of the heart toward God.”¹⁶

What does your “all in” for Jesus look like?

The men’s group that I attend is the kernel of evangelization. This encounter with other men of faith is an encouragement to deeper conversion in each one of us. The process of conversion opens us up more and more to the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which flows like spiritual oil onto others. Ultimately, the greater movement of the Holy Spirit in individual Christians will bring about change in our culture and institutions.¹⁷

Today, I encourage you to renew your commitment to Jesus Christ. Renew your complete act of surrender to Him. He wants your undivided love. Do not be afraid to give Him everything! By God’s grace, you will be transformed from within and the Holy Spirit will animate your life in a new and powerful way.

1. 1 Cor. 12:3, RSV-CE.

2. Evangelii Nuntiandi (Apostolic Exhortation), paragraph 75 (December 8, 1975).

3. See Fr. John Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary, definition of evangelization.

4. Matt. 5:48, RSV-CE.

5. Vol. 2, Garrigou-Lagrange, The Three Ages of the Interior Life, at 23 (1948) (reprinted 1989 by Tan Books and Publishers, Inc.).

6. Matt. 18:3, RSV-CE; see Vol. 2, The Three Ages, at 21.

7. Vol. 2, The Three Ages, at 39.

8. Vol. 2, The Three Ages, at 30-31 (citing Ch. 63 of The Dialogue by St. Catherine of Sienna); see also Garrigou-Lagrange, The Three Conversions in the Spiritual Life, at 36-37, 42 (1938) (reprinted 1977 by Tan Books and Publishers, Inc.).

9. Matt. 7:13-14.

10. The Spiritual Doctrine of Father Louis Lallemant, at 174-75 (1885); see also Vol. 2, The Three Ages, at 25.

11. Fr. John Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary, definition of venial sin (“An offense against God which does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace.”). Generally speaking, venial sin is that sin which is “not deadly.” See 1 John 5:16-18.

12. Vol. 2, The Three Ages, at 28 n. 20.

13. 1 Thes. 5:19; Eph. 4:30; Acts 7:51.

14. Rev. Bro. Augustine Momoh, O.P., Spiritual Preparation for Charismatic Ministry (to be released 2022) (Abound in Hope Press).

15. Vol. 2, The Three Ages, at 37 (“it is by a person’s complete renunciation of self and of all that he possesses that he goes to God”).

16. Vol. 2, The Three Ages, at 28.

17. See Fr. John Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary, definition of evangelization.