--- title: A Controlled Burn description: Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB, observes parallels between tactics used to maintain the health of a forest and our need to foster the health of our souls. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20220915%20MRealy%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/a-controlled-burn#) [FAITH](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/faith) # A Controlled Burn Sep 15, 2022 10:00:00 AM  |  by [Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/margaret-rose-realy-obl-osb) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20220915%20MRealy%201.png) *Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB, observes parallels between tactics used to maintain the health of a forest and our need to foster the health of our souls.* --- Controlled burns, also known as prescribed burns, are used to maintain the health of a forest. For safety, they are employed under optimal conditions and at specific times of the year. It is a forest management practice, and repeated as needed. The purpose of the burn is to eliminate debris that has built up and to reduce the danger of a wildfire. A burn is also used to reduce a destructive insect population or an invasive plant species. The build-up of debris, that does not break down organically, is incremental, barely perceptible over time, until it reaches a level that creates a potential threat if ignited unexpectedly. The dross in our life can build up incrementally as well. We don’t take notice of the little bits of daily sins—ours or the sins of others—accumulating around our hearts. We often do not see how some misjudgments populate other mistakes that often lead to anger which can burn out of control. Until one day we either see the perils to our soul, or our life goes up in flames and the destruction left behind demands we find a way to rebuild. A controlled burn as mentioned above is purposeful, and the Holy Spirit may intentionally ignite us in such a way that we see the litter about our souls. And clearing away that mess is often painful, but not destructive. The burning not only clears away what poses a threat, it also opens space for light to enter and leaves behind ashes that carry nutrients allowing regeneration.   > [Click to tweet: > Our Lord came knowing full well that we would repeatedly need to clean up our messes, and He controls the cleansing fire. #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/HYEa9)   The parable here of the benefit to the forest of our soul is to allow new growth, and the regeneration of a holy life. We will still sin, the dross will again start to accumulate, and with proper management, paraphrasing the words of St. Benedict, we start over. Our Lord came knowing full well that we would repeatedly need to clean up our messes, and He controls the cleansing fire.   ![20220915 MRealy 2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20220915%20MRealy%202.png?width=1080&name=20220915%20MRealy%202.png) --- Copyright 2022 Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB Images: Canva ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fa-controlled-burn%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fa-controlled-burn%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fa-controlled-burn%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=A%20Controlled%20Burn) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fa-controlled-burn%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fa-controlled-burn%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Margaret%20Rose%20Realy%202022.jpg) ### [Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/margaret-rose-realy-obl-osb) Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB lives an eremitic life and authored [A Garden Catechism](https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Catechism-Plants-Christian-Tradition/dp/1681925567), [A Catholic Gardener’s Spiritual Almanac](http://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Gardeners-Spiritual-Almanac-Cultivating/dp/1594714843/linkCode=as2%26tag=patheoscom04-20),  [A Garden of Visible Prayer: Creating a Personal Sacred Space One Step at a Time](http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Visible-Prayer-Creating-Personal/dp/1939221234/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425010682&sr=1-1&keywords=9781939221230), and  [Cultivating God’s Garden through Lent](http://www.amazon.com/Cultivating-Gods-Garden-through-Lent/dp/1939221099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359826349&sr=8-1&keywords=cultivating+gods+garden+through+lent). An award-winning author, Margaret has a master’s degree in communications, is a Certified Greenhouse Grower, Master Gardener, liturgical garden consultant, and workshop/retreat leader. ## Related Blog Articles [ Attracting More Birds with Water: Practical Gardening Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/07/attracting-birds-water-practical-gardening) [ Meatless Friday: Buttercup Squash and Sweet Potato Soup Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-buttercup-squash-and-sweet-potato-soup) [ Closer to Our Lord: Painting the Sacred Heart Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/closer-to-our-lord-painting-the-sacred-heart) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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