It is now certainly easier for us to understand why Christ the Lord and the Church unite the call to fasting with repentance, that is, with conversion. To be converted to God, it is necessary to discover in ourselves that which makes us sensitive to what belongs to God; therefore, the spiritual contents, the superior values which speak to our intellect, to our conscience, to our "heart" (according to biblical language). To open up to these spiritual contents, to these values, it is necessary to detach oneself from what serves only the consumer spirit, satisfaction of the senses. In the opening of our human personality to God, fasting — understood both in the "traditional" way and in the "modern" way — must go hand in hand with prayer because it is addressed directly to him.– Pope Saint John Paul II, Excerpt from the
General Audience on March 21, 1979 (§4)
With this post, I am concluding a little instruction on how to engage the days of Lent, unique and challenging in our current circumstances, as a ‘long retreat’ according to the advice of Pope Benedict XVI in his
Angelus Address of February 21, 2010. We began to look at this address on Sunday, see my
blog post; Monday we began our lessons with a few practical thoughts and clarifications with the first topic:
prayer ; just yesterday, Tuesday, we continued our reflections with focusing on the privileged method of ‘sacred reading’ of the Word of God –
Lectio Divina – by focusing on ‘
listening to the Word of God.’
Today, we take-up the final topic for our ‘long retreat’: penance.
First, we must clarify that as Catholic Christians we use the term
penance in two ways: as a
Sacrament and as a
practice of self-restraint. Both of these understandings are important and necessary as we engage these days as a time of God’s grace: a time for mercy and a time for virtue. Thus, during any retreat and especially during the time of Lent, we rightly consider our sins and our ways forward to live a better life.
With our introduction to the topic completed, I want to expound upon the opening words of this post: At the heart of all penance... is conversion
.
Christ makes clear the essential connection between authentic discipleship and penitential discipline in his manner of life and through his words. As the God-Man, Jesus demonstrated the pattern of the Christian Life through four virtues: patience, obedience, humility, and charity (this topic is worthy of deeper consideration, we will save that for another time). Our Savior spoke the ‘words of eternal life’ while on earth, recall the initial summons of Jesus’ public ministry, calling each to conversion through penance: ‘Repent and Believe in the Gospel’ (Mark 4:4).
Encountering the Mercy of God
At the heart of all penance… is conversion.
In the most profound way we experience the Mercy of God in the Sacraments of the Church – principally through Baptism and renewed for the Baptized through the Sacrament of Confession (there are many names for this Sacrament of Healing: the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Mercy, Forgiveness, Conversion, or Penance; each of these titles is good and highlights and important aspect of this encounter with Divine Mercy).
The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses the need for this Sacrament in the personal economy of Salvation in question #297:
Why is there a sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism? Since the new life of grace received in Baptism does not abolish the weakness of human nature nor the inclination to sin (that is, concupiscence), Christ instituted this sacrament for the conversion of the baptized who have been separated from him by sin.
Much can be considered regarding this Sacrament, its role in the life of grace, and its origins. In our current moment of restrictions we must be diligent to prepare ourselves well for the reception of the Sacrament of Penance so that we will allow the fullness of its graces to heal and strengthen us when we are able to receive it. To this end, I would recommend utilizing
an examination of conscience, a way of identifying our sins and where we need to be healed – the one you received in the mail entitled “A primer for confession” composed by Fr. Fredrick Miller is very good – so that you will be open to the fullness of Divine Mercy when you approach this sacrament in the future. Also, re-establishing the habit of a brief
examination of conscience and praying the
Act of Contrition would be of great benefit in these unique days.
Conversion is fundamentally begun and sustained through ‘encountering the Mercy of God’ – the reality of the Lord makes this clear: “God is Love” (1 John 4:16).
Establishing a Virtuous Life
At the heart of all penance… is conversion.
Penance is frequently associated with sacrifice, self-restraint,
mortifications,
abstaining, and fasting; it is usually thought of as a part of the
program for Lenten disciplines. Penitential practices, even during Lent,
do not need to be grand or spectacular. In truth, we would do well to master the small temptations consistently so that we will more fully understand the many occasions for good works and prevalence of God’s abundant grace in our life. It is a temptation of the vice of pride to attempt to take on large penances, especially when we are disciples of the Christ who humbled himself by becoming man – humility must guide our penitential actions.
We will do well if we take the wise counsel of Saint Therese of Lisieux: “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”
Because of the many ways that concupiscence, the lies of our culture, and the temptations of the Devil can manipulate any good intention, I must also make clear a few norms about penitential practices, especially fasting: No penance should jeopardize your physical health or your mental health – with the prevalence of eating disorders it would be wise for many to abstain from TV, Social Media, Texting, etc. before removing a meal from their day. Remember, penance is ordered toward conversion not a distain for the human body. A thoughtful teaching on this is given by Pope Saint John Paul II as he reflected on fasting in the
General Audience on March 21, 1979 (an excerpt of this speech began our post today).
It is true that Fasting holds a privileged place in the tradition, but it would be shortsighted if our understanding was a mere lack of physical foods. Rather it is about seeking to sort out our various hungers, gaining control over our whole life, and re-ordering our hearts to seek the Lord. Pope Benedict XVI offers this important teaching: “Fasting means abstinence from food but includes other forms of privation for a more modest life. However, all this is not yet the full reality of fasting: it is an outer sign of an inner reality, of our commitment, with God’s help, to abstain from evil and to live by the Gospel. Those who are unable to nourish themselves with the word of God do not fast properly” (
General Audience on March 9, 2011 – the whole speech is worth reading).
Perhaps as each considers the proper manner of fasting it will be necessary to consider non-food and sinful indulgences, one could take on some unique and much needed fasts: removing complaining, bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, hatred, prejudices, blasphemy, greed, hoarding, lust, dirty talk, infidelity, criticizing and judging, profanity and vulgarity, avoidance of responsibilities and being a busybody to appear to be working, vanity of appearance, and such attitudes and actions that are contrary to the Christian Life. Abstaining from these sins and vices – these wicked pleasures – will surely be an acceptable fast, a penance that will lead you to conversion.
Through the ability to say ‘no’ to our desires we establish a virtuous life – a life where we can choose what is good over what is bad, even when it is uncomfortable. In this way we develop self-control, we are not enslaved to our passions, feelings, and circumstances. Rather, through establishing a virtuous life we are able to live for the Truth and do what is right and just. Thus, penance helps us in self-restraint which is the foundation of every virtue.
Conversion is fostered through ‘establishing a Virtuous Life’ – now is the time to live according to the Word of God: “A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. … My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn” (Psalm 51:12, 19).
A final word…
At the heart of all penance… is conversion.
Penance is a necessary aspect of the Christian Life. In simple, direct, and meaningful ways all persons, no matter their circumstances, will benefit from penance. In this effort the example and command of Christ leads us forward. Never forget that Penance is both the ‘encountering the Mercy of God’ and ‘establishing a Virtuous Life’ – no matter our state in life each has been invited to be a Disciple of the Lord Jesus with these words: ‘Repent and Believe in the Gospel.’
Know of my prayers for you, please pray for me!
Father Wilke
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us!