Time for intense penance

PENANCE is actually what we have to do all the time. It’s

quite clear that we need it, given our weakened, wounded and sinful

condition in the entirety of our earthly sojourn. But it has its more

intense moments, one of which is precisely the period of Lent.

          The spirit of penance is not actually something that is

dark, negative, painful, etc. It’s not something we should run away

from. In fact, it’s not something that we should just bear and

tolerate since we cannot avoid it.

          We need to embrace it, to love it, and thus, we have to

develop that spirit as best that we can. It is actually something

beautiful, purifying and liberating. It recovers us from our wounded

condition and reinforces our dignity as persons and children of God.

          We need to develop and live this spirit of penance because

it is clear that sin continues to dominate us in this life. In fact,

it quite clear that things are getting worse. There are now powerful

and well-established structures of sin in our midst before which we

are simply an easy prey.

          The networks of corruption, pornography, godless and worldly

ideologies, etc. are proliferating, taking advantage of the powerful

technologies and the relative vulnerability of many people, especially

the young ones, who are not yet prepared to properly handle these

networks.

          The sense itself of sin is disappearing. Pope Francis and

the previous ones have pointed that out and are warning us of this

condition. They are strongly encouraging us to truly develop the

spirit of penance.

          Lent is indeed a time to give special attention to our

conscience, if only to clean, polish and fine tune it, so it can more

correctly and punctually hear the voice of God who is the only one to

tell us what is truly right and wrong, moral and immoral, etc., in

these very confusing times.

          We need time and effort for this. We have to pause from our

usual routine of work and daily concerns, and immerse ourselves in

prayer and meditation, as well as studying more deeply and extensively

the doctrine of our faith, especially that part concerning morals.

          Lent is the time to practice and live piety in a more

special way, knowing that piety provides us the proper footing in our

relation with God, and through it, in our relation with others as

well.

          And this piety, if it has to have a more prominent aspect of

penance, should include a significant amount of sacrifices and forms

of self-denial and mortification, like fasting and abstinence not only

from food, meat and drinks, but also from the many other worldly

commodities that while offering us some good can also easily spoil us.

          We have to intensify our practice of disciplining our

thoughts, desires, our words and activities, to better conform them to

the requirements of truth and charity and to prevent them from

straying into ways of self-indulgence, if not into the wiles and

tricks of the devil.

          We cannot deny that since our thoughts and desires are

hidden, they can easily go to forbidden territories and stay there for

quite a while. We should try to stop that. Also, our mouth can just

say things without processing them properly. We should keep close

watch over our mouth.

          It is in the lust of the flesh that we should be most

intense of disciplining. And in this regard, it would not be unwise to

resort to some extraordinary corporal mortifications if only to keep

our body’s wild tendencies under control.

          Aside from fasting and abstinence, perhaps we can consider

sleeping on the floor from time to time, away from our comfortable

beds. And why not? We can use some instruments of corporal

mortification used by the saints of previous eras like the whip or the

cilice. If you do not know what they are, just Google them.