This week we started the Season of lent, and with that we are called to repent for our sins, go to confession, and do acts of penance. This practice dates back to the first few centuries when this liturgical celebration was formed by combining a few practices. First, from the early Christians who used to conduct the Paschal Fasting for two days before Easter. This was eventually expanded to last 40 days in remembrance of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. Second, from the catechumenate process that prepared candidates to enter the Catholic Church through Baptism and sacraments of initiation on Easter. Third, from the Order of Penitents formed in the early centuries for people who committed very serious sins and had to perform increased prayer and penance to be reintegrated into the church community. Their penance included wearing ashes on their head (from where the ashes of Ash Wednesday came from). Finally, from the Church community which began to join catechumens and penitents in solidarity for 40 days before Easter.

The three principal suggestions for penance from the Church are to fast, to pray, and to give alms to the poor. Hopefully we pray all year-round and don’t view it as a sacrifice, although it is sacrifice of time. We fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, but are encouraged to fast more often. We also abstain from meat on Fridays. And we should give alms all year long, but particularly during Lent. These are just examples. Penance could include other sacrifices such as giving up things we like such as candy, chocolate,  and wine (one time I gave up coffee and that one was hard!), doing things that are difficult like praying on our knees, or doing practices that require extra time and effort and that are beneficial such as studying the Bible (last year I read the Book of Revelation, which I had avoided before).

But why do we do penance? There are at least 4 reasons. 1) To express our sorrow for our sins. 2) To satisfy the consequence of our sins, the temporal punishment due to us for our sins. Penance helps us atone for our sins. When we go to confession, the guilt of our sins is erased, but we still need to satisfy the consequences of our sins through penance. The priest gives us a penance during confession, but I'm not sure that praying 5 Hail Marys is equivalent to the ways I offended God. Penance satisfy this debt. 3) Doing acts of penance helps purify our souls, these acts of self denial, of renunciation moved by love, strengthen us and purify us from unhealthy attachments that lead to sin. If you think about it, many sins are motivated by physical pleasure, instant gratification, boosting our own ego at the expense of others, and putting ourselves above others and God. Me, me, me! When we learn to say no to our desires through sacrifice, no to ourselves, we get better at saying no to temptation. What do you think happens to the souls in purgatory? They suffer to satisfy their temporal punishment due to them for their sins and they are purified from the unhealthy attachments to sin. So penance during Lent, and all year long, helps us do some of our time in purgatory now. We are "paying our mortgage early." Penance liberates us from the attachments to sin and purify our hearts, which with by the grace of God leads to a deeper relationship with God. 4) There is one more benefit of penance, and that is that we can offer it for others. The same way we can pray for others, we can and must offer sacrifices for others. The Blessed Virgin Mary told us during aparitions to do penance for the conversion of sinners and to atone for all the offenses against God.

Mary told Bernadette in Lourdes “Penance! Penance! Penance! Pray to God for sinners! Kiss the ground as an act of penance for sinners!" The Angel of Fatima told the kids to “Continue praying and to offer as a sacrifice their suffering to the Lord and to make reparation for the crimes of “ungrateful men.” The Mary in Fatima told the kids “Pray, pray very much and make sacrifices for sinners. For many souls go to Hell because there is no one to pray for them.” Mary in Medjugorje said “Through fasting and prayer one can stop wars, one can suspend the natural laws of nature. Works of charity cannot replace fasting... Everyone except the sick, has to fast." In Medjugorje just last week, “Therefore, little children, return to God and to prayer, to fasting and to renunciation, for all those who are downtrodden, poor, and have no voice in this world without God.” Finally, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

“The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle. Spiritual progress entails the self-discipline and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes.” (CCC 2015). 

Penitential practices during Lent and the whole year opens up to better listen the calling from God, to better understand God’s will for us, and to be open to receive the graces need to act on that will. 

May God bless you this Lenten season and always.