LENT ("NOW IS THE TIME")

Lent is the fruit-bearing season of the spiritual life. It is a season that ". . .we may have fruit to sustain us for the rest of the year." If we cannot produce fruits now, it will be difficult to do so at other seasons.

"Behold, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation." So NOW, be more earnest in prayer, fasting and almsgiving. If you have been doing this, do so more for this is the way to wipe out sins. For there are certain sins which are not cast out except by prayer and fasting.

Remove anger with forgiveness. If you have stolen, return fourfold; if you cannot, return at least onefold. Abstain from cursing, reviling, excessive laughter and idle words. Lent is the season to wipe out the sins of the whole year. 

Now also is the time to confess your sins to God and to the priest. Why are you ashamed to confess your sins when they are manifest to the entire heavenly host? Penance without confession and confession without penance are both worthless. For the forgiveness of sins, there must be repentance, confession and firm intention of never committing them again.

During Lent, repair whatever is blameworthy in your soul. And offer your tithes. What is a tithe? Do not offer to God either of your grain or wine or fruit or tree or sheep or from herds or from business what is defective or stunted. Like Abel and unlike Cain, offer your best. For God had threatened that if you do not give Him His portion, He will get even your portion.

This season, he who is near a Church should hear Mass each day and he who can should join in Matins. And you must understand that whatever it is that you deny yourself through fasting must be given entirely to the poor, not kept back for yourselves.

So, labor now that you may enter into eternal rest.

St. Ambrose

(03-13-03)