Ash Wednesday Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Co 6:2) Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essential part of the proclamation of the kingdom: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel. (Mk 1:15) In the Churchs preaching this call is addressed first to those who do not yet know Christ and his Gospel. Also, Baptism is the principal place for the first and fundamental conversion. It is by faith in the Gospel and by Baptism (Acts 2:38) that one renounces evil and gains salvation, that is, the forgiveness of all sins and the gift of new life. Christs call to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians. This second conversion is an uninterrupted task for the whole Church who, clasping sinners to her bosom, is at once holy and always in need of purification, and follows constantly the path of penance and renewal. (LG 8) This endeavor of conversion is not just a human work. It is the movement of a contrite heart, drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first. (1 Jn 4:10) Jesus call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, sackcloth and ashes, fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. Without this, such penances remain sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance. Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change ones life, with hope in Gods mercy and trust in the help of his grace. This conversion of heart is accompanied by a salutary pain and sadness which the Fathers called animi cruciatus (affliction of spirit) and compunctio cordis (repentance of heart). (Cf. Council of Trent -1551- DS 1676-1678; 1705; Cf. Roman Catechism, II, V) The human heart is heavy and hardened. God must give man a new heart. Conversion is first of all a work of the grace of God who makes our hearts return to him: Restore us to thyself, O LORD, that we may be restored! (Ezek 36:26-27) God gives us the strength to begin anew. It is in discovering the greatness of Gods love that our heart is shaken by the horror and weight of sin and begins to fear offending God by sin and being separated from him. the human heart is converted by looking upon him whom our sins have pierced: Let us fix our eyes on Christs blood and understand how precious it is to his Father, for, poured out for our salvation it has brought to the whole world the grace of repentance. (From a letter to the Corinthians 7, 4 by Saint Clement, pope) The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: effort at reconciliation with ones neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the salvation of ones neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and the practice of charity which covers a multitude of sins. Conversion is accomplished in daily life by gestures of reconciliation, concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right, by the admission of faults to ones brethren, fraternal correction, and revision of life, examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering, endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness. Taking up ones cross each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 10:20:48 +0000
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