Penance
Our Model of Penance, Saint Mary of Egypt BFD001
https://media.blubrry.com/bellarmineforumfootnote/bellarmineforum.podbean.com/mf/play/yrja3d/BFD001_Life_of_Saint_Mary_of_Egypt.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadConfession requires that we make satisfaction for our sins. This is done by penance. Penance is a required action of the worthy reception of the Sacrament of Confession. Says St. Augustine: “Accuse thyself, and God will excuse thee; excuse thyself and God will accuse thee.” He also says, “Chastise thyself, if thou…
Ever Get Tempted to Give up Catholics for Lent?
I get a little edgier this time of year every year now. It’s because of the stupid, vapid advice I see repeated about lent. The Forum has posted a lot of good posts about lent on social channels recently. One was this piece of gold by Cindy Paslawski. In it, she asks whether traditional lent is optional. And she…
The Way to Peace, Unity, and Solving Current Problems
“Your hurtful lies are given out, Can’t stop the killing idea, If it’s hunting season, Is this what you want? The rain will kill us all.” Slipknot, Psychosocial. There’s a lot of division lately. A decline in civility. Turn on the news and you’ll see the latest violent protests on the streets, conflict in Congress, decisiveness between parties…
Are you forgetting something? The Inescapable Law of Mortification
In an age when we are inundated with all kinds of pleasures and told sin and hell don’t exist, it’s time to consider mortification. As we deny temptations and unlawful practices of pleasure, or choose to do acts of mortification to grow holier, we tend to actually enjoy God’s created goods more. Recently we celebrated…
PSA: Ember Days Start Tomorrow, but who cares?
In a day and age where it seems like our own bishops aren’t fans of asking the faithful to fast, and when the purpose of Ember days was specifically to help Mother Church strengthen herself in her clergy, we should look at how we’ve done since abandoning this practice. In 1964, the United States had…
Father Hardon on Lent and his 7 Rules of Penance
Fr. Hardon gives the basis of penance as a Divine Law that each of us must do, or perish. We may voluntarily do penance now – with his 7 rules of penance – or forcefully have it done to us later.
I got a guy in Heaven: Feast of the Guardian Angels
It just seems to be human nature that we all want a connection to power. We want someone “on the inside” who can whisper in the ear of the boss and get things done for us. Sometimes, we just need a guy that can talk to the boss and things get done. Growing up there…
Lent Preparation: Mite Boxes and Almsgiving
Yesterday, I received in the mail a very simple little device: a mite box. Meant to be like a little donations box in the church, the mite box is perfect to be placed in the home during lent in an area where it will be seen as a way to remind us during lent that we…
Lent Preparation: Earn an eternal merit badge this year
I’ve written before on the notion of lent being a time to fast and on the power of fasting to cast demons away. Today, people have totally shifted their concept and consider a fast “too much.” Those who say that have that luxury only today because the Church has mitigated the impact of the second law. Consider…
