February 9 — On the Manner of doing Penance for our Sins

Consider, first, that the true manner of doing penance foi our sins, is not to be learned from the maxims, or from the com mon practice of the children of this world, who fear nothing more than the hurting of themselves, or the contradicting of their own humours, appetites, and inclinations; and therefore this bringing forth fruits worthy of penance is to them a hard saying, which they cannot endure to hear. But the true manner of doing penance for sin is to be learned of the children oi light, that is, from the doctrine and practice of the saints, who, as they had quite other ideas of the evil of sin, than worldlings have, so also they had a very different way of thinking, and of acting, in regard to penance; as they have demonstrated by the penitential austerities to which they have condemned themselves, all their life time, for expiation of the punishment due to their sins. And what are so many religious orders, in the church of God, in which so many thousands of both sexes, retiring from the world, dedicate themselves to daily mortifications and penances, but as many standing memorials, and living instances, of that true manner of doing penance, which the spirit of God usually inspires to those whom he convinces o f sin that is to say, whom he makes sensible of the heinousness of the evil of sin, and how much ought to be done for the expiation of it.

Consider, secondly, how this same spirit of God dictated to the.ancient church those rules and ordinances, commonly called the penitential canowi, which were in force for many hundred years, by which penitent sinners were subjected to divers fasts and other humiliations, for three, seven, ten and sometimes for fifteen years, or more, for one mortal siii, and yet did not think they did too much. O how ought this to convince sinners, that there is something more to be done for the remission of their sins, than they have hitherto been aware of! For though, according to the modern discipline of the church, these penitential canons are not now enforced, yet as God is still the same, andin is still as heinous in his eyes, as it was in former ages, so the sinner stands no less indebted at present to the divine justice than formerly, and therefore ought to think upon discharging this debt, in the best manner he is able, by frequent fasting and other corporeal mortifications, as well as by alms-deeds, and long continued prayer.

Consider, thirdly, that there are three particular practices of penance, which ought never to be forgotten, by any such as have, at any time in life, been guilty of mortal sin. The first and principal is, that they should go daily in spirit to the feet of Christ, to wash them with {)penitential tears, flowing from a loving heart; and there earnestly beg pardon for all their past offences, through his precious blood. The second, which will naturally flow from the first, is, that, having their sins thus always before their eyes, they should daily offer up to God, in penance for them, some voluntary mortifications of their own will, humour, or appetite; 'lat least, in lesser things, if they have not the courage or strength to undertake greater. For instance, that they should, in this spirit, rise early in the morning; retrench superfluities in eating, drinking, sleeping, and diversions; and mortify upon every occasion, their vanity, curiosity and sensuality. The third is, that they should also offer up daily for thir sins, in a penitential spirit, all the labours, to which their state of life is exposed, with all their pains and sufferings of every kind, which they may have to endure in life or death, to be united to, and sanctified by, the labours and sufferings of the Son of God; considering themselves all the while as under a course of penance laid on them by the Almighty for their sins, and going through it with humility, patience, and courage. Whosoever shall diligently persevere in the practice of these three things, will be allowed of one day as true penitents, and receive the crown of true penitents, though their circumstances of life, strength, or health, may not have admitted of any other penitential austerities. But no condition of life, or other circumstances whatsoever, ought to dispense with any sinner, from these three most easy, and most wholesome exercises of penance.

Conclude upon doing penance for thy sins, in the best manner thou art able, now, whilst thou hast time before thee; lest otherwise thou be surprised and overtaken with the night, and mayest then wish in vain to have done penance, when time shall be no more.