Why a Life of Penance? Why do People Do It?

[JReducation]

I love Chesterton’s wit. If he’s ever canonized, I hope he becomes the patron saint of rhetoric. The way that he uses words is incredible. I wish I had that gift.

If you examine what he’s saying, he’s giving us the quality of a life of penance. Watch this.

On the topic of detachment…I was reading this quote from St.Francis of Assisi by Chesterton:

"The whole idea of St.Francis was that t**he Little Brothers should be like little fishes who could go freely in and out of that net. **

For many of us, the greatest sacrifice in life is not fitting in. But the man who follows the Gospel will not always fit in. He’s like the little fish who is in and is out. At times he will be in harmony with the world and at times he will be at odds with the world and he accepts this for the love of God.

One of the Franciscans says later, “A monk should own nothing but his harp”; meaning, I suppose, that he should value nothing but his song, the song with which it was his business as a minstrel to serenade every castle and cottage, the song of the joy of the Creator in his creation and the beauty of the brotherhood of men.

Minding our own business and doing it well can be very hard. There is no virtue in guarding the world, but disregarding one’s spiritual life. We must first own our spiriitual journey. That includes our sins and our virtues. Honesty with ourselves is not easy. It is a sacrifice that can and should be offered to God.

You could not threaten to starve a man who was ever striving to fast.

If you are striving to let go of the little things in life, the devil cannot threaten you with loss, because you’re giving it all up. This is the meaning of fasting and astinence. We are learning to give things up for love of God and neighbor and in atonement for our sins.

You could not ruin him and reduce him to beggary, for he was already a beggar.

The devil cannot frighten us with poverty and distress, if we’re willing to sacrifice everything that is important to us and depend on God’s Providence. A truly penitent person, tries to let go and offers this sacrifice to God in return for the grace to give more.

There was a very lukewarm satisfaction even in beating him with a stick, when he only indulged in little leaps and cries of joy because indignity was his only dignity.

Physical suffering, whether it be a beating, aging, poor health, cannot take anything away from us, if we welcome it as something to give back to God. This requires a big heart and will power.

You could not put his head in a halter without the risk of putting it in a halo."

In the end, if the devil, usually through the world, tries to crush you, he will only succeed in making you a saint.

To live this properly, one has to understand that Francis and the great Spiritual Masters always taught that all these things must be done with the approval of the Church. They never assumed anything until they had checked it out with a monk, priest, bishop or pope. While they could not ask Jesus to come down and put his signature on what they were offering as penance, they could get the ecclesial authorities to speak on his behalf.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[TrueLight]

BINGO!

TL you’re starting to sound like a Franciscan. If we work on our own conversion, others will observe and learn.

Look at people like St. Francis, St. Teresa of Avila, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and Bl. John Paul II. They preached conversion through their walking.

Fraternaly,

Br. JR, OSF

Thanks be to God.

 

[rainbow1]

I just realized that TL started this thread on July 16th, which I just learned from reading Br.Jay’s post on the thread about The Perfect Joy of St.Francis, is St.Clare’s birthday!!!
Tooo wonderful!!!

 

[TrueLight]

I just realized that TL started this thread on July 16th, which I just learned from reading Br.Jay’s post on the thread about The Perfect Joy of St.Francis, is St.Clare’s birthday!!!
Tooo wonderful!!!

Wow! I had no idea. And at that time I had no idea about St Clare either!

 

[rainbow1]

She knew all about you!!!
Blessings, and thanks for bringing the Holy Spirit to us!

 

[JReducation]

Wow! I had no idea. And at that time I had no idea about St Clare either!

If you forget all about me tomorrow, that’s fine. But never forget what I said to you once. “The saints lead us to Jesus.”

They’re not in competition with him. Clare was a woman just like you. She found a pearl of great price and she sold all that she had to buy it. Once she acquired Christ in her life, she loved those whom he loves. That means that she will do whatever she can to bring them closer to him, because it pleases him.

When she prays for you, she is doing it because it pleases him that she loves you.

Everything is always about him. That’s the beauty of the saints.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[rainbow1]

On the topic of detachment from possessions…here is an excerpt from Five Loaves and Two Fish, which is a book written by a priest who was arrested and imprisoned for 13 years by the Communist government of Vietnam…it is in a prayer called, “In Prison, for Christ”
"But in this sea of extreme bitterness I feel freer than ever before. I have nothing with me, not even a penny, nothing but my rosary and the companionship of Jesus and Mary. Along the road of captivity I prayed: “You are my God and my all.” Jesus, now I can say with Saint Paul: I, Francis, am now a prisoner for the cause of Christ. In the darkness of this night, in the midst of this ocean of anxiety, of nightmnares, I slowly wake up again: “I must confront reality: I am in prison. If I wait for an opportune moment to do something truly great, how many times will such occasions actually present themselves? No, I will seize the occasions that present themselves every day. I must accomplish ordinary actions in an extraordinary way.” Jesus, I will not wait, I will live the present moment, filling it to the brim with love. "

 

[JReducation]

On the topic of detachment from possessions…here is an excerpt from Five Loaves and Two Fish, which is a book written by a priest who was arrested and imprisoned for 13 years by the Communist government of Vietnam…it is in a prayer called, “In Prison, for Christ”
"But in this sea of extreme bitterness I feel freer than ever before. I have nothing with me, not even a penny, nothing but my rosary and the companionship of Jesus and Mary. Along the road of captivity I prayed: “You are my God and my all.” Jesus, now I can say with Saint Paul: I, Francis, am now a prisoner for the cause of Christ. In the darkness of this night, in the midst of this ocean of anxiety, of nightmnares, I slowly wake up again: “I must confront reality: I am in prison. If I wait for an opportune moment to do something truly great, how many times will such occasions actually present themselves? No, I will seize the occasions that present themselves every day. I must accomplish ordinary actions in an extraordinary way.” Jesus, I will not wait, I will live the present moment, filling it to the brim with love. "

I remember seeing a program about this priest. I believe he was ordained a bishop or am I confusing him with someone else?

He reminds me of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Many people don’t know that St. Max was arrested twice. He was not a stranger to concentration camps. After one arrest, one has to ask, why he would risk a second arrest. The answer is simple. He lived in the present moment. He did what needed to be done no matter how difficult. It came to the point where he needed to give his life to save the life of a family.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[rainbow1]

I remember seeing a program about this priest. I believe he was ordained a bishop or am I confusing him with someone else?

He reminds me of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Many people don’t know that St. Max was arrested twice. He was not a stranger to concentration camps. After one arrest, one has to ask, why he would risk a second arrest. The answer is simple. He lived in the present moment. He did what needed to be done no matter how difficult. It came to the point where he needed to give his life to save the life of a family.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

The priest was Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan. He has also written The Road of Hope and Testimony of Hope.

 

[JReducation]

The priest was Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan. He has also written The Road of Hope and Testimony of Hope.

That’s the one whom I saw the report on. He used to celebrate mass in his cell with a few drops of wine in the cup of his hand and a piece of bread from his meal. He was a very holy man. I believe that he may have passed away.

He’s a wonderful example of a man who lives the full meaning of the life of penance. He took it beyond the usual fast and abstinence. His embrace the difficulties of life as part of what he could offer God in the present moment.

The thing about people like him is that they understand that his situation is not the will of God. God does not will evil for us. Any form of injustice is evil. There are times when there are things that we can do to change situations and we have a moral duty to do so. There are other times when evil siutations are out of our control. That’s when we can embrace a deeper form of penance. We can either rebel against that which we cannot change or we can use it. That’s what the Cardinal did. He tolerated what he could not change. In other words, he tried to find God in the darkness. That’s the next level of a life of penance. I wish that I had that stamina and faith.

Fraternally,

Br.JR, OSF

 

[rainbow1]

That’s the one whom I saw the report on. He used to celebrate mass in his cell with a few drops of wine in the cup of his hand and a piece of bread from his meal. He was a very holy man. I believe that he may have passed away.

He’s a wonderful example of a man who lives the full meaning of the life of penance. He took it beyond the usual fast and abstinence. His embrace the difficulties of life as part of what he could offer God in the present moment.

The thing about people like him is that they understand that his situation is not the will of God. God does not will evil for us. Any form of injustice is evil. There are times when there are things that we can do to change situations and we have a moral duty to do so. There are other times when evil siutations are out of our control. That’s when we can embrace a deeper form of penance. We can either rebel against that which we cannot change or we can use it. That’s what the Cardinal did. He tolerated what he could not change. In other words, he tried to find God in the darkness. That’s the next level of a life of penance. I wish that I had that stamina and faith.

Fraternally,

Br.JR, OSF

Two quotes from Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan discussing his imprisonment:

“Many times I was tempted, tormented by the fact that I was forty-eight years old, in the prime of my life; I had worked as bishop for eight years, I had acquired a great deal of pastoral experience, and there I was: isolated, inactive, and separated from my people by 1,700kilometers! One night I heard a voice encouraging me from the depths of my heart: “Why do you torment yourself so?” You must learn to distinguish between God and the works of God. Everything you have done and desire to continue doing: the formation of seminarians, men and women religious, laity , and youth, pastoral visits, constructing schools, foyers for students, missions for the evangelization of non-Christians…all of these are excellent works, they are God’s works, but they are not God! If God wants you to leave all of these works, place them in God’s hands immediately and have confidence in him. God will accomplish things infinitely better than you. He will entrust his works to others who are much more capable than you. You have chosen God alone, not his works!” I had always tried to do God’s will, but this light brought me a new strength that completely changed my way of thinking and helped me to overcome moments that were almost physically impossible to overcome. At times, well-developed programs must be left incomplete, activities begun with great enthusiasm are stalled; large missions are reduced to minor activities. I might become upset and discourraged, but I must ask myself: has the Lord called me to follow him, or to follow this project or that person? Let the Lord work. He will make everything turn out for the best."

“In the Eucharist we announce the death of Jesus and we proclaim his resurrection. There were moments of infinite sadness; how did I survive? By looking at Jesus crucified and abandoned on the cross. To human eyes the life of Jesus was a defeat, a disappointment, a failure. However, in God’s eyes Jesus accomplished the most important act of his life on the cross, because he poured out his blood to save the world. How greatly, Jesus was united to God when on the cross he could no longer preach, cure the sick, visit the towns and villages, perform miracles, but remained absolutely immobile!”

 

[JReducation]

Two quotes from Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan discussing his imprisonment:

“Many times I was tempted, tormented by the fact that I was forty-eight years old, in the prime of my life; I had worked as bishop for eight years, I had acquired a great deal of pastoral experience, and there I was: isolated, inactive, and separated from my people by 1,700kilometers! One night I heard a voice encouraging me from the depths of my heart: “Why do you torment yourself so?” You must learn to distinguish between God and the works of God. Everything you have done and desire to continue doing: the formation of seminarians, men and women religious, laity , and youth, pastoral visits, constructing schools, foyers for students, missions for the evangelization of non-Christians…all of these are excellent works, they are God’s works, but they are not God! If God wants you to leave all of these works, place them in God’s hands immediately and have confidence in him. God will accomplish things infinitely better than you. He will entrust his works to others who are much more capable than you. You have chosen God alone, not his works!” I had always tried to do God’s will, but this light brought me a new strength that completely changed my way of thinking and helped me to overcome moments that were almost physically impossible to overcome. At times, well-developed programs must be left incomplete, activities begun with great enthusiasm are stalled; large missions are reduced to minor activities. I might become upset and discourraged, but I must ask myself: has the Lord called me to follow him, or to follow this project or that person? Let the Lord work. He will make everything turn out for the best."

“In the Eucharist we announce the death of Jesus and we proclaim his resurrection. There were moments of infinite sadness; how did I survive? By looking at Jesus crucified and abandoned on the cross. To human eyes the life of Jesus was a defeat, a disappointment, a failure. However, in God’s eyes Jesus accomplished the most important act of his life on the cross, because he poured out his blood to save the world. How greatly, Jesus was united to God when on the cross he could no longer preach, cure the sick, visit the towns and villages, perform miracles, but remained absolutely immobile!”

That’s takes us back to the Desert Fathers and fastforward to St. Francis of Assisi and later, Bl. Teresa of Calcutta. The greatest act of penance is perfect poverty. To surrender to God what he asks and accept what he offers.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[rainbow1]

Two quotes from Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan discussing his imprisonment:

“Many times I was tempted, tormented by the fact that I was forty-eight years old, in the prime of my life; I had worked as bishop for eight years, I had acquired a great deal of pastoral experience, and there I was: isolated, inactive, and separated from my people by 1,700kilometers! One night I heard a voice encouraging me from the depths of my heart: “Why do you torment yourself so?” You must learn to distinguish between God and the works of God. Everything you have done and desire to continue doing: the formation of seminarians, men and women religious, laity , and youth, pastoral visits, constructing schools, foyers for students, missions for the evangelization of non-Christians…all of these are excellent works, they are God’s works, but they are not God! If God wants you to leave all of these works, place them in God’s hands immediately and have confidence in him. God will accomplish things infinitely better than you. He will entrust his works to others who are much more capable than you. You have chosen God alone, not his works!” I had always tried to do God’s will, but this light brought me a new strength that completely changed my way of thinking and helped me to overcome moments that were almost physically impossible to overcome. At times, well-developed programs must be left incomplete, activities begun with great enthusiasm are stalled; large missions are reduced to minor activities. I might become upset and discourraged, but I must ask myself: has the Lord called me to follow him, or to follow this project or that person? Let the Lord work. He will make everything turn out for the best."

“In the Eucharist we announce the death of Jesus and we proclaim his resurrection. There were moments of infinite sadness; how did I survive? By looking at Jesus crucified and abandoned on the cross. To human eyes the life of Jesus was a defeat, a disappointment, a failure. However, in God’s eyes Jesus accomplished the most important act of his life on the cross, because he poured out his blood to save the world. How greatly, Jesus was united to God when on the cross he could no longer preach, cure the sick, visit the towns and villages, perform miracles, but remained absolutely immobile!”/QUOT

Br.Jay, I loved your quote, " We can either rebel against that which we cannot change or we can use it"…how awesome to think of taking each difficulty we encounter in life and try (with the help of God) to transform it into an expression of His Love…We can use the small and large bad things in life to help Him bring about goodness…LOVE IT!

 

[TrueLight]

I did an all night vigil last night and woke up about half an hour ago. My poor body is exhausted. Surely that is penitential?

 

[TrueLight]

Hi Br JR,.

Do you know anything about his group?

penitents.org/

 

[JReducation]

Hi Br JR,.

Do you know anything about his group?

penitents.org/

I know nothing about them. However, they are approved by the local Ordinary. Therefore, they are orthodox Franciscans. According to the rule of St. Francis, the bishop always has the final word.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[crazzeto]

For the many sins of this world, we have strayed far.

 

[TrueLight]

I have to say, kneeling for mass, especially the low mass, 3 days a more per week is killing my knees.

Is this something my knees have to get used to, or is this going to be penitential for all my life?

 

[TrueLight]

Can penance also apply to uniting yourself with the suffering of others besides Christ.

Today I was standing in the rain, waiting for the bus, feeling EXTREMELY annoyed. Then I thought of this thread. Yes, I think of CAF.

I thought of how blessed I should feel that we have rain and how there are some countries that experience very long periods of drought. So I chose to unite myself spiritually with the suffering of those people.

What a difference that made.

So is that a form of penance?

 

[rainbow1]

Can penance also apply to uniting yourself with the suffering of others besides Christ.

Today I was standing in the rain, waiting for the bus, feeling EXTREMELY annoyed. Then I thought of this thread. Yes, I think of CAF.

I thought of how blessed I should feel that we have rain and how there are some countries that experience very long periods of drought. So I chose to unite myself spiritually with the suffering of those people.

What a difference that made.

So is that a form of penance?

That is beautiful, TL. I was thinking of this site and offering up today too…