Readers may be acquainted with the old saw about “lies, damn lies, and statistics.” But whether or not we put much stock in the statistics generated by sociologists and their polls, well known social and ecclesiastical trends would lend credence … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Penance
Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, the Humbled One
At Mass this morning, the chaplain for Saint Benedict Center gave an inspiring sketch of the major events in the life of the Passionist Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin (1838-1862), whose feast day is today, February 27. What caught … Continue reading
St. Margaret of Cortona, the Public Penitent
Today is the feast day of Saint Margaret of Cortona. Catholic Herald: Margaret of Cortona (c 1247-97) has been called the Second Magdalen – although there is nothing in the gospels to cast any aspersion on Mary Magdalen’s morals. Read more … Continue reading
Suggested Lenten Penances
The best penances are those that God sends us. These penances are immediately consequent upon His “will signified,” that is, the natural moral law and any positive law to which we are bound in conscience, e.g., the Church’s laws on … Continue reading
The Attacks on the Church and Our Sins Are Our Call to Penance, Says Pope Benedict
Catholic Culture reports: Now, under the attacks of the world, which speak to us of our sins, we see that to be able to do penance is a grace – and we see how necessary it is to do penance, … Continue reading
A Letter to Bedfordshire (in Response to Mr. Thomas Sparks)
(240K PDF version of this same article. ) Introduction. Mr. Thomas Sparks, of Bedfordshire, England, has posted an “Open Letter” to me on his web site. The present offering is my reply.