What have we done? Christ has left us. We have driven him away. Our hatreds, our pride, our pharisaical self-sufficiency have driven out the Spirit of the Gospel. And Christ has gone. Christ has gone. Oh, how satisfied we are with ourselves! We are the pure, we possess the truth, and we condemn others! But life and history go on.
— Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople (1886-1972)
And when I see the way people live — so many of them set in their ways and living in habitual mortal sin; not a day goes by that they do not add to the number of their sins. They sin as easily as they would take a glass of water; they commit iniquities as if it were a joke, for a laugh. They are really tragic figures, marching on their own two feet toward hell.
— Saint Anthony Claret (1807-1870)
Our Holy Mother Church calls this Season before Easter a ‘penitential season.’ One of the main messages of Our Lady of Lourdes was: ‘Penance, penance, penance.’ This means: we must try to make up for our sins. With every sin there is a punishment as part of justice (break a window, fix it; sin, do penance); and not everyone has fulfilled this (including possibly ourselves!). So: it is a heroic act of mercy; love and wisdom to help the world to help atone for its sins.
— Fr. John Lombardi (1960-
Someone who is elated with wine speaks the truth on all subjects, even without meaning to. In the same way, anyone who is inebriated with the spirit of penitence will never be able to tell lies.
–Saint John Climacus (c. 525-606)
When you see a condemned man on his way to the gallows, it moves you to pity. If you could do something to free him, you would do it. Well, brothers and sisters, when I see a person in mortal sin, I see someone drawing nearer with every step to the gallows of hell. And seeing him in this unhappy state, I happen to know the way to free him: that he be converted to God, ask God’s pardon, and make a good confession. Woe betide me if he does not.
— Saint Anthony Claret (1807-1870)
