Ash Wednesday 2015
Not one word is said about punishment or damnation in the readings for this Mass, and that should give a hint to Catholics about the true spirit of this season. There is no such thing as a private sin. Not only are all our sins known to the heavenly court, but the whole universe is affected by them. In the early years of the Church, public penitents were driven out of the churches, just as Adam was driven from Paradise after his sin. This is a time of holiness, mercy, hope, and pardon, not condemnation and gloom. We must begin Lent as we should examine our conscience, by looking at Our Lord and comparing ourselves with Him. During Lent Christ pleads with us not to leave Him alone, so we may be united with Him forever.
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