Confession and the Desire for Sanctity

This week of the liturgical year gives us two great examples of humility and fortitude in the lives of St. Philip Benizi and St. Bartholomew.

St. Augustine explains that the cure of the ten lepers from today’s Gospel is a figure of the sacrament of Penance. The disfiguring of the body cause by leprosy was seen as a visible sign of sin and its invisible corruption of the soul. Every Catholic should know that, although grace will be restored to the soul of a sinner with a single act of perfect contrition, that act includes the promise to confess one’s sins as soon as possible. If we wish to enter eternal life, it is not sufficient to merely avoid sin. Prayer and the burning desire for sanctity is necessary for every Catholic, if we are to walk before God and be perfect. That same command given to Abraham is given to each one of us.