This past October, the Church observed the 100th anniversary of Mary’s apparition at Fatima. Central to Mary’s message to the world, given through the three children, was a call to do penance for sins.

 

The emphasis on penance given to the modern world by Mary at the close of the First World War was not something new. The idea of penance for sins and its connection to conversion from evil goes all the way back to the Old Testament. 

 

Of course Jesus Himself taught His followers to do penance by making almsgiving to the poor, praying and fasting a part of our spiritual lives. They are part and parcel of how followers of Jesus are to imitate Him.

 

The season of Lent is the time of the year that heightens our focus on the practice of penance, something we should be making part of our faith all year round. As we begin our Lenten observance, we might remind ourselves of some of the basics of penance.

 

The very need for penance flows from the reality of sin itself. Sin is not simply breaking an arbitrary rule. It’s an offense against God and against His goodness found in every aspect of creation. Since the first sin of Adam and Eve, evil has brought with it consequences which we see in the Book of Genesis. 

 

After their disobedience, their relationship to God was damaged. For the first time Adam and Eve began to fear God and hide from Him when He walked in the garden where they lived (Gen 3:8).

 

The relation of the human race to nature itself was also disrupted by sin. For Eve the anguish of childbirth was foretold in the Book of Genesis, and for Adam, that he would have to contend with the earth to seek his food and mastery over creation.

 

The relationship between Adam and Eve themselves was disrupted by sin as well. They began to accuse each other before God as the one who led them both to disobedience. And by those same denunciations of each other, the damage from sin experienced individually was laid bare. 

 

The spiritual decay that prompts us to blame others, to rationalize our behavior and simply to be untruthful suddenly came forth.

 

The damage that sin does to our relation to God, nature, each other and ourselves has not changed over time. The loss of the sense of God in our modern world, the degradation of the environment, the violations of justice and our personal struggle to live in holiness flow from our own sins.

 

Our acts of Lenten penance engage that damage. Fasting, praying and giving to the poor during Lent, redirect us toward God. They heal the anger and guilt that naturally comes from sin. 

 

Extra sacrifices of kindness and charity begin to heal the sinful divisions among us. 

 

Penance and conversion lead us to seek the forgiveness of our sins. That underscores the importance of the sacrament of forgiveness — confession. Going to confession must be a highlight of Lent for us. When did you last go to confession and hear those words, “I absolve you from your sins”?

 

Don’t forget that once again this year, we will celebrate Be Reconciled Day. On March 21 you are invited to confess your sins. Parishes throughout the Diocese of Rockford will offer confessions from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Please check your local parish or your myParish app for specific local times.

 

Lent is only 40 days long. Holy Week and Easter is not far off. We need to prepare now by our conversion of heart and our practice of Lenten penance.