½Å¾Ó°ú ±³¸®

Home > ½Å¾Ó°ú ±³¸® > ¹Ì»ç°­·Ð

Á¦¸ñ º¸¼Ó¿¡ °üÇÏ¿©/On Penance (2014-03-12)
ÀÛ¼ºÀÚ °ü¸®ÀÚ ÀÛ¼ºÀÏ 2014-09-10


º¸¼Ó¿¡ °üÇÏ¿©(2014-03-12)


»ç¶ûÇÏ´Â ±³¿ì ¿©·¯ºÐ

 

¿À´ÃÀº ÀüÅëÀûÀ¸·Î ´Ü½ÄÇÏ´Â »ç°èÀçÀÏ(ÞÌÌùî±ìí) Áß ÇϳªÀÎ ¼ö¿äÀÏÀÔ´Ï´Ù. °ú°Å¿¡´Â ºÀÀç ¿Â ±â°£(ÁÖÀÏÀ» »« ÀçÀÇ ¼ö¿äÀϺÎÅÍ ¼º Åä¿äÀϱîÁö °ÅÀÇ40ÀÏ°£)µ¿¾È ´ë ¼ÒÀ縦 Áö³Â½À´Ï´Ù. ¿À´Ã³¯ ´ëÁ˸¦ ÃÊ·¡ÇÏ´Â ´Ü½Ä¿¡ °üÇÑ ¼º ±³È¸ ¹ý±Ô´Â ¿ÀÁ÷ Àç(灾)ÀÇ ¼ö¿äÀÏ°ú ¼º ±Ý¿äÀÏ»ÓÀÔ´Ï´Ù,

 

±×·¯³ª ¿ì¸® ¸ðµÎ ´õ ´Ü½ÄÀ» Çϵµ·Ï ³ë·ÂÇսôÙ. ¼º ºñ¿À10¼¼È¸, ¼öµµÈ¸ ±×¸®°í Á¦3ȸ¿øµéÀº ¹Ýµå½Ã ºÀÀç ±â°£ Áß ¸ÅÁÖ ±Ý¿äÀÏ°ú »ç°è ÀçÀÏ ±â°£ µ¿¾È ´ë ¼ÒÀ縦 ÁöÄÑ¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ³ª¸ÓÁö ´Ù¸¥ ³¯µéÀº ´Ü½ÄÇÑ´ÙµçÁö º¸¼ÓÇÑ´Ù´Â °Í¿¡ ´ëÇؼ­´Â °³ÀÎÀÇ Çå½Å¿¡ µþ·Á ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù.

 

º¸¼ÓÀ» ¿Ö ÇØ¾ß Çϳª¿ä? ù°´Â ¿ì¸®ÀÇ °ú°Å ÁË ¶§¹®ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¿ì¸®ÀÇ °ú°Å Á˵éÀº õÁÖ´ÔÀ» °ø°ÝÇÑ °ÍÀÌ¿ä, ±× Áß ¾î¶² °ÍµéÀº ½ÉÇϵç, ´úÇÏµç ¸ðµÎ°¡ õÁÖ´ÔÀ» °Å¿ªÇÑ °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ±× °á°ú ÀÌ·¯ÇÑ Á˸¦ °±±â À§ÇØ ÃµÁÖ²² º¸»óÇØ¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù; ¸¸¾à ¾î¶² ÀÌ°¡ ¹°°ÇÀ» ÈÉÃÆ´Ù¸é °±¾Æ¾ß µÇ°í, Æı«Çß´Ù¸é ´Ù½Ã ¼¼¿ö¾ß µË´Ï´Ù.

 

º¸¼ÓÀº ƯÈ÷ ÁË¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ¹è»óÀÔ´Ï´Ù. õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ÀÇÁöº¸´Ù´Â ³ª ÀÚ½ÅÀÇ ÀÇÁö´ë·Î ÇàÇÑ ÁË, õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ÀÇÁö¸¦ ÇàÇϱâ À§Çؼ­´Â º¸¼ÓÀ¸·Î ¿ì¸®ÀÇ ÀÇÁö¸¦ ºñ³­ÇØ¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ÀÚ½ÅÀ» ´õ Áö³ªÄ¡°Ô ¾Æ³¤ ÁË, ÀÌ´Â ¿ì¸® ÀÚ½ÅÀ» Ã¥¸ÁÇÏ´Â º¸¼ÓÀ¸·Î½á ÇØ¾ß Çϸç, âÁ¶ÁÖº¸´Ù ÇÇÁ¶¹°À» ´õ ¼±È£ÇÑ Á˴ âÁ¶ÁÖ¸¦ À§ÇÏ¿© ÇÇÁ¶¹°À» ¾÷½Å¿©±â´Â º¸¼ÓÀ¸·Î½á ÇàÇØ¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù.

 

±×·¯³ª ȤÀÚ´Â ÀÌ·¸°Ô ¸»ÇÒ °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù: ÀÌ¹Ì ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ ¿ì¸®ÀÇ ¸ðµç Á˸¦ °±À¸¼ÌÀݾƿä? ¿¹, ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­´Â ½ÊÀÚ°¡ À§¿¡¼­ ÀÚ½ÅÀÇ Èñ»ýÀ» ¼ººÎ²² µå¸²À¸·Î½á ¾Æ´ã ¶§ºÎÅÍ ¼¼»óÁ¾¸» ¶§±îÁö ¸ðµç Àΰ£ÀÇ ÁËÀÇ °ªÀ» Ä¡·ç¼Ì½À´Ï´Ù. ¿¹¼ö´ÔÀÇ ¿Ïº®ÇÑ Èñ»ýÀº õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¸¶À½À» »óÇÏ°Ô ÇÑ Àΰ£ÀÇ ¸ðµç Á˺¸´Ù ´õ õÁÖ¼ººÎ¸¦ ±â»Ú°Ô Çß½À´Ï´Ù.

 

±×·¯³ª º¸¼ÓÀ» ÇàÇÏ¿© ¿ì¸® Á˸¦ ¾ø¾Ö´Â °Í°ú´Â º°µµ·Î ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ Èñ»ýÀº ¿ì¸®µéÀÇ º¸¼Ó¿¡ ´ëÇØ °ªÁø º¸¹°À» ÁֽʴϴÙ. ±× ºÐÀÇ Èñ»ýÀÌ ¾ø´Ù¸é, ¿ì¸®ÀÇ º¸¼ÓÀº Àý´ëÀûÀ¸·Î ºÎÁ·ÇÑ °ÍÀÌ¸ç ¿ì¸®ÀÇ Á˸¦ º¸»óÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÌ ¹«´ÉÇØÁý´Ï´Ù. ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ Èñ»ý°ú ÀÏÄ¡µÇ¾î, ¿ì¸®ÀÇ º¸¼ÓÀÌ ÃµÁÖ¼ººÎ¸¦ ±â»Ú°Ô ÇÏ°í ÁËÀÇ »ç¸éÀ» ¾ò°Ô µË´Ï´Ù. 

 

ÀÌ°ÍÀº º¸¼Ó ¼º»ç¿¡ À־ ºÐ¸íÇÑ ÇÙ½ÉÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ȸ°³ÇÏ´Â ÀÚ´Â ÀÚ½ÅÀÇ ¿ªÇÒÀ» ÇÏ°Ô µÇ´Âµ¥: °ú°Å ÁË¿¡ ´ëÇÑ Åëȸ(°­·ÄÇÑ ³»Àû ½½ÇÄ)¿Í »çÁ¦¸¦ ÅëÇÑ ±×¸®½ºµµ²² ´ëÇÑ À̵é ÁË¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ÀÚ±â ÀÚÃ¥ ±×¸®°í º¸»óÇàÀ§(À̸¦ ¸¸Á·½ÃÅ°´Â º¸¼Ó)°¡ °áÇÕµÇ¸é ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ »çÁ¦¸¦ ÅëÇÏ¿© »ç¸éÀ» ÁÖ½Ã°Ô µË´Ï´Ù.

 

º¸¼Ó ¼º»ç ¾È¿¡¼­ ÁË¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ÀÚÃ¥°ú À̸¦ ÃæÁ·½ÃÅ°´Â º¸¼Ó ÇàÀ§´Â õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ °ü´ëÇϽÉÀ¸·Î ÀÎÇØ ¿ÀÁ÷ ¼º¼¼(á¡á©)ÀÌÈÄ ¹üÇÑ ÁË¿¡ ´ëÇؼ­¸¸ Àû¿ëµË´Ï´Ù. ÇÑ ¿µÈ¥ÀÌ ÁÖ´Ô²² ´Ù°¡°¥ ¶§, ÁÖ´ÔÀº ¸ðµç ¹ú, ½ÉÁö¾î ¸ðµç ÇöÀçÀÇ ÀáÁ¤ÀûÀÎ ¹ú¸¶Àú ¿ë¼­ÇϽʴϴÙ. ±×·¯³ª ¸¸¾à ¼º¼¼ ÀÌÈÄ, ÁË¿¡ ´Ù½Ã ¶³¾îÁú Á¤µµ·Î õÁÖ²² »ç¸é¿¡ ´ëÇØ °¨»çÇÏÁö ¾Ê´Â´Ù¸é ±× »ç¶÷Àº °íÇؼº»ç¸¦ ÅëÇÏ¿© ÇöÀçÀÇ ÀáÁ¤ÀûÀÎ ¹ú¿¡ Âü¿©ÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù.

 

±×·¯³ª Åëȸ´Â °ú°ÅÀÇ ÁË, ½ÉÁö¾î ¼º¼¼ ÀÌÀüÀÇ ¸ðµç ÁË¿¡ Àû¿ëµË´Ï´Ù. ¸¸¾à °ú°ÅÀÇ ÁË ÀϺθ¦ »ç¶ûÇÑ´Ù¸é, ½ÇÁ¦·Î Àΰ£Àº ¿ÂÀüÇÒ ¼ö ¾ø´Â(±×·³À¸·Î Á¤´çÈ­µÉ ¼ö ¾øÀ¸´Ï)°ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. Á¤ÀÇÀÇ »óÅ´ °ú°ÅÀÇ ¸ðµç Á˸¦ Çø¿À(úîç÷)ÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÌ ¿ä±¸µË´Ï´Ù. Á˸¦ ¾ÆÁÖ ½È¾îÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÌ ¿ì¸®¿¡°Ô ÁֽŠ¼º½ÅÀ¸·Î(·Î¸¶5:5)ÀÎÇÏ¿© ¿ì¸® ¿µÈ¥¿¡ ºÎ¾îÁö´Â õÁÖÀÚºñÀÇ ÇÊ¿ä °á°ú¹°ÀÎ °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. »ç¶÷ÀÌ ÃµÁÖ´ÔÀ» °ø°ÝÇÑ °Í¿¡ ´ëÇÑ È¸°³°¡ ¾ø´Ù¸é Áø½Ç·Î õÁÖ´ÔÀ» »ç¶ûÇÑ´Ù°í ÇÒ ¼ö ¾ø½À´Ï´Ù.

 

º¸¼ÓÀ» ÇÏ´Â µÎ ¹ø° ÀÌÀ¯´Â ¹Ì·¡ÀÇ Á˸¦ ¿¹¹æÇÏ´Â Ä¡·áÃ¥ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ½ÇÁ¦·Î ÁË(¿øÁË¿Í °ú°ÅÀÇ ÁË)·Î ÀÎÇÏ¿© ¿ì¸®ÀÇ º»ÁúÀÌ »óó¸¦ ¹Þ¾Ò½À´Ï´Ù. ÁËÀÇ »óó´Â È®½ÇÈ÷ ±úÁö±â ½¬¿î °ÍÀ̸ç ÁË·Î ´Ù½Ã ¶³¾îÁö´Â °æÇâÀ» ¸»ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ƯÈ÷ °ú°Å¿¡ Á˸¦ Áö¾ú´Ù¸é ±×·¸½À´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ °°Àº ¾ÇÇÑ °æÇâ¿¡ ¸Â¼­¼­ ¡°¸Â¼­ ½Î¿ì·Á´Â °è¾àÀ» ü°áÇÔÀ¸·Î½á¡± ½Î¿ï ÇÊ¿ä°¡ ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù.

 

¿¹¸¦ µé¾î ¼ú¿¡ ÃëÇß´õ¶ó¸é, ¾ËÄڿÿ¡ Áö³ªÄ¡°Ô ºüÁö·Á´Â °æÇâÀ¸·Î ÀÎÇÏ¿© ´Ù½Ã ¼ú¿¡ ÃëÇÕ´Ï´Ù. Àû°Ô ¸¶½ÉÀ¸·Î½á, ½ÉÁö¾î ¼úÀÇ Çã¿ë¹üÀ§¸¦ ºñ³­ÇÔÀ¸·Î½á, ±×·± °æÇâ°ú ½Î¿ö¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. Çã¿ë¹üÀ§º¸´Ù Àû°Ô ¸¶½ÉÀ¸·Î½á, Çã¿ë¹üÀ§º¸´Ù ´õ ¸¶½Ç ¼ö ÀÖ´Â À½ÁÖÀÇ ÁË¿¡ ºüÁö´Â °ÍÀ» ¿¹¹æÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ´Â ´Ù¸¥ ÁË¿¡ ºüÁö´Â °æÇâ¿¡µµ ¶È°°ÀÌ Àû¿ë µË´Ï´Ù.

 

³ª»Û ÀÎÅÍ³Ý ½ÎÀÌÆ®¿¡ ºüÁ® ÀÖ´Ù¸é, ÀÎÅÍ³Ý Á¢±ÙÀ» Á¦ÇÑÇÔÀ¸·Î½á, ÀÚ½ÅÀÌ ³ª»Û ½ÎÀÌÆ®¿¡ Á¢±ÙÇÏ´Â °æÇâÀ» ¾ö°ÝÇÏ°Ô Á¦ÇÑÇÔÀ¸·Î½á, ¶ÇÇÑ ÇÕ¹ýÀûÀÎ ½ÎÀÌÆ®µµ ´ú º½À¸·Î½á (´ú À¯¿ëÇÑ °Íµé, ´º½º, ½ºÆ÷Ã÷ µî, ÀÌ·± °Íµé ¾ø¾îµµ ½±°Ô »ì¾Æ°¥ ¼ö ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù)ÀÌ·± °æÇâ°ú ½Î¿ö¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ºñ±³Çغ¸¼¼¿ä. º­¶û ±æ ÀÖ´Â »ê±æ¿¡¼­ °¡´ÉÇÑ ÇÑ ±× º­¶û±æ·Î °¡Áö ¾Ê¾Æ¿ä. ³Ê¹« À§ÇèÇϴϱî¿ä! Ç×»ó ÁË¿¡¼­ ¶³¾îÁ®¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ÀÌó·³, Àΰ£Àº ´ëÁ˸¦ ºñ³­ÇØ¾ß ÇÒ »Ó¸¸ ¾Æ´Ï¶ó, ¼ÒÁË ¿ª½Ã ÇÇÇØ¾ß Çϸç À§Çè°ú´Â ¹Ý´ë¹æÇâÀ¸·Î °¡¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù.

 

À¯°¨(À¯È¤)À» ¹ÞÀ¸¸é ¹Ýµå½Ã ±âµµÇØ¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ±×·¯³ª ÈçÈ÷ ±âµµ Çϳª¸¸À¸·Î´Â ºÎÁ·ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. À¯È¤ ¼Ó¿¡¼­ ±âµµ¿Í º¸¼ÓÀº Á˸¦ ÇÇÇÏ´Â µ¥ À־ ¾ÆÁÖ °­·ÂÇÑ ¼ö´ÜÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ±×·¯´Ï À¯È¤ ¹ÞÀ» ¶§¿¡´Â ¹Ýµå½Ã ±âµµÇϼ¼¿ä! ¶ÇÇÑ º¸¼Óµµ ÇàÇϼ¼¿ä! ÀÌ°ÍÀº À¯È¤ ¼Ó¿¡¼­ ÀÌ·ç¾îÁö´Â º¸¼Ó ÇàÀ§´Â ¿ì¸®ÀÇ ±âµµ¸¦ °­È­½Ãŵ´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ°ÍÀº Á˸¦ Á¤¸»·Î ¿øÇÏÁö ¾Ê´Â´Ù´Â ÀúÇ×ÀÇ Ç¥½ÃÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ ¿ì¸®°¡ »çź°ú ¸Â¼­ ½Î¿ö ½Â¸®Çϱ⠹ٶó´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ±¤¾ß¿¡¼­ ¾Ç¸¶ÀÇ À¯È¤À» ¾î¶»°Ô À̰ܳ»¼Ì³ª ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦ º¸½Ê½Ã¿À. ±âµµ¸¸ ÇÑ °ÍÀÌ ¾Æ´Ï¶ó, ±âµµ¿Í ´Ü½ÄÀ» Çϼ̽À´Ï´Ù!

 

º¸¼ÓÀ» ÇÏ´Â ¼¼ ¹ø° ÀÌÀ¯´Â ¿ì¸®°¡ ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦ ¸Å¿ì »ç¶ûÇϱ⠶§¹®ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ÀÚºñÀÔ´Ï´Ù! ±× ºÐ°úÀÇ °íÅëÀ» ÇÔ²² ³ª´©±æ ¿øÇÏÁö ¾Ê°í ½ÊÀÚ°¡ À§¿¡¼­ ¿ì¸®¸¦ À§ÇÑ ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ °íÅëÀ» ¾î¶»°Ô ¹¬»óÇÒ ¼ö°¡ ÀÖ½À´Ï±î?

 

ÁÖ´Ô²² ÀÌ·¸°Ô ¸»ÇØ¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ÁÖ´Ô, Àúµµ Àú ½ÊÀÚ°¡ À§¿¡ ÀÖ¾î¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ´ç½ÅÀº ¹«°á(ÙíÌÀ)ÇϽʴϴÙ. Àú´Â ¸¶¶¥È÷ ½ÊÀÚ°¡¸¦ Á®¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. Àú¿¡ ´ëÇÑ »ç¶ûÀ¸·Î ÀÎÇØ ´ç½ÅÀÌ ½ÊÀÚ°¡¸¦ Áö¾úÀ¸¸é, Àúµµ ´ç½ÅÀ» »ç¶ûÇϹǷΠ½ÊÀÚ°¡¸¦ Áö°Ô Çã¶ôÇØÁÖ¼¼¿ä!

 

½ÊÀÚ°¡ÀÇ Ä£±¸°¡ ¾Æ´Ï¸é¼­ ¡°±×¸®½ºµµ ½ÊÀÚ°¡ÀÇ  Àû¡±(Çʸ³ÇÇ3:18)ÀÌ ¾Æ´Ñ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ Ä£±¸°¡ µÉ ¼ö ¾ø´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ±× ºÐÀÇ Åº¿øÀ» »ç¶û½º·´°Ô ÃæÁ·½ÃÅ°Áö ¾Ê°í ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦ »ç¶ûÇÒ ¼ö ¾ø´Â °Í ÀÔ´Ï´Ù: ¡°¸¸ÀÏ ³ª¸¦ µû¸£·Á°í ÇÑ´Ù¸é, Àڱ⸦ ºÎÀÎÇÏ°í ³¯¸¶´Ù Àڱ⠽ÊÀÚ°¡¸¦ Áö°í ³ª¸¦ µû¸£¶ó¡±(·ç±î9:23)

 

ù µÎ °¡Áö ÀÌÀ¯´Â Á¤È­ »ýÈ°, Áï ¿¬¿Á»ýÈ°¿¡ ´ëÀÀÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ÁË¿¡ Á×À½À¸·Î½á ÀÌ·ç¾îÁö´Â ù ¹ø° ¿µÀû »ýÈ°ÀÇ ´Ü°è´Â Á˸¦ ÇÇÇÏ°í Á˸¦ º¸»óÇÏ·Á°í ³ë·ÂÇÏ´Â °Í ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¿ì¸®´Â ÁË¿Í ½Î¿ö¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ¼¼ ¹ø° ÀÌÀ¯´Â ºûÀÇ »ýÈ°¿¡ ´ëÀÀÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ´öÇàÀÌ ¼ºÀåÇÔÀ¸·Î½á, ¿ì¸®°¡ õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ½Åºñ¸¦ ¹è¿ì´Â °ÍÀÌ¿ä, ¡°±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦ µû¸£´Â¡±°ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù.

 

±×¸®°í º¸¼ÓÀ» ÇàÇÏ´Â ±Ã±ØÀûÀÎ ÀÌÀ¯´Â ±¸¼Ó(Ï­áÛ)ÀÇ ½Åºñ¿¡ Âü¿©ÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦ »ç¶ûÇϸé ÇÒ¼ö·Ï ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¸¶À½À» ´õ ´õ¿í °øÀ¯ÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¹Ù¿À·Î ¼ºÀÎÀÌ ±× ¸ð¹üÀ̸ç, ¸»¾¸ÇÏ½Ã±æ ¡°³ª´Â ÀÌÁ¦ ³ÊÈñ¸¦ À§ÇÏ¿© ¹Þ´Â °íÅëÀ» Áñ°Å¿öÇÏ°í ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ ³²Àº °í³­À» ±×ÀÇ ¸öÀ̽Š±³È¸¸¦ À§ÇÏ¿© ³» À°Ã¼¿¡ ä¿ì³ë¶ó.¡°(Äݷλõ1:24)

 

±³È¸ÀÇ ¸Ó¸®·Î¼­ ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ °íÅë¿¡ ºÎÁ·ÇÑ °ÍÀÌ ¾øÁö¸¸ ±× ±¸¼º¿øµéÀº ¸Ó¸®¿¡ ÀûÇÕÇؾ߸¸ ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ºÎµå·´°í ÁÁÀº ¿ÊÀ» ÀÔÀº »ç¶÷Àº ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¸ø ¹ÚÈù ¸Ó¸®¿Í´Â ¾È ¸Â´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù! ¶§¶§·Î ¿ì¸®´Â ¿ì¸® ÁÖº¯ÀÇ ¸¹Àº ¾ÇÀ» º¸°Ô µÉ ¶§ ¿ì¸®°¡ ¹«¾ùÀ» ÇÒ ¼ö ÀÖÀ»±î ÇÏ°í ÀǾÆÇØÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­´Â ¹«¾ùÀ» Çϼ̽À´Ï±î? ±× ºÐÀº õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¾î¸° ¾çÀ¸·Î¼­ ¼ÓÁËÀÇ Èñ»ýÁ¦¹°·Î ±× ÀÚ½ÅÀ» ¹ÙÃƽÀ´Ï´Ù.

 

±×·¡¼­ ±×¸®½ºµµ¿Í ÇÔ²² ÇÏ°íÀÚ ÇÏ´Â ¿­·ÄÇÑ ¿µÈ¥Àº ¿µÈ¥ÀÇ ±¸·ÉÀ» À§ÇØ ±×¸®½ºµµ Èñ»ý°ú ÇÔ²² Èñ»ýÀڷμ­ ÀÚ±â ÀÚ½ÅÀ» ±×¸®½ºµµ²² µå¸®°íÀÚ ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ°ÍÀÌ ¾Æ±â ¿¹¼ö µ¥·¹»ç ¼º³à²²¼­ ÇϽŠÀÏÀÌ¿ä, ÀÌ°ÍÀº ¿µÀû »ýÈ°ÀÇ3´Ü°èÀÎ °áÇÕÀÇ »îÀε¥ »ç¶÷ÀÇ Ä¿´Ù¶õ Àǵµ°¡ Á¡Á¡ ´õ ÀÏÄ¡µÉ¼ö·Ï ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ¿Í Çϳª°¡ µË´Ï´Ù.

 

¾î¶»°Ô º¸¼ÓÀ» Çմϱî? ù ´Ü°èÀÌÀÚ ÇÊ¿äÇÑ º¸¼Ó ÇàÀ§´Â ÀÚ½ÅÀÇ Àǹ«¸¦ Ãæ½ÇÈ÷ ½ÇÇàÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. Á˸¦ ÇÇÇÏ·Á´Â ¾ö°ÝÇÑ Àǹ«, õÁÖ²² ´ëÇÑ Àǹ«(±âµµ»ýÈ°, ÁÖÀÏÁؼö µî), ÀÌ¿ô¿¡ ´ëÇÑÀǹ« (Áý¿¡¼­ Àڳ࿡ ´ëÇÑ Àǹ«¿Í ÀÚ³àµéÀº ºÎ¸ð¿¡ ´ëÇÑ Àǹ«, Á÷Àå¿¡¼­ÀÇ Àǹ«, ŸÀÎÀÌ ³×°Ô ÇØÁÖ¸®¶ó »ý°¢Çϱ⠺¸´Ù´Â ¿ì¸®°¡ Àúµé¿¡°Ô µµ¿ÍÁÖ·Á´Â ÀÏ µî), ¿ì¸® Àڽſ¡ ´ëÇÑ Àǹ«(¼º½ÅÀÌ °ÅÇÏ´Â ¼ºÀüÀ¸·Î¼­ ¸ö°ú ¿µÈ¥À» Á¤°áÇÏ°Ô À¯ÁöÇÏ´Â ÀÏ)À» ÇØ¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù.

 

µÎ ¹ø°ÀÌÀÚ ÇÊ¿äÇÑ º¸¼ÓÀº ¸ðµç ºÒÆíÇÑ Á¡°ú ÀÏ»ó»ýÈ°ÀÇ °íÅë, ƯÈ÷ õÁÖ¼·¸®¿¡ ÀÇÇØ ¾î¶² Ä¿´Ù¶õ ¹®Á¦°¡ ¿ì¸®¿¡°Ô ÁÖ¾îÁ³´Ù¸é, Áï Áúº´À̳ª °æÁ¦Àû ºÒ¿î ÀÌ·± °ÍµéÀ» ±â»Ú°Ô, »ç¶û½º·´°Ô ¹Þ¾Æµå·Á¾ß µÇ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ·± °ÍÀº ¾ÆÇ »ç¶÷ÀÌ º´À» ¿¹¹æÇÏ·¯ Àǻ翡 °¡±âº¸´Ù´Â ¿ÀÈ÷·Á »ç¶÷ÀÇ Åµµ´Â ¹Ýµå½Ã Á¦ÀÏ ¸ÕÀú ½ÊÀÚ°¡¸¦ ¹Þ¾Æµå¸®°í °¨´çÇÏ´Â ÀÚ¼¼¿©¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ±×·¯¸é ÆòÈ­·Ó°Ô ÀÇ»çÇÑÅ× °©´Ï´Ù– ¹Ì¸® °á°ú¸¦ ¹Þ¾Æµå¸®´Â °Í(±×¸®°í ÀÌ°ÍÀÌ Ç×»ó Áï°¢ÀûÀÎ Ä¡·á°¡ µÇ´Â °ÍÀº ¾Æ´Ï°í¡¦.. ¾ðÁ¨°¡´Â µÇ°ÚÁö¸¸ Á×À½À¸·Î½á ³¡³¯ ¼ö ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù)

 

¹Ù¿À·Î ¼ºÀβ²¼­ À§¿¡ ¾ð±ÞÇϼ̵í, ÀÌ Ä¡À¯¿¡ °üÇÑ ¿°·Á, ±Ù½É, °ÆÁ¤Àº °íÅëÀ» ÁÖ°í ¹Þ´Â º¸¼ÓÀÇ Á¤½Å¿¡ ¹Ý´ëµÇ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ºÒ¸¸Àº Àý´ëÀûÀ¸·Î ÇÇÇØ¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ¿©·¯ºÐÀÌ °íÅëÀ» ¹Þ´Â´Ù°í Çؼ­ ¿©·¯ºÐ ÁÖº¯ÀÇ »ç¶÷µé¿¡°Ô °íÅëÁ־´Â ¾ÈµË´Ï´Ù. ¿ÀÈ÷·Á °¨»çÇÏ´Ù°í ÇØ¾ß Çϸç ÀúµéÀÌ ¿©·¯ºÐ°ú ÇÔ²² ±â»µÇÒ ¼ö ÀÖµµ·Ï °íÅëÀ» Âü¾Æ¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ÀúµéÀÌ ³ª¸¦ µµ¿ÍÁÖ¾î¾ß ÇÑ´Ù ¶ó°í »ý°¢ÇÏÁö ¸¶½Ã°í ¿ÀÈ÷·Á ³ª°°ÀÌ ¹Ì¼ÒÇÑ »ç¶÷¿¡°Ô ÀúµéÀÌ °ü½ÉÀ» °¡Á®ÁÖ´Ï ¾ó¸¶³ª »ç¶û½º·± »ç¶÷µéÀΰ¡ ÇÏ°í »ý°¢ÇϽñ⠹ٶø´Ï´Ù.

 

¸Å¿ì À¯ÀÍÇÑ ¼¼ ¹ø° º¸¼ÓÀº »ç¶÷ÀÌ ÀÚ±â Àڽſ¡°Ô ºÎ¿©ÇÑ, ¿¹¸¦ µé¸é, ´Ü½Ä°ú °íÇà, ±Ý¿å µîÀÌ ¸ðµÎ ÷°¡µÇ´Â º¸¼Ó ¾È¿¡ Á¸ÀçÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ¶§¶§·Î ±³È¸ ȤÀº Á¾±³»ó °èÀ²Àº ±³¿ìµé¿¡°Ô º¸¼Ó ÇàÀ§¸¦ ºÎ°úÇÏ´Â µ¥ ¾î¶² À̵éÀº ÀÚ¹ßÀûÀ¸·Î À̸¦ °¨´çÇÕ´Ï´Ù.

 

»ç¼øÀý ÀÌ ºÀÀç ±â°£Àº ÀÌ·¯ÇÑ ºÎ¿©µÈ º¸¼Ó ÇàÀ§¸¦ ÇÒ ¼ö ÀÖ´Â ÃÖ»óÀÇ ±â°£ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. À§¿¡¼­ ¹àÈù ´ë·Î ÀÌ·¯ÇÑ º¸¼Ó ÇàÀ§µéÀº ¡°º¸¼ÓÀÇ Á¤½Å¡±À» »õ·Ó°Ô ÇÏ°í À¯ÁöÇϱ⿡ ¸Å¿ì À¯ÀÍ ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ ¸ðµç °ÍµéÀº ¾î¶² ÇÕ¹ýÀûÀÎ °ÍÀ» ºÎÀÎÇϰųª ȤÀº ¾î¶² ÀÛÀº °íÅëÀ» ºÎ¿©Çϰųª ±×¸®°í ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ Èñ»ý°ú ÀÏÄ¡½ÃÄÑ À̸¦ °Ç³×´Â µ¥¿¡ Á¸ÀçÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. º¸¼Ó ÇàÀ§µéÀº Ä¿´Ù¶õ °â¼ÕÀ¸·Î ÇàÇØÁ®¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. °áÄÚ ÀÚ¶ûÇÏ°íÀÚ ÇÏ¸é ¾ÈµË´Ï´Ù. ¿ÀÈ÷·Á ¿ì¸® ÀÚ½ÅÀÇ ÁË¿¡ ´ëÇØ ´õ ¸¹Àº ¹úÀ» ¹ÞÀ» ¸¸ ÇÏ´Ù Çϸ鼭 °­·ÄÇÑ ¾ç½ÉÀ» °¡Áö°í º¸¼Ó ÇàÀ§¸¦ ÇØ¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù.

 

¸¶Áö¸·À¸·Î ºÀÀç ±â°£ ¼º ±³È¸´Â ƯÈ÷ ¾î·Á¿î À̵鿡°Ô ÀÇ¿¬±ÝÀ» ÁÖµµ·Ï ±ÇÀåÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ¿©·¯ºÐÀÌ À½½Ä µîÀ» »ï°¡ÇÏ¿© »ý±â´Â µ· µîÀ¸·Î °¡³­ÇÑ À̵鿡°Ô À¯ÀÍÀÌ µ¹¾Æ°¡µµ·Ï ÇϽʽÿÀ. ¿©·¯ºÐÀ» ´ú »ìÇÇ°í °¡³­ÇÑ À̵鿡°Ô ´õ º£Çª½Ê½Ã¿À. ¿©·¯ºÐ¿¡°Ô °¡±îÀÌ ÀÖ´Â °¡³­ÇÑ Àúµé¿¡°Ô ¸ÕÀú ÁÖµµ·Ï ÇϽʽÿÀ. ¡°°¡³­ÇÑ À̵鿡°Ô ÀÚºñ(í±Ýè)¸¦ º£Çª´Â ÀÚ´Â ÁÖ(ñ«)²² µå¸®´Â °ÍÀ̶ó. ÁÖ²²¼­ ±×¸¦ °±¾ÆÁֽø®¶ó.¡±(pro19:17) ¡°³» ³ÊÈñ¿¡°Ô ¸»Çϳë´Ï, ³ªÀÇ º¸Àß °Í ¾ø´Â ÇüÁ¦¿¡°Ô ³ÊÈñ°¡ º£Ç¬´Ù¸é ³ÊÈñ´Â °ð ³»°Ô ÇÑ °ÍÀ̴϶ó.¡±(¸¶Å׿À25:40)¶ó´Â ¸»¾¸À» ÀνÄÇÏ°í °ü´ëÇÔÀ» °¡Áö°í ÁֽʽÿÀ.

 

´õ °ü´ëÇÔÀ» º£Çª´Â »ç¶÷µéÀÌ Àִµ¥, ±×µéÀº ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ ¿Ïº®ÇÑ »ý¾Ö¸¦ ¿øÇÏ´Â »ç¶÷µéÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¶Ç ´Ù¸¥ ¹æ¹ýÀÌ ¾ÆÁ÷µµ ÀÖÀ¸´Ï, °¡³­, Á¤°á ±×¸®°í ¼ø¸íÀ̶ó´Â ¼¼ °¡Áö º¹À½Àû Á¶¾ðÀÎ ¼¼°¡Áö ¼­¿øÀ¸·Î ÀÚ±âÀÇ »ý¾Ö¸¦ ±×¸®½ºµµ²² ºÀÇåÇÑ À̵é ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ½ÊÀÚ°¡¿¡ ¸ø ¹ÚÈ÷½Å ±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦ º¸´Ù °¡±îÀÌ µû¸§À¸·Î½á ¿Â »ý¾Ö¸¦ º¸¼ÓÀ¸·Î ¹Þ¾Æ µå¸³´Ï´Ù.

 

È¥ÀÎÀÇ ²öÀ¸·Î ¹­ÀÌÁö ¾Æ´ÏÇÑ »ç¶÷µéÀº ¿¹¼ö²²¼­ ±×µéÀÌ È¥ÀÎÇÏ±æ ¿øÇÏÁö ¾Ê´Â °Í¿¡ ³î¶ø´Ù ¶ó°í ÇÏ°Ô²û ¸¸µì½Ã´Ù. ±×¸®°í È¥ÀÎÀÇ ²öÀ¸·Î ¹­ÀÎ ÀÚµéÀÌ ¿ì¸® ÁÖ´Ô²²¼­ ÀúµéÀÇ ÀÚ³à °¡¿îµ¥ ¼º¼ÒÀÇ ºÎ¸§À» ¹ÞÀ» ¼ö ÀÖµµ·Ï ÁÁÀ¸½Å ÁÖ´Ô²² ±âµµÇϵµ·Ï ÇսôÙ.

 

¾ËĭŸ¶óÀÇ ¼º º£µå·Î´Â ¼±Á¾Çϱâ Àü¿¡ ¼ö ¸¹Àº º¸¼ÓÀ» ÇàÇϽŠºÐÀε¥ »çÈÄ ³î¶ó¿î ¿µ±¤ °¡¿îµ¥ ¾Æºô¶óÀÇ µ¥·¹»ç ¼º³à¿¡°Ô ³ªÅ¸³ª ¸»¾¸ÇϽñæ; ¡±¿À ÇູÇÑ º¸¼ÓÀÌ¿©, º¸¼ÓÀÌ ³ª¸¦ ÀÌ °°Àº Ä¿´Ù¶õ ¿µ±¤À» ¹Þ°Ô²û ÇÏ¿´µµ´Ù!¡± ½ÇÁ¦·Î ¡°¿ì¸®´Â õÁÖÀÇ ¾ÆµéÀÌ´Ï ¾Æµé ¿ª½Ã »ó¼ÓÀÚ¸é õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ »ó¼ÓÀÚ¿ä, ±×¸®½ºµµ¿Í ÇÔ²² »ó¼ÓÀÚ¶ó. ¿ì¸®°¡ ±×¿Í ÇÔ²² °í³­À» ¹Þ´Â´Ù¸é ¿ì¸® ¶ÇÇÑ ±×¿Í ÇÔ²² ¿µ±¤À» ¹ÞÀ» °ÍÀ̴϶ó¡±(·Î¸¶16-17)

ÀÌ »ç¼øÀý ±â°£ °ü´ëÇØÁöµµ·Ï ÇսôÙ. º¸¼ÓÀ» ÇàÇÏ°í õ±¹¿¡¼­ ÀÌ ¸ðµç º¸¼Ó¿¡ ´ëÇØ Ä¿´Ù¶õ À纸»óÀÌ ÀÖ´Ù´Â °ÍÀ» ÀνÄÇÏ°í ½ÊÀÚ°¡ ¾Æ·¡¿¡ °è½Ã´Â ¼º¸ð´Ô°ú ÇÔ²² ½ÊÀÚ°¡ÀÇ ½Åºñ¿¡ µ¿Âü ÇսôÙ. ¾Æ¸à!
 

ÇÁ¶û¼Ò¾Æ ·¹³× ½ÅºÎ(¼º ºñ¿À 10¼¼È¸ ¾Æ½Ã¾Æ °£±¸ ¼Ò¼Ó »çÁ¦)


On Penance



My dear brethren, Today we have the ember Wednesday, traditionally a day of fast. Already the whole of Lent used to be a time of fast and abstinence (except Sundays: from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday there are exactly 40 weekdays without counting the Sundays). Today the law of fast obliges under mortal sin only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, but we are all encouraged to do more. In the Society of St Pius X, the members of the order and of the Third Order must also follow the fast and abstinence every Friday of Lent and the ember days (and the four vigils). On the other days, it is left up to our personal devotion to do some fasting and/or other penances.


Why to do penance? First because of our past sins. Our past sins have offended God, some more grievously, some less, but all of them have offended God. As a consequence, we owe to God reparation for these: if someone steals, he must repay; if someone destroys he must rebuild. Penance is first of all a reparation for sin: by sin we did our will rather than the Will of God; by penance we renounce our own will in order to do the Will of God. By sin we take too much for self; by penance we renounce to self. By sin we prefer the creature rather than the Creator; by penance we renounce the creature for the sake of the Creator.


But one may say: but did not Christ already pay for all our sins? Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ offered to His Father His Sacrifice on the Cross, by which He made reparation for all the sins of all men from Adam till the end of the world. His perfect Sacrifice pleases the Father more than all sins together displease Him. But far from dispensing us from doing penance, His Sacrifice gives value to our penance: without His Sacrifice, our penances would be absolutely insufficient, incapable to make up for our sins; united with His Sacrifice they are pleasing to God and do obtain remission of sin. This is precisely the heart of the Sacrament of Penance: the penitent does his part: contrition (=intense interior sorrow) for his past sins + accusation of these sins to Christ through his minister the priest + reparation (satisfaction=penances) and our Lord Jesus Christ then gives the absolution through the priest.


The accusation and satisfaction in the Sacrament of Penance only apply to sins committed after Baptism because of God¡¯s generosity: when a soul first comes to Him, He forgives all punishment, even all temporal punishment. However if one is so ungrateful as to fall back into sin after Baptism, then one ought to take part in the temporal punishment through the Sacrament of Penance.


However, contrition applies to all our past sins, even before Baptism. Indeed one would not be just (and thus not justified) if one would still love some of his past sins! The state of justice necessarily requires that one detest all past sins. That detestation of sin is a necessary consequence of the Charity of God that is poured into our souls by the Holy Ghost Who is given to us (Rom. 5:5): indeed one would not love God truly if he would not be sorry for having offended Him.
 
A second reason to do penance is as a remedy to prevent future sins. Indeed by sin (both the original and our past sins) our nature has been wounded: the wound of sin is a certain frailty and inclination to fall again into sin, especially those who had done. We need to fight against such an evil inclination, by ¡°agree contra–acting against¡± such inclination. For instance, if one had been drunk, he would feel an inclination to drink again alcohol to excess: he fights against it by drinking LESS, even renouncing that which would be otherwise permitted. Thus by drinking less than permitted, he prevents to fall into the sin of drinking more than permitted. The same is true for all other evil inclination: if one has seen by looking at evil internet sites, he fights against this by restricting his internet access, strictly forbidding himself any evil site, but also renouncing even legitimate sites (typically the less useful ones, such as news, sports, etc. one can very easily live without such!) To take a comparison: in a mountain path, with a precipice on the side, one does not go as far as he can near the precipice: it becomes too dangerous! One stays away from it. Similarly, one should not only renounce mortal sins, but also even venial sins and go into the opposite direction of the danger.


In temptation one must pray; but often prayer alone in temptation is not sufficient: prayer and penance in temptation is very much stronger mean to avoid sin. So in temptation do pray! But also do penance! Such penance in temptation reinforces our prayer: it is a kind of protestation that we really do not want to sin, begging our Lord Jesus Christ to give us the victory over the Tempter. See how our Lord Jesus Christ in the desert overcame the temptation of the Devil: not by prayer alone, but by prayer and fasting!


A third reason to do penance is the very love for our Lord Jesus Christ, charity! Indeed how can we contemplate our Lord Jesus Christ suffering for us on the Cross without desiring to share with Him? We ought to say to Him: I should be on that cross; Thou art innocent; I deserved it! If Thou hast taken it for love of me, allow me to take it for love of Thee! We cannot be a friend of Jesus Christ without being a friend of the Cross, not an ¡°enemy of the Cross of Christ¡± (Phil. 3:18). We cannot love Jesus Christ without lovingly fulfilling His entreaty: ¡°If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me¡± (Lk. 9:23).


The first two reasons correspond to the purgative life, the first degree of spiritual life by which we die to sin, we strive to avoid and repair sin, we fight against sin. The third reason corresponds to the illuminative life, by which we grow in virtue, we learn the mysteries of God, we ¡°follow Christ¡±.


And the ultimate reason to do penance is to participate in the mystery of Redemption: the more one loves our Lord Jesus Christ, the more one shares His mind-set. St Paul is a model and says: ¡°I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church:¡± (Col. 1:24). Not that there be anything wanting to the sufferings of Christ as the Head of the Church, but the members must be fitting to the Head; a member is soft clothing does not fit a crucified head! Sometimes we wonder when we see the amount of evil around us: what can we do? What did our Lord Jesus Christ do? He offered Himself as a victim of expiation, as the Lamb of God. So the fervent soul who want to be one with Christ will offer oneself as a victim in union with Christ-victim for the salvation of souls, this is what St Thérèse of the Child Jesus did; this is the third degree of the spiritual life, unitive live, when one¡¯s great intent is to be more and more united with, one with our Lord Jesus Christ.


How to do penance? A first and necessary penance is the faithful fulfilment of one¡¯s duties. Strict duty to avoid sin; duties towards God (prayer life, Sunday observance, etc), duties towards one¡¯s neighbour (in one¡¯s home: parents towards the children and children towards the parents; at one¡¯s job: not so much considering what others owe us, but rather what we owe them¡¦), duties towards ourselves (to keep our body and soul pure, as temples of the Holy Ghost¡¦)


A second – and also necessary – penance is to accept joyfully and lovingly all the inconveniences and sufferings of every day, especially if some bigger ones are sent to us by Divine Providence: sicknesses, reverses of fortune, etc. That does not prevent to see a doctor is one is sick, but one¡¯s attitude must first be that of accepting the cross and offering it, and then with peace go to the doctor – accepting in advance the outcome (and it will not always be immediate healing¡¦ one day even it will end by death!) The solicitude, worry, anxiety about healing is against that spirit of penance that accepts and offers the suffering, as St Paul above. Complaints should be absolutely avoided. And don¡¯t make those who surround you suffer because you suffer: rather be so grateful to them and patient with them that they find it a joy to be with you. I should not consider that they should help me; rather I should consider how charitable they are to take care of such a little unimportant person as me.


A third penance, very useful, consists in all those additional penances that one imposes upon oneself, such as fast, mortification, etc. Sometimes the Church (or a religious rule) imposes some upon her members; others are willingly taken upon self. Lent is a prime time for such additional penances. These are very useful to renew and keep the ¡°spirit of penance¡± as exposed above. All of them consist is renouncing certain legitimate things (or imposing certain small pains) and offering this in union with the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. They ought to be done with great humility – never, ever, boasting for such, but rather doing them with the intense consciousness that we deserved much more punishment for our sins.


Lastly in Lent the Church especially recommends almsgiving: let the poor benefit of what you abstain from (food, etc.). You take less for yourself, give more to the poor. Give first to those who are closer to you. Give with generosity, knowing that ¡°He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and He will repay him¡± (Pro 19:17). ¡°Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me¡± (Mt. 25:40).


For the more generous ones, who want the perfection of the Christian life, there is still another way: by consecrating one¡¯s life to Christ, with the three vowsof to the three evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. Thus one embraces a whole life of penance here below, following Christ crucified more closely. Let those who are not in the bonds of marriage wonder whether Jesus would not want that for them; and let those who are in the bonds of marriage pray that the Good Lord may choose such vocations from among their children.

St Peter of Alcantara, who had done so much penance before his death, appeared to St Theresa of Avila after his death in a marvellous glory, telling her: ¡°O happy penance, which has deserved for me such great glory!¡± Indeed ¡°we are sons of God, and if sons heirs also; heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ: yet so, if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him¡± (Rom. 8:16-17).


So let us be generous in this Lent, doing penance and participating in the mystery of the Cross with Our Lady at the foot of the Cross, knowing that there will be a great recompense for all this in Heaven! Amen.


Fr. F. Laisney