TOGETHER with the loss of the sense of sin would be the loss of the sense of penance. The idea of penance stands on the idea of sin.

It is rather tragic that penance is rarely brought up in many Catholic circles today. We rush to dispense ourselves from the penitential rules of the Church as we rush to the holiday sales.

Penance plays a pivotal role in the spiritual life. If we do not practice it, it is difficult to have a spiritual life or to keep having one.

The season of advent should always have been regarded as a time for penance. Hence it was called “lesser lent,” as distinguished from the “great lent” that precedes the resurrection. Fasting was done as well as many penitential acts. All this should bring to mind that advent is a time for penance.

Venerable Proseper Gueranger writes in his magnum opus, The Liturgical Year:

“The name Advent is applied, in the Latin Church, to that period of the year, during which the Church requires the faithful to prepare for the celebration of the feast of Christmas, the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. The mystery of that great day had every right to the honor of being prepared for by prayer and works of penance...We must look upon Advent in two different lights: first, as a time of preparation, properly so called, for the birth of our Savior, by works of penance; and secondly, as a series of ecclesiastical Offices drawn up for the same purpose.”

To revive a sense of penance, then, why don’t we start with advent? During the remaining days of advent, why don’t we do the classic “prayer, fasting, and alms giving?” Let’s revive the sense of penance.

During this advent season, let’s call to mind our sins –“not to delight in them”--as St. Augustine says, “but to love God more,” to renew our contrition for having offended God who loves you so much that he incarnated.

Go to confession. This is the best way to prepare for this great feast. The greatness of the mystery of the incarnation deserves to be prepared for.

Make Sacrifices. Fast and abstain. Deny yourself of some things. Self-denial leads to prayer. Meditate on the incarnation of our Lord: how Jesus who loves you so much took on human flesh.

Think about the last judgment, the second coming of our Lord. If our Lord were to return at the moment you are reading this, would you be deserving of those terrible words: “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

“In the evening of our lives, we shall be judged by our love,” says St. John of the Cross. Have you truly loved our Lord enough with the capacity of loving your heart can do?

Penance plays a pivotal part in the spiritual life. It is not, however, an end but a means. It is my firm wish that you, the one reading this, will begin to have a spiritual life or will persevere in the spiritual life.

Practice penance and see the myriads of virtues that grow in this fertile soil. Practice penance and see how you will ascend the heights of spiritual perfection. Practice penance and see how fruitful your celebration of Christmas will be. (lancivspatricivs@gmail.com)