VATICAN - Prayers for Lent - Act of Contrition (12)

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) -Confession - “They will look upon the one whom they have pierced ” (Zachariah 12, 10; cf Jn19, 27b). Some people are genuinely surprised that confession is so easy … it is… but then it is so easy to sin… and God wants so much for us all to be saved! This is why He became a Man, he suffered his passion and death, was buried and rose from the dead. This is why with this wonderful Sacrament He made available the treasures of his infinite mercy.
«Beati quorum remissae sunt iniquitates et quorum tecta sunt peccata» Psalm 32 (verse 1): «Happy the one who sin is remitted, whose guilt is removed». Blessed prodigal son who finds his way back to his father, his dignity, his life. Blessed Peter who had the joy of making reparation for his triple denial of Jesus with three professions of love for the Lord!
When John and Andrew disciples of the Baptist see their Master John point to Jesus and exclaim: «Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world » (Jn 1, 29b), they become disciples, men who will make present his Gospel, his Sacrifice, his Sacraments, his infinite Mercy for sinners.
Pope Benedict XVI guides us on our Lenten path of conversion with his splendid Message for Lent 2007, “They will look upon the one whom they have pierced”.
« Dear brothers and sisters, let us look at Christ pierced on the Cross! He is the unsurpassing revelation of God's love... On the Cross, it is God himself who begs the love of his creature: He is thirsty for the love of every one of us. The Apostle Thomas recognized Jesus as "Lord and God" when he put his hand into the wound of his side. Not surprisingly, many of the saints found in the Heart of Jesus the deepest expression of this mystery of love... In all truth, only the love that unites the free gift of oneself with the impassioned desire for reciprocity instils a joy which eases the heaviest of burdens. Jesus said: "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself" (Jn 12: 32). The response the Lord ardently desires of us is above all that we welcome his love and allow ourselves to be drawn to him. Accepting his love, however, is not enough. We need to respond to such love and devote ourselves to communicating it to others. Christ "draws me to himself" in order to unite himself to me, so that I learn to love the brothers with his own love.».
Let us respond to this Love with gratitude. Let us approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation Sacrament of Penance, Confession, in Lent, at other times of the year and especially if we should commit a mortal sin and this lose our state of grace. Jesus awaits us, although we are not aware of it he is busy preparing for our return. Let us soften our hard hearts that his sacrifice may not be in vain.
And when we hear the wonderful words: «I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit», with a happy and grateful heart let us be firm in our resolve with the help of God’s grace never to offend Him again (J.M.) (Agenzia Fides 30/3/2007, righe 38, parole 565)
(Reflections on the Acts of Faith, Hope and Charity will be published after Easter)