St.
Ambrose: the acceptable time
I. Behold, Dearly Beloved, the sacred days are
drawing near, the acceptable time, of which it is written: Behold, now is the
acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (Il Cor. vi. 2). And so
you must be more earnest in prayer and in almsgiving, in fasting and in
watching. He that till now has given alms, in these days let him give more; for
as water quenches a flaming fire, so does almsgiving wipe out sin (Eccles. iii.
33). He that till now fasted and prayed, let him fast and pray still more: for
there are certain sins which are not cast out, except by prayer and fasting
(Mt. xvii. 20). Should anyone cherish anger towards another, let him forgive
from his heart. Should anyone take unjustly what belongs to another, let him
restore it; and if not fourfold, at least that which he has taken; if he
desires God to be merciful to himself (Lk. xix. 8). And though a Christian
should abstain at all times from cursing and reviling, from oaths, from
excessive laughter, and from
idle words, he must do this especially in these holy days, which are set apart
so that, during these forty days, he may by penance wipe out the sins of the
whole year.
2. May you believe, and believe firmly, that if in
these days you have made a thorough confession of your sins, and done penance
as we have told you, you shall receive from Our Most Merciful Lord the pardon
of all your offences; as did the Ninevites, who earned deliverance from their
afflections by doing penance in sackcloth and ashes (Jn. iii). So you also,
following their example, if you cry out with all your heart to the Lord, you
will invoke His Mercy on you, so that serene and joyful you will celebrate the
day of the Lord's Resurrection, and, thus blessed, you will after this life
cross over to your heavenly home, by the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who
with the Father and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.
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