Georges de la Tour: The Penitent Magdalene. 1640

Why Penance

Why penance? If I confess my sins and am properly contrite in heart, is that not enough to atone for my sins? Why penance, then? What additional good does penance, self-imposed or otherwise, do to the penitent if a change…

Jesus Blessing Us; Benedictine Convent of Hildegard von Bingen in Bingen, Germany; own work

Joyous Sets of Seven

There are sorrowful sets of seven to concentrate on when we align our penance with the suffering of Christ, and there are also joyous sets of seven. Joyous sets of seven invite us to reflect, not so much of our…