Penance and austerities pathways to holiness.
“Practice your austerity in strict secrecy; that will fortify your spirit.” St. Alphonsa
Christian spirituality has long recognized penance and austerities as transformative pathways to holiness. These practices, with their profound transformative power, purify the soul, discipline the body, and bring us closer to God. Both penance and austerity serve as powerful tools to cleanse the soul from the shackles of sin and the distractions of the world. This purification is not just a process but a profound transformation that is essential for our journey toward holiness.
The first biography of Sr Alphonsa Snehabaly adhava Alphonsamma was written by Fr Romulus CMI. In it, we read that apart from prayer, Annakutty began to fast and perform austerities as holy women used to do. She did not hesitate to kneel in the sand with outstretched arms and pray as her father had done.
Alphonsa’s spiritual journey was deeply rooted in her childhood, when she learned the practice of penance and austerities from her father. This practice, which she continued into adulthood, was not just a testament to her lifelong commitment to her faith but also a reflection of her deep spiritual connection and empathy towards others who shared her beliefs.
Penance and austerity are often seen as God’s Graces, divine gifts that help us grow in holiness. Through penance and austerity, we learn to understand and separate from our sins and control passions that please only ourselves or hurt others. Penance is not just an act of love but a selfless act that looks beyond our own Self, making us humble and introspective.
Sometimes, penance may involve self-sacrifice, going without, or fasting, but its primary purpose is to look after our spiritual Self by staying in line with Christ’s footprints. Penance is about living ‘from Gospel to Life and from Life to Gospel,’ which means applying the teachings of the Gospel to our daily lives and allowing our experiences to deepen our understanding of the Gospel. It involves an ongoing process of conversion, formation, or change of the Self.
Penance, Penance, Penance were the words of the angel at Fatima, calling the world to begin doing penance once again. Indeed, the
call to penance and conversion has been the constant appeal of Marian apparitions throughout history, but especially within the past hundred years, which have seen more apparitions than any other century. As Our Lady of Fatima implored us, “Sacrifice yourselves for sinners and say many times, especially when you make some sacrifice: O Jesus, it is for the love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” Thus, we see that penance and mortification not only have a sanctifying effect on the individual but also on the Church as a whole, uniting us in our spiritual journey.
As we advance in July, let us have a positive attitude towards Penace and austerity and advance in holiness.
Fr Jaison Kunnel MCBS