It is the Lenten Season and there are three things we must do in order to prepare to enter into the Holy Week. Prayer, Fasting, and doing acts of Charity. The three are very much related. We can say that the latter two are closely entwined like the sides of a coin. Sacrifice must result to an act of charity. If one saves something because of a sacrifice, the best thing to do is to give it to charity. If one's sacrifice will lead to the benefit of another, it can be called "heaven'!
The early Christians practiced it. It paved the way for the introduction of "indulgence" in the Catholic Faith. There was a time when martyrs, out of their martyrdom, would produce salvific graces which they do not need. At that time too, there were Christians, afraid of being put to death, would deny their faith. After some time, there was a question of whether they would be accepted back to the faith because of their renunciation. If they will be accepted, how would they be accepted? What would entail their process of acceptance? Here, the graces merited by the martyrs were applied. It was called "indulgence". By virtue of the intercession of the martyrs, lapsi Christians were accepted back to the faith.
But now, it can be practiced in other ways. This season of lent, we can decide to give up some things that are dear or important to us for the sake of making sacrifices. This disciplining of self may lead to the saving some money which we can gather and later offer them as charity to others. None is more meaningful than to benefit from something which was the result of the sacrifice of another. Try to decide (if you have not yet done it...) what will you give up this Lenten season (about 40 days!). Giving up of food, recreation, luxuries, attitudes, etc will all help us make great sacrifices and have opportunities to help others too. To have a world of people who sacrifice for the sake of their needy neighbor is heaven on earth!
For once, or twice, or thrice.....try sacrificing for the sake of charity. It will be heaven!
The early Christians practiced it. It paved the way for the introduction of "indulgence" in the Catholic Faith. There was a time when martyrs, out of their martyrdom, would produce salvific graces which they do not need. At that time too, there were Christians, afraid of being put to death, would deny their faith. After some time, there was a question of whether they would be accepted back to the faith because of their renunciation. If they will be accepted, how would they be accepted? What would entail their process of acceptance? Here, the graces merited by the martyrs were applied. It was called "indulgence". By virtue of the intercession of the martyrs, lapsi Christians were accepted back to the faith.
But now, it can be practiced in other ways. This season of lent, we can decide to give up some things that are dear or important to us for the sake of making sacrifices. This disciplining of self may lead to the saving some money which we can gather and later offer them as charity to others. None is more meaningful than to benefit from something which was the result of the sacrifice of another. Try to decide (if you have not yet done it...) what will you give up this Lenten season (about 40 days!). Giving up of food, recreation, luxuries, attitudes, etc will all help us make great sacrifices and have opportunities to help others too. To have a world of people who sacrifice for the sake of their needy neighbor is heaven on earth!
For once, or twice, or thrice.....try sacrificing for the sake of charity. It will be heaven!
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