Ave Maria Meditations
Christ still walks daily among sinners. The Father is at every moment sending his Son to souls in order to redeem and save them. He imparts to them his Spirit, so that being converted from evil they may be brought by penance and expiation to a life of purity and holiness. The greater our sinfulness, the more it attracts the mercy of God.
We must have recourse to the light of faith to see the sacrament of penance as an abiding presence of God’s forgiveness, always at the sinner’s disposal. If at the moment of sacramental absolution we were to abandon ourselves utterly to the redeeming action of Christ the Savior’s almighty power, one confession alone would be enough to raise us without fail to the furthermost heights of holiness…In the blood of Christ there will always be more than enough redemptive power, even in the dreadful hour of Antichrist, to save all who fervently seek refuge in him. Through sacramental absolution all the benefits of Christ’s redemption descend upon sinners. The efficacy of Christ’s blood is infinitely greater than the malice of men and angels together.
No matter how great the crimes burdening a man’s conscience, the absolution pronounced by the priest can bring full remission of his sins. Each one is granted pardon in the measure of his fervor and his readiness to be purified by the blood of redemption. Thus, the sacrament of penance continues the work of reconciling men with God through the blood of Christ.
+ Father M.M. Philipon, OPÂ
