Saint Clotilde
(474-545)
I give thanks
to Almighty God that He has not considered me
unworthy to be the mother of a child admitted into
the heavenly kingdom. Having left the world in
the white robe of his innocence, he will rejoice in
the presence of God through all eternity.
--St. Clotilde
A child is a
pledge of immortality, for he bears upon him in
figure those high and eternal excellences in which
the joy of heaven consists, and which would not thus
be shadowed forth by the all gracious Creator, were
they not one day to be realized.
--Venerable
John Henry Cardinal Newman
Our brethren
who are freed from this world by the Lord's summons
are not to be mourned, since we know that they are
not lost to us, but only sent on ahead of us.
Departing from us, they precede us as travelers,
just as navigators are accustomed to do. . . . Death
is not an ending, but a transition and--this journey
through time having been completed--a passage into
eternity.
--St. Cyprian
of Carthage
-
Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me
(detail)by Sir
Anthony Van Dyck
c. 1618
"Repent and believe the Good News!"
Penance means conversion. The Confraternity of
Penitents is a world wide private Catholic
association of the faithful, completely loyal to our
Pope and the Magisterium.
Our Rule of Life has been reviewed by our bishop and
recognized in these words: "this Rule does not
contain anything contrary to our faith; therefore it
may be safely practiced privately by you or by
anyone inclined to do so. . . . His Excellency
is appreciative of your efforts to live and promote
Franciscan spirituality and especially promote the
neglected practice of penance and he wishes you
success" (January 30, 1998).
Members of the Confraternity of Penitents live this
Rule in their own homes, devoted to prayer, penance,
fasting, conversion, and works of mercy modeled on
Jesus Christ and inspired by the lives and teachings
of
St. Francis,
St. Dominic,
St. Therese,
St. Benedict,
St. Augustine,
St. Ignatius,
and all the saints, most especially Mary, the Mother
of God, who lived a life of true penance
(conversion) in perfect union with our Lord.
May Our Lady and all the saints intercede for all
who wish to embrace a life of penance, anywhere in
the world, so that the grace of God will assist them
to obtain every virtue necessary for a life of
holiness and surrender to the Will of God! Amen.
PRAYER OF PENITENTS
"Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness
of my mind, give me right faith, a firm hope and
perfect charity, so that I may always and in all
things act according to Your Holy Will. Amen."
(Saint Francis's prayer before the San Damiano
Crucifix)
MISSION OF PENITENTS
"Go and repair My House
which, as you can see, is falling into ruin." (The
message given to St. Francis in a voice from the San
Damiano Crucifix.)
ACTION OF PENITENTS
To pray for God's
specific direction in one's life so that, through
humbly living our Rule of Life, each penitent may
help to rebuild the house of God by bringing love of
God and neighbor to his or her own corner of the
world.
