For those who wish to inquire about a life of penance in the Confraternity of Penitents

Mother of Good Counsel

If my days were untroubled and my heart always light, would I seek that fair land where there is no night? . . . If I never grew weary with the weight of my load, would I search for God's Peace at the end of the road? . . If I never knew sickness and never felt pain, would I search for a hand to help and sustain?

If I walked not with sorrow and lived without loss, would my soul seek sweet solace at the foot of the cross?. . .If all I desired was mine day by day, would I kneel before God and earnestly pray?. . If God sent no "Winter" to freeze me with fear, would I yearn for the warmth of "Spring" every year?

I ask myself this and the answer is plain; if my life were all pleasure and I never knew pain. . . I'd seek God less often and need Him much less, for God's sought more often in times of distress . . . And no one knows God or sees Him as plain as those who have met Him on the "Pathway of Pain."

INQUIRER REFLECTIONS

Inquirers do not undergo any specific formation program. They are asked to pray about their decision to enter formation as a postulant.

To assist inquirers in this process, they may wish to consider the following questions. It's suggested that a good period of time be spent on each reflection (perhaps a few weeks) Members of the inquirer's Chapter or Circle or the Regional Minister can assist inquirers in the discernment process. The reflections may be taken in any order.

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REFLECTION ON THE RULE OF LIFE

Study the Guide to the Form of Life of the Confraternity of Penitents--the Rule and Constitutions. Ask yourself:

Can I envision myself living this Rule of Life? How does that imaginary vision make me feel? What difficulties do I foresee and how will I deal with them? What joys do I think I will experience? Do I foresee any opposition from others? What adjustments will I have to make to live this Rule and these Constitutions? Do I feel that God will give me the grace to make them?

REFLECTION ON THE FORMATION LESSONS

Look over the postulant and novice lessons, linked to from this link. Ask yourself:

Do I feel I can complete these at the pace of one per month? What might I find difficult to do? How will doing these lessons make me feel? Do I feel I can implement the monthly assignments in my life? How do I see these lessons as helping me on my spiritual journey?

REFLECTION ON THE CONFRATERNITY PRAYERS

Pray the CFP prayers prayed daily. Ask yourself:

Why were these particular psalms used in the original Rule of 1221? What does Psalm 51 say to me personally? Psalm 54? Psalm 119 as penitents pray it? What meaning does the Marian Consecration Prayer have for me? Why will I be asked to pray the Apostle's Creed twice daily? How do I feel about praying these psalms and prayers every day for the rest of my life? How might they influence my life if I do pray them daily?

REFLECTION ON A LIFE OF PENANCE

Review the home page of the Confraternity. Ask yourself:

How do I feel about living a medieval Rule in the modern world? Do I see myself as one in a long line of penitents? Do I really want to surrender my life, in every way, to God? How might living this Rule help me to do that? What fruits do I see as forthcoming in my own life if I do embrace a life of penance, as put forth in the CFP Rule and Constitutions?

REFLECTION ON THE SAN DAMIANO CRUCIFIX

Study the San Damiano Crucifix. Read the online article about the symbolism of this icon.  Try to pray daily, gazing at this crucifix. Ask yourself:

What "leaps out" at me from this crucifix when I gaze at it prayerfully? Why do I think this is so? What might God be telling me through this? What parts of the crucifix do I not really notice unless I look very closely? Why do I think I miss those parts? Might there be any symbolic spiritual lessons in those parts that I may not want to see? Do I think that praying with this crucifix might impact my spiritual life? How?

REFLECTION ON THE LIFE OF ST. FRANCIS AND A LIFE OF PENANCE

Read the article on St. Francis and a Life of Penance in the Penance Library, on  this link.

Does anything in this narrative resonate with me? Where do I see myself in the journey of conversion? Do I feel I will ever "get there?" How do I feel the CFP way of life and the Confraternity itself will be an asset to me on this journey? Do I feel I am capable of giving to others in the CFP as I progress along the way? What do I see as my strengths and gifts which I can share?

REFLECTION ON BEGINNING THE JOURNEY INTO PENANCE

Read the Frequently Asked Questions section. Ask yourself:

Does this section answer all my questions? What others might I have? Who would I ask?

REFLECTION ON THE HISTORY OF THE CONFRATERNITY

Read the History section of our web site.

What do you learn about the Confraternity from this section? Where do you feel the Confraternity is headed? How might you assist it on its way? Do you realize that you will part of the history of the CFP as you move along in formation?

REFLECTION ON BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

Read the Building Blocks of the Spiritual Life page, in the Penance Library, on this link.

What stumbling blocks to spiritual advancement are in your life? How might you change these to stepping stones? Do you have any stumbling blocks that aren't listed on this page? What are they and how might you change them into stepping stones? Where will you turn for help on your journey?

REFLECTION ON THE PRAYER LIST

Pray the Prayer List intentions daily.

What do I learn by praying these prayer intentions? What intentions do I have that ought to be brought to prayer? Do I believe in the power of intercessory prayer? How do I feel about asking others to pray for my intentions? Do I feel that God hears my prayers? How do I feel about His responses?

REFLECTION ON THE MONTHLY LETTER TO ALL PENITENTS

Read this month's Monthly Letter to All Penitents.

What is the message of this month's letter? Can I relate to it? Does it call me to any changes in my life? If so, how can I make them?

REFLECTION ON THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Read the Monthly Newsletter.

What parts of this month's newsletter resonate with me? Is the Holy Spirit speaking to me through any of the articles? Which ones? What is the Lord saying to me? Do I need to consult anyone else for direction regarding where the Spirit seems to be leading me because of these articles?

REFLECTION ON POPE JOHN PAUL II'S EXHORTATION TO RECONCILIATION AND PENANCE

In the Penance Library, read this article on this link.

Prepare an outline of this lengthy article. What would you say are the most important points? Why do you select those? How does the Pope see penance and reconciliation as being intertwined? How do I feel the Rule and Constitutions for the Confraternity of Penitents can help bring about the goals which the Pope and the Church desires?

REFLECTION ON THE THIRD SECRET OF FATIMA AND ITS EMPHASIS ON PENANCE

Read the article on the Third Secret of Fatima and Its Emphasis on Penance in the Penance Library and on this link.

Although the Church does not require us to believe private revelations, it has approved the Fatima revelations. Why might the Lord have given this revelation in the last century? Why might the Church have reserved making this secret known until a few years ago? How might the CFP help to fulfill what the angel is calling for? Do I see the CFP as part of God's design to call more souls to a penitential life?

May God bless you always!