Saint Polycarp of Syrma
(c. 69-c. 155)
(drawing of St. Polycarp by unknown artist)
He who has charity is far from all sin.
--St. Polycarp
There is
nothing small in the service of God.
--St. Francis de Sales
Charity is the bond of brotherhood, the
foundation of peace, the mainstay and security of
unity, which is greater than both hope and faith,
which excels good works and martyrdom, which will
abide with us always, eternal with God in the
kingdom of heaven.
--St. Cyprian of Carthage
Sending of the Spirit, detail
Heidelberg Bible of the Poor, c. 1430
"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.
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COLLECT USED BREVIARY (LITURGY OF
THE HOURS, CHRISTIAN PRAYER) APOSTOLATE
One of several different
editions of the Liturgy of the Hours
Members of the Confraternity
of Penitents and of religious Orders and Third
Orders world wide pray the Divine Office
(Liturgy of the Hours, Christian Prayer).
The Confraternity of Penitents collects
used Catholic breviaries and also distributes
them free of charge to those who cannot afford
to purchase one (the receiver pays the shipping
charge). If you or someone you know has a
used Catholic breviary, be it one volume
Christian Prayer or any of the volumes of the
four volume Liturgy of the Hours, in any
condition, in any currently used edition, from any publisher,
would you kindly consider mailing it to us so
that we can distribute it to those who need the
breviary but cannot afford the cost of one?
If you would like to request
a used breviary, please contact us for
availablity.
May God bless you for any
help you can give!
The Liturgy of the Hours is
also on line, a few days at a time, at
liturgyhours.org
Confraternity of Penitents
520 Oliphant Lane
Middletown RI USA
02842-4600
401/849-5421
bspenance@hotmail.com
copenitents@yahoo.com
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