I often ponder “Repentance”. In my heart, I can see its effects, not as a way I hope to be, but as a way I should be right now.

Rend Your Heart Joel 2:12-13

12 “Even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
13 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.

Great advice on how important it is, not to give up more, but to do more from Rev. James Martin, S.J. Catholic priest and author, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything.

Bothering to Love: One Priest’s Modest Proposal for Lent

Here are some great quotes I felt needed to be shared today:

“Are you capable of risking your life for someone? Do it for Christ.”~Venerable Pope John Paul II

“My child, I have need of victims, and strong victims, who by their sufferings, tribulations, and difficulties, make amends for sinners and for their ingratitude.” Saint Gemma Galgani, letters

“Love wants to suffer for the Beloved… Love wants to expiate the sins that have so deeply penetrated mankind. Love wants to make up for the lack of love among those who sin. Love wants to relieve the debt of suffering that sinners owe to God. Love wants to give God what sinners are depriving Him of by their sins.” Servant of God Fr. John Hardon

Whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in my steps. Luke 9:23

To change and to change for the better are two different things. – German proverb

Go and learn what the Scriptures mean when they say, `Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.’ I didn’t come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners. – Matthew 9:13

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. – Proverbs 3:7

God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.-Romans 2:4

Confession is the first step to repentance. English Proverb

If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Ah! if you only knew the peace there is in an accepted sorrow. – Jeanne de la Motte-Guyton