Is it time for Spring cleaning? According to Wikipedia, “During the 19th century in America, prior to the advent of the vacuum cleaner, March was often the best time for dusting because it was getting warm enough to open windows and doors (but not warm enough for insects to be a problem), and the high winds could carry the dust out of the house.” Sounds about right to me. I’m eager for Spring to come. The first day of Spring is Saturday, March 20th. But next weekend, Sunday, March 14th, Daylight Savings Time begins—and I’m particularly excited about having more evening light!
But, let’s not forget that our souls most likely also need Spring cleaning and maybe some more light as well. Jesus cleanses the Temple in our Sunday Gospel, and Jesus can cleanse our souls as well. In fact, He is really the only one who can do the job. But we have to come to Him and let Him into our “house” and into every room—even the rooms we keep locked and hidden from the world. What are the dusty parts of your soul? Wouldn’t we feel so much better if we could be freed from all sin and guilt?
Come to the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Lent! Don’t forget we have extra times for confession. There are the normal times of Saturdays 3:30-4:30PM and Wednesdays 12-1:00PM. In Lent we add Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00PM. And then as we draw near the end of Lent there are extra times the week of March 21-26. I’ll get those details out next week, but I think we will probably have some time each day that week so folks can social distance while they approach this wonderful Sacrament of forgiveness.
To prepare for Reconciliation, I highly suggest using an examination of conscience. There are many out there that use the Ten Commandments or Seven Deadly Sins or similar. We have pamphlets at POP, but there are lots of these online as well (even apps for the phones). They help remind us of areas we may have sinned. But most importantly, we should pray for guidance to do this well. Here is a nice prayer that works.
Prayer Before Confession by Saint Alphonsus Liguori, one of the Doctors of the Church:
O my God, help me to make a good confession. Mary, my dearest Mother, pray to Jesus for me. Help me to examine my conscience, enable me to obtain true sorrow for my sins, and beg for me the grace rather to die than to offend God again. Lord Jesus, light of our souls, who enlightens every man coming into this world, enlighten my conscience and my heart by Thy Holy Spirit, so that I may perceive all that is displeasing to Thy divine majesty and may expiate it by humble confession, true contrition, and sincere repentance. Amen.
Happy Spring Cleaning!