Crucified Orator new file

and constant penance. To this I still add – if you allow me – the most salutary admonition of Sirach: “do not be so confident of forgiveness that you add sin upon sin” (Sir 5:5). you can be [con- fident] if you will tirelessly perform penance. Therefore, let us persevere in penance; let us persevere so that we may wash away our former sins and prevent access to new ones. Why boast of your month-, year-, or five-year-long penance? If we will perform solid works of penance throughout all of life, then at least we can expect and await heaven in not too pre- sumptuous a manner. 69 T HE S IxTH W Ord