the crucified orator 738 Lima,124 Cunegunda of Poland,125 Magdalene of Italy126 and so many other spouses of Christ; “You say that they are true, [then] our serious ones you call a joke.” What if I should show you a living example of penance, which all can see — would you still shudder at this penance? Turn your gaze upon the noble progeny of Romuald.127 You see them in a coarse habit, gaunt from fasting, mortified by silence, in their whole life equal to the angels. Will you go to the Carthusians? You will find them groggy from vigils, cloistered in cells, fleeing from themselves, and intent only upon Heaven. There are also many others who — having embraced precepts of the Gospel — chose the utmost poverty, and for the good of souls adopted a difficult external life. Without bags and staffs, barefoot and in coarse clothing, preaching Christ by word and example, they fulfilled the mission of true apostles of the entire world. Yet, [reflect on] the most sublime works of those who completely and with great perseverance devoted themselves to the writing of books for the good of the Church, to the formation and education of the youth, to the preaching of the Word of God, to the administration of Sacraments, the strengthening of Catholics in devotions, to the conversion of heretics and the inclusion of unbelievers into the flock of Christ. Who — I ask — would not place their wonderful deeds on the list of works of penance? Precisely all of this, my man, can rightly persuade you — who sin gravely but do light penance — to perform an active, serious, and constant penance. To this I still add — if you allow me — the most salutary admonition of Sirach: “Do not be so confident of atonement that you add sin to sin” (Sir 5:5). You can be [confident] 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. 124 St. Rose of Lima (1586-1617). 125 St. Cunegunda (Kinga, 1224-1292), a princess from Krakow, a Poor Clare. 126 St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi (1566-1607). 127 St. Romuald († 1207), the founder of the Camaldolese.
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