St. Leo: On Lent
Catholic, Writings February 16th, 2005
St. (Pope) Leo the Great from Sermon 39, Section V ( On Lent: I)
Abstinence not only from food but from other evil desires, especially from wrath, is required in Lent. Relying, therefore, dearly-beloved, on these arms, let us enter actively and fearlessly on the contest set before us: so that in this fasting struggle we may not rest satisfied with only this end, that we should think abstinence from food alone desirable. For it is not enough that the substance of our flesh should be reduced, if the strength of the soul be not also developed. When the outer man is somewhat subdued, let the inner man be somewhat refreshed; and when bodily excess is denied to our flesh, let our mind be invigorated by spiritual delights. Let every Christian scrutinise himself, and earth severely into his inmost heart: let him see that no discord cling there, no wrong desire be harboured. Let chasteness drive incontinence far away; let the light of truth dispel the shades of deception; let the swellings of pride subside; let wrath yield to reason; let the darts of ill-treatment be shattered, and the chidings of the tongue be bridled; let thoughts of revenge fall through, and injuries be given over to oblivion. In fine, let "every plant which the heavenly Father hath not planted be removed by the roots." For then only are the seeds of virtue well nourished in us, when every foreign germ is uprooted from the field of wheat. If any one, therefore, has been fired by the desire for vengeance against another, so that he has given him up to prison or bound him with chains, let him make haste 154 to forgive not only the innocent, but also one who seems worthy of punishment, that he may with confidence make use of the clause in the Lord’s prayer and say, "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors." Which petition the LORD marks with peculiar emphasis, as if the efficacy of the whole rested on this condition, by saying, "For if ye forgive men their sins, your Father which is in heaven also will forgive you: but if ye forgive not men, neither will your Father forgive you your Sins."
Read the whole thing at New Advent.
Image used above and information on St. Leo at Doctors of the Catholic Church: St. Leo the Great.
February 17th, 2005 at 11:11 am
Leo’s sermons are fantastic, especially the ones for the Ember Days and Lent. If I remember right, one of his sermons for the Advent Ember Days is the best stewardship-as-act-of-spirituality that I’ve ever read. Savor these. They’re not the kind of sermon that we hear today and grow out of the Classical pangyric tradition. Augustine, following Cicero and the rhetorical schools of the Late Republic/Early Empire, delineated three levels of rhetoric; Leo is probably the greatest example of the grand style. Elevated diction, choice rhythyms, really great stuff. If you have Latin they’re definitely worth a read in the original.
February 19th, 2005 at 12:47 pm
Derek,
I love Leo the Great too. You’re right that his sermon is not like today’s. I wish more seminaries would examine St. Leo instead of modern theories. Do you know if his sermons are available in Latin online or in print?
February 23rd, 2005 at 11:58 am
They’re in print in (of course) the PL but I believe I read them last from a Source Chretienne publication (facing page French translation) but I could be mistaken about that. I don’t know that they’re on the web; I haven’t seen them on any of my favorite Latin language sites.