St. Caesarius of Arles on the Approach to Lent

St. Caesarius of Arles presenting his Regula to female religious of Regensburg (Staatsbibliothek Bamberg, Ms. Lit. 142, fol. 65r)

If we notice carefully, dearest brethren, the holy days of Lent signify the life of the present world, just as Easter prefigures eternal bliss. Now just as we have a kind of sadness in Lent in order that we may rightly rejoice at Easter, so as long as we live in this world we ought to do penance in order that we may be able to receive pardon for our sins in the future and arrive at eternal joy. Each one ought to sigh over his own sins, shed tears, and give alms in such a way that with God's help he may always try to avoid the same faults as long as he lives. Just as there never has been, is not now, and never will be a soul without slight sins, so with the help and assistance of God we ought to be altogether without serious sins.

Now in order that we may obtain this, if burdens of the world keep us occupied at other times, at least during the holy days of Lent let us reflect on the law of the Lord, as it is written, by day and by night (Psalm 1:2). Let us so fill our hearts with the sweetness of the divine law that we leave no place within us devoid of virtues so that vices could occupy it. Just as at the time of the harvest or vintage, brethren, enough is gathered so that the body may be fed, so during the days of Lent as at a time of spiritual harvest or vintage we ought to gather the means whereby our soul may live for ever. Whenever a careless person fails to gather anything at the time of vintage or the harvest, he will be distressed by hunger throughout the entire space of the year. In the same way if anyone at this season neglects to provide and gather spiritual wheat and heavenly wine in the storehouse of his soul by fasting, reading, and prayer, he will suffer forever the most severe thirst and cruel want. Know for sure, dearest brethren, that the soul which is not fed continuously by the word of God is like a body which receives food only after many days. Just as the body becomes thin and dehydrated, almost like a shadow, through hunger and want, so the soul which is not fed on the food of God's word is found to be parched and useless, fit for no good work. Consider, brethren, if every year we fill the barn and wine cellar and storehouse in order that our body may have food for one year, how much do you think we ought to store up so that our soul may be nourished for ever?

For this reason, brethren, at least during these few days let the 'burdens of the world' which, according to Scripture, make many careless souls miserable, disappear. Let carnal pleasure depart, as also the allurements of this world, which are full of poison. Let bodily joys be lessened, so that spiritual gains may be provided for the soul, because of what is written: "Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall weep in your grief" (Luke 6:25) and further: "Blest are the sorrowing, for they shall be consoled" (Matt. 5:4). Let spiritual reading begin to occupy the time which frenzied addiction to the playing-table formerly took away from you; let discourses on Sacred Scripture take the place of useless stories, biting jokes, and poisonous slander. In the course of the hours when we were wont to be engaged in hunting to the loss of our soul, let the sick be visited, those who are put in prison sought out, travelers received, and the discordant recalled to harmony. If we do these things, brethren, we can provide medicines for ourselves out of the things with which we had inflicted wounds upon ourselves.

St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 198