By Chris Leone, OFS
National Councilor, OFS-USA
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Chris Leone, OFS National Councilor
God in his infinite mercy, understands that we will fall short, we will sin – but he does not leave us in that sin. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we can be restored to love and friendship with God and receive the grace to mend our relationships with each other.
In my Diocese of Paterson, NJ, under a program called Welcome Home to Healing, every parish in the diocese offered the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Monday evenings during Lent.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the former Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York, was fond of comparing Lent to spring training for professional baseball players.
His point was just as spring training prepares the major league baseball player for the challenges of the new season, Lent, the spring renewal of our Christianity, prepares us for the challenges of our spiritual lives. The goal of Lent is to become like Jesus!
While Lent may only be a few weeks, Article 7 of our Rule reminds us that human frailty makes this turning toward God something we need to recognize and act upon daily. Making frequent use of the wonderful Sacrament of Reconciliation will ensure that our Most High, glorious God will enlighten the darkness of our hearts and restore us to right relationship with Him.
OFS Rule Article 7:
United by their vocations as “brothers and sisters of penance,” and motivated by the dynamic power of the gospel, let them conform their thoughts and deed to those of Christ by means of that radical interior change which the gospel itself calls “conversion.” Human frailty makes it necessary that this conversion be carried out daily.
On this road to renewal the sacrament of reconciliation is the privileged sign of the Father’s mercy and source of grace.
https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/2026/04/gods-mercy-revealed-ofs-rule-article-7/