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“Jesus said to His disciples, … When you fast, … When you give alms, … When you pray … And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” Mt. 6:1–6, 16–18 Each year on Ash Wednesday, at Mass or a Prayer Service, as we begin the Season of Lent, we hear the Gospel quoted above, Matthew 6: 1–6, 16–18, and Jesus speaks to us, His disciples, about fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. As Jesus speaks to us of those spiritual practices, we should “listen very closely” because He is telling us not only “what” we should do but “how” (and why) we should do it.

St. John Henry Newman, the great theologian of the nineteenth century, chose as his motto when appointed a cardinal, “Cor ad cor loquitur” — “Heart speaks to heart.” This is a time in our history, I respectfully suggest, when we need heart speaking to heart.

I offer above the first eight verses of the fifth chapter of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans because, this past week, while on Retreat, I had the opportunity to spend some time in prayer with this and some other Scripture passages that speak about Hope. The opportunity of an annual Retreat is a gift the Church gives to priests, bishops, and those in consecrated life.