Alms and Forgiveness

Agnoscamus itaque fratres charissimi, divinae indulgentiae munus salubre, et emudndandis purgandisque peccatis nostris, qui sine aliquo conscientiae vulenere esse non possumus, medelis spiritalibus vulnera nostra curemus. Nec quisquam sic sibi de puro atque immaculato pectore blandiatur, ut, innocentia sua fretus, medicinam non putet adhibehdam esse vulneribus, cum scriptum sit; Quis gloriabitur mundum se esse a peccatis? et iterum in Epistola sua Joannes ponat et dicat: 'Si dixerimus quia peccatum non habemus, nos ipsos decipimus, et vertitas in nobis non est.  Si autem nemo esse sine peccato potest, et quiquis inculpatum se esse dixerit, aut superbus aut stultus est, quam necessaria, quam benigna est divina clementia, quae, cum sciat non deesse sanatis quaedam postmodum vulnera, dedit curandis denuo sanatisque vulneribus remedia salutaria. Numquam denique, fratres dilectissimi, admonitio divina cessavit et tacuit quominus in Scripturis sanctis tam veteribus quam novis semper et ubique ad misericordiae opera Dei populus provocaretur; et canente atque exhortante Spiritu sancto, quisquis ad spem regni coelestis intruitur, facere eleemosynas jubetur, Mandat et praecipit Esaiae Deus: 'Exclama, inquit, in fortitudine et noli parcere. Sicut tuba exalta vicem tuam, et annuntia plebi meae peccata ipsorum et domui Jacob facinora eorum. Et cum peccata eis sua exprobrari praecepisset, cumque eorum facinora pleno indignationis impetu protulisset, dixissetque eos nec, si orationibus et pecibus et jejuniis uterentur, satisfacere pro delictis posse, nec, si in cilico et cinere volverentur, iram Dei posse lenire, in novissima tamen parte, demonstrans solis eleemosynis Deum posse placari, addidit dicens: Frange esurienti panem tuum, et egenos sine tecto induc in domum tuam. Si videris nudum, vesti eum, et domesticos seminis tui non despicias. Tunc erumpet temporaneum lumen tuum, et vestimenta tua cito orientur, et praeibit ante te justiita, et claritas Dei circumdabit te. Tunc exclamabis te Deus exaudiet te. Dum adhuc loqueris dicet: Ecce adsum. Sanctus Cyprianus, Liber Opere et Eleemosynis

Let us acknowledge, then, beloved brethren, the wholesome gift of the Divine mercy, and let us, who cannot be without some wound of conscience, for the cleansing and purging of our sins, cure our wounds by spiritual remedies . Let no one so flatter himself that he has a pure and immaculate heart, that, relying on his own innocence, he think that the medicine need not be administered to his wounds, when it is written, 'Who shall boast that he is clean or free from sins? ' 1 And again, in his letter, John sets it before us and says, If we say that we do not have sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.' 2 But if no one can be without sin, and whoever should say that he is faultless is either proud or stupid, how necessary, how kind is the Divine mercy, which, when it knows that there are still some wounds even after healing, has given for the curing and healing of wounds anew wholesome remedies. Never then, beloved brethren, has the Divine admonition ceased or been silent in the Scriptures, whether in the old or the new, in exhorting the people of God's always and everywhere to works of mercy, and with the song and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, whoever has hope of the heavenly kingdom is commanded to give alms. God commands and prescribes to Isaiah: 'Cry out,'  He says, 'with force, and do not cease. Lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their sins, and to the house of Jacob their crimes.' 3 And when He had commanded their sins to be brought up as a reproach upon them, and had set forth their crimes with the full force of His indignation, and had said that even though they should turn to supplications and prayers and fasting, they would not be able to make satisfaction for their sins, nor if they clothed themselves in sackcloth and ashes would they be able to allay God's anger, in the last part, however, showing that God can be pleased by alms alone, he added, saying, 'Break your bread for the hungry and lead the poor without a roof over them into your house. If you see the naked, clothe him, and do not despise the household of your own seed. Then shall your light break forth in its season, and your garments shall arise swiftly, and before you  righteousness shall go, and the glory of God shall surround you. Then you will cry out and God will hear you. While you are still speaking, He shall say, 'Here I am.' 4 Saint Cyprian, from On Works and Alms 1 Prov 20:9 2 1 Jn 1.8 3 Isaiah 58:1 4 Isaiah 58:7-9