Office Of Readings | Ash Wednesday | A Reading From The Letter Of Pope Saint Clement I To The Corinthians

Office Of Readings | Ash Wednesday | The Letter Of Pope Saint Clement I To The Corinthians

‘Repent.’

Pope Saint Clement I, also known as Clement of Rome, served as the Bishop of Rome from approximately 88 to 99 AD. He is recognized as one of the Apostolic Fathers, a group of early Christian writers who had direct connections to the Apostles.

Little is known about Saint Clement’s early life. Some sources suggest he was a disciple of Saint Peter and possibly Saint Paul. He is traditionally identified as the Clement mentioned by Paul in Philippians 4:3, though this identification is uncertain.

Saint Clement’s most significant contribution is his letter to the Church in Corinth, known as 1 Clement. This letter addresses disputes within the Corinthian community, urging unity, humility, and adherence to apostolic tradition. It is one of the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament and reflects the early Church’s efforts to maintain cohesion and doctrinal integrity.

Regarding his martyrdom, tradition holds that Saint Clement was exiled to Chersonesus (modern-day Crimea) during Emperor Trajan’s reign and was martyred by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea. However, these accounts are based on later traditions, and their historical accuracy is uncertain.

Saint Clement is venerated as a saint in various Christian traditions, with his feast day celebrated on November 23 in the Roman Catholic Church. He is the patron saint of mariners, marble workers, and stonecutters.

A Reading From The Letter Of Pope Saint Clement I To The Corinthians

The second reading for the Office of Readings on Ash Wednesday is from the letter by Pope Saint Clement I to the Corinthians. In this passage, Saint Clement urges believers to focus on peace and unity, encouraging them to fix their eyes on God and embrace His gifts. He emphasizes the importance of humility and harmony within the Christian community, reminding the faithful to adhere to the teachings and commandments of the Lord. This reading serves as a call to self-examination and renewal, aligning with the penitential nature of the Lenten season.

Let us fix our attention on the blood of Christ and recognise how precious it is to God his Father, since it was shed for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world.

If we review the various ages of history, we will see that in every generation the Lord has offered the opportunity of repentance to any who were willing to turn to him. When Noah preached God’s message of repentance, all who listened to him were saved. Jonah told the Ninevites they were going to be destroyed, but when they repented, their prayers gained God’s forgiveness for their sins, and they were saved, even though they were not of God’s people.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the ministers of God’s grace have spoken of repentance; indeed, the Master of the whole universe himself spoke of repentance with an oath: As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the death of the sinner but his repentance. He added this evidence of his goodness: House of Israel, repent of your wickedness. Tell the sons of my people: If their sins should reach from earth to heaven, if they are brighter than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, you need only turn to me with your whole heart and say, “Father,” and I will listen to you as a holy people.

In other words, God wanted all his beloved ones to have the opportunity to repent and he confirmed this desire by his own almighty will. That is why we should obey his sovereign and glorious will and prayerfully entreat his mercy and kindness. We should be suppliant before him and turn to his compassion, rejecting empty works and quarrelling and jealousy which only lead to death.

Brothers, we should be humble in mind, putting aside all arrogance, pride and foolish anger. Rather, we should act in accordance with the Scriptures, as the Holy Spirit says: The wise man must not glory in his wisdom nor the strong man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches. Rather, let him who glories glory in the Lord by seeking him and doing what is right and just. Recall especially what the Lord Jesus said when he taught gentleness and forbearance. Be merciful, he said, so that you may have mercy shown to you. Forgive, so that you may be forgiven. As you treat others, so you will be treated. As you give, so you will receive. As you judge, so you will be judged. As you are kind to others, so you will be treated kindly. The measure of your giving will be the measure of your receiving.

Let these commandments and precepts strengthen us to live in humble obedience to his sacred words. As Scripture asks: Whom shall I look upon with favour except the humble, peaceful man who trembles at my words?

Sharing then in the heritage of so many vast and glorious achievements, let us hasten towards the goal of peace, set before us from the beginning. Let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Father and Creator of the whole universe, and hold fast to his splendid and transcendent gifts of peace and all his blessings.