Lenten Sermon by Leo the Great

From a Lenten sermon by Leo the Great


N.B. Reading ancient theologians often requires bending one’s mind to patterns of thought and modes of expression which seem quite strange. Behold, for your meditation, this Lenten sermon by Leo the Great. I’ve tried to set forth a clear but quite literal translation.

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On the Goodness of Love

In the gospel of John the Lord says, “In this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another:” and in an epistle by the same apostle we hear: “Beloved, love one another, because love is of God, and all who love, are born from God, and know God: and those who do not love, do not know God, for God is love.”

So – Let the minds of the faithful scrutinize themselves, and let them judge with a true examination the affections of their hearts. And if they find in their consciences some treasure from the fruits of love, they should not doubt that God is present within them, and that as they make themselves more and more open to such a divine guest, they will become more abundant in works of preserving mercy.

If in fact God is love, charity ought to have no end, because divinity is hemmed in by no limitation.

Although all times are fitting for exercising love, in these Lenten days we are especially encouraged: Those who desire to receive the Paschal mystery with holiness of soul and body, they should try especially to acquire this gift of love in which is contained the highest of all virtues and by which a multitude of sins is covered.

So, as we are about to celebrate that sacrament shining above all others, in which the blood of Jesus Christ absolves all our iniquities, let us first of all prepare offerings of mercy. And just as the goodness of God has forgiven us, so we ought to forgive those who have sinned against us.

Let a more open generosity be extended toward the poor and also to those bound by any infirmity, so that thanks may be offered to God with the voice of many, and by our fasting let refreshment be offered to the hungry. No devotion of the faithful is more pleasing to God than that which is extended to his poor, and wherever God finds an act of mercy, there he recognizes an image of his piety.

Don’t worry that you will exhaust your resources, because kindness is a great substance and the resources of kindness cannot be utterly spent when Christ nourishes and is nourished. In all these works the hand is found which increased the bread by breaking it and multiplied it by giving it away.

Let the one who distributes assistance be secure and happy. Indeed he will have the greatest riches, when he saves the least for himself, as blessed Apostle Paul says, “He who administers seed to the sower, will give bread for eating, and will multiply your seed, and will increase the growth of fruits of your justice,” in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.