(Vatican Radio) As the Church begins her journey through Lent, we turned to the Church’s
Major Penitentiary-emeritus, Cardinal James Francis Stafford, who shared with us his
reflection on a key theme of the penitential season: forgiveness. “The Lenten season
has always been a season in which the whole Church: her catechumens and those who
are accompanying the catechumens – the sponsors, the catechists, the parish – the
whole Church is in reflection upon the mercy of God,” He said. The Major Penitentiary-emeritus
went on to explain that God’s mercy must animate our individual Christian lives and
also our life in community. “If we are not a community that pardons one another,”
Cardinal Stafford added, “then we are not disciples of Jesus.” Listen: