The Holy Church, knowing both the need and the horror that we have of penance, exhorts us to practice it by depriving ourselves of certain treats every Friday, the whole of Lent, Advent, the days of the Four Seasons, etc. The Virgin Mary Herself has reiterated everywhere Her calls to “Prayer and Penance.” At La Salette, our good Mother said, weeping, “On Fridays people run to the butcher shop like dogs…” To this desire of our Mother, who could count the disobedience committed through indifference, disregard of divine calls, human respect or blind apathy? God, who considers Himself despised, in the person of the Church His Bride, threatens us through the lips of His Mother to withdraw His protection and treat us as pagans. Let us examine whether we are observing and enforcing the practice of penance in our midst, and let us make all reforms on this point that are compatible with real needs. PRAYER O Queen of the Church, You cannot be insensitive to such a general violation of her wise laws. Obtain for me the courage to be always faithful Catholic and to close my ear to the excessive delicacies of my flesh. I have sinned a lot, so I am in great need of penance. I want at least to accept the one I would not have had the generosity to inflict on myself and to embrace with love the little crosses that Providence sends me for my salvation.