The Stone At The Door Of The Sepulcher

<p>“Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulcher?” Mark 16:3. </p> <p>The greater the desire of these holy women was to behold and anoint their dear Lord, the greater was their anxiety lest they should not be able to carry out their intention; for the entrance to the grave was closed by a huge stone; and therefore, they asked each other: Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulcher? Poor weak women (that they were), they had not the strength to do it; nevertheless, they went on their way, determined to do their best. In like manner, sinners are deterred from doing sincere penance, and being really reconciled to God. I say sincere penance, and real reconciliation; for the great mass of the ordinary annual confessions, enforced on bad Catholics at Easter, are mere shams and sacrileges. Most of such sinners are shut up in the grave of sin by a huge stone which they fear even to attempt to roll away. The inveterate habit of a certain vice, some unlawful intimacy, or proximate occasion of sin, which they do not wish to abandon this is the stone that lies across the door of their hearts and which they think it impossible to remove. “Who” (they irresolutely ask), “who shall roll us back the stone?” Who will free me at last from this occasion, this intimacy, this inveterate habit? Sinners! (I reply) God helps those who help themselves. But he wishes you to learn now by my lips:</p>