"Economic materialism signifies the oppression of the human spirit. There is nothing free and nothing gifted. This sums up the whole oppression of the world."
Nicolas Berdyaev, The Meaning of the Creative Act, New York: Collier, 1962, 97.
Lenten piety, acts of penitence in reparation for sins and for love of God in Christ, is a key to freedom. Restoration of divine communion.
The other key is the creative human genius in itself! Perfect human nature. "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48
"Hide alms in the lap of the poor, and it shall pray to the Lord for you; For as water quenches fire, so alms destroys sin. Give alms and all things are clean to you. For as water quenches fire, so alms destroys sin. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and every shall be, world without end. Amen. For as water quenches fire, so alms destroys sin."
Matins Ember Saturday in Lent, Responsory to Lesson iii, Roman Breviary. (Plinthos translation)
