Confession

I consider myself as the most wretched of men, full of sores and corruptions, and as one who has committed all sorts of crimes against his King; moved with deep sorrow, I confess to Him all my wickedness, I ask His forgiveness, I abandon myself in His hands, that He may do with me what He pleases. This King, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastising me, embraces me with love, makes me to eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me the key of His treasures; He converses and delights Himself with me unceasingly, in a thousand and a thousand ways, and treats me in all respects as His favorite. It is thus that I consider myself from time to time in His Holy Presence.

Very often, when the sinner looks at the greatness and multitude of his guilt, he is ashamed to confess that which he has done; and although he may deeply grieve for his sins, yet, foolishly hiding them in his own conscience, he is ashamed to reveal them to whom he ought. Fool! Why be ashamed to say to man that which you are not ashamed to do in the sight of the Lord? Away with such shame. Hasten to the priest; reveal your secret and confess your sin: otherwise, contrition of heart will be of no avail, if, when there is an opportunity, confession of mouth does not follow.

Go down into your hearts and take the keys of them and ransack your private cupboards, and narrowly observe what junkets your souls have until now lived upon, and gone behind the door and there secretly and stoutly have made a meal of them. Delights are secret things, as treasures are. As dogs … have bones they hide, and secretly steal forth to gnaw upon, so men have sins they hide under their tongues as sweet bits.