Confession
“In a sacramental confession, the penitent names his offenses because it is a way of taking responsibility for them before God and before man. He says, I am a sinner. This is what I have done. I blame no one but myself. I ask to be pardoned and healed. I need a Savior.”
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Hmmmm. I have always suspected that it was intended more to shame the penitent into never repeating his folly.”Elijah shook his head. “That is what so many misunderstand. A priest of Christ knows that he is a man like other men. He too could commit the sins told to him through that screen. He stands there as a sign of contradiction set down in creation. A sign of mercy and truth. The truth sets us free, and mercy heals us. He stands as a living presence of Christ before men, and in the place of men before Christ.”
- Father Elijah by Michael O’Brian
