the mystical temple of god 658 and of the Church, and the duties proper to one’s own situation, just as we have taught above in the method of daily examination. In my desire for brevity, I do not intend to set up here a list of sins that can be or are usually committed, since conscience itself is the list; if it is deeply examined, it will show what one should grieve over, confess and censure. Afterwards, sorrow for all one’s sins and for one’s particular mortal sins should be elicited, with serious abhorrence for them and a firm purpose of amendment: this does not consist so much in feelings and tears, even though these are good and most pleasing to God, as in the acts of judgment and understanding, by which the gravity of a sin is understood, which results from having offended the Supreme Good, and from the prompting of the will, which abhors the sin especially for the same reason, that is, the offense of the Supreme Good. But if one would not have such a sorrow and abhorrence, but rather would have some inclination to a certain sin, especially one that has often been committed, then having made a humble petition to the Lord God for the gift of true contrition, one should accuse oneself of the imperfection of this contrition. For what will happen is that God will accept what is in him, and will grant him what is in Himself. Finally, he should proceed humbly to the confession of his sins, as though intending to plead a cause against himself before God the Judge, so that he may gain pardon sooner by accusing himself. In this sacred tribunal, having first asked a blessing of the confessor, one should not leave anything unsaid out of fear or shame. For he is confessing not to man but to God, to whom all that is inside of every man is very well known, and to whom sins are known before anyone commits them, and from whom nothing can be concealed. He should recount all sins with sorrow, without obscurities, adding, where necessary, aggravating circumstances, or ones which change the kind of sin, not betraying an accomplice, not minimizing the sins, not arguing. Finally he should listen to and carry out the confessor’s admonitions, counsels, remedies and humbly accept the penance imposed upon him, and perform it without delay, adding more on his own
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