The Lord, knowing that we were fragile, left us the sacrament of Penance, where the soul not only comes out restored, but, if it had lost grace, it emerges with a new life. We must go to this sacrament with full, humble, contrite sincerity, with a desire to make reparation. A well-made Confession presupposes a profound examination (profound does not necessarily mean long, especially if we confess frequently): if possible, before the Tabernacle, and always in the presence of God. In the examination of conscience, the Christian sees what God expected of his life and what in reality it has been; the goodness or malice of his actions, the omissions, the lost occasions..., the intensity of the fault committed, the time he remained in it before asking for forgiveness.
The Christian who desires to have a delicate conscience, and for this purpose confesses frequently, "will not be satisfied with a confession that is simply valid, but will aspire to a good confession that helps the soul effectively in its aspiration towards God. For frequent confession to achieve this end, it is necessary to take this principle seriously: without repentance there is no forgiveness of sins. From this arises this fundamental rule for the frequent confessor: do not confess any venial sin of which one has not seriously and sincerely repented.
"There is a general repentance. It is the sorrow and detestation of sins committed in one's entire past life. This general repentance is for frequent confession of exceptional importance," because it helps to heal the wounds left by weaknesses, purifies the soul and makes it grow in love for the Lord.
Sincerity will lead us, whenever necessary, to go down to those little details that make our weaknesses better known: how, when, for what reason, for how long, avoiding the need to go down to the smallest details that make our weaknesses better known: how, when, for what reason, for how long, avoiding both insubstantial and lengthy details and generalizations, saying with simplicity and delicacy what happened, the true state of the soul, avoiding digressions such as "I was not humble", "I was lazy", "I lacked charity"..., things, on the other hand, that are almost always applicable to common mortals. In practicing frequent Confession, we must always take care that it is a personal act in which we ask the Lord's forgiveness for very concrete and real weaknesses, not for diffuse generalities.
This sacrament of mercy is a safe haven; there wounds are healed, what was already worn out and aged is rejuvenated, and all our misdeeds, great and small, are remedied. For Confession is not only a judgment in which debts are forgiven, but also medicine for the soul.
The impersonal Confession often hides a point of pride and self-love that tries to mask or justify what humiliates and leaves us, humanly speaking, in a bad place. Perhaps it can help us, in order to make this act of penance more personal, to take care even of the way we confess: "I accuse myself of ...", because this sacrament is not an account of things that have happened, but a humble and simple self-accusation of our errors and weaknesses before God himself, who will forgive us through the priest and flood us with his grace.
God be blessed," you used to say to yourself after finishing your sacramental Confession. And you thought to yourself: it is as if I were born again.
"Then you continued serenely: "Domine, quid me vis facere?" -Lord, what do you want me to do?
"-And you yourself gave yourself the answer: with your grace, above everything and everyone, I will fulfill your Most Holy Will: "serviam!"-I will serve you unconditionally!". I will serve you, Lord, as you have always wanted me to do: with simplicity, in the midst of my ordinary life, in the ordinary of every day.