The Elder at the Kitayev Hermitage give solemn advice on
what a confession should NOT be:
1. One should not confess against sins that have previously
been confessed and absolved by a priest, or it should imply a lack of faith on the mystery of
reconciliation.
2. One should only confess sins relating to oneself, and
never accuse others in one's confession.
3. One should not detail sins too much, but only in very
general terms, as forbidden by the Holy Fathers, because too much details may lead one and his
confessor into temptation, since many sins are carnal and lustful in nature.
4. One should not repent with detachment, as if one is
merely an observer to the sins,
but must repent as one means it.
5. One should always remember the most important sins, that
of not loving God, not loving our neighbors, not believe the Holy Scripture,
and that one is filled with pride and greed. These are the fundamental sins
that drive all other manners of sins and woes.
After that, the elder explained what true confession should
be…
A. I do not love God. Because If I truly love God, I would
think of God the whole day and not get
tired, and would pray, obey and glorify Him the whole day
with joy (St. John 14:23).
B. I do not love my neighbors as myself. Because if I did, I
would carry the burden of other's worries,and take care of them as I would for my own burdens, and I
would share in the joy of others as much as I rejoice in my own.
C. I have no faith in Holy Scripture. Because if I did, I
would believe in the salvation Christ pointed us to through His Word, and in the caring for this
life to prepare for our afterlife.
D. I am full of pride and greed. That is why I would boast
of needless things to others, display however little I have to snub others, to defend my sins with
excuses, and even do charity for the sake of praise or social standing. I am worshipping
myself rather than God.
Source:
The way of the Pilgrim
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