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Des Tombés

XXIX.

15° Je vous en supplie, mes frères bien-aimés, confessez tous vos péchés, pendant que vous êtes encore sur cette terre, pendant que votre confession peut être entendue, pendant que la rémission de vos fautes, opérée par le prêtre, peut être agréée de Dieu. Convertissons-nous au Seigneur de toute notre âme; ayons un regret véritable de nos crimes, et implorons la divine miséricorde. Que notre âme se prosterne devant lui; pénétrée d’une douleur profonde , qu’elle expie ses fautes et qu’elle ranime son espérance. Revenez à moi, dit le Seigneur, de tout votre coeur, livrez-vous aux jeûnes, aux gémissements, aux larmes, et déchirez vos coeurs et non vos vêtements.

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On the Lapsed

29.

I entreat you, beloved brethren, that each one should confess his own sin, while he who has sinned is still in this world, while his confession may be received, while the satisfaction and remission made by the priests are pleasing to the Lord. ¹ Let us turn to the Lord with our whole heart, and, expressing our repentance for our sin with true grief, let us entreat God's mercy. Let our soul lie low before Him. Let our mourning atone to Him. Let all our hope lean upon Him. He Himself tells us in what manner we ought to ask. "Turn ye," He says, "to me with all your heart, and at the same time with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts, and not your garments." ² Let us return to the Lord with our whole heart. Let us appease His wrath and indignation with fastings, with weeping, with mourning, as He Himself admonishes us.