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De lapsis (PL)

XXIX.

Confiteantur singuli, quaeso vos, fratres dilectissimi, delictum suum, dum adhuc qui deliquit in saeculo est, dum admitti confessio ejus potest, dum satisfactio et remissio facta per sacerdotes apud Dominum grata est. Convertamur ad Dominum mente tota; [Col. 0489B] et, poenitentiam criminis veris doloribus exprimentes, Dei misericordiam deprecemur. Illi se anima prosternat, illi moestitia satisfaciat, illi spes omnis incumbat. Rogare qualiter debeamus dicit ipse: Revertimini, inquit, ad me ex toto corde vestro, simulque et jejunio et fletu et planctu; et scindite corda vestra, et non vestimenta vestra (Joel II, 12). Ad Dominum toto corde redeamus. Iram et offensam ejus jejuniis, fletibus, planctibus, sicut admonet ipse, placemus.

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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.