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serious sins,Á-? because this means that you do not realize how sinful what you have done
is, and how sinful your insensitivity is.
Also do not be insensitive to the feelings and weaknesses of others, including your
spiritual father. If you have not confessed for some time, or have some particular
difficulty and are likely to need a long confession, try not to come on the eve of a great
feast or when there will be many other people going to confession, but come on a day
when there are likely to be few, or make a special arrangement with the priest. Also,
unless it is otherwise completely impossible (because, for instance, you live far from the
church), do not come for confession either immediately before the Divine Liturgy (when
the priest will be preparing the gifts) or during the service, when you will cause the entire
congregation to wait while your confession is heard.
If after your confession you are hoping to receive a blessing to partake of the Holy
Mysteries, it is best to come for the confession after the evening service on the previous
night.
You must be truly sorry for the sins you have committed. Unless you really regret having
done them, and intend to try to avoid them in the future, you lack true penitence, without
which your sins are not forgiven.
It is also necessary to confess with faith in Jesus Christ and to trust in His mercy. Only if
we believe and trust in Jesus Christ can we receive remission of our sins. Judas Iscariot,
for example, repented of his sin, not before one man, but before all, and he returned the
pieces of silver. But instead of believing in Jesus Christ and trusting in His mercy, he fell
into despair and, receiving no remission, he died a terrible death. Thus, in addition to
careful confession and true repentance, faith and hope are essential for the salvation of a
sinner.
Penances Á-¦ Their Nature and Purpose
Penance is a form of discipline or a prohibition administered by the priest (in accordance
with the canons or laws of the Church) to those repentant Christians for whom it is
necessary, much as a doctor prescribes a suitable medicine or treatment. It is a form of
treatment for a moral sickness. Examples of penances are: fasting over and above what is
required of all Orthodox Christians, special prayers of repentance with prostrations,
reading books which will help in overcoming oneÁ-?s weakness, and the performance ofÁ-?
good works.
Penances are not given to all who come to confession, but only to those who, by the
nature or seriousness of their sins, require this special medicine. An example of this is St.
PaulÁ-?s excommunication of a Christian of the Church of Corinth for incest; then, because
of his penitence, he received him back into the Church (11 Cor. 2:6-8).
Although penance would seem to be a punishment, its purpose is not to make retribution
for sins, to pay back a debt, but is rather corrective, medicinal, and instructiveÁ-¦to cure