How to Make a General Confession.
Here, then, dear Philothea, are the meditations necessary for the end we have in view. When you have made them, go with courage and humility to make your general confession; but, I beseech you, let no vain fears trouble you. The scorpion is dangerous only when it stings us; but, being reduced to oil, it becomes a great remedy against its own sting. So sin is shameful only when we commit it; but, being changed into confession and penance, it is honourable and salutary. Contrition and confession are like beautiful and fragrant flowers, which efface the ugliness of sin and dispel its foul odour. Simon the Leper said that Magdalen was a sinner; but Our Lord said otherwise, and spoke only of the perfumes she had poured forth, and of the greatness of her charity. If we are truly humble, Philothea, our sin will displease us exceedingly, because God is offended by it; but the accusation of our sin will be sweet and pleasing to us, because God is honoured by it. Besides, it is a kind of relief to tell the physician plainly of the ailment that torments us. When you come before your spiritual father, imagine yourself to be on Mount Calvary, beneath the feet of Jesus Christ crucified, Whose precious Blood flows on every side to wash you of your iniquities; for although it is not the Saviour’s own Blood, nevertheless it is the merit of His shed Blood that abundantly sprinkles penitents in the confessional. Open your heart, then, wide, so that your sins may come forth through confession; for as they go out, the precious merit of the divine Passion will enter in to fill it with blessings.
Here, then, dear Philothea, are the meditations necessary for the end we have in view. When you have made them, go with courage and humility to make your general confession; but, I beseech you, let no vain fears trouble you. The scorpion is dangerous only when it stings us; but, being reduced to oil, it becomes a great remedy against its own sting. So sin is shameful only when we commit it; but, being changed into confession and penance, it is honourable and salutary. Contrition and confession are like beautiful and fragrant flowers, which efface the ugliness of sin and dispel its foul odour. Simon the Leper said that Magdalen was a sinner; but Our Lord said otherwise, and spoke only of the perfumes she had poured forth, and of the greatness of her charity. If we are truly humble, Philothea, our sin will displease us exceedingly, because God is offended by it; but the accusation of our sin will be sweet and pleasing to us, because God is honoured by it. Besides, it is a kind of relief to tell the physician plainly of the ailment that torments us. When you come before your spiritual father, imagine yourself to be on Mount Calvary, beneath the feet of Jesus Christ crucified, Whose precious Blood flows on every side to wash you of your iniquities; for although it is not the Saviour’s own Blood, nevertheless it is the merit of His shed Blood that abundantly sprinkles penitents in the confessional. Open your heart, then, wide, so that your sins may come forth through confession; for as they go out, the precious merit of the divine Passion will enter in to fill it with blessings.
I especially recommend that you confess all your sins well, simply and frankly. Set your conscience fully at ease in this matter, once and for all in your life. When this is done, listen to the counsel and the penance which the servant of God shall give you, and say in your heart: Speak, Lord, for Thy handmaid heareth. Yes, Philothea, it is God Whom you hear, since He hath said to His ministers: He that heareth you heareth Me. Then take in hand the following protestation, which you must first have read and meditated upon, and which shall conclude all that concerns penance. Read it attentively, striving to stir up in your soul as much contrition as shall be possible for you.