My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
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A SELF EXAMINATION FOR THE MYSTERY OF HOLY REPENTANCE/CONFESSION (Part II )
The Institution of the Mystery (Sacrament) of Repentance/ Confession
The Lord instituted the Mystery (Sacrament) of Repentance/Confession after His Resurrection, when, having appeared to His Disciples who, except for Saint Thomas, were gathered together, He solemnly said to them: "Peace be unto you...And when He had said this, He breathed to them, and saith unto them: Receive ye the Holy Spirit. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained" (St. John 2);21-23).
Priests are only the visible instruments at the performance of the Mystery, which is performed invisibly through them by God Himself. Saint John Chrysostom, having in mind the Divine institution of the authority of the priests of the Church to loose and bind, says: "The priests decree below, God confirms above, and the Master agrees with the opinion of His slaves (δούλοι). The priest is here the instrument of God's mercy and remits sins not on his own authority, but in the name of the Holy Trinity.
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Eighth Commandment: "Thou shall not steal."
* Have I stolen anything, or wished to do so?
* Have I kept anything that did not belong to me?
* Have I tried honestly to find owners of lost articles that I have found?
* Have I cheated anyone?
* Have I paid my debts?
* Have I lived within the means of my income?
* Have been wasteful and extravagant?
* Have I given to charitable causes in proportion with my means?
* Have I been honest and upright?
Ninth Commandment: "Thou shall bear false witness against thy neighbor."
* Have I told lies, or added or subtracted from the truth?
* Have I made careless statements or spoken evil of anyone?
* Have I told any secrets entrusted to me, or betrayed anyone?
* Have I gossiped about anyone, or harmed their reputation?
* Have I concealed the truth, or assisted in carrying out a lie?
* Have I pretended to commit a sin of which I was not guilty?
* Have I tried to see the good in others, rather than their shortcomings?
Tenth Commandment: "Thou shall not covet."
* Have I envied anything good that has come to others?
* Have I been jealous of another's good fortune?
* Have I wished for anything that was another's?
* Have I damaged or destroyed the property of others?
* Have I wished for things that God has not given me?
* Have I been contented with my lot?
* Have I been stingy?
* Have I held back anything due to another?
* Have I hoped for the downfall of anyone so that I may gain by it?
* Have I failed to be gracious and generous to anyone?
* Have I expected God to give me something that I would refuse to give a brother or sister in Christ?
PRAYER OF REPENTANCE
O Lord Our God, Good and Merciful, I acknowledge all of the sins which I have committed every day of my life, in thought, word, and deed; in body and soul alike. I am heartily sorry that I have ever offended You, and I sincerely repent. With tears I humbly pray to You, O Lord, of Your mercy forgive me all of my past transgressions and absolve me from them. I firmly resolve with the help of Your grace to amend my way of life and to sin no more, that I may walk in the way of righteousness and offer praise and glory to the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
ON REPENTANCE
"Every sin that is left without repentance is a sin unto death, for which if even a Saint shall pray, he shall not be heard" (St. Mark the Ascetic).
"God will cleanse your sins if you yourself are dissatisfied with yourself and will keep on changing until you are perfect" (St. Augustine).
"If someone falls into any sin and is not sincerely grieved about it, it is easy for him to fall into the same thing again" (St. Mark the Ascetic).
"The Lord greatly loves the repenting sinner and mercifully presses him to His bosom: "Where were you, My child? I was waiting a long time for you." The Lord calls all to Himself with the voice of the Gospel, and his voice is heard in all the world: "Come to Me, my sheep. I created you, and I love you. My love for you brought Me to earth, and I suffered all things for the sake of your salvation, and I want you all to know my love, and to say, like the Apostles on Tabor: "Lord, it is good for us to be with You." (Saint Silouan the Athonite)
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With agape,
+Father George