The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! THE PRIEST ’S GUIDE FOR THE RITE OF CONFESSION : With Instructional Materials and Articles on the Sacrament.

THE RITE OF CONFESSION IN THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Complied & arranged by: Fr. Isaac Henke, Priest & Pastor CHRIST THE SAVIOUR ORTHODOX CHURCH Of THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX AUTONOMOUS CHURCH (ROAC) Revised: Friday, June 08, 2007

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TABLE OF CONTENTS : CONFESSION :……………………..…63

1) HOLY REPENTANCE : Preface and 17) STEPS NECESSARY FOR AN ACCEPTABLE Instruction Concerning How It CONFESSION :……………………..…69 Behooves A Confessor to Behave 18) NECESSARY CONDITIONS FOR A and To Instruct Without FATHER CONFESSOR :……………….. 71 Contradiction Them That Come To 19) THE RITE OF PRACTICING THE Him. SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION :…….... 75 …...... 5 20) RITE OF A PRIEST ’S CONFESSION :...…83 2) THE ORDER OF CONFESSION : Preparatory Notes for Priests: 21) PRAYER & CONFESSION AN …………………………………………7 APOSTATE :………………………….. 85

3) EXHORTATION TO THE PENITENT 22) SPIRITUAL PRACTICES FOR BEFORE CONFESSION : PENITENTS :……………………….…87 …………………………………….….. 9 23) A CATECHISM ON CONFESSION :….... 95

4) THE RITE OF CONFESSION : 24) CONFESSION & THE SACRAMENT OF ………………………………………. 11 RECONCILIATION :…………………... 99 XHORTATION ROM HE PIRITUAL 5) E F T S 25) PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION FATHER TO THE SPIRITUAL CHILD II:…………………………………... 103 AFTER THE CONFESSION OF SINS : …………………………………….…. 21 26) ST. BASIL ’S LAMENT FOR SIN :…..…107

6) CONCERNING PENANCE : 27) AN ORTHODOX CONFESSION WHICH ………………………….……………23 LEADS A MAN TO HUMILITY :…..….. 111 28) A SINCERE CONFESSION OF AN INDEX OF ARTICLES ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN :………..…. 115 7) CANON FOR CONFESSION :…………. 25

REPARATION OR ONFESSION 29 8) P F C :….. "When the first order of angels fell from the 9) SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION :……... 34 angelic glory and became demons, the other nine orders humbled themselves and 10) CONFESSION : ……………….………39 worshipped the All-Holy Trinity, and remained 11) REASONS FOR INNER DISCORD :……. 41 in their place and rejoice forever. We, too, my brethren, must reflect what an evil thing pride 12) CONFESSION : FROM AN ATHONITE is - that it cast down the devil from angelic PAMPHLET :…………………………. 51 glory and he will always burn in Hell - and 13) JOHN OF KRONSTADT : SAINT OF that humility kept the angels in Heaven, and COMMUNION , SAINT OF CONFESSION : they rejoice perpetually in the glory of the Holy ………………………………………. 55 Trinity. Let us then, my brethren, avoid pride, because it is the first daughter of the devil, it is 14) CONFESSION WITH SAINT JOHN OF a path that leads to Hell; and let us have KRONSTADT :……………………….. 59 humility, because it is angelic, and is a path 15) HOW TO MAKE A CONFESSION :…... 61 that leads to Paradise". 16) SACRAMENT OF REPENTANCE AND -St. Cosmas Aitolos

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4 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! HOLY REPENTANCE Give heed, that thou fear not a man in his fall, that thou give not the Son PREFACE AND INSTRUCTION CONCERNING HOW IT BEHOOVES A CONFESSOR TO BEHAVE of God into unworthy hands, that AND TO INSTRUCT WITHOUT thou be not ashamed of Him because CONTRADICTION THEM THAT COME TO HIM of them that are glorious on the It is the duty of him that is the earth, and that thou commune not recipient of human thoughts to be a even him that wears a diadem. model of all good things, and to be For the divine canons do not abstinent, humble, and virtuous, permit the unworthy to be himself praying every hour unto communed, since they are regarded God, that He may give him the word as pagans. If they will not repent, of understanding to correct them woe unto them, and to them that that make haste unto him. First of all commune them. Give heed, he says; it is his duty himself to fast thou seest that I will not permit such Wednesday and Friday throughout things. the year, as the divine canons direct, Keeping these and similar since from these he has to direct precepts, and before all things, himself and others what to do. preserving the Church dogmas But if he himself be ignorant, a immovably, thou shalt save thyself profligate, and a lover of pleasure, and them that hearken unto thee. how can he teach virtue unto others? If any without proper And who would be so unwise as to authorization from the local Bishop hearken unto him concerning that dare to be the recipient of thoughts which he (that is, the penitent) has to and to confess, such shall rightly say, seeing him a disorderly person receive punishment as a transgressor and a drunkard, and teaching others of the divine canons; for he not only not to be intemperate, or to follow ruins himself, but as many as are any virtue whatever, while he confessed by him, they are not himself is unable to do this? For eyes confessed, and as many as are bound are more believing than ears, says or loosed, they are not corrected, the divine Scripture. according to the Sixth Canon of the Therefore, take heed unto Council of Carthage, and according thyself, O Confessor, for if one sheep to the Forty-third of the same be lost through thy negligence, it Council. shall be required at thy hands. “For cursed,” says the Scripture, “ is he that does the work of the Lord negligently.” (Jer. 48:10) And the great Basil says,

5 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! THE ORDER OF CONFESSION prayers for Confession will be in the Preparatory Notes church at one time for all those wishing to confess; they are read Confession must be performed before Confession at the end of a at any time: the shepherd of souls Divine Service, e.g., at the end of must be prepared to confess any Matins or Vespers, or at Divine repenting Christian at any time— Liturgy. even when it may be inconvenient for him. Also, the following Exhortation may be said (or one similar) for all If anyone comes to Confession penitents together, before each one who is unknown, the Confessor comes forward for their individual must first inquire as to who he/she confessions. is, whether he/she is married or unmarried, how long has it been since his/her last confession, and who confessed him/her previously. Perhaps he/she has left his/her previous Confessor? Has he/she fulfilled any penance laid by the previous Confessor? Has he/she been confessed according to the rules of the Holy Orthodox Church? Is he/she under excommunication, or any other penance by a Bishop? And if the one coming to him is bound by a Bishop, then the Confessor is not permitted to confess him/her, and he/she must be sent to the Bishop who bound him/her.

In preparation for Confession, a Gospel Book, or an Icon of the Savior, and a Cross are placed on an analogion. Then the beginning prayers (Trisagion, Psalm 50 and the two following prayers) are said. Usually the reading of the 6 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! EXHORTATION TO THE the dread Judgment. But if you hide PENITENT BEFORE anything, before me, from the One CONFESSION God, then you will be accused before My beloved Child in the Holy the universal assembly, and you Spirit, N., it is good that you have shall not be delivered from eternal come to Holy Repentance, for there, punishment. as by a spiritual font, you will wash Do not hide anything because the sins of your soul, and, as with of infirmity, for I will not be angry at heavenly medicine, it shall be healed you, neither will I make public your of death-bearing wounds. sins; but I will heal you with Only strive that your heart gentleness of soul. And when you might be broken on account of all confess, expose everything, and I will your sins, and that you may confess not censure you; uncover your sins, them truthfully to the Lord your and I will not be as a stranger to you. God Who is with us invisibly, before Do not speak to me about me, the wretched one, who have those who participate with you in received from him the power of sins, for to speak of the weakness of absolution, hiding nothing and in our neighbors is evil. Confess only nowise lying. But call to your sins, not idly, but with a remembrance everything that you pricked heart, and, with good intent, have done, and confess them. For the to preserve yourself henceforth from hiding of sins is soul-destroying like transgressions; for without this deception, and lying is death- it is not possible to have true bearing; for the sake of both, all sins repentance. confessed will not be forgiven. And In this way, then, having as the Mystery is not fulfilled ordered your heart, give glory to the because of this action of lying, new Lord. Confessing your deadly sins are born. transgressions before me, a sinner, But do not conceal even one and receiving absolution, you will be sin, not even because of shame, for I freed from the bonds of sins, you also am a man subject to passions, will be cleansed, and you will be able to fall into similar sins, and I healed spiritually by the grace of have experience of the weakness of God. man. And when despising the shame The Confessor leads the one that comes which you shall expose to the One to confess (but not two or more) with God, through me, you will not be uncovered head before an icon of our Lord Jesus accused of these sins before the Christ. And he begins: Angels of God and before all men at

7 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! THE RITE OF CONFESSION holy Spirit: both now Priest: Blessed is our God and ever, and unto ages always; now and ever, of ages. Amen. and unto ages of ages. Our Father, who art in Penitent: Amen. heaven, hollowed be thy Name; thy kingdom Priest Glory to Thee, our God, come; thy will de done glory to Thee. on earth, as it is in O Heavenly King, O heaven. Give us this day Comforter, the Spirit of our daily bread; and Truth, Who art in all forgive us our trespass, places and fillest all as we forgive those who things; Treasury of good trespass against us; and things and Giver of life: lead us not into Come and dwell in us temptation, but deliver and cleanse us from us from evil. every stain, and save our Priest: For Thine is the souls, O gracious Lord. kingdom, and the power, Penitent: Holy God, Holy Mighty, and the glory: of the Holy Immortal: Have Father, and of the Son, mercy on us. (thrice) and of the Holy Spirit: Glory to the Father, and now and ever, and unto to the Son, and to the ages of ages. holy Spirit: both now Penitent: Amen. and ever, and unto ages Lord, have mercy. (Twelve of ages. Amen. times - 4 x 3 sets) All-holy Trinity, have Priest: O come let us worship mercy on us. Lord and fall down before cleanse us from our sins. God our King. Master, pardon our O come let us worship iniquities. Holy God, and fall down before visit and heal our Christ our King and our infirmities for thy name God. sake. O come let us worship Lord, have mercy. (thrice) and fall down before the Glory to the Father, and very Christ our King and to the Son, and to the our God.

8 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! Psalm 50(51) Deliver me from Penitent: Have mercy on me, O God, bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of according to Thy great mercy; and my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice according to the multitude of Thy in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou tender mercies blot out my shalt open my lips, and my mouth transgression. Wash me thoroughly shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou from mine iniquity, and cleanse me hadst desired sacrifice, I would have from my sin. For I know mine given it; with whole burnt-offerings iniquity, and my sin is before me Thou shalt not be pleased. A continually. Against Thee only have sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; I sinned and done this evil in Thy a broken and humbled heart God sight; that Thou mightest be justified will not despise. in Thy words and victorious when Do good, O Lord, in Thy good Thou art judged. For behold, I was pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls conceived in iniquities, and in sins of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt did my mother bear me. Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of For behold, Thou hast loved righteousness, with oblation and truth; the hidden and secret things of whole burnt-offerings. Then shall Thy wisdom hast Thou revealed they offer young bulls upon Thine unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me altar. with hyssop, and I shall be made And these Troparian, TONE 6: clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I Have mercy on us, O Lord, have shall be made whiter than snow. mercy on us, for laying aside all Thou shalt make me to hear joy and excuse, we sinners offer to Thee, as gladness; my humbled bones shall to our Master, this supplication: rejoice. Turn Thy face away from my Have mercy on us. sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and to the Holy Spirit: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy O Lord, have mercy on us, for in presence, and take not Thy Holy Thee have we put our trust. Do not Spirit from me. Restore unto me the be angry with us, nor remember our joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy iniquities, but look down on us even governing Spirit establish me. I shall now, as Thou art compassionate, and teach transgressors Thy ways, and deliver us from our enemies; for the ungodly shall turn back unto Thou art our God, and we are Thy Thee. people; we are all the work of Thy hands, and we call on Thy name.

9 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! Now and ever and unto ages of ages. the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now Amen. and ever, and unto the ages of ages. O Blessed Theotokos, open the Let us pray to the Lord. doors of compassion to us whose And another Prayer: hope is in thee, that we may not perish, but be delivered from O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the adversity through thee. For thou are Living God, the Shepherd, and the the salvation of the race of Christian Lamb that taketh away the sins of people. the world, Who gavest remittance unto the two debtors, and didst Then , Lord, have mercy (40 times). grant remission of her sins unto the The Priest says: harlot: Do Thou Thyself, O Master, Priest: Let us pray to the Lord. loose, remit and pardon the sins, transgressions and iniquities, And this Prayer: whether voluntary or involuntary, O God, our Savior, Who, by whether known or unknown, Thy prophet Nathan didst grant whether by mistake or in remission of his sins to the repentant disobedience, which Thy servants David, and didst accept the penitent have wrought, and whatsoever they prayer of Manasseh: Do Thou have done, as men bearing flesh and Thyself, in Thy customary love for living in the world, being beguiled mankind, accept this, Thy servant, by the devil. N., who repents of the sins he (she) has committed, overlooking all that And if by word, or by deed, or he (she) has done, forgiving his (her) in knowledge, or in ignorance they unrighteousness, and passing by his have sinned, or have despised the (her) transgressions. word of a Priest, or are under a priestly anathema, or are fallen For Thou, O Lord, hast said: “I under their own anathema, or are desire not the death of a sinner, but bound under an oath, do Thou that he turn from his way and live”; Thyself as Thou art good and gentle, and that sins shall be forgiven even O Master, be pleased that these, Thy unto seventy times seven. For as Thy servants, be loosed by Thy word, majesty is incomparable, so is Thy forgiving them their own anathema mercy immeasurable. For if Thou and oath, according to the greatness shouldest mark iniquities, who of Thy mercy. should stand? Yea, O Master and Lord, O For Thou art the God of them Lover of Mankind, hearken unto us that repent and unto Thee do we who are entreating Thy grace for send up glory: to the Father, and to these Thy servants; and, as the 10 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! greatly-merciful One, overlook all the All-Holy and Life-Creating their transgressions, and deliver Spirit. them from eternal torment. For Thou And vouchsafe me, poor and hast said, O Master: “Whatsoever naked of all virtue, to fall with tears you shall bind on earth shall be at the feet of my spiritual father, and bound in heaven, and whatsoever call his holy soul to mercy, to have you shall loose on earth shall be mercy on me. loosed in heaven.” And grant, O Lord, unto my For Thou only art sinless, and heart humility and good thoughts, unto Thee do we send up glory: to becoming a sinner, who hath the Father, and to the Son, and to the consented to repent unto Thee, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto do not abandon unto the end the one the ages of ages. soul, which hath united itself unto After this, he says to him (her): Thee and hath confessed Thee, and Priest: Behold, My Spiritual instead of all the world hath chosen Child, Christ stands invisibly here Thee and hath preferred Thee. receiving your confession. Do not be For Thou knowest, O Lord, ashamed, neither be afraid, and hide that I want to save myself, and that nothing. Rather, do not be afraid to my evil habit is an obstacle. But all tell all that you have done, so that things are possible unto Thee, O you may receive forgiveness from Master, which are impossible for our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, His man. Amen. Holy Icon is before us. I am only the And then the priest shall question him (her) witness, bearing testimony before diligently, question by question, and shall Him of all that you shall say. But, if await his (her) answer to each question. you conceal anything you shall have Customarily, the Confessor sits, while the the greater sin. Take heed, therefore, penitent kneels before the Analogion. that having come to the Divine ______Physician, you not depart unhealed. And first of all he shall question him (her) PRAYER OF ST. SYMEON THE NEW concerning his (her) faith, saying: THEOLOGIAN Priest: Tell me, Child: Do you Penitent: O God and Lord of all! believe that which has Who hath the power over every been transmitted and breath and soul, the only One able to taught by the Catholic heal me, hearken unto the prayer of Apostolic Church which me, the wretched one, and, having was planted and put him to death, destroy the serpent nourished in the east and nestling within me by the decent of which has spread from

11 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! the east into all the proceeds from the Father; Who with universe and which the Father and the Son together is abides even to this day worshiped and glorified; Who spoke undivided and by the prophets. unchanged? And do you In one Holy Catholic, and doubt any of its Apostolic Church. traditions? I acknowledge one baptism for And if he (she) believes in an Orthodox manner, without doubt, let him (her) read the the remission of sins. Symbol of Faith: I look for the resurrection of THE CREED the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. Penitent: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven And when this is finished, the Priest and earth, and of all things visible shall question him (her): and invisible. Priest: Confess now, therefore, of all your sins which And in one Lord Jesus Christ, you have committed to the Son of God, the Only-begotten, the present hour: begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one The questions that follow in the Book of essence with the Father, by Whom Needs, coming down from Byzantine times, all things were made; Who for us although retained in earlier editions, are not men and for our salvation came now asked. (They are, however, appended at the end of the Order of Confession.) Instead, the down from Heaven, and was Confessor waits for the penitent to reveal his incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the (her) offences, and, when necessary, asks Virgin Mary, and became man. And suitable questions, according to the penitent’s He was crucified for us under condition, sex, age, etc. Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was ______buried. CONFESSION OF ST. JOHN OF And the third day He rose again, KRONSTADT according to the Scriptures, and I CONFESS TO THE LORD ascended into Heaven, and sits at the MY God and before you as witness, right hand of the Father; and He reverend Father, all my countless shall come again with glory to judge sins which I have committed till the the living and the dead; Whose present day and hour: in thought, Kingdom shall have no end. word, and deed. Every day and And in the Holy Spirit, the every hour I sin through ingratitude Lord, the Giver of Life, Who to God for His great and numberless

12 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! blessings to me and for His most immoderation in food and drink. gracious providence and care for me, I have sinned by self- a sinner. importance, disobedience, I have not kept the vows of my willfulness, self-righteousness, and baptism, but have made myself the seeking of approval and praise. unwanted before the face of God. I have sinned by unbelief, lack I have sinned before the Lord of faith, doubts, despair, by lack of faith and by doubts despondency, abusive thoughts, concerning the Orthodox Faith and blasphemy and swearing. the Holy Church; by ungratefulness I have sinned by pride, by for all of God's great and unceasing having a high opinion of my self, gifts; His long-suffering and His narcissism, vanity, conceit, envy, providence for me, a sinner; by lack love of praise, love of honors, and by of love for the Lord, as well as fear, putting on airs. through not fulfilling the Holy Commandments of God and the I have sinned: by judging, canons and rules of the Church. malicious gossip, anger, remembering of offenses done to me, I have not preserved a love for hatred and returning evil for evil; by God and for my neighbor nor have I slander, reproaches, lies, slyness, made enough efforts, because of deception and hypocrisy; by laziness and lack of care, to learn the prejudices, arguments, stubbornness, Commandments of God and the and an unwillingness to give way to precepts of the Holy Fathers. my neighbor; by gloating, I have sinned: by not praying spitefulness, taunting, insults and in the morning and in the evening mocking; by gossip, by speaking too and in the course of the day; by not much and by empty speech. attending the services or by coming I have sinned by unnecessary to Church only half-heartedly, lazily and excessive laughter, by reviling and carelessly; by conversing and dwelling upon my previous during the services, by not paying sins, by arrogant behavior, insolence attention, letting my mind wander and lack of respect. and by departure from the Church before the dismissal and blessing. I have sinned by not keeping my physical and spiritual passions I have sinned by judging in check, by my enjoyment of members of the clergy. impure thoughts, licentiousness and I have sinned by not respecting by being unchaste in thoughts, the Feasts, breaking the Fasts, and by words and deeds.

13 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! I have sinned by lack of abundance of the Mercy of God. endurance towards my illnesses and Therefore, by the Grace of sorrows, a devotion to the comforts God, forgive and absolve me, of life and by being too attached to reverend Father, and bless me to my parents, children, relatives and partake of the Holy and Life-giving friends. Mysteries of Christ for the remission I have sinned by hardening my of my sins and for eternal life. heart, having a weak will and by not PRIEST : In all these things which forcing myself to do good. you have confessed you I have sinned by miserliness, a must henceforth be on love of money, the acquisition of your guard. For you unnecessary things and immoderate receive a second baptism, attachment to things. according to the I have sinned by self- Christian Mystery. And justification, a disregard for the you must see to it that, admonitions of my conscience and God helping you, to failing to confess my sins through make a new and good negligence or false pride. beginning. I have sinned many times by But, above all, you must my Confession: belittling, justifying not take these sins which and keeping silent about sins. you have confessed lightly, lest you become a I have sinned against the Most- cause of scorn to men holy and Life-creating Mysteries of and the angels; for these the Body and Blood of our Lord by things are not befitting a coming to Holy Communion Christian. But may God, without humility or the fear of God. by His grace, help you to I have sinned in deed, word live honorably, uprightly and thought, knowingly and and devoutly. unknowingly, willingly and At the end the penitent bows their head and the unwillingly, thoughtfully and priest, reads the following prayer of absolution: thoughtlessly, and it is impossible to PRIEST : Bow your head unto the enumerate all of my sins because of Lord. their multitude. Let us pray unto the But I truly repent of these and Lord. all others not mentioned by me PENITENT : Lord, have mercy. because of my forgetfulness and I ask that they be forgiven through the

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PRIEST : O Lord God of the of the Son, and of the Holy salvation of Thy servants, Spirit. Now, having no further merciful, compassionate and care for the sins which you long-suffering; Who repents have confessed: Depart in concerning our evil deeds, not peace, knowing such sins are desiring the death of a sinner, as far from you as the East is but that all should turn from from the West. Amen. their evil ways and live. Greek Form Show mercy now on Thy May God Who pardoned servant/handmaiden [name] David through Nathan the and grant to them an image of Prophet when he confessed his repentance, forgiveness of sins sins, Peter who wept bitterly and deliverance, pardoning all for his denial, the Harlot there sins, whether voluntary weeping at His feet, the or involuntary. Publican and the Prodigal; Reconcile and unite them to May our same Merciful God Thy Holy, Catholic and forgive you all things, through Apostolic Church, through me a sinner, both in this world Jesus Christ our Lord, to and in the world to come, and Whom, with Thee, are due set you uncondemned before dominion and majesty, now His terrible Judgment Seat. (In and ever and unto ages of the name of the Father, and of the ages. Son, and of the Holy Spirit…) PENITENT : Amen. Now, having no further care At the end the penitent comes forward, kneels on for the sins which you have the kneeler (if able), and the priest laying his stole confessed, depart in peace; upon their head pronounces the following absolution over the Penitent: knowing that your sins are as far from you as the east is from PRIEST : May our Lord and God, the west! Jesus Christ, by the grace and compassion of His love for mankind, forgive you, my And finally, the Priest, while saying the child, [name] , all your Absolution, signs the penitent with his right transgressions. And I His hand with the Sign of the Cross. unworthy Priest, through the Then: power given me, forgive and Priest: It is truly meet to bless absolve you from all your sins, thee, O Theotokos, ever blessed in the Name of the Father, and and most pure and the Mother

15 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! of our God, more honorable and holy living; and those who than the Cherubim and, more pray with us, and who have glorious beyond compare than been partakers of Thy Mystical the Seraphim. Without Table, preserve free of defilement thou gavest birth to condemnation unto their last God the Word. True breath. Theotokos, we magnify thee. May it be unto them a Glory to the Father, and to the sanctification of soul and body, Son, and to the Holy Spirit, unto the keeping of Thy now and ever, and unto the Commandments; and thus ages of ages. Amen. may we be granted to attain And the Dismissal. Thy Heavenly Kingdom, together with all who have

been well-pleasing unto Thee After this, the Priest gives the Cross to the from all ages: penitent to kiss. The penitent rises, kisses the Cross and the Through the prayers and Gospels and, receiving a blessing from the intercessions of our holy, all- priest and the embrace of Christian fellowship, pure, most blessed and steps away thanking God, and saying the glorious Lady, the Birthgiver of following prayer (attributed to St. John God and Ever-Virgin Mary, of Chrysostom). the Patron Saint of this Holy Penitent: What praise, of what Church, St. John Chrysostom, hymn, or what thanksgiving, and of all Thy Saints, have or what recompense shall we mercy on us and save, for as offer unto Thee, the Only God, much as Thou art good and Who lovest mankind? lovest mankind; now and ever, For when we were condemned and unto ages of ages. to destruction and immersed in Amen. our sins, Thou didst bestow

freedom upon us, and hast given us the immortal and And the Spiritual Father makes an exhortation to the Spiritual Child after the confession of his heavenly nourishment of the (her) sins: Body and Blood of Thy Christ.

Therefore we pray Thee: Deliver us from judgment, together with Thy servants who minister unto Thee. Keep us and them in honor

16 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! EXHORTATION FROM THE this to you that you might be SPIRITUAL FATHER TO THE counted worthy of the remission of SPIRITUAL CHILD AFTER THE your iniquities—all of them. Like the CONFESSION OF SINS dust from the face of the earth by the My beloved Child in the Holy wind, they have been carried away Spirit, N, the unconquerable mercy from your soul by the grace of the of God, the Lover of Mankind, Holy Spirit. Like the leprosy of desiring not that one sinner should Na’aman by the waters of the perish, but summoning all to Jordan, for the sake of your tears repentance, for the sake of the they have been cleansed. inheritance of future good things, And as through the word of does not leave you to rot spiritually the Lord the Ten Lepers were made in sins, for it is better that you healthy in their bodies, thus has been should obtain life eternal. done today, rendering your soul safe And He is well pleased to turn from harm through the word of unto you, the apple of His eye, His absolution from our Lord. own deep compassion, and to touch And, as the Paralytic, who for you with the finger of the grace of thirty-eight years lay by the Sheep the Holy Spirit, rousing you, that Pool, having been healed by the you might quickly arise from the word of the Lord, heard from the sleep of sin, to stand up from the bed Lord, “See, thou art well. Sin no more” of transgressions, and to receive the (John 5:14) , likewise, the same has most important healing of soul- been given you, through grace: at the destroying harm—Holy Repentance; word of petition by me a sinner and to make manifest your own being freed of paralysis of the soul, sickness through confession of sins you hear from my wretchedness: in the presence of me who am “See, thou art well. Sin no more.” “Sin unworthy, and to receive, with joy, a not”. penance for sins that works for good. I say, that having been given For this you must always the precious pearl by the grace of render great thanksgiving unto Him, God through repentance you not be for this is not done according to your found destroyed, and that you not sins which you have committed, nor be deprived of the meet adornment has this been given you according to of Heaven. “Sin not”, that the lamp your transgressions, but according to of your soul not be extinguished, the compassion that proceeds out of inflamed with the fire of the love of His own goodness has He been God, by whose radiance you may be merciful to you. And He has done able to walk easily the dark path of

17 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! this life, and that it may be easy for repentance, you not only be you to enter into the land of delivered of eternal torment, but also unblinking light, and again, without that you may be counted worthy, by this, to suffer on this path that God, of unending life for your good always brings harm from the snares work, from whom will always come and delusion of enemies, and, assistance to you for all your good having run to the doors of the beginnings, for the performing of chamber of the heavenly good deeds, and mercy and blessing Bridegroom, finding it necessary to all the days of your life, and that you remain with the foolish virgins who may be counted worthy to receive in had their lamps extinguished, to be the future age the gift of eternal life. left outside. I say in a few words, “Sin no Then a penance is given him (her) opposite its more”, that you not be likened unto transgression. mindless beasts, according to one of the proverbs adopted by St. Peter: “It has happened unto them according to the true proverb: ‘The dog turns to his own vomit again’, and, ‘the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Pet. 2:22) ; for those who are like these beasts shall not enter into the heavenly Kingdom. Henceforth, sin no more, that having come to repent of sins, you not continue to sin. [Yet, a penance is laid upon you, which you must strive to fulfill with diligence and devotion, and beyond this, as far as it is possible for you to do, to do it well; for this is not according to the multitude of transgressions, but is applied taking into account usual human weakness, hoping on the merciful kindness of God Who is well-pleased to accept the efforts of them that are not able and to crown them.] Abiding in continual repentance for sins, strive to increase good deeds, that, through 18 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! etc. CONCERNING PENANCE In that penance is not (At this point in the Book of Needs there reparation to God for sins, it is follow instructions concerning the imposition possible and perfectly correct not to of a penance, which, according to the canons, lay it on a penitent who, with a pure consists of prohibition from Holy Communion heart and with tears, repents for for a lengthy time (one, two or many years) because of certain grave sins. These have not his/her own sins and promises been translated.) henceforth with all his might to refrain from them.

Penances consisting of Other Directives Concerning exclusion from communion of the Penance Holy Mysteries (excommunication) A distinctive penance is for a long time, is imposed for more assigned according to the gravity of weighty sins. Such penances, the sins, the age of the penitent, the according the canons of the Holy circumstances, and also the measure Fathers, are applied for such sins as: of his/her repentance. apostasy, heresy, incest, adultery, Assigning a penance to the murder, sodomy, bestiality, perjury, penitent consisting of the exercise of oath-breaking, witchcraft, and some sort of virtue, the Confessor defilement of graves. (In times past, must choose virtues opposite the penances for such sins consisted of sins that have been confessed. Thus: exclusion from Communion for a covetousness presupposes the few or even many years, even distribution of alms; fornication— extending to the end of one’s life.) fasting; weakness in Faith and Only the Bishop has the power to lay Hope—the imposition of prayers; such penances. In such cases, he etc. But, it must also be taken into must be consulted. account whether or not it is possible For less weighty sins, for the penitent to fulfill the penance exclusion from communion of the assigned to him/her; that is, a Holy Mysteries is permitted the penance must not be assigned that is Priest, but, a penance consisting of impossible to fulfill. For example, exclusion from the Holy Mysteries the distribution of alms is not for a long time is not permitted. assigned to one who is poor; or, for A penance consisting of one occupied with many exclusion from church services, or a burdensome obligations—overly- publicly announced exclusion from frequent attendance at church communion of the Holy Mysteries, is services and lengthy time in prayer; laid only by the Bishop.

19 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! If, due to the seriousness of the sin(s) confessed a penance has been laid upon the penitent consisting of abstinence from communion of the Holy Mysteries, then the Prayers, “Lord God of the salvation...” and that of absolution are not read. When the term of the prohibition has ended, then, after Confession, before the reading of the aforementioned Prayers, it is necessary to read a special Prayer on the Absolution from Penance, which follows the ORDER OF CONFESSION. It is necessary, however, that it be read over the one being absolved in private, and not at Divine Liturgy. Absolution is possible only from the Priest who laid the penance. It is not possible for another Priest to absolve him/her who has been penanced, excepting circumstances when the one under penance is dying. In such cases any Priest may absolve, providing him/her with the Holy Mysteries before death. A Priest is not permitted to absolve one under penance if such was laid by the Bishop.

20 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution!

CANON FOR CONFESSION All-pure, and the fearful tribunal, but by habit I am terribly a prey of evils. But help INTRODUCTORY NOTE me. This little known Canon in preparation for The corrupter of what is good now seeing Confession is to be found in the Greek Great me naked, leaderless and far from God of Euchologion. As the concluding prayer makes godly virtues, is eager to swallow me clear, the Confession is in preparation for Holy down. Sovereign Lady, rescue me. Communion. The prayer might well be used as a prayer of absolution when penitents come for Ode 3. None is holy as you. Confession before the Liturgy. I have shamefully befouled my soul, The Gospel, from that according to St Mark, is Sovereign Lady, Mother of God, through translated from the Church‘s text. Virtually all numberless offences, wretch that I am. modern editions of the Greek and all modern And, wholly in the grip of despair, as I am, translations, following the reading of the best where may I now go? manuscripts, omit the final verse, “But if you Alas, I have defaced that which is do not forgive, neither will your Father in according to God’s image by my proud heaven forgive you your offences“. disposition, wretch that I am! And where ------now may I go? But hasten, O Virgin help CANON OF SUPPLICATION me. TO THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF There is altogether none born in this life GOD AT THE CONFESSION OF A among mortals who has done the lawless SINNER deeds of dire licentiousness as I, loving Lady; for I have befouled divine Baptism. A Composition of Monk Euthymios, the Chancellor I have reached the limit of evils, All-holy Virgin; but speedily help me; for heaven Ode 1. Tone 6. Crossing the sea. and earth bitterly cry out against my How may I lament my sordid life, numberless outrageous acts. Sovereign Lady, and the multitudes of my Ode 4. Christ my power. numberless evil deeds? What may I say to you, Pure Virgin? I am at a loss and I quail. Ranks of Angels and the armies of heaven, But help me. the Powers of your Son tremble at your might, Pure Lady; while I, though From where shall I, wretch that I am, begin despaired of, am in the grip of to tell my wicked deeds and my dreadful foolhardiness. offences? Also what will then become of me? But, Sovereign Lady, before the end The whole earth is amazed and trembles as take pity on me also. it watches one who dreadfully and wickedly does outrageous deeds. I have trodden every road of sins, O Immaculate, and have in no way found the I have wickedly befouled the temple of the path of salvation. But I run to you, loving body, and the Temple of Lord, which Lady: Do not despise me as I repent from mortals enter trembling, I the prodigal, my soul. alas, enter without shame. I think continually on the hour of death, O Do not make me, Sovereign Lady, do not

21 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! make me a stranger, who have been the assaults of the foe, loving Lady; for estranged from the shelter of your Son and before the end the Corrupter grinds his am utterly unworthy. But wash me clean teeth at me, seizing me as a prisoner also from the stain of my offences. stripped bare of virtues. Ode 5. By your divine light, O Good One . Ode 7. An Angel made the furnace. Adam transgressed one commandment of The Crafty One has heated the flame of my your Son, O Virgin, and suffered exile. But passions sevenfold and with adulteries of how may I lament the abyss of my the heart has slain me utterly. But with the offences, I, rebel and transgressor against streams of my tears water me, Mother of God? God, and do not reject me. Cain was revealed of old as a destroyer Sovereign Lady, do not let me be drowned and murderer of his brother before he had in the mire of my offences; for the most been cursed by God. But what then shall I evil foe, seeing me in despair, loving Lady, do who have dared all? For I have slain my laughs at me. But with your mighty hand soul, and now I am not ashamed. raise me up again. I have rivaled dread Esau, I have defiled My wretched and unfeeling soul, fearful is soul and body by gluttony and pleasure, the judgment and terrifying and unending befouling my life with drunkenness and the punishment; but none the less fall lechery. Who would not weep at me, down now before the Mother of your wretch that I am. Judge and God, and why did you despair of yourself? By your divine light, O Good One, heal the passions of the soul, which the Corrupter All my hope, Sovereign Lady, I the has sown in me. Deliver me from his bitter prodigal have placed in you. Do not turn captivity. For he laughs as he sees me your face away from me; do not shut your leaderless. compassionate heart against me, Mother of Ode 6. Watching life’s sea. God, but help me. My life is dissolute, my soul filthy and my Wretch that I am, I have become dark by life utterly wretched, while I have defiled the multitude of my numberless evils, and my whole body by wicked deeds. changed for the worse in the eye and the Therefore hasten, O Virgin and help me. mind of my soul. Bring me swiftly therefore with the beams of your light to The end is upon me and I cannot endure, the sweetness of dispassion. loving Lady. My conscience reproves me, for it sets before me my wicked deeds and Ode 8. From the flame you made dew well up. the disorder of my life; and I quake with fear at the tribunal of your Son, pure Virgin Mother, who gave birth to God, one Virgin. of the Trinity, and carried him in your arms, quench the fiercely flaming furnace Truly, O all-pure, the fearful and of the passions and wash my soul with unquenchable river of fire and the streams of tears. unsleeping worm await the burning fever of my flesh. But deliver me from them by I tremble at death’s coming, O all-pure, your prayers. and do not wholly fear that judgment; while I do not wholly cease from doing I am in the grip of terror and I quail before

22 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! evils. Take pity and save me by your Principalities, Archangels, Dominions and prayers before the end. Seraphim, Powers, Authorities and Angels, Thrones with the many-eyed Cherubim as Grant me never silent groans and a fount they and we now honor your Offspring, of tears, Sovereign Lady, that I may wash Virgin Mother, we all devoutly glorify you. away my many faults and incurable wounds, so that I may reach eternal life. Then: I have declared to you the multitudes of It is truly right to called you blessed, who my evils, for no one else in the world has gave birth to God, ever blessed and most angered God, your Son and Lord, as I, pure and Mother of our God. Greater in Sovereign Lady. Reconcile me to him honour than the Cherubim and beyond speedily by your prayers. compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God Master, compassionate by nature, do not the Word; truly the Mother of God we stand me with the condemned at the hour magnify you. of judgment, but at the prayers of your Mother, have mercy and place me with the And at once the Gospel according to sheep at your right hand. Mark [11:22-26] Ode 9. It is impossible for humans to see The Lord said: Have faith in God, for God. Amen I say to you, if anyone tells this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into See, I approach you, O all-pure, with great the sea’, and does not doubt in their heart, fear and love, for I, your servant, know the but believes that it will happen, it will be strength of your fervent prayer. For the done for them. So I tell you, whatever you supplication of a Mother, O all-blessed, has ask for in prayer, believe that you are great strength with her Son. For he is receiving it, and it will be yours. Whenever moved by compassion. you stand praying, forgive, if you have Take with you the Choirs of Archangels anything against anyone; so that your and the multitude of the hosts on high, the Father in heaven may also forgive you Forerunner, the companies of Apostles, the your offences. But if you do not forgive, Prophets, Martyrs and Ascetics, and neither will your Father in heaven forgive Martyr Bishops, and make intercession for you your offences. me, pure Virgin, to God. Then: May I find your help, pure Virgin, both Have mercy on us, O God, according to now and at the moment when my spirit your great mercy, we pray you, hear and departs. Speedily rescue me from the have mercy. demons and deliver me from their tyranny, O all-immaculate, and do not let me, Also we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, loving Lady, be handed over to them. salvation, visitation, pardon and forgiveness for the servant of God N. I await a compassionate Judge who loves mankind, your Son, pure Virgin. Do not And that he/she may be pardoned every disdain me, but make him merciful to me, offence, both voluntary and involuntary. to stand me then at the right hand of his For you, O God, are merciful and love most pure tribunal, O all-praised; for in mankind, and to you we give glory, to the you have I hoped. Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now

23 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. And this Prayer of our venerable Father John of Damascus. Let us pray to the Lord. Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, who alone have authority to forgive sins, as you are good and love humankind, overlook all the offences of your servant N., both in knowledge and in ignorance, voluntary and involuntary, in deed and word and by thought, and count him/her worthy to partake of your divine, holy, immaculate and immortal Mysteries; not for burdensome misery and punishment and increase of sins, but for sanctification, illumination, purification, support, a pledge of eternal life and your heavenly Kingdom; for a wall and help and a warding off of every foe, for the wiping away his/her offences and for the glory of your might. At the prayers of our most holy Lady, Mother of God, of the honored, heavenly, spiritual, immaterial, bodiless Powers and of all the Saints, who have been well-pleasing to you from every age. Amen.

All texts and translations on this page are copyright to Archimandrite Ephrem ©

24 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION • Have been argumentative or stubborn? I, a sinful soul, confess to our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, all of my evil acts Third Torment: Spoke evil of others which I have done, said or thought from • Have you spread rumors or baptism even unto this present day. gossiped in thought or in word? First Torment: Idle speech • Have you slandered anyone • Have you spoken without thinking? wanting to or intending to injure the Or spoken too much? Or spoken reputation of another? anything that is impure? Or • Have you given bad ideas or words shameless? Or without need or to people? order? Or unreasonable? Or • unclean? Have you laughed at other's deficiencies or misfortunes? • Have you thought or said angry • words or foul words? Have you maligned treated anyone with malice or shown hatred toward • Have you participated with or sung or abused or wronged or injured worldly shameless songs in word or anyone? thought? • Have you condemned anyone? Or • Have you laughed unnecessarily or declared others unfit? excessively? Or laughed about • things that you shouldn't have Have you made fun of people in laughed about or found funny? thought, word, or action? Or mocked in a harmful way? • Have you acted too silly? • Have you reproached anyone or Second Torment: Lying reflected on anyone abusively? • Have you kept the vows of your • Have you taunted, teased, or baptism? tempted anyone? • Have you failed to keep oaths or • Have you insulted anyone? promises to God? Fourth Torment: Gluttony • Have pronounced the name of God • without reverence? Have you eaten before I put on the sign of the cross? • Have you falsely confessed your • sins? Or was insincere about, Have you eaten when you were not belittled, justified, or kept silent hungry? about your sins during confession? • Have you eaten too much at one • Have you lied? time or became too full during the fasts? • Have you been sly or secretly • mischievous? Or have you been Have you eaten without having deceptive or hypocritical? thankfulness to God? • • Have you honestly obeyed traffic Have you eaten like a slob or out of laws? control stuffing food in your

25 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! mouth? have throughout the day? • Have you consumed too many • Have you failed to keep in continual alcoholic beverages to the point of prayer trying always to keep your being drunk? mind on serving God? • Have you respected the feasts and • Have you dwelled upon your fasts as much as I should? previous sins? • Have you broken the fasts? • Have you fallen into despondency? Or given up hope or not having • Have you not looked forward to the faith in God that He can and will fasts taking in mind the true change you? meaning and purpose of them? • Have you forgotten to pray at • Have you eaten too many sweet certain times during the day? foods for the enjoyment of them or had a love of sweets? • Have you rushed through or not said your morning and evening • Have you had gluttonous fantasies ? prayers whole-heartedly? Fifth Torment: Sloth • Have you attended the services • Have you taken efforts to remember completely? and extensively learn the • Commandments of God and the Have you been fully prepared to go precepts of the Holy Fathers by to Church to worship? Or have you reading spiritual things? gone to Church only half-heartedly, lazily, and carelessly? • Have you kept your physical and • spiritual passions in check all the Have you conversed during the time? Or had a general carelessness services about things not having to about doing things having to do do with the service? with the salvation of your soul? • Have you paid complete attention • Have you devoted yourself to the during the services? comforts of life? • Have you let your mind wander or • Have you lacked endurance daydream or think other ungodly towards my illnesses and sorrows thoughts during prayer or services? by not struggling against your • Have you left the Church before the passions as much as you should? dismissal and blessing? • Have you been idle? Or not worked • Have you forced yourself to do as hard as you could have? Or fallen good at all times? asleep at work? Or not wanted to • Have you had a weak will? get out of bed? Sixth Torment: Stealing • Have you complained about having to work or attend long services or • Have you stolen anything or say long prayers? thought seriously about stealing something? • Have you cared to praise and thank God as much as I could or should

26 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! Seventh Torment: Avarice and love of Tenth Torment: Envy money • Have you envied anyone? Or been • Have you loved riches? jealous? • Have you been content with what Eleventh Torment: Pride God gave you? • Have you been prideful? • Have you wished in your mind that • Have you thought myself better you had more money than you do than anybody else? already? • Have you considered yourself • Have you acquired unnecessary worthy while considering others things? Or had and immoderate unworthy? attachment to material things? • Have you had a high opinion of • Have you been too concerned or yourself in any way? caught up with material things? • Have you talked down to anyone? • Have you been too concerned with things having to do with the flesh? • Have you compared or measured yourself up to anyone? • Have you bought things in exchange for proper tithing? • Have you looked out for other people's faults rather than your • Have you been greedy or selfish? own? • Have you worried about money or • Have you tried to conceal the financial circumstances instead of shortcomings of others while trying putting your trust in God? to conceal your virtues? • Have you had fantasies about • Have you been critical of other material wealth or having riches? people or criticized anyone? Eighth Torment: Usury • Have you been arrogant, vain, or • Have you gained riches by conceited? exploiting people? • Have you relied completely on • Have you accepted bribes? yourself rather than God? • Have you acquired something that • Have you bragged or boasted of belonged to another? things that you have accomplished? Ninth Torment: Injustice Have you loved praise and honors? Have you put on airs? • Have you judged anyone? • Have you been prideful of the good • Have you acquitted the guilty and deeds that you have done? condemned the innocent all for the • sake of gain Have you failed to give proper honor or obey your parents or • Have you been unjust in anyway? superiors appointed by God? Have • Have you accused an innocent you been disobedient? person of committing an act that • Have you thought yourself self- they did not do?

27 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! important? • Have you imagined ways you could • Have you been self-willed instead of have revenge on anyone? trying always to do the will of God? Fourteenth Torment: Murder • Have you been self-righteous? Have • Have you wounded anyone is some you self-justified your sins? way? • Have you disregarded the • Have you had any violent or counseling of your conscience? destructive thoughts? • Have you failed to confess any of • Have you had any harmful thoughts your sins through negligence or aimed towards anyone? false pride? • Have you wished evil upon anyone? • Have you been impatient or anxious • Have you been angry with people about anything in which you without a just cause? shouldn't be that way about? Fifteenth Torment: Magic, sorcery, • Have you been prejudice towards poisoning, and incantations anyone for any reason? • Have you thought about your past • Have you had prideful fantasies of interest in magic and things relating power, fame, or glory? to magic? Twelfth Torment: Anger and • Have you imaged Holy things Ruthlessness having some sort of magical • Have you felt anger? properties? • Have you said anything unfeeling Sixteenth Torment: Fornication towards anyone? Have you harmed • Have you had any sensual or lustful or hurt anyone's feelings in any thoughts? Carnal thoughts? way? • Have you daydreamed about • Have you carried on arguments amorous and lustful things and with anyone about anything in your found them sweet? head? • Have you made impure glances? Thirteenth Torment: Bearing grudges • Have you touched yourself in a • Have you nurtured evil thoughts lustful or passionate way that was against anyone? pleasing or arousing? • Have you returned evil for evil? • Have you had blasphemously • Have you remembered wrongs lustful thoughts about saints and anyone did to you in the past? holy people? • Have you bore any grudges instead • Have you been unchaste in thought, of understanding, loving, and word, or deed? forgiving? • Have you waken up from lustful • Have you kept in mind when bad dreams and found them anyone made offences towards you? pleasing to think about?

28 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! • Have you had fantasies of lust or God? fornication? • Have you been too attached to Seventeenth Torment: Adultery parents, relatives, and friends? • Have you had any adulterous • Have you answered the telephone thoughts with married people? during prayer? Eighteenth Torment: Sodomic sins Twentieth Torment: Lack of compassion and cruelty of the heart • Have you sinned against your nature? • Have you lacked mercy, Nineteenth Torment: Heresies forgiveness, compassion, and love for anyone? • Have you participated in Holy • Communion having as much Have you felt hatred toward humility or the fear of God as you anyone? Or any other manifestation should? of hatred? • • Have you loved and feared the Lord Have you been unfriendly to always? anyone? Or been cruel? • • Have you turned away from the Have you ridiculed anyone? Orthodox confession of faith by • Have you rejoiced at the apostatizing and agreeing with false misfortunes of other's? doctrines or beliefs? • Have you had abusive or violent • Have you lacked faith? thoughts? • Have you doubted or had • Have you been polite and friendly misconceptions about the faith? while driving on the roads and • Have denied holy things or had a highways? negative attitude towards them? I have sinned in deed, word, and thought, voluntarily and involuntarily, • Have you been grateful for all of knowingly and unknowingly, in God's great and unceasing gifts, His knowledge and in ignorance, willingly and mercy, His long-suffering, and His unwillingly, thoughtfully and providence? thoughtlessly, by day and by night, and it • Have you fulfilled the Holy is impossible to enumerate all of my sins Commandments of God, the canons, because of their multitude. But I truly and the rules of the Church? repent of these and all others not • Have you blasphemed or swore in mentioned by me because of my thought or word? forgetfulness and I ask that they be forgiven through the abundance of the • Have you thought curse words mercy of God. when you pray? © All Rights Reserved St Nicholas • Have you turned words of prayer Russian Orthodox Church, Dallas Texas into profane words or filthy The Sacrament Of Confession (Index) concepts? • Have you feared man instead of 29 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION slaves". Perhaps the most misunderstood "You did not choose Me," Jesus told the sacrament of the Christian Church is Twelve, "but I chose you and appointed confession (or repentance). How did it [ordained] you." (John 15:16). To these originate? What role does a priest play? Is same disciples Jesus promised, "It is not there a special procedure for confession? you who speak but the Holy Spirit" (Mark The Holy Scriptures hold answers to these 13:11). Whom God calls, He equips. Paul questions. writes to Timothy, "Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of God's Word promises "If we confess our my hands" (2 Tim. 1:6). It is the grace of the sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us Holy Spirit which enables the priest to and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 serve God and the people. Priests are only John 1:9). The faithful are to bring their the visible instrument of God's mercy at sins to God in repentance and receive the performance of the Mystery, which is cleansing and forgiveness. performed invisibly through them by God The early Christians would stand and Himself. It is God (the Holy Triune) who confess their sins to God in the presence of forgives our sins. the whole congregation. Jesus encouraged Thus the Church has encouraged her His followers to walk in the light together, faithful: If you know you have committed to confront problems corporately, to "tell it a specific sin, do not hide it but confess it to the church" (Matt. 18:17). Thus James before coming to the Holy Eucharist. St. writes, "Confess your trespasses to one Paul wrote, "Let a man examine himself, another" (James 5:16). But as time went on and so let him eat of the bread and drink of and the Church grew in numbers, the cup" (1 Cor. 11:28), and "If we would strangers came to visit and public judge ourselves, we would not be judged" confession became more difficult. Out of (1 Cor. 11:31). mercy, priests began to witness confessions of sin privately on behalf of the Church. King David learned a lesson regarding his sin which is recorded for our benefit. For Jesus, giving His disciples the authority to about a year, he had hidden his sins of forgive sin, said, "If you forgive the sins of adultery with Bathsheda and the murder any, they are forgiven them; if you retain of her husband (2 Sam. 11:1-12:13).Then, the sins of any, they are retained" (John confronted by Nathan the prophet, David 20:23; c.f. Matt. 16:19, 18:17-19). From the repented from his heart and confessed his beginning, Christians understood that the sin in a psalm which is used for general grace of ordination endowed the shepherd confession to this day (Ps. 51). The joy of of the flock with the discernment and salvation was restored to him. compassion to speak the words of remission, on behalf of Christ, regarding People ask, "Can't I confess to God the sins of those who confess and turn privately?" Certainly, though there is no from sin. For God has promised the clear biblical basis for it. Even general removing of sin from us "as far as the east confession occurs in the Church. In His is from the west" (Ps. 103:12). St. John mercy, God provides the sacrament of Chrysostom says, "The priests decree confession (more properly called the below, God confirms above, and the sacrament of repentance) to give us Master agrees with the opinion of His deliverance from sin and from what

30 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! psychologists call denial. It is easy to pray in isolation, yet never come clean. It is far more effective to confess aloud to God before a priest, and benefit from his guidance and help. It is essential to remember that the remission of sins in the Sacrament is an act of mercy. It is given for our spiritual profit, "for edification, and not for destruction" (2 Cor. 10:8). Thus we come before the holy icon of Christ, to whom we confess, and are guided by the priest, our spiritual father, in a cleansing inventory of our lives. When we tell God all, naming our sins and failures, we hear those glorious words of freedom which announces Christ's promise of forgiveness of all our sins. We resolve to "go and sin no more" (John 8:11). (Reference: The Orthodox Study Bible, p 571. Copyright © 1993 by St. Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Nelson ISBN 0-8407-8391-4)

31 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! A PREPARATION FOR heretics and schismatics? Have I neglected my duties to God through fear of ridicule CONFESSION or persecution? Have I failed to pray to God does not desire the death of a sinner, God faithfully'? Have I put myself before but rather that he turn away from his sins God? and live. In the Holy Sacrament of Penance Second Commandment we have the means whereby we may obtain forgiveness of our sins, and be Have I made an idol of any person or restored to the favor of God, our heavenly thing? Have I given to anyone or anything Father. the worship that is due to God alone? Have I set before myself the Holy life of In order that you may make a good Jesus and tried to imitate Him? Have I read confession it is necessary for you to the Holy Scriptures regularly? Have I been prepare yourself carefully. Ask God to give irreverent during Church Services, let my you Grace to make a thorough attention wander, or been insincere? Have examination of your conscience, courage to I neglected to receive Holy Communion make a sincere and complete confession, regularly or without due preparation? and strength to amend your way of life in the days to come. Third Commandment Begin your examination with the time of Have I profaned the Holy name of God in your last Confession; try to recall whether any way? Have I cursed anyone or you omitted anything through carelessness anything, or sworn a false oath? Have I or lapse of memory, or from fear of failed to give proper reverence to holy embarrassment. Examine yourself with the persons and things? Have I had due assistance of the form of self-examination respect for the clergy of the Church or according to the Ten Commandments of hindered them in performing God's work? God which follows. Have I broken any solemn vow or promise? Have I entered into any unlawful It is most necessary that you be truly sorry contract or made an unlawful promise? for the sins which you have committed, and that you firmly purpose amendment Fourth Commandment of your manner of living. Have I stayed away from Church on Self examination based on the Ten Sundays or prevented others from going? Commandments Have I done unnecessary work on Sundays? Have I spent the day in First Commandment unwholesome fashion or profaned it by Have I believed in God the Father, the Son, improper conduct? If I could not go to and the Holy Spirit? Have I failed to trust Church because of illness or other grave in God and His mercy? Have I complained cause, have I prayed at home? Have I against God in adversity? Have I been caused anyone else to profane the Lord's thankful for God's blessings? Have I Day? Have I kept the Fasts and Festivals doubted the Christian faith and the prescribed by the Church? teachings of the Church? Have I tried to Fifth Commandment serve God and keep His Commandments? Have I given way to superstition? Have I Have I respected my parents and been frequented the religious meetings of obedient to them? Have I been guilty of deception, or caused them pain by my

32 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! words or actions? Have I neglected them smoked too much? Have I been lazy, idle, or failed to help them? Have I done my or wasted my time? Have I led others to duty towards my family? Have I been commit sinful acts? Have I been unfaithful wanting in love or kindness towards my to any trust confided in me? husband (or wife), or harmed him (or her) Eighth Commandment in any way ? Have I set my children a good example and tried to bring them up Have I stolen anything or wished to do so? properly? Have I corrected their faults Have I kept anything that did not belong with patience and not with anger? Have I to me? Have I tried honestly to find over-indulged or spoiled them? Have I owners of lost articles I have found? Have I neglected my God-children and failed in cheated anyone? Have I paid my debts? my obligations towards them. Have I Have I lived within my income, and not worked for my employers honestly and wastefully and extravagantly? Have I diligently? Have I treated fairly all those given to charitable causes in proportion to who have worked for me? Have I honored my means? Have I been honest and God as my Heavenly Father by treating upright? others as my brothers, and have I honored Ninth Commandment the Church as my spiritual Mother by Have I told lies, or added to or subtracted honoring and practicing my religion in from the truth? Have I made careless accordance with her teachings? statements or spoken evil of anyone? Have Sixth Commandment I told any secrets entrusted to me, or Have I caused the injury or death of any betrayed anyone? Have I gossiped about one, or wished that I were dead? Have I anyone or harmed their reputation? Have I done anything to shorten my own life or concealed the truth, assisted in carrying that of someone else by injuring health, or out a lie, or pretended to commit a sin of through evil and intemperate living? Have which I was not guilty? Have I tried to see I given way to anger, or harmed others the good in others rather than their with words or actions? Have I defamed shortcomings? others who needed help, or failed to stand Tenth Commandment up for those unjustly treated? Have I been Have I envied anything good that has cruel to anyone? Have I mistreated animals come to others? Have I been jealous of or destroyed any life unnecessarily? Have I another's good fortune? Have I wished for failed to forgive anyone or harbored evil anything that was another's? Have I thoughts against them? damaged or destroyed the property of Seventh Commandment others? Have I wished for things God has Have I given way to impure thoughts, not given me, or been discontented with words, or deeds? Have I committed any my lot? Have I been stingy? Have I held unworthy actions alone or with others? back anything due another? Have I hoped Have I degraded myself in any way, or for the downfall of anyone so that I might forgotten human dignity? Have I read gain by it? Have I failed to be gracious and immoral books or magazines, or delighted generous to anyone. Have I expected God in obscenity of any kind? Have I associated to give me that which I would refuse one with bad companions or frequented of my fellow men? unsavory places? Have I eaten or drunk or

33 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! CONFESSION in Confession.

BY FR. DIMITRI TSAKAS The priest would hear the person's sins, offer guidance and encouragement and Confession is an important and integral then pray over the person. This is how aspect of Christian life. Its foundation is confession is still practiced today. Scriptural and its practice goes back to Confession is totally based on the Bible Apostolic times. The ongoing forgiveness and Holy Tradition. Any person who is of sins in the Church rests in Him that seriously trying to live an Orthodox makes all things possible in the Church: Christian life will go to Confession the Holy Spirit sent by Christ from the regularly. They will choose a priest they Father to those who are His. feel comfortable with and make time to When Jesus sees the Apostles after His confess their sins and seek guidance in resurrection, He breathes on them and their spiritual life. The priest is not a judge, says, "Receive the Holy Spirit! If you but a fatherly friend. He cannot forgive forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If sins, only God does that, but Christ has you retain the sins of any, they are given him the authority to hear sins and retained. "(John 20:22,23). The presence pray over the person for forgiveness. The and the power of Christ's forgiveness priest helps our confessions to be more remains in the Church in which all of His reflective, less rationalized and more gifts reside. honest, He can act as a mirror for us which feeds back things we would be more likely Jesus tells His disciples to hear the sins of to avoid on our own. The priest may guide the people and impart His forgiveness, just us into a deeper prayer life and Scripture like at the Last Supper He tells them to reading. He slowly becomes what the perform what we know as the Eucharist Orthodox call, our Spiritual Father, and Holy Communion. Confession was a nurturing us with the words of Christ, public part of Christian life in the early through the power of the Holy Spirit, in Church. In his epistle, James teaches his our Journey to the Father. readers to "confess to one another" (James 5:16). In fact, in the early Christian Church, If you haven't been to confession, then confession was public. Secret and private pray for guidance, see a priest and make confession (at home by oneself) is a some time to get together. Ask him how modern idea completely unknown in the you should prepare and then make the Bible and throughout Christian history. A commitment to seek regular confession in a Confession which is not made before God, spirit of sincere repentance and faith in humanity and creation, is no confession at God. The rewards to your life will be all. This is the Orthodox Faith. immense. In the early Church, confession was made to the whole congregation. Afterwards the priest read a prayer over the person which manifested God's forgiveness. With time this practice became difficult to keep up because of growth in Church membership. Confession to the whole congregation ceased by the fourth century and the priest came to represent the whole congregation 34 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! REASONS FOR INNER DISCORD contrast to other religions and philosophical teachings that are powerless BY ARCHIMANDRITE ALEXANDER in spiritual warfare, only the Christian (MILEANT ) faith has all the necessary resources and THE GREATEST PARADOX OF OUR can strengthen us to overcome sin and LIFE is that while we all instinctively strive achieve moral perfection. for happiness, most of the time we are The first turning point of spiritual healing unhappy and dissatisfied even when no is in the Sacrament of Baptism. Here the danger threatens us. Philosophy is helpless believer is cleansed from all sins and is in satisfactorily clarifying the reason for spiritually reborn for righteous living. this paradox. The Christian faith, however, However, the predisposition towards sin, explains that the reason for our which is interwoven with his free will, is dissatisfaction and dark feelings lies within not completely eliminated. As time passes, ourselves. It results from our sinfulness - an individual falls into sin due to carefree not only from our personal sins but also ways, inexperience, and different from our very nature that is marred by the temptations. Supposedly eliminated, sin, primordial sin. Sinful corruption is the similar to cancerous cells left after surgery, main source of our grief and suffering. begins to propagate once again, gaining Sin is a spiritual sickness that grows and strength and striving to totally control the expands with time like cancerous cells. Left individual's will. The individual once unchecked, sin gains in strength and again becomes spiritually sick and enslaves its victim, and in doing so, it consequently unhappy and bitter. taints his mind, weakens his will towards In this difficult and dogged battle with sin, good, permeates him with uneasiness and the Sacraments of Confession and bitterness, arouses in him passionate Communion are powerful tools available feelings and evil thoughts and compels to us. In the Sacrament of Confession the him to sin again and again. penitent Christian, in the presence of the We all are, to a greater or lesser degree, spiritual confessor, opens to God his damaged by sin, although we often fail to darkened and sick heart and allows the recognize the full extent of our inner heavenly light to enter, cleanse and heal it. sickness. The main reason that the Lord In Confession, as in Baptism, the great Jesus Christ came to our world was to rebirthing power of the crucified Son of eradicate in us the roots of sin and return God is concealed. This is the reason that to us spiritual health and with it eternal after this Sacrament, the truly penitent bliss. However, because sin is so intimately person feels cleansed and renewed, as a interwoven with our mind and will, with newly baptized infant. He obtains new our subconscious, it cannot be removed strength to battle the evil within himself instantly or by external means. It is and to restart a righteous life. essential that we become actively involved To help our reader gain the most benefit with its extermination, but even our own from Confession, we will explain here the efforts are not enough to accomplish total meaning and strength of this Sacrament eradication of sin. Only the grace of Christ and provide some aids in preparation for can give us complete spiritual recovery. confession and prayers read during this Indeed, this is the essence of the great Sacrament. advantage of the Christian faith. In 35 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution!

LOOKING INTO ONESELF Mary of Egypt. Having been a reckless and passionate sinner from her youth, after IN OBSERVING THE COURSE OF OUR visiting the Resurrection church in FEELINGS and thoughts, we become Jerusalem she repented deeply, went to the quickly convinced that within us desert and after living there the rest of her constantly battle two entities: one good life she became one of the greatest saints. and one evil. Real Christian life begins (She died at the beginning of the 6th only after we consciously elect the good century.) The Church observes her and reject the evil. When we disregard our memory in the 5th week of Lent as an spiritual growth, passively succumbing to example of true repentance. our desires and tendencies, whatever they may be, not making any evaluation of Often a person, even when considering them, we are not yet living a Christian life. himself a Christian, pays no attention to Only when we become painfully aware of his shortcomings and for many years lives our shortcomings, when we judge unconcerned with any moral ourselves in the light of the Gospel and improvement. Then suddenly, sometimes decide to improve our moral condition, after a personal tragedy and sometimes only then can we begin to ascend on the without any apparent reason, his spiritual path to salvation. The Gospel has many eyes open, and he decides to turn to God. vivid examples of the sudden change in He becomes a completely different person. people who decided to turn to God. One of In many cases, though, this turning to God them is illustrated by the parable about the happens slowly after much hesitation and Pharisee and the Publican (Lk. 18:4-14). repeated falls. The Pharisee is an example of self Let us now verify whether the above deception. He frequents the temple and conditions apply to us. Observe carefully observes the established religious rituals. your actions during the last several days, Yet it cannot be said of him that he is a your feelings and intentions, words you pious person, because he is quite content said. Just yesterday, for example, you with himself, full of pride, and despises cruelly hurt someone with harsh words, or others whom he considers not so religious. with an insulting suspicion, or by a caustic He boasts of his righteousness because he sneer. It has been three days now that you fails to see his own moral deficiencies - have been disturbed by some dirty, base lack of compassion and love, selfishness desire, and you not only did not drive and formalism - to mention a few. The away this sinful desire, but even dwelt on Publican, on the other hand, illustrates a and enjoyed it. Or you were given an sinful person who realizes his poor moral opportunity to do something good for condition and repents. He judges only somebody, but you felt that this would himself and wants to become a better disrupt your peace and comfort, so you person. He asks God only for mercy and failed to do it. If you were observant and guidance, and God accepts his prayer conscientious, you would realize that while He rejects the boasting of the passions comprise a great deal of your Pharisee. Jesus Christ makes the repentant existence, that your whole life is like a Publican an example for us so that we large braid made of small and great sins: thoroughly examine our hearts and make unkind thoughts, feelings, words and every effort to correct our moral condition! deeds. If we pay no attention to the moral Another genuine repentance is seen in St. content of our life or think that it is quite

36 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! normal, we still are pagans in our The heavenly visitor slit open his chest mentality. We will have no reason to try to with a knife, took out his heart, cut it into change. Our true spiritual life will begin pieces, and removed from it all the spoiled only after we say decisively, "No, I do not and corrupt parts. Then he carefully want to slide down any more! I want to replaced the heart in its original spot, and become a true Christian!" finally healed the wound as well. The But as soon as you choose the path to youth awakened and felt cleansed of all his righteousness, you will discover that the sins. He was so happy that God had battle against bad habits and temptations is accepted his repentance in such a sudden extremely difficult, painful and exhausting. and unexpected way and relieved him You will see how frequently impure from this unbearable burden. In truth, thoughts, feelings and desires, often wouldn't it be good," asks Bishop against your own will, take hold of you Theophane, "if we could experience a and push you toward sinful actions. In similar healing from a light-bearing many cases, only some time after you have Angel!" And such an Angel is available to uttered a cruel or offensive word or have us. It resides in the healing Grace of our perpetrated an unkind deed, you begin to Redeemer which operates through realize that you should not have spoken so repentance in the Sacrament of Confession! or have done that. But before you have We know that Jesus Christ brought to earth actually sinned, you did not understand the holy life. Through the Holy Sacraments where your thoughts and feelings were of the Church this life is transmitted to all pushing you. So over and over again we of us. Confession or Repentance is one fall into actions that we later regret. This is such sacrament. It is not just a ritual or a the way we start to learn the great truth of venerable old tradition but is an extremely the words of the Apostle Paul: "For what I powerful tool for moral healing and will to do, that I do not practice; but what I correction. It responds to one of the most hate, that I do" (Romans 7:15). Where do essential demands of our damaged nature. we find help, and how can we be delivered To decline Confession is the same as from our inner conflicts? Some people suffering from some physical ailment and share their difficulties with someone in the knowing the right medication but, due to family or a close friend; some visit a laziness, not using it and thereby letting psychiatrist. But these are only partial and the illness run rampant. often ineffective solutions. Only after you POWER OF THE experience the total difficulty of spiritual warfare and the ineffectiveness of human SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION means do you begin to realize how FOLLOWING THE TEACHING OF OUR effective is the regenerating power of SAVIOR and His Apostles, we believe that Divine Grace. the Sacrament of Repentance cleanses the A prolific pre-revolutionary spiritual soul of the repentant Christian and heals writer, Saint Theophane the Recluse, his spiritual ills so that after the absolution relates the following story: "There was a of his sins, he once more becomes innocent youth who was greatly saddened because and sanctified, as he was after Baptism. of his numerous sins. Once in grief he fell Confession reinstates the living ties asleep. And there, in his dream, as if out of between the Christian and the Body of the sky, he saw coming down an Angel. Christ, i.e. the Church. The power of this

37 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! Sacrament comes from the blood of the penitent opens his soul to God, the true Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who and loving Physician, and asks for mercy because of his infinite love and compassion and help in the battle with bad tendencies. toward us took upon Himself all our sins, Such heartfelt contrition is necessary so nailed them to the cross and suffered what that the effectiveness of the Sacrament will we had to suffer as transgressors of God's extend not only to the removal of commandments. Freed from the burden of committed sins but also to bring the Divine sins, the Christian once again rises to remedy into the receptive soul and spiritual life and gains strength to strive strengthen it against future temptations. for moral perfection. Upon finishing his confession the penitent To receive the most from the Sacrament of kneels before the cross and the gospel, and Repentance, a person must prepare for it the priest-confessor places the stole upon with prayer, reading of Scripture and his head and prays for the absolution of introspection. Fasting is an old and a sins. The priest requests the heavenly helpful tool for repentance and spiritual Father not to turn away from the repentant renewal. as He did not turn away from the prodigal From the external aspect, the Sacrament of son but to again make him a new creature Repentance consists of two parts: a) the and a worthy member of His Divine verbal confession of all sins done by the Kingdom. At this time the invisible Grace repentant, and b) the prayer of absolution of God descends upon the Christian and administered by the pastor-confessor. The renews within him the spirit of loud articulation of one's sins, i.e. righteousness. confession, is an indispensable factor of Jesus Christ spoke twice of the Sacrament true repentance because it forces the of Repentance. The first time He said to the penitent to overcome pride, which is the Apostle Peter that He "will give him the source of most of our spiritual ills. Besides, keys of the kingdom of heaven so that the acknowledgment of one's faults and whatever he will bind on earth will be bad habits draws a person closer to bound in heaven and whatever he will overcoming them. This is a well known loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" psychological fact. Many non-religious (Matthew 16:19). Some time later He gave people go to psychiatrists and receive help the authority to forgive and to retain sins just by openly discussing their inner to all the apostles. This was done in difficulties. The Sacrament of Confession, conjunction with their task to resolve beyond the psychological, has a problems among the members of the sacramental aspect, because through it Church: "If your brother sins against you, operates the healing power of the Grace of go and tell him his fault between you and Jesus Christ. him alone. If he hears you, you have Repentance, to be effective, should not be gained your brother. But if he will not limited just to awareness of ones sinfulness hear, take with you one or two more, that or to a cold admission of unworthiness. It by the mouth of two or three witnesses should be accompanied with a deep feeling every word may be established. And if he of regret and a sincere desire to become a refuses to hear them, tell it to the Church. different person. It requires the decision to But if he refuses even to hear the Church, battle with one's evil inclinations and the let him be to you like a heathen and a tax will to correct one's way of life. The collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever 38 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, repented, Jesus forgave him and reinstated and whatever you loose on earth will be him as an Apostle. After the Pentecost, loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:15-18). The when the Apostle Peter started to preach Lord solemnly established the Sacrament the Gospel, he called to repentance even of Confession soon after His Resurrection. those Jews who crucified the Messiah (Acts He appeared to His disciples and said to 2:38), and later he called to repentance them, "Peace unto you! As the Father has Simon, who was a sorcerer and at the end sent Me, I also send you." And when He became a heretic (Acts 8:22). Saint Paul, had said this, He breathed on them and before becoming an apostle, hated the said: `"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you Christian faith, persecuted the Church and forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven took part in the death of the first martyr, them; if you retain the sins of any, they are the deacon Stephen. Later he was forgiven retained" (John 20:21-23). The apostles by God and received from Him abundant transmitted this power to absolve and to grace. Remembering God's infinite mercy, retain sins to their disciples - bishops and St. Paul once absolved a person guilty of priests - who were to continue their task of incest, subjecting him first to temporary saving human souls. excommunication (2 Corinthians 2:7). St. John Chrysostom, commenting on the With all this one should remember that authority given to the pastors of the absolution of sins in the Sacrament of Church "to bind and loose," wrote, "What Confession is an act of mercy, not of the priests determine on earth, God affirms thoughtless pity. It is given for the spiritual on high in Heaven. Here the Master benefit of man "for edification and not for conciliates with the opinion of His your destruction" (2 Corinthians 10:8). This servants." However, the priest-confessor fact places a great responsibility on the does not absolve sins by his own power, priests when they perform this Sacrament. and there is nothing mechanical in the The Holy Scripture mentions instances or prayers of absolution. The priest-confessor conditions in which sins are not forgiven. is only a witness of one's repentance and a Specifically, it mentions that blasphemy mediator of Divine Grace. God appointed against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven him to be an instrument of His mercy. either in this world nor the next (Matthew Ultimately it is up to the repentant to make 12:31-32). In addition it speaks of especially his soul receptive to the healing Grace. devastating "mortal sins." "All wrongdoing By its wide magnitude and power, the is sin," explains the Apostle John, "but invisible work of Grace in the Sacrament of there is a sin leading to death. I do not say Repentance covers all of man's that he should pray about that [person lawlessness. There is no sin which is who commits such mortal sin" ( John 5:16). beyond forgiveness. What is crucial here is The Apostle Paul teaches that "it is to have sincere regret for committed sins impossible for those who were once and to decide to become a better Christian. enlightened and have tasted the heavenly Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "I did not come gift, and have become partakers of the to call the righteous, but sinners to Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word repentance" (Matthew 9:13). New of God and the powers of the age to come, Testament Scriptures are full of examples if they fall away, to renew them again of God's mercy to sinners. Great was the through repentance, since they crucify Apostle Peter's sin of denial, but when he again for themselves the Son of God, and

39 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! put Him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4- stumble in many things" (James 3:2). The 6). All these warnings refer to people with Apostle John teaches that even Christians, a cynical attitude toward God; they either not only pagans, need to cleanse their reject His mercy or they don't want to conscience: "If we say we have not sinned, abandon their sinful habits. we make Him a liar, and His word is not in In all cases the reason for unforgiveness us. If we confess our sins, He [Jesus Christ] comes not from any limitations of the is faithful and just to forgive us our sins Sacrament of Confession but from the and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" unrepentance of the sinner. Indeed, in the (1 John 1:9-10). case of speaking offensive words against The Holy Fathers of the Church explain the Holy Spirit, how can any sins be that the absence of a penitent attitude forgiven when His mercy is ridiculed and occurs in people not because they are rejected? On the other hand we must actually sinless but because of their believe that even the sin of blasphemy can spiritual hardening. Indeed, the brighter be forgiven when it is followed by a true the light, the clearer one detects the dust repentance. St. John Chrysostom says the and other defects on objects. Similarly, the following about this: "For even this guilt closer man approaches God, the clearer he [blasphemy against the Holy Spirit] was sees his shortcomings and the humbler he forgiven to many repentant Jews. Many of becomes. In the lives of saints we see that them who blasphemed against the Holy the more they succeeded in Christian Spirit [during Jesus Christ's preaching] virtues, the more unworthy they felt about later believed, became Christians and themselves. Even saints who performed everything was forgiven to them" (Sermon great miracles repented with grieving and on the Gospel of Matthew). The Fathers of tears of their insignificant faults and the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787 A.D. considered themselves unworthy. in the city of Nicea, near Constantinople) AID TO REPENTANCE said the following about mortal sins: "A mortal sin is the one which remains A SPIRITUAL LEAFLET FROM MOUNT unrepented ... These [sinners] will have no Athos gives the following directive: share with the Lord, unless they humble "Intending to confess, before going to the themselves and turn away from their priest, seclude yourself, beloved brother, transgressions." even if for an hour. Put aside all secular matters, collect your thoughts and The Gospel teaches that all must be thoroughly examine your conscience: How allowed to repent, "I say to you that there did you sin in thought, word or deed? In will be more joy in heaven over one sinner what did you offend God and your who repents than over ninety-nine just neighbor? Try to remember all the sinful persons who need no repentance" (Luke events and their details. After this pray, 15:7). These words include Christians who grieve and wash your conscience with have fallen into sin. tears of repentance. Feeling relief in your Some contemporary Christians mistakenly heart, make a firm resolve to fight your believe that their faith alone makes them bad habits and to become a better holy and free of sin and that for this reason Christian. After preparing yourself in this there is no necessity to repent of anything. way, go to the priest-confessor believing Referring to these self-satisfied "righteous" that God will forgive you --- for He has ones, the Apostle James writes, "For we all never rejected a contrite and humble heart. 40 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! When you come to the priest, confess blasphemous thoughts. Forgive me, O without shame, do not hide anything, do Lord, and help me to become a better not try to `save face.' For many of us have Christian. become accustomed to putting up a front Sins of the tongue: I have sinned, my Lord, for others, and try to appear better than we by idle talk, unnecessary laughter, really are. Being used to hypocrisy, we are speaking in the church and by using Your often ashamed to honestly admit our Holy Name in vain. I have sinned by faults, omitting some and leaving others criticizing of others, by using rude words, incomplete. Remember, my brother, that yelling, and by making sarcastic the Holy Spirit says in the Scripture: `Who comments. I have sinned by cursing people hides his sin receives no benefit.' So speak and wishing them evil, by mockery and openly without self-justification and insults. I have sinned by telling indecent without blaming others. If someone jokes, bragging and breaking my promises. offended you, make peace with him and I have sinned by complaining, irreverent forgive him with all your heart, according conversations and damning. I have sinned to the words of the Lord: `If you forgive by spreading unkind rumors, gossiping, others then God the Father in heaven will lying, slandering and denunciation. forgive you. But if you do not forgive those Forgive me, O Lord, and help me to who sin against you, then the Father will become a better Christian. not forgive you your sins.' Amen." Sins through deeds: I have sinned, my The following prayers of repentance with Lord, by not loving You, my Creator and enumeration of sins can help an individual Benefactor, with all my heart and all the to repent at home and to come to church time as I should. I have sinned, by being prepared for Confession: selfish, lazy and by wasting time. I have I bring to You, my merciful Lord, the sinned by careless and disoriented prayer, heavy burden of my innumerable by missing church services and coming transgressions, which I have committed late to church. I have sinned by being from my very youth and up till today. disrespectful with my parents, by refusing to help them and to do what they said, by Mental and sensual sins: I have sinned, my disobedience and stubbornness. I have Lord, by being insensitive towards Your sinned by negligence towards family needs mercies, by neglecting Your and by failing to instruct my children in commandments and by being ungrateful. I the Christian faith. I have sinned by self have sinned by being indifferent towards centeredness, over-preoccupation with my Your Truth, by having doubts about faith, career and success in life, greediness, by being superstitious and curious about stinginess and by failing to help the needy. unorthodox teachings. I have sinned by I have sinned by over-eating, over- thirst for pleasure, love for money and indulgence, breaking fasts, smoking, luxury items, by passionate interest in abusing alcohol, using stimulants, another person and sinful thoughts. I have squandering resources and by gambling. sinned by spiritual weakness, vanity, Forgive me, O Lord, and help me to suspicion, jealousy, envy, irritability and become a better Christian. anger. I have sinned by excessive sadness, depression and despair. I have sinned by I have sinned, my Lord, by looking at contempt for people, gloating over someone with lust, looking at indecent misfortunes others, self-reliance, pride and films or magazines, listening to music 41 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! which evokes crude or lustful desires, heart. He finds himself renewed and listening to indecent jokes and stories. I enlightened, willing to love God and other have sinned by wasting too much time in people. This feeling should be the most front of a TV, by watching scenes of obvious proof of the great spiritual power violence and sin. I have sinned by being of the Sacrament of Confession. For this obsessed with my appearance, by reason let us cherish this Divine tool of behaving in a tempting matter, spiritual healing and ask God to give us masturbation, lasciviousness, sexual wisdom and willingness to lead the perversions, adultery, and other corporal remaining days of our life in sins which are too shameful to say aloud. I righteousness, so that all our thoughts, have sinned by losing my temper, words and deeds will be directed toward displaying anger, by crudeness, rude His glory and our salvation. Amen. treatment of close ones, by non- OTHER POINTS ON CONFESSION : reconciliation and revenge. I have sinned by hypocrisy, insolence, impertinence and "Epitimia" or penance is to be understood careless handling of sacred objects. I have as an interdiction which, according to sinned by being cruel, deceitful, stealing, Church canons, the priest as a spiritual and taking bribery. I have sinned by physician has to apply in certain cases in consenting to abortion, having interest in order to treat the moral diseases of his occult subjects, astrological forecasts and spiritual children. For example he might by visiting fortune tellers. impose a fasting beyond that which others do, some additional prayers of repentance, Dear brother or sister in Christ, never performing of a certain amount of despair! Remember that there is no sin prostrations, works of mercy, reading of which is beyond God's mercy. For the Lord the Holy Scripture and other righteous Himself promised through His prophet, exercises. "Though your sins may be like scarlet, I shall whiten them as snow; Though they Special penance or epitimia imposed be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" sometimes by the priest-confessor is not a (Isaiah 1:18). punishment but represents an action for correction or pedagogical healing. The NOTES AND CONCLUSION purpose is to deepen contrition for sinning THUS, IN THE SACRAMENT OF and to support the will for correction. The CONFESSION God gave us a powerful Apostle Paul said, "For godly sorrow tool to battle sin. In preparing for our produces repentance to salvation, not to be confession of sins, we learn to watch over regretted; but the sorrow of the world our inner life more carefully, to realize our produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). One weak points and the cunning methods of of the canons of the Sixth Ecumenical our tempter, the devil. Sincere confession Council declares: "Receiving from God the before a priest helps us combat our pride power to bind and loose, the priest must and thus to become free from the bonds of evaluate the nature of sin and passion with which the devil wants to preparedness of the repentant, and thus ensnare us. utilize appropriate means of healing. But if After a deep repentance and the Divine not applying appropriate means to this or cleansing that follows it, a Christian feels the other, salvation will not be available to as if a heavy stone was removed from his the sinner. For all sins are not similar, but different and specific, and represent many 42 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! aspects of harm from which evil develops and disperses further, unless it is stopped by the healing power." In the ancient Church Confession was accomplished somewhat differently from the contemporary practice. At that time Christians had Communion every Sunday or in any case often, so that Confession was not necessary each time. Christians came to Confession as needed, when they had committed a serious sin if their behavior was a temptation to other Christians. Usually the Confession of sins was done aloud before the priest and the congregation as well. At present time in the Greek Orthodox Church, Confession is not done before each communion and is separate from the Liturgy. Confession is heard at a time assigned by the priest and in a place specifically designated for this purpose, a confessional. Closer to our times the Russian St. John of Kronstadt, having no opportunity to hear individual confessions, often performed communal Confession, in which thousands of people participated. During this Sacrament many confessed their sins aloud and repented in front of the whole congregation. These communal confessions had a very beneficial effect on those who took part in them. In whatever outward form the Confession is performed, it is necessary to remember that it is a great Sacrament and requires our most serious and reverent attitude. Its purpose is to achieve beneficial healing of the soul. That is the reason that a quick Confession just before the presentation of the Chalice is not the proper attitude towards this Sacrament. It is imperative to appear for Confession in advance, and one must repent with heartfelt sorrow and faith in the power of the healing grace of God.

43 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! CONFESSION : FROM AN phrases come to mind: "I'm not guilty of anything in particular, like everyone else." ATHONITE PAMPHLET O Lord, it were as if I didn't know what sin BY AN ATHONITE is before Thee - that every vain word and Bless me, O Lord and my Saviour, to the very desire in the heart is an confess to Thee not only with words but abomination before Thee. And how many with bitter tears as well. There is much to words and desires come each day, not to weep for... mention in a year! Thou alone, Lord, knowest them; do Thou grant me to behold My faith in Thee is shaken, O Lord! The my sins and be compassionate and forgive! thoughts of little faith and faithlessness crowd into my soul more often than not. Moreover, I realize that my constant sin is Why? Of course, the spirit of the times is the virtual absence of any struggle with guilty, the people with whom I associate evil within me. As soon as any excuse or are at fault, but above all, I myself am suggestion appears, I already dive guilty, in that I do not struggle with headfirst into the abyss of sin, and only faithlessness and do not pray to Thee for after my fall do I ask myself: what have I help; I am incomparably more guilty if I done? A fruitless question, because it does become a scandal for others by deed, by not help me grow better. And if I feel word, or by a cold silence, whenever sorrow at the same time, it comes from the conversations concerned the faith. I am fact that my self-love is wounded, and not sinful in this, Lord, forgive and have mercy from the awareness that I have offended and grant me faith. Thee, O Lord! Love for my neighbor and even for my I do not struggle with obvious evil, nor close relatives fails me. Their incessant even with the most trifling and harmful requests for help, their forgetfulness of habits. I do not control myself and do not how much has been done for them already, even try. I have sinned; forgive me! arouse mutual discontent among us. But I Furthermore, there is the sin of having a am guilty above all in that I have the short temper. This passion rules over me, means to help them, but help them does not leave me at all. When I hear a grudgingly. I am guilty in that I help sharp word, I do not reply with silence, but them, not out of pure Christian motives, act like a pagan: an eye for an eye and a but out of self-love, out of a desire for tooth for a tooth. An enmity arises from thanks or praise. Forgive me, Lord, soften something insignificant and continues for my heart and teach me to look not at how days and weeks, and I do not think of people act towards me but at how I act reconciliation, but rather try to be, as it towards them. And if they act in a hostile were, stronger, to get revenge at the first way, remind me, O Lord, to pay them back chance. I have sinned beyond reckoning, O with love and good, and to pray for them! Lord, be compassionate, forgive me and I am also sinful in that I seldom, very put my heart at peace! seldom, think about my sins. Not only Apart from these major sins, my entire life during week days, but even when is a chain of sins. I do not value the time preparing for Confession I do not which Thou hast granted for the remember them, do not strive to bring acquisition of eternal salvation. I often them to mind for confession. General stand irreverently, pray mechanically,

44 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! judge others as to how they pray, and do there is no limit to them. I know and I not look after myself. At home I pray remember, that even an impure thought is sometimes only with great effort and an abomination before Thee; and at the scattered thoughts, so that often I myself same time I not only think but even do that do not even hear my prayer, and I even which grieves Thee. I know that I commit omit my prayers sometimes. Such are my evil, and do not turn away from evil... relations to Thee, O Lord, and I cannot say Thus, the beginning has not yet been made anything except: forgive and have mercy! for my repentance, and the end is not in In my relations with others I sin with all sight of my lack of concern over my sins. my feelings - I sin with my tongue, by In truth, there is no end to the vile pronouncing false, profane, provocative thoughts within me, the bursts of self-love, and scandalous words; I sin with my eyes; vanity, pride, judgments, bearing grudges I sin with my mind and heart. I judge and vengeance. I often argue, for no cause others and harbor enmity often and for at all become angry, cruel, jealous, lazy, long periods of time. I sin not only against and blindly stubborn. I myself am of very the soul but also against the body, taking little significance, but I think a great deal of food and drink without restraint. Accept, myself. I do not want to honor those who O Lover of mankind, my repentance, that I are worthy, but demand honor for myself may approach Thy holy and life-giving without any basis. I constantly lie and am Mysteries with peace for the forgiveness of angry at liars. I condemn slanderers and sins, for the setting-aright of temporary life thieves, but I steal and slander. I corrupt and the inheritance of life eternal. Amen myself with lustful thoughts and desires, "I am unworthy to ask forgiveness, O but strictly judge others for lack of Lord," Thus exclaimed once the great modesty. I do not endure jokes about teacher of repentance, St. Ephraim the myself, but I like to tease others, Syrian. considering neither the person nor the place - even in church. Whoever speaks the "How can one keep from falling into sin? truth about me, I consider my enemy. I do How can one block the entrance to the not want to bother myself with serving passions?" St. Basil the Great asked St. others, but if I am not served, I grow Ephraim; and the answer was his tears angry. I coldly refuse my neighbor who is alone. in need, but when I myself am in need, I Then what can I say before Thee, O Lord, I make my requests of him without end. I do so great and habitual a sinner? not like to visit the sick, but when I am sick, I expect someone to care for me By the prayers of our holy Fathers Ephraim without my even asking. and Basil grant me, O Lord, repentance and tears! Help me to expel from myself, O Lord, send the light of Thy heavenly like deadly poison, my evil deeds, vain light into the depths of my soul, that I may words, wicked thoughts. And if I forget to see my sins! My confession almost always mention any sin, Thou knowest all, remind ends with the merely external recounting me, for I do not wish to hide anything. of certain sins. O my God, If Thou be not Thou commandest me: State your cause, merciful, if Thou grant me not help, I that you may be justified (Is. 43:26), and I perish! Innumerable are the times my say: my sins are multiplied Lord, and conscience has given promises to Thee to multiply themselves without ceasing, and begin a better life, but I violated my

45 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! promises and live as before. and thought. And by granting forgiveness, Without correcting myself, I am ashamed send me, O Lord, the strength that to show my face before another person, henceforth I might live according to Thy before whom I have not kept my word. will and not offend Thee. Help me, and I How then can I stand before Thee, my will be saved; help me by receiving Thy God, without shame and self-abasement, Holy Mysteries. And for the worthy when I have made promises so many times reception of them, speak to me the grace of before Thy holy altar, before the angels mercy and forgiveness through the lips of and saints, and then did not keep my the servant of Thine altar, speak by Thy word? How low I am! How guilty I am! Holy Spirit not heard by the ear but heard Thine, O Lord, is righteousness, and mine in the contrite heart and peaceful is a shameful presence (Dan.9:7). Only conscience. Amen. Thine infinite goodness can endure me. Thou didst not condemn me when I sinned; do not condemn me as I repent! Teach me how to call to mind and recount the sins of my former life, the careless sins of youth the sins of self-loving adulthood, the sins of day and night, sins against Thyself, O Lord my Saviour! How can I recount them in the few minutes when I stand in this holy place! I remember, Lord, that Thou didst attend to the brief words of the publican and the thief; I know that Thou wilt mercifully accept even the readiness to repent, and I pray Thee with all my soul, my Lord, accept my repentance, even in a daily confession of sins, according to the Prayer Book. I have far more sins than are mentioned in it, and have nothing with which to erase them. I now offer only my striving towards Thee and the desire for good, but I myself do not have the strength to correct them myself. O Lord and Lover of mankind, Thou dost not drive away the sinner who comes to Thee, begging Thee for forgiveness. Even before he approaches the doors of Thy Mercy, Thou dost already open the way for him; even before he falls before Thee, Thou dost stretch forth Thy hand to him; even before he confesses his sins, Thou dost grant him forgiveness. Grant this to me, as I repent, grant this according to Thy great mercy; forgive all the evil that I have done, said

46 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! JOHN OF KRONSTADT : searching preparation. St. John of Kronstadt was above all a SAINT OF COMMUNION , Eucharistic Priest. He put The Holy SAINT OF CONFESSION Liturgy at the center of his life, and this was the source that enabled him to show BY BISHOP KALLISTOS OF DIOKLEIA such a dynamic and universal love. Our In the Epistle (1 John 4:7-11) and the receiving of Holy Communion, while it is Gospel (Luke 6:31-36) that are read in with the blessing of our spiritual father to honor of St. John of Kronstadt, we notice be frequent, should never be mechanical or the emphasis upon love. Our Holy Father automatic. We are to prepare. And how St. John of Kronstadt, Wonderworker of all should we do it? We are to prepare above Russia, is an example to us of loving all through the use of the sacrament of compassion, of pastoral love. In the Confession. Gospel in particular, the Lord emphasizes Here there are as we know different that our love should not simply be towards disciplines. Some have been brought up the people that we find congenial, not just to go to confession before every towards those who show love towards us. Communion, others have a blessing from It is to be far wider, we are to love our their spiritual father to go more frequently enemies, we are to love all our fellow to Communion without confession every humans, our love is to be without limits. time. But undoubtedly in our Eucharistic It is very clear that when St. John in his experience the sacrament of healing which Epistle and our Savior in the Gospel speak we call Confession or the sacrament of about love they do not just mean repentance plays a central part. something sentimental, something Why do we need to go to confession? Is it emotional, they mean something far more not enough to confess our sins with profound. The kind of love that they sincerity in our private prayers each envisage, a universal all-embracing love, a evening, will not God forgive us from the love without limits, can only be a result of very moment that we confess our sins? prayer, of ascetic effort. Such love is Yes, as soon as we turn to God in true something for which we must struggle and repentance He forgives us. God is always suffer. Such love cannot be based just more ready to forgive than we to repent. upon our emotional feelings, it has got to Even the slightest turning of our heart will have a deeper basis. be blessed by God. Why then are we What is this deeper basis? It is precisely taught also to go to the sacrament of the service that we are celebrating together confession? I can think of three reasons now, the service of the Holy Eucharist, certainly, perhaps you can think of more. which is indeed a sacrament of mutual First of all there are no private sins , all love. Our love has its foundation and sins affect our brothers and sisters in inspiration in the Divine Liturgy. If we Christ. All of our sins, however secret, are to show more vividly the kind of love have an effect on the community. If I feel of which the apostle John and our Lord in my heart anger towards someone else, speak, that can only come first and even if I do not show it by word or action, foremost through a deeper experience of that evil disposition in my heart has a Holy Communion, through frequent destructive effect on others around. Every Communion received after profound and 47 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! sin is a sin against the community; every also asking for forgiveness of our brothers sin however secret is a stumbling block for and sisters for what we have done. That is others and makes it harder for them to one reason to go to confession, because sin serve Christ. is social. In the early Church confession was public. There is a second reason. The spoken After the fourth century, with the growth word, the uttered word has great force. of the Christian community, that gave This applies in two ways. First of all we scandal and so confession assumed its listen to the spoken word of the priest, the present form, as an opening of the heart council that he gives, and it may be that before the priest alone, under conditions of what he says if written down and put in a secrecy. But let us remember that during book would not seem so striking. It may confession the priest is there, among other be that it wouldn't seem so remarkable. things, as the representative of the But in confession the priest is praying and community, of the people. The fact that we are praying for the light of the Holy we confess not just to God, but in the Spirit, and he is addressing those words presence of a fellow man, shows that we under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to acknowledge the communal social each one of us, to each penitent personally. dimension of all our sins. In confessing in The words which looked at in the abstract his presence we are also asking forgiveness might seem obvious, common place, can from the community. I heard a story once prove words of fire when we realize that told about St. John Maximovitch of they are being said to me personally here Shanghai and San Francisco. I have also and now under the inspiration of the Holy heard it told of others, but the same thing Spirit. can happen more than once. I can remember at the Russian convent in Once before the Divine Liturgy he was London many years ago there was a priest, hearing the confession of a man, and the Fr. John, who didn't much like hearing man said: "Yes I know that what I have done confessions; he didn't much like giving is a sin, I ask God's forgiveness, but my heart is sermons either. He was a person of few like a stone, I do not feel any sorrow for my sin, words and very humble, and didn't feel he it is all just in my brain." So St. John said to really had the authority to offer counsel in him: "Go out into the center of the church in confession, but he was blessed by the front of the people and make a prostration bishop to hear confessions so he did so. before them and then come back to me." As On one occasion a woman was telling him the man did this and knelt to ask at immense length of her quarrels with her forgiveness from the people before him, husband: "I said this and he said this and I something broke inside his heart and it told him he was wrong and told him this" and came alive again. Suddenly he felt real so it went on "and I told him this and this." compunction for what he had done. He When she had finally stopped all Fr. John said "now it is different," and the did was to turn to her and say "And did it Archbishop gave him forgiveness. help?" and then he gave her absolution. That was the moment of turning for him That came as a sudden revelation to her, because he acknowledged that his sin was the futility of the endless arguments she a sin against the community and he asked had with her husband, of her endless their forgiveness. So in our confession let desire to prove that she was right and that us first of all recall that dimension. We are

48 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! he was wrong. Suddenly she saw that us dare refuse to accept such an there was no point to all this, it was quite opportunity. simply unnecessary and she stopped from ------that moment. Bishop Kallistos Ware is Spalding Lecturer of Eastern So the uttered word can have great power Orthodox Studies at the University of Oxford. The and that applies also to what you or I utter author of many books and translations, he is perhaps best when we make our confession. Yes we known for The Orthodox Church, the most recent revision of which was published by Penguin Books in can confess our sins secretly in our evening 1993,and The Orthodox Way, recently issued in a prayers and we should do so, but when we revised edition by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. He is a come before the holy icons in church, when member of the advisory board of the Orthodox Peace we have listened to the prayers and speak Fellowship. His sermon was given at the parish of St. John of Kronstadt in Bath, England, the town in which in the presence of the priest, when we have he grew up. to say these things aloud, often then it From the September 1998 issue of In Communion, becomes powerful, immediate, personally quarterly journal of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship significant in a way it was not before. The uttered word has great force and we find ourselves in confession, by God's grace, saying things that we never said in our private prayers. Suddenly we are able to understand more deeply and to express it more openly. Therein lies much of the grace of confession. The desert fathers say that a thought which is concealed has great power over us, but if we can find a way to bring it into the open and to speak of it, it loses its power. That is also what the modern psychiatrists tell us, but the desert fathers said it first! So, the uttered word that we bring in confession can have a sacramental force and a healing grace which will surprise us. But then there is a third thing, not just what the priest does when he offers advice, not just what we do when we try to speak the truth in Christ. There is also what Christ does. Confession is a mystery of the Church that confers sacramental grace, there is power within it, Divine power. When the priest lays his hand upon our head in Confession, it is Christ who lays his hand upon us, Christ who forgives and that is certainly the deepest and most profound reason why we should go to Confession. When such grace and such healing is offered to us, who among

49 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! forgiveness for the entire crowd of CONFESSION WITH SAINT JOHN weeping and repentant people. He OF KRONSTADT looked at us with his penetrated gaze and suddenly –large tears streamed copiously down his cheeks. He wept for Those wanting to us. With his pure tears he washed away confess to Fr. John the filth of our sins. Yes, Fr. John wept, became so mingling his tears with our tears. At that numerous that to moment the tearful ferment of the crowd satisfy this desire reached its peak of intensity. The vast was physically cathedral filled with lamentation; it impossible. When seemed to shake from the uninterrupted Fr. John served the outcries. cathedral was so packed that an apple couldn't find place to fall. (Translated from the biography of St. John by I. K. Soursky; Belgrade, 1941) With absolute openness of heart, uninhibited by the crowd, people shouted out their sins without holding back even the worst of them. And they shouted loudly, so that, if possible, Fr. John might hear them. A penitential lamentation the cathedral; the crowd was covered in sweat--not from heat but from emotion.

Literally everyone wept openly, without the slightest constraint, and together with their outcries and groanings, the souls of the people were wondrously cleansed, just as a piece of gold is purified in a fiery crucible.

Fr. John, aflame with prayer, stood on the ambo before an icon of the Saviour, entreating the merciful Lord’s

50 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! HOW TO MAKE A CONFESSION consequently. you must confess or tell your sins to the spiritual father just as a man who is One should come for confession in the physically sick tells his physical woes to the evening, i.e., on the eve of the day one plans to doctor, hoping to receive healing through him. receive the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Before confession you should try to bring to Don't involve other people in your confession; remembrance all your sins, whether committed don't complain about anyone. That is not voluntarily or involuntarily; you should confession but judgment, and this judgment is carefully examine your life in order to recall all yet another sin. your sins, not only the ones committed since your last confession, but past sins which you During confession don't try to justify yourself have forgotten to confess. Then, with in any way, giving the excuse of illness, habit, compunction and contrition of heart, approach etc. In confession, the more a person justifies the Cross and Gospel and begin your himself the less he will be justified by God. confession. And conversely, the more a person reproaches himself, judges and blames himself the more he Confess your sins openly; remember that you will find justification before God. are telling them not to a man but to God Himself. He already knows your sins but He When the father confessor asks you about wants you to acknowledge them yourself. And something, don't say "I don't remember; maybe there is no need to be ashamed before your I'm guilty of this also..." God has exhorted us spiritual father. He is a human being just as you always to remember our sins. In order not to are, he knows well human failings and man's use forgetfulness as an excuse, we should inclination to sin, and for this reason he cannot confess as often as possible; because those be your dread judge. But are you not ashamed who, through indifference or carelessness, before your spiritual father because you are rarely prepare themselves for Holy Communion afraid of losing his good opinion of you? On and give time to forget their sins are themselves the contrary, a spiritual father, seeing your at fault and cannot therefore expect to be sincere, honest confession, will cherish an even absolved of sins, they have not confessed. For greater love towards you. Furthermore, if you this reason we must unfailingly try to recall our are ashamed and afraid of revealing your sins sins. When someone is indebted to us, we have before one man, a priest, then how will you no trouble remembering the debt, but we forget bear that shame when you appear at God's our debts to the Lord! Does this not show on Dread Judgment, where your sins, it you were our part an utter carelessness and negligence not cleansed of them through sincere towards our soul? So, to, if the father confessor repentance, will be opened before God asks you about a certain sin, you shouldn't Himself, the angels and all the people--- answer, "I try not to do this" This is not an acquaintances and strangers alike. answer; it only masks the substance of the reply and appears as a cover-up for sin. Confess all your sins thoroughly, each sin separately. St. John Chrysostom says: "One Unless asked by the father confessor, don't mustn't say simply 'I sinned,' or 'I am a sinner,' speak about that of which you are not guilty, or but you must indicate the various forms of what you did not do like the Pharisee in the these sins.," i.e., you must mention each sin Gospel. In doing you are boasting rather than individually. "The revelation of sins," says St. confessing your sins and this only increases Basil the Great, "is subject to the same laws as your condemnation. the revelation of physical infirmities..." A sinner is one who is spiritually ill, and the You should make your confession with sorrow spiritual father is the doctor or physician; and heartfelt contrition over your sins through which we grieve the Lord God. It is not good 51 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! that many people relate their sins without any feeling, with out any remorse, as though they are conducting an ordinary conversation. What is worse, some people even allow themselves to smile at their sins. All this indicates a lack of repentance; and if we confess in this manner we are not cleansed of our sins but only add to them.

Finally, confess your sins with faith in Jesus Christ and in hope of His mercy. For it is only through believing in Jesus Christ and hoping on Him that we can receive forgiveness of our sins. Without faith this is impossible. We have as an example, Judas, the traitor.

Here, then, is how we should confess in order to receive from the Lord God forgiveness of our sins. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)

Translated from Blogovest, Parish Bulletin of the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco; March 1989

52 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution!

Confession Our Lord Jesus Christ founded the SACRAMENT OF Sacrament of Repentance and REPENTANCE AND Confession when He said to His CONFESSION disciples, the pure apostles: “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18). Also, after the Resurrection the Lord said : “‘As the Father sent me, I also send you.’ And when He said this He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any they are retained’” (John 20:21-23). By this He gave them the authority of binding sins or loosing them, through “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS the authority given to them by the FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US Holy Spirit, and according to the OUR SINS AND TO CLEANS US FROM contriteness of the confessing person. ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS” Conditions of Repentance 1 John 1:9 True repentance has four conditions: The Sacrament of Repentance and • Contrite heart and remorse for Confession is a holy sacrament, by previous sins. which the sinner returns to God, • Steadfast intention to improve. confessing his sins before the priest to be absolved by the priest through • Strong faith in Christ and hope the authority granted to him by God. in His love to forgive. By this absolution the confessing • Verbal confession of sins before person is granted the forgiveness of the priest. those sins which he confessed. Right Age for Confession Confession means admitting and Parents must teach their children declaring a certain matter. The about the Sacrament of Confession Sacrament of Confession means from an early age, say, about twelve verbal confession before the priest of years old, so they may be acquainted sins and mistakes committed by a from childhood with the Sacrament, person, and confessing and humbly for as the proverb says: “Teaching in repenting, in order to be granted the childhood is like engraving on rocks”. absolution and forgiveness. In the book of Ecclesiology entitled Instituting the Sacrament of 53 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! ‘The Precious Diamond’ by John Bin Christ be with you, and abide your Elsabaa, is written the below heart in the Orthodox faith until the mentioned text. In its time, it was end, Amen.” adhered to and considered most From that hour the priest will receive beneficial: the child, teach them confession, and Releasing the Guardian of so the priest becomes a father and Responsibility spiritual guide for the person who When the child grows up in Christian starts to practice the Sacrament of virtues, the Church or guardian takes Repentance and Confession directly guided by the priest. him before the temple of God, where he received him from the priest at The Necessity of Confessing to a Baptism and says (in the presence of Priest the priest) : Verbal confession to a priest is “My son/daughter, when you were a necessary for the forgiveness of sins, child and a slave to Satan, your for the Lord said to His Pure Apostles: parents wanted to set you free “If you forgive the sins of any, they through the Holy Baptism, and they are forgiven them, if you retain the asked my weakness to guarantee you sins of any, they are retained” (John before this priest of God. I received 20:23.) you from him, I renounced Satan on How can the fatherly priests forgive your behalf denied him and his or retain sins if they are not aware of deeds, confessed the Lord Jesus them? How can a judge decide a Christ for you, took you to receive His sentence if he is not aware of the Holy Body and Precious Blood and case details? For this reason, the you became a temple of the Holy authority given to the Apostles and Spirit. their successors to retain or forgive Now you stand before the Temple of sins, oblige the congregation to God from where I received you, you confess their sins before those who must know that the one who have the authority of absolving or renounced Satan and believed in retaining absolution. Christ, must abandon the deeds of Confessing to the priest is necessary Satan which are pride, hatred, anger, for gaining the forgiveness of sins. It murder, adultery, lies, swearing, also has many other benefits: curses, idleness in going to church and hearing God’s word. As you From a humane perspective ... believe in Christ, you must seek the Human beings by nature require virtues of love, humility and holiness, comfort and wise counseling, and the for without which no one sees the need to speak to someone regarding Lord. From this place I received you, problems or worries. They feel the and here I surrender you to yourself need to have someone share their and God. Do not request from me joys as well as their sorrows, and this anything further; from now on, you is especially so when disclosing are mature and conscious of what is sensitive issues to a person who is a good and what is evil. priest, a confession father, a teacher, May the peace of our Lord Jesus or a guardian; one who keeps

54 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! secrets, and has a nurturing nature. “Then Nathan declared to David the divine punishment for his sins. The From the Old Testament Lord will strike his child and the child perspective ... would die, the sword shall never Confession was a necessary act for depart from your house. I will raise the repentance of a sinner who up adversity against you from your brought the sacrifice, laid his hand on own house, and I will take your wives its head and confessed his sins to before your eyes and give them to God before the priest. The priest then your neighbor, and he shall lie with took the sacrifice and slaughtered it, your wives in the sight of the sun” (2 offering it onto the altar of burnt Samuel 12), “and the child died and sacrifice as an atonement for sin. The when Absalom rebelled against his Lord said: “If a person sins or father, he did what the Lord said touches any unclean thing ... or if a exactly” (2 Samuel 16:2-22) . person swears ... he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing, and It is worth mentioning that the sins he shall bring his trespass offering to David committed against Bathsheba the Lord for his sin which he has and her husband Uriah the Hittite was sinned ..., so the priest shall make considered by God as personally atonement for him concerning his committed towards Him, as Nathan sin” (Leviticus 5:1-6) . said: “Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord and do Hence, the sinner is obliged to evil in His sight? You have killed confess all his trespasses. Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you When Achan the son of Carmi sinned have taken his wife to be your wife” and stole, the anger of the Lord (2 Samuel 12) . burned against the children of Israel, When David confessed to Nathan the and they were conquered before the prophet, he heard the declaration of men of Ai. Then Joshua brought putting away his sin and that he Achan the son of Carmi and said to would not die the eternal death or him: “‘My son I beg you, give glory to perish because of it, but certain the Lord God of Israel, and make punishments were imposed on him, confession to Him, and tell me now necessary for repentance. Solomon what you have done, do not hide it said: “He who covers his sins will not from me.’ And Achan answered prosper, but whoever confesses and Joshua and said, ‘Indeed I have forsakes them will have mercy” sinned against the Lord God of (Proverbs 28:13). Israel’” (Joshua 7: 19,20) . From the New Testament When David the King sinned and perspective ... committed adultery and murder, his conscience did not rebuke him and John the Baptist preached “Repent for the the Lord sent Nathan to him who repentance saying, Kingdom of Heaven is at hand ... persuaded David to confess saying, then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the “‘I have sinned against the Lord’, so region around the Jordan went out to Nathan the prophet said to David, him and were baptized by him in the ‘The Lord also has put away your sin, Jordan, confessing their sins” you shall not die’” (2 Samuel 12).

55 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! (Matthew 3:1-6). to laymen, as laymen confess to priests, but what he meant is : The Lord Jesus Christ gave the authority to the Apostles and “Teach each other” as the educated their successors by saying, teach the ignorant. “Assuredly I say to you, whatever “Heal one another” as the physician you bind on earth will be bound in heals the patient. heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” Hence, in the words, “Confess to one (Matthew 18:18), and after His another,” he means the congregation resurrection, “He breathed on them should confess to those who have the and said to them, ‘As the Father sent authority of forgiving sins. me, I also send you. If you forgive St. John tells us : “If we confess our the sins of any, they are forgiven, if sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you retain the sins of any, they are us our sins and to cleanse us from all retained’” (John 20:21,22). unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). When the prodigal son was aware God forgives our sins and of his sins, he retuned to his cleanses us from our trespasses, father saying, “Father, I have when we confess to God in the sinned against heaven and in your presence of the priest, with humility sight” (Luke 15:21) . and contrite hearts. St. Athanasius The book of Acts tells us that the the Apostolic said, “As the Baptized is Sacrament of Repentance and enlightened by the grace of the Holy Confession was practiced during Spirit, by means of the priest, the the days of the Apostles : “And repentant is granted forgiveness of many who had believed came, his sins by the grace of Christ, also confessing and telling their deeds” through the priest.” (Acts 19:18). And St. Augustine said, “The Lord Our teacher St. Jacob advises us Jesus Christ rose Lazarus from the saying : “Confess your trespasses to death and those around him (the one another, and pray for one apostles) loosed him from the grave another, that you may be healed” clothes that bound him.” Was the (John 5:16) . Giver of life unable to loosen the grave clothes? By loosening them, Once the believer confesses all his the apostles denoted their authority sins before the priest, the priest of absolving and forgiving sins, which prays for him the absolution prayer the Lord granted to them and their and asks God to forgive his sins and successors. help him not to sin again. (Priests also have confession fathers, who are St. Gregory of Nyssa said : “Regard perhaps older and more the church priest as a spiritual father experienced). for you, reveal to him your secrets openly, just as a patient reveals his NOTES: hidden wounds to the physician, and When the Apostle says: “Confess so is healed.” your trespasses to one another”, he It is mentioned in the Apostolic does not mean for priests to confess Orders, “You must honor your 56 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! spiritual fathers as they are given the Iscariot, on the other hand, did not authority of life and death from God, receive the holy Body and precious to judge the sinners and punish Blood of Christ because of his iniquity them, or to absolve the repentants and evil. from their sins.” Confession to a priest and hearing The Apostolic Church approves the absolution comforts the soul, as Confession as a Sacrament of the sins confessed are forgiven according Church, and this is strong proof of to the authority given to the priests. the correctness and necessity of Confession to a priest benefits the confession to a priest, for Church confessing person as he receives Sacraments are performed by priests instruction and advice from the only. priest, who is wise and experienced, The priest is entrusted with the and so he will benefit in his struggle Sacrament of Communion of the Holy against sin if he obediently applies Body and Blood of Christ, and is the advice. required not to give it except to the Embarrassment during confession, is true repentant, otherwise he will be the penalty the soul must bear for condemned and held responsible falling into sin, but the penance before God for his neglect. In the imposed by the priest is the Church’s commandment of ordination of the chastening for the body, which new priest, the Bishop commands together with the soul, shared in sin. him saying : “Watch this treasure as the Cherub watches the tree of life. Due to embarrassment, many people Be careful concerning these mysteries try to escape from confessing before to rid yourself from crisis and a priest, claiming that they confess traumas, do not give except to the directly to God. However, the good mannered, pure hearted embarrassment experienced is very persons. Rescue the sinner so he profitable to the repenting sinner, for does not perish and you be held through it we feel the shame of the responsible.” sin committed in the presence of God. Reasons for escaping confession Here we wonder how would the priest before a priest is due to pride and know whether someone is pure false dignity, for the proud find it hearted, and another is an unworthy hard to humble themselves before he sinner who is prohibited from the priest. Holy Communion? CHURCH PENANCE FOR THE Is it not through confession before REPENTANT TO EXAMINE THE the priest? The priest has the right TRUTHFULNESS OF THEIR to prevent a person who does not REPENTANCE, IF OBEDIENTLY practice the Sacrament of Confession, ADHERED TO from receiving Communion and from the Holy Sacraments, just as Christ Abstinence the Lord gave His Holy Body and Prostrations for repentance and precious Blood only to His trusted humility disciples whom, He well knew were worthy of Holy Communion. Judas Almsgiving to the needy

57 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! Prevention from Communion for a certain time Returning stolen money Apology to whom we insulted Extra prayers other than the usual, to ask God’s mercy. These Church penances are spiritual remedies to help heal the sinner’s wounds, as it implants reverence and remorse in a repentant, and initiates the hatred of sin so that we may remain watchful and not fall into sin again.

58 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! STEPS NECESSARY FOR AN all our confessions before the priest ACCEPTABLE CONFESSION in order to be cleansed. True repentance because of our Not to find excuses for yourself , love for God, and not for fear of and blame others, for confession is punishment, we should aim for about blaming yourself for the sins spiritual healing in order to receive committed, and not condemning God’s grace of forgiveness, and gain others. King Solomon advises us: “Do eternal life. not say before the messenger (Priest) of God that it was an error” To be honest with ourselves , without being biased, so as to avoid (Ecclesiastes 5:6). the Lord’s warning: “He who loves his A person must be fair with life will lose it” (John 12:25). oneself , not too sympathetic nor too harsh, doubtful or anxious, but To have honest intention and rather, should confess with a steadfast will , and so abandon sin and its causes. straightforward, mature conscience. To examine our conscience and The confessor must adhere to the self carefully , to be aware of the advice given them by their sins committed by deed or word or confession father, and be diligent thought or senses, to repent and in following his advice as a remedy humble ourselves so that we may not necessary for spiritual life. fall into sin again. To practice all the spiritual To be truthful in confession , exercises given by one’s knowing that lying to the confession- confession-father, and with love father is lying to the Holy Spirit. As and patience, “Work out your own in the example of Ananias lying to St salvation with fear and trembling” Peter : “Why has Satan filled your (Philippians 2:12). As St Basil the heart to be lying to the Holy Spirit?” Great says, “As we bear the scalpel of (Act 5:3) . the physician to remedy the body and the medicine’s bitterness, we also Not to hide any secrets and should bear the suffering of rebuke, hidden thoughts , but to reveal all chastisement and various practices so frankly before the priest to enable that the soul may be remedied from him to offer the best remedy in order its sins and weaknesses.” to build and revive the spiritual life of the confessing person. Jeremiah the To confess bravely without prophet speaks to the human soul embarrassment , all the sins and its saying: “Pour out your heart like details, and if the priest asks water before the face of the Lord” concerning certain points, one must (Lamentations 2:19). When water is not complain or hide, but answer poured forth, it leaves no trace or honestly, knowing that it is for our smell, but if oil is poured it leaves own benefit that the priest will behind a trace, and if vinegar is provide us with useful advice. poured, it leaves behind a smell. So A confessing person must just like water which leaves behind struggle with God in prayer as no residue, we also should pour forth the Lord says: “Come now, and let

59 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! us reason together, though your sins The person who confesses must are like scarlet, they shall be as white have strong love and confidence as snow, though they are red like in the confession-father to trust crimson, they shall be as wool” his guidance, obey and benefit from (Isaiah 1:18). him, like a patient trusting their doctor. After repentance, absolution and forgiveness, we must thank God We advise every husband and wife to who opened the door of repentance have the same confession-father so and saved us from the dangerous that the spiritual providence for their road of death, as Isaiah said: “For marital life become one, and the wickedness burns as the fire, it shall priest will know their natures and devour the briers and thorns and guide them adequately for the kindle in the thickets of the forest; welfare of the family. And if a they shall mount up like rising problem exists between them, the smoke” (Isaiah 9:18), and our priest gives the correct solution teacher St. Peter said: “The Lord without interference from a third knows how to deliver the godly out of party who might have a different temptations and the reserve the opinion, and hence cause harm to the unjust under punishment for the day family. Hence, a mutual confession- of judgment, and especially those father is a necessity for the family who walk according to the flesh in the welfare. lust of uncleanliness” (2 Peter 2:9,10). When the repentant knows that through repentance they are rescued from all this, they will deepen in their love toward God and seek to always abide in God, in order to receive power in their struggle against sin. God will make us victorious over Satan and all his enticements, and bring our bodies and all its weaknesses and lusts into subjection. Our teacher St. Paul advises us saying: “And having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). The repentant must walk on the pure path of repentance, and not be willingly returning to sin again. The confessing person must not venture from one confession father to another, as this may be cause delay in one’s spiritual growth. Unless for very strong reasons, one should not change their confession father. 60 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! NECESSARY CONDITIONS FOR A as well as being informed concerning CONFESSION FATHER areas such as psychology and To be a legally ordained priest education, so that he may be able to understand different phases of To have permission from his Bishop growth and special psychological to accept congregational confessions, reactions. Hence, he must give the for he will be accountable for such a correct medicine for every illness, responsibility. without hurting feelings, but rather, To be wise and experienced in to encourage a person to confess. psychology, and knowledgeable about He must be old enough to accept souls and their depths. confessions, reverent and sober so To be spiritual and close to God, so that every one respects and listens to that he can pray for his children and him. plead with God to solve their He must be pure in intention, problems. thoughts, heart and body so he can To have a strong personality, not accept the confessions of women and double-faced, and not afraid to speak guide them without causing the truth and rebuke the sinner, disruption to himself. regardless of who they may be. He must be honest with people’s He must be righteous with an ability secrets, not to reveal them to to listen to problems without being anybody whatever the causes are, affected. He must also be patient knowing that Church rules forbid this with the confessing person and treat and punishes the priest who reveals them as his son/daughter. He must secrets and the confessions of people be able to give them comfort so that and so cause them embarrassment they may be able to confess their (Basilian Laws, 34). sins. He must be well learned about church He must be strong in spirit, able to laws in order to apply them wisely to bear the weakness of the weak, those confessing to him. accept their confession, listening to He must imitate St. Paul in his love their sins without despising or for his children: “My little children for judging them, they must be attentive whom I labor in birth again until and able give the person enough Christ is formed in you” (Galatians chance to say everything they need 4:19), readily laboring for them until to say. Then he must give the they become true Christians in their appropriate advice and instructions virtues and manners. necessary for helping the person overcome the sins in future. He must be convinced that Confession is a source of comfort for He must be wise and spiritually a person who confesses, and growth experienced in order to guide his for spiritual life. If a person does not children, so as not to give them feel comfortable confessing to him wrong instructions that may harm and seeks his permission to change their spiritual life. confession fathers, he must not forbid He must be biblically knowledgeable them, for by so doing, he may cause

61 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! the person to rebel and cease from stand fast in the Lord” (Thessalonians confessing again. It is important, 3:8). He resembles the father of the however, that the priest be aware of prodigal son, who awaited his son’s the reason for the person wanting to return every single day, and, “When change confession fathers, so that he he was still a great way off, his father may help them in choosing another saw him and had compassion, and who will be a source of help and ran and fell on his neck and kissed comfort. If the priest insists on not him” (Luke 15:20), and accepted his allowing them to change confession repentance and forgave him all his fathers, the person may go directly sins, rejoicing for his return, and and seek permission from the bishop, saying to the elder son: “It was right without involving the priest. It is also that we should make mercy and be important to note that the priest is an glad, for your brother was dead and adviser in personal matters, such as is alive again, and was lost and is marriage or career decisions, and so found” (Luke 15:32). should never enforce his opinion on SECOND: A JUDGE others. Who judges the case of his children He must never attempt to intimidate according to the authority given to any person confessing to him, such him: “Whatever you bind on earth as those without a confession father. will be bound in heaven, and A priest should be considerate of the whatever you loose on earth will be feelings of other priests he serves loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18) . with, such as in accepting the The priest must be accountable to confessions of a person who has this divine responsibility, neither recently been absolved from favoring nor neglecting or oppressing confessing to his fellow brother the or using this authority unduly, for priest. personal purposes. He must be strict In the Sacrament of Confession, the with sin regardless of who the sinner priest is a father, judge and teacher. may be, just like a physician who loves the patient but hates the

disease, and so tries to abolish it by FIRST: A FATHER the best possible medicine. THIRD: A TEACHER Who teaches according to the Holy Bible, and makes disciples of Christ of all those coming to him. He teaches Who yearns for the repentance of them the way to God and Christian every one of his children, as their perfection, through his knowledge, repentance and salvation will be a experience and trials. The priest who cause for his salvation, and so at the wants to teach and make disciples of last day, he will say to the Lord: Christ, must himself be a disciple and “Here am I and the children whom be obedient towards his confession- God has given me” (Isaiah 8:18), and father (who may be older, wiser and together with St. Paul he will more experienced). Hence, he proclaim: “For now we live, if you resembles our teacher St. Paul who

62 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! says: “I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me” (Roman 15:18). He experiences, learns then teaches. The priest must teach his children that absolution is granted after practicing the Sacrament of Confession directly. Group absolutions which are granted during the Holy Mass, (when each person remembers their sins, confesses before God and bows to receive the priest’s absolution), is sufficient to receive Communion. It is not necessary, therefore, for the priest to read the absolution in the Church for each individual who has not confessed. Following the transubstantiation of the holy Body and Blood, the reading of the absolution is a grave mistake, for the absolution itself (the Holy Sacrament) is present on the altar. It is not right that Jesus Christ, the great High Priest is present on the altar, and the priest, ignoring Him, gives the absolution. The priest must care to give his children adequate spiritual practices for their lives, so that they may be able to abandon certain sins and habits and replace them with virtues. He must follow these practices with them by praying for them and asking about them in every confession. It is also useful if a spiritual note-book is available, so that the priest can see it and provide them with advice and practical applications to help them in their spiritual life.

63 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! THE RITE OF down notes : PRACTICING THE Sins and mistakes committed SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION Thoughts and feelings encountered which need counseling from the Before Confession: confession-father in order to The period of Confession must not distinguish the good from the bad exceed one month or a month and a Any questions regarding the spiritual half maximum. Delaying confession life which need guidance or encourages a person to be negligent, discussion with the confession father. and forget may sins committed. Delaying confession is a great loss to Self-examination must be honest, a person and delays their spiritual and without condemning others, for growth noticeably. in confession we should blame ourselves, not other people or Some fathers use a notebook in circumstances. which they write the names of their children in confession - when they After having prepared for confession, confessed and the date of their next the repentant prays before God in confession. This keeps the person their private room, mentioning before confessing prepared at all times for Him every sin and pleading for confession. forgiveness, and power from God so that they may abandon them. A person must sit firstly with themselves, to examine themselves Sins to be forgiven must be very carefully before going to confessed three times : confession. You may start with a Before the person whom we short prayer to ask God’s help in sinned against, as the wise King revealing your sins, as Jeremiah said: Solomon said: “For you have come “The heart is deceitful above all into the hand of your fried: go and things, and desperately wicked. Who humble yourself, plead with your can know it? I, the Lord, search the friend, give no sleep to your eyes, heart, I test the mind, even to give nor slumber to your eyelids, deliver every man according to his ways” yourself” (Proverbs 6:3-5), rescue (Jeremiah 17:9,10.) yourself from the results of sins In preparing for confession, it is and its harm by apologizing to advisable to write down on a piece of whom you sinned against. paper, all the sins committed, Before God as the responsible however, it should be written in such Father for all people whom we sin a way that only the writer against. When David sinned against understand. This is to prevent it from Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, falling into wrong hands. The wisdom God considered it a sin directed behind writing sins is so not to forget toward Him personally and blamed them during confession. David saying: “Why did you despised The confessing person must care for Me?” and David confessed his sin three important things while saying, “I have sinned against the preparing for confession, and jotting Lord” (2 Samuel 12). In the Psalm of Repentance, David spoke humbly 64 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! before God saying: “Against You and may visit them at home and accept You only have I sinned, and done this their confession there, and at the evil in Your sight” (Psalm 51:4) same time encouraging them to come to church. In addition, the Sacrament Before the Church represented by the priest. The church is our mother of Confession may take place at and cares for her children’s peace, home if someone is sick, before they their love and reconciliation with one receive the Holy Communion. another. The priest is the dove of The priest must wear a cloak or cape peace and reconciles the rights of the whilst accepting Confession, as he is just from the unjust. The confessing taking part in a holy sacrament which person receives the absolution and needs physical and spiritual forgiveness of their sins from the preparation. mouth of the priest, the officiate of In church there must be a waiting the Mysteries of God, who sees the place for those awaiting confession, truthfulness, or otherwise, of one’s with various spiritual books which repentance. If otherwise, the priest they can occupy themselves provides penance and certain spiritual with. exercises in order to help the confessor fulfill the conditions of an The priest must always be alert. He acceptable repentance. Once must not eat or drink during accomplished, the person is granted confession, for confession is a absolution and forgiveness from the sacrament, and as such should be priest who receives the authority practiced while fasting (similar to the from the Holy Spirit : “Make them rest of the sacraments). After the absolved by the Holy Spirit, through person comes to kiss the hand of the me.” Once absolution is granted priest, they should sit before him from the priest, the person can respectfully, as he is the minister of receive the Holy Communion of our the Mysteries of God, and in the Lord Emmanuel, so that they may be presence of the Holy Spirit. cleansed of their sins by the Blood of The priest and the confessor make Christ, just like the saints who, the sign of the cross, and together “Washed their robes and made them pray ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. white in the Blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14), and, “The Blood The priest then encourages the of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us person to confess, asking them about from all sin” (John 1:7) . their spiritual life. During Confession : The confessing person takes out the paper in which the sins are written, Confession must take place be in a and begins confessing them one by quite corner in the Church, facing the one, without embarrassment, and altar, so that we feel empowered and waiting to hear the appropriate sanctified. Confession, being a advice and instruction of the sacrament, should always take place confession father. We can resemble in Church, however, if the priest this to one waiting for the verdict of a comes across a person who has not judge after having done wrong, or been regular in church or in church waiting for the doctor to prescribe the life, but wishes to repent, the priest 65 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! best medicine possible to cure Jesus Christ, which is shed on the ailments. The confessor should cross. The head is humbly bowed acknowledge their sins completely from the load of sin, and the cross and repent in contriteness, aiming to over it works mysteriously to sanctify struggle against sin till death. the confessing person in thought, Discussion with the priest should take body and soul by the indwelling of place with respectfulness and the Holy Spirit who is called by the decency. priest to grant absolution and The confessing person should forgiveness to the repentant. Hence, commence by confessing the most reconciliation between God and the grievous sins, followed by the less repentant is fulfilled, as our teacher grievous. In this way, the confessor St. Paul says: “Having made peace will be humbled. through the Blood of His Cross” (Colossians 1:20), “And now all It is important for the confessor to be things are of God, who has reconciled mindful of the priest’s time and us to Himself through Jesus Christ, others waiting, and so not divert from and has given us the ministry of the confession by telling stories which reconciliation, that is, that God was in may be unrelated. They must be Christ reconciling the world to mindful of the reverence of the Himself, not imputing their sacrament and being in the presence trespasses to them, and has of the Holy Spirit. committed to us the word of The priest must be careful not to reconciliation” (2 Corinthians condemn or degrade the person 5:18,19). confession, so they do not despair. When the priest places his hand on On the other hand, it is important the the confessing person’s head, holding priest is not too lenient, otherwise their temples between his fingers, he the confessor may become negligent. denotes the compassionate The priest must be wise and fatherhood of God accepting the moderate, able to love those who repentants, and it is also a symbol of confess, despite their failures and the hand of God, the Pantocrator, sins. who holds everyone in His hands, for After confession, the confessing He controls man’s movements and person kneels before the priest, thoughts and is able to sanctify them bowing their head and repeating the and guide them towards the right words, “God be merciful to me a direction, for their welfare and sinner” (Luke 18:13). The priest, salvation : “Bringing every thought standing, places the cross in his right into captivity to the obedience of hand on the confessing person’s Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5), and head, and prays the absolution. applying the words of St. Paul : “But we have the mind of Christ” (1 NOTES: Corinthians 2:16), and so become the The priest places the cross over the servants of God who, “shall see His head of the confessing person, as the face, and His name shall be on their gift of absolution and forgiveness is foreheads” (Revelation 22:4). Hence, obtained from the Blood of our Lord they have the name of God filling

66 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! their thoughts and lives. mentioning also that these PRAYERS TO BE SAID BY THE absolutions which are read on the CONFESSOR, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE head of the confessing person, are ABSOLUTION prayed in Church during the Matins and Vespers Prayers, and in other Psalm 50 : “Have mercy upon me, O Church Rites, such as the Sacraments God ...” of Unction of Sick, Matrimony and The prayer of : “O God absolve, remit others. and forgive us our sins which we THE FIRST ABSOLUTION : have done willingly and unwillingly PRAYER OF SUBMISSION TO THE and those which we committed SON knowingly and unknowingly, the “Oh Lord who has given authority hidden and the visible. O Lord unto us to tread upon serpents forgive us for the sake of Your Holy and scorpions and upon all the Name that is called upon us, and power of the enemy, crush his according to Your Mercy and not to heads beneath our feet speedily, our sins.” Followed by, “O Lord I and scatter before us his every have sinned, absolve me”, or the tax- design of weakness that is collector’s prayer: “God be merciful against us. For You are the King to me, a sinner”. of us all, O Christ our God”. Then following the absolution, the Notes on the First Absolution: ‘Lord’s Prayer’ is said. God gave the authority to His PRAYERS OF THE PRIEST ON THE “Behold, I HEAD OF THE CONFESSOR pure Apostles saying: give you the authority to trample on Thanksgiving Prayer: To thank God serpents and scorpions and over all for the return and the repentance of the power of the enemy, and nothing the sinner. shall by any means hurt you” (Luke Psalm 50 : for repentance and 10:19). humiliation “Crush his heads beneath our feet Litany of the Sick: for the sinner is in speedily,” as the devil does not have need of remedy only one head but many heads, denoting his plans and deceit, The Three Absolutions: What is thoughts, and seduction which are noticeable is that the priest prays various and destructive to those them in the plural form placing attracted to them. himself with the confessing sinner, asking absolution and forgiveness for “Scatter before us every design of both of them, with all the other weakness that is against us.” The blessings. In these absolutions are Satanic designs are the evil thoughts many meaningful and touching which he tries to implant in us, we supplications, which deserve ask God to scatter them before us so contemplation. The priest should pray we do not perish. them quietly but audibly, so that he THE SECOND ABSOLUTION : and the confessing person may meditate on every word. It is worth ALSO CALLED THE PRAYER OF SUBMISSION TO THE SON 67 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! “You, O Lord, who created the out ignorance (by which he falls into heavens, You descended and sin).” became man for our salvation. To cause us to desire the Lord, and You are He who sits upon the taste those things which are spiritual Cherubim and the Seraphim, and and divine, rather than partake of beholds them who are lowly. You those things which cause us to sin also now, our Master, are He unto and thus result in death. For this whom we lift up the eyes of our reason, the priest asks God to return hearts, the Lord who forgives our this desire to the hearts of those iniquities and saves our souls confessing, so that together with King from corruption. We worship Solomon, they may declare : “Lead Your unutterable compassion, me away! We will run after You” and we ask You to give us Your (Songs 1:4). peace, for You have given all things unto us. The priests asks God to exalt the repentant who is bowing in Acquire us unto Yourself, God our contriteness beneath the hand of God Savior, for we know none other but (which is symbolized by the hand of You; Your Holy Name we do utter. the priest placed on the head of the Turn us, God, into fearing You and confessing person), and adorn them desiring You. Be pleased that we with virtues, after having saved them abide in the enjoyment of Your good from sin, so they may glorify God and things, and those who have bowed become worthy of Eternal Life and their heads beneath Your hand, exalt the Kingdom of God, which is them in their ways of life, and adorn prepared for those who struggle them with virtues. And may we all diligently in order to perfect their be worthy of Your Kingdom in the holiness. heavens, through the goodwill of God, Your good Father...”. THE THIRD ABSOLUTION Notes on the Second Absolution: “Master, Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son and Logos of In this absolution the priest asks God the Father, Who has broken God, every bond of our sins through To give us the peace we lost through His saving, life-giving sufferings, committing sins, for sin destroys who breathed into the face of His peace, as fire destroys hay. For thus holy disciples and saintly says the Lord, “There is no peace for Apostles, and said to them, the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22). “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose To instill within us the fear of God, sins you will remit, they are as, “The fear of the Lord is the remitted to them, and those beginning of wisdom,” (Proverbs 1), which you will retain, they shall and when one’s heart is filled with be retained”. You also now, our the fear of God, one becomes Master, through Your holy enlightened, as Abba Anthony said: apostles, have given grace to “As light entering a dark house casts those who for a time labored in out its darkness, so if the fear of God priesthood in Your Holy Church, entered into a human heart, it casts to forgive sin upon the earth and

68 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! to bind and to loose every bond unto Your Holy, good will” . When the of inquiry. Now, also, we ask and sinner is granted these divine entreat Your goodness, O Lover remedies, he is healed from sins and of Mankind, for Your servants my walks in holiness which leads to fathers, and my brethren and my eternal life. weakness, those who bow their After the absolutions, the priest says heads before Your Holy Glory. the blessing, and concludes with the Dispense unto us Your mercy, Lord’s Prayer, which is also said by and loose every bond of our sins, the confessing person. and if we have committed any sin against You, knowingly or The priest breathes into the face of unknowingly or through anguish the confessing person three times of heart, or in deed, or in word, or asking the Holy Trinity to absolve and from faint-heartedness, You O forgive them. Master, who knows the weakness The confessing person prostrates, of men, as a good and loving God, touching the ground with his grant us the forgiveness of our forehead, then stands and kisses the sins (the priest signs the priest’s Cross and hand saying: confessing person, then says...) “Father absolve me”, and the priest Bless us, purify us, absolve us answers: “May God absolve you”. (and absolve your servant ...). Then they leave confession, rejoicing Fill us with Your fear, and for repentance, exalted by the straighten us unto Your holy, praises of angels and saints, for, good will, for You are our God, “There will be more joy in heaven and all glory, honor and dominion over one sinner who repents than and adoration are due unto You.” over ninety-nine just persons who Notes on the Third Absolution : need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). One feels a great burden released By reciting this absolution and from one’s heart after confession, the making the signs of the cross burden of sin and now a person is mentioned, the Holy Spirit comes justified and feels victorious, and upon the confessing person, and renews their hope for gaining entry grants them the forgiveness of sins into the eternal life together with the which were confessed to the Holy multitudes of repentants, who have Spirit in the presence of the priest. been redeemed and saved. This absolution asks forgiveness for NOTES: many types of sin : “If we have committed any sins against You, The prostration (metania) done at the knowingly or unknowingly, or through end of the absolution, is a sign of anguish of heart (fear), or in deed, or humility and remorse, repentance for in word, or from faint-heartedness sins, and an intention to struggle to (feeling of inferiority, despair or change one’s thinking and behavior desperation).” for the better. Metania is Greek in origin, meaning ‘repentance’ and ‘to Now He asks God to grant him the change one’s mind’. necessary remedies: “Bless us, purify us, make us absolved, straighten us After kneeling, the repentant kisses

69 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! the Cross and the priest’s hand, for strengthen them in their life of through the priest we are granted repentance and honesty with God. forgiveness and reconciliation with The repentant must be watchful over God, by the power of the Divine their spiritual life, so as not to fall Blood shed on the Cross for our again into sin, for every sin is caused salvation. And from the priest’s hand by negligence or laziness. we receive the sacraments : To repentant must obey the advice The priest baptizes us by his hands, and guidance of the confession and we are granted the Divine father, regarding church rules, citizenship and rebirth. penance, or spiritual exercises, which The priest anoints the baptized by the are spiritual remedies to anoint our Myron oil, through which the Holy wounds and heal our illnesses and Spirit comes and abides in us, and we weaknesses. become temples of the Holy Spirit. We must adhere to the advice of the The priest holds the Cross in his right confession father in order for us to hand and prays the absolution so the grow in grace and spiritual stature. St Holy Spirit comes upon us and grants Basil said, “As we bear the bitterness us the Absolution and forgiveness of of medicine to heal bodily pain, so sins that were confessed. must we bear the remedy of the spirit The priest holds the Holy Communion through chastisement and rebuke, for in his hands, carries it and distributes the spiritual healing from sins”. As it to the believers, in order for them God teaches us, “Surely I will pour to have Christ abiding in them, and out My Spirit on you, I will make My so gain eternal life. For this reason, words known to you” (Proverbs we kiss the priest’s hand. 1:23). When the confessing person asks for the absolution saying, “Absolve me father” , the priest answers, “May God absolve you”, for it is God who grants the absolution, and is the source of absolution and forgiveness. After confession and having received the absolution, the confessing person receives the Holy Communion as soon as possible, so that they may be empowered by grace to grow in virtues and gain strength in their spiritual struggle. 3. After Confession: A person prays the ‘Thanksgiving Prayer After Confession’ (found at the end of the Agbia). This prayer thanks the Lord for accepting ones confession, and seeks God’s help to 70 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! RITE OF A PRIEST’S CONFESSION on the confessing priest’s head as he TO ANOTHER PRIEST is equal to him in the rank of For every priest there must be a Priesthood, while the blessing is confession-father who is older in age granted by the older to the younger, and priesthood, and more as St. Paul said, “Beyond all experienced so he confesses to him contradiction the lesser is blessed by and becomes his disciple. He must the better” (Hebrews 7:17). be very regular in confession so that If a priest confesses to a Bishop, the he does not neglect and lose his bishop has the right to place his hand eternal life, as St. Paul says, “Lest with the Cross on the confessing when I have preached to others, I priest’s head and pray the absolution, myself should became disqualified” (1 as he is higher in rank than the Corinthians 9:27), and every priest priest. should take care to heed the advice of our teacher St. Paul : “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in then, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16). During confession the priest must sit down honestly before his confession- father, like a patient before the physician, and confess seriously and frankly, asking for absolution, forgiveness and salvation. After confession the confessing priest removes his priestly had and kneels before his confession-father bowing his head to accept the absolution. During the absolution the priest does not place the Cross on the priest’s head but on his shoulder, or otherwise, he lifts the Cross near the priest’s head without touching it, and so prays the prayers and absolutions specified for confession. By the end of Absolutions, the confessing priest bows to his spiritual-father, kissing the Cross and his hand, thanking God for the grace of absolution and the forgiveness granted by confession and absolution. NOTES: The priest does not place the Cross

71 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! PRAYER FOR THE APOSTATE place of Your Holies” (and then he For those who deny Christ (Apostasy) offers incense in the four directions). or profane their bodies by adultery, Following the Verses of the Cymbals, the Church does not grant, in the first the congregation pray : “Glory be to place, the Sacrament of Confession the Father, and to the Son and to the on their return, but rather prays for Holy Spirit, Now and forevermore, them the ‘Prayer for the Apostate’, or Amen, Alleluia!” ‘Prayer of capability’ as they call it, The congregation then prays ‘The which requests forgiveness for Lord’s Prayer’ grievous sins which need God’s mercy. Followed by Psalm 50: “Have mercy on me O God”. This prayer, which is full of benefit and spirituality, is recorded from the They conclude by kneeling, saying, book entitled ‘Make Me Repent Lord’ “We worship You O Christ, with Your by Reverend Father Yousef Asaad, gracious Father, and the Holy Spirit, (pp 160-166), and is most beneficial for You have come and saved us.” for asking God for blessing and The deacon then reads the power. Pauline Epistle : ‘ “As I urged You RITE OF THE APOSTATE’S PRAYER when I went into Macedonian - remain in Ephesus that you may A new ceramic container of fresh charge some that they teach no other water is filled with simple oil, doctrine nor give heed to fables and which the priest pours three endless genealogies, which cause times, whilst making the sign of disputes rather than godly edification the cross. Then, which comes by faith. Now the The priest prays the Thanksgiving purpose of the commandment is love Prayer. from a pure heart, from a good Then the Verses of the Cymbals is conscience, and from sincere faith, chanted. from which some having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, During prayer the priest raises desiring to be teachers of the law, incense whilst audibly praying the understanding neither what they saw Pauline prayer: “O God the Great and nor the things which they affirm. But the Eternal, without beginning and we know that the law is good if one without end, great in His counsel and uses it lawfully. Knowing this: that mighty in His works, who is in all the law is not made for a righteous places, and dwells with everyone. Be person, but for the lawless and in with us also, our Master, in this hour subordinate for the ungodly and for and stand in our midst. Purify our sinners, for the unholy and profane, hearts and sanctify our souls. for killers of fathers and killers of Cleanse us from all sins which we mothers, for murderers, for liars, for have done willingly and unwillingly perjurers and if there is any other and grant us to offer before You thing that is contrary to sound worthy sacrifices and sacrifices of doctrine, according to the glorious blessing, and a spiritual incense gospel of the blessed God which was entering within the veil of the holy committed to my trust and I thank

72 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! Jesus Christ our Lord who has after the one which is lost until he enabled me because He counted me finds it? And when he has found it, faithful, putting me into the ministry, he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing. although I was formerly a And when he comes home, he calls blasphemer, a persecutor, and an together his friends and neighbors insolent man, but I obtained mercy saying to them: Rejoice with me, for because I did it ignorantly in I have found my sheep which was unbelief. And the grace of our Lord lost! I say to you that likewise there was exceedingly abundant, with faith will be more joy in heaven over one and love which are in Jesus Christ. sinner who repents than over ninety- This is a faithful saying and worthy of nine just persons who need no all acceptance that Jesus Christ came repentance” (Luke 15: 3-10) Glory into the world to save sinners, of be to You, O God forevermore.’ whom I am chief. However, for this The congregation then says the reason I obtained mercy, that in me appropriate response of the Gospel: first Jesus Christ might show all long- “I have sinned, I have sinned my suffering, as a pattern to those who Lord Jesus Christ forgive me, as there are going to believe on Him for is no servant without sin nor master everlasting life. Now to the King without forgiveness. Grant me Lord eternal, immortal, invisible, to God repentance so that I may repent who alone is wise be honor and glory before death, and close before me for ever and ever Amen” (1 Timothy the doors of Hades. Intercede on our 1:3-17). May the grace of God behalf, O Archangel Michael, leader of the Father be with us all Amen.’ the heavenly hosts, that He may The congregation sings the Trisagion forgive us our sins. Supplicate on our (Agios). behalf, O my masters the fatherly Followed by the priest praying the Apostles and the Disciples that He Litany of the Gospel. may forgive us our sins. Blessed is Your name, O Father and Son and the The gospel is then read by the priest: Holy Spirit. We worship You now ‘A Psalm of our teacher David the and forever Amen.” prophet and King, may his blessings be with us all, Amen. “Do not Then the priest prays the three Major remember the sins of my youth, nor Litanies for Peace, The Fathers, and my transgressions. According to Your The Congregations. mercy remember me, for Your At the conclusion of the Prayer for Goodness’ sake O Lord... For Your the Congregations, the repenting name’s sake O Lord, pardon my person says together with the iniquity, for it is great, alleluia” congregation, the Orthodox Creed. (Psalm 24: 6,7,11). Gospel according The priest then prays the following to St Luke, the evangelist and pure for the repenting apostate: “O Lord, apostle, may his blessings be with us Master and Almighty God, the Father all, Amen. “So He spoke this parable of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus to them saying: What man of You, Christ who wants every one to live having a hundred sheep, if he loses and come to the knowledge of truth, one of them, does not leave the we ask You Master for your servant ninety-nine in the wilderness and go 73 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! (...name of Apostate), who bows his adversary. Save us from the devil head and seeks You to absolve him and his intrigues, through Jesus from the hands of Satan and from Christ our Lord, glory honor...”. every evil deed by which he rejected The deacon says : “Bow your heads You. We ask and appeal to Your before the Lord.” goodness, O Lover-of-mankind, send Your Holy Spirit and Your power to The priest then prays : “O Lord who your servant (...name) at this hour. said, “I will not allow you to be Cast away from his heart every vain tempted beyond what you are able,” and wicked intrigue. Purify his heart for with temptation You will also send from all evil thoughts. If he profaned us a redeemer, send from on high his body with an unbeliever, forgive Your grace so that we may be able to him and justify him for stand. Save us O Lord our God from righteousness, that which was every troublesome temptation. Cast preached by the prophets, apostles it away together with all the wicked and church teachers. Your servant deeds, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (...name) count him with Your people Glory, honor, dominion...” and the flock of Your inheritance. The deacon says : “Let us attend in Grant him the forgiveness of all the the fear of God.” sins done since his birth till this hour, by the coming and dwelling of Your Now the priest prays the following Holy Spirit upon him so he lacks absolution: “O Lord God, healer of nothing from the Baptismal graces our souls, our bodies and spirits, You which he first accepted. Bless him, are He who said unto our father Peter purify him, sanctify him, fill him with through the mouth of Your Only Your fear, straighten him towards Begotten Son, “You are Peter, upon Your Holy good will. Through the this rock I will build My Church, and intercession of our lady the mother of the gates of Hades shall not prevail God St. Mary, and all Your Saints, by against it, and I will give you the the grace, mercy and love-of- keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens. mankind of Your only Begotten Son, That which you will bind upon the our Lord, God and Savior Jesus earth shall be bound in the heavens, Christ. Glory, honor, dominion and and that which you will loose upon worship are due to You together with the earth shall be loosed in the Him, and the life-giving and heavens.” Therefore, O Lord let your consubstantial Holy Spirit, now and servant (...name of Apostate) be forever, Amen.” absolved from every sin, from every curse, from every denial, from every The congregation prays ‘The Lord’s false oath and from every encounter Prayer’. with the heretics and the heathens, Then the priest says the following through Your Holy Spirit, O You, the supplication : “Yes Lord our God, who Lover of Mankind. O God who takes does not allow any one to be tempted away the sins of the world, hasten, to beyond what we are able, due to our accept the repentance of your weakness. We ask You to save us servant for a light of understanding from these temptations to be able to and forgiveness of sins. For You are quench the fiery arrows of the a compassionate and merciful God.

74 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! You are patient. Your mercy is great you saying “I repent”, you shall and true. Forgive him O God, and forgive him. You now, our Master Lover of Mankind.” and King, look unto us bowing before The deacon then says : “Saved, You, we Your servants, and sinners, Amen. And with Your Spirit.” cast away all evil thought from the heart of your servant (...name), The priest makes the sign of the forgive all his sins, liberate him from cross on the water three times whilst all evil darkness to see the greatness saying, “The Holies are for the holy of the glory of Your beauty. Lord people, blessed be the Lord Jesus grant us pursuit, repentance and Christ, the Son of God, and the freedom from our sins, iniquities and sanctification of the Holy Spirit, transgressions. Do not let us return Amen.” to them once more, but raise us from The congregation responds : “One is falling, walk with us by Your power the Holy Father, One is the Holy Son, and save us from the intrigues of One is the Holy Spirit, Amen.” Satan. Restore us truly to You, manage our life as deemed fit and Finally, the congregation chants the purify us from all impurity, liberate us hymn “Praise God” (Psalm 150), from every unclean inclination. Blot whilst : out our transgressions and save us Behind the curtain, the repentant now, so we are able to be undresses and the priest sprinkles empowered by Your help against the water on him three times, saying: “I evil hosts and its images so they protect you (...name), in the name of retreat with failure in our second the Father, and of the Son, and of the warfare and we come to the path of Holy Spirit, One God Amen”. divine worshipping. Count us with the true strugglers who were saved After the priest finishes pouring the by the goodwill of God the Father, water on his head and sprinkling him, with whom You are blessed, with the He takes the oil and anoints his Holy Spirit, who is of one essence forehead, heart and palms, whilst with You, now and at all times, and saying: “Blessed be God the Father unto the age of all ages. Amen.” the Pantocrator Amen. Blessed be His Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Following this prayer, the priest prays our Lord. Amen. Blessed be the Holy the Absolution to the Son (which is Spirit, the Paraclete Amen”. the third absolution of the litanies), “Master, Lord Jesus Christ, the Only- After the anointment is completed, he begotten Son and Logos of God the dresses, and bows his head, whilst Father...” the priest prays: “Master, Lord, the only God, and Logos of the The priest concludes by ordering him unblemished Father, who came into not to commit the sin again. He says the world to call sinners to the blessing, and together they pray repentance, who does not wish death ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. for the sinner, but to repentance and life, who said if your brother sins against you, seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to

75 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! SPIRITUAL 4:10), and Abba Anthony says, “Ask PRACTICES your father to tell you and your elders to speak to you”, the person Many priests neglect who proceeds in their spiritual life on giving their children their own, and without guidance, falls some spiritual in Satanic traps, as Solomon says: exercises during “Where there is no counsel the confession. This people fall, but in the multitude of negligence may be counselors there is safety” (Proverbs due to the laziness of 11:14) , and if he falls, he regrets some priests who are not ready to saying: “How I have hated make an effort to follow up with their instruction, and my heart despised children during these practices, by reproof. I have not obeyed the voice encouraging them and praying for of my teachers” (Proverbs 5:12,13). them. Some priests may find the Priests must care to give their excuse that those confessing have children in confession, certain low levels of spirituality which cannot practices and follow their progress, handle the spiritual exercises, or that and those confessing must like the priests do not have time for spiritual growth. So ask for these follow up. practices in earnest, so that you may Hence, this causes a stop in one’s grow in grace and stature before God spiritual growth, and confession and others. becomes a routine, words said, and Examples Of Some Spiritual absolution read. Exercises Some who are spiritually fervent or For those who are sinning from interested in their spiritual growth personal weakness, such as lying, complain from lack of spiritual swearing, gossiping, for example, a practices which help them in their penance such as five prostrations can spiritual life. At times they may ask be applied for each time the person their confession fathers for exercises, commits these sins. but this is very rare. Some make their own practices according to their Spiritual exercises may also be taken needs. But this is not correct, for no from the Holy Bible, where there are spiritual exercises should be done may examples, such as in the Ten without the permission of the Commandments (Exodus 20) : confession-father. The reason for this Remember the day of the Lord, keep is so that the devil does not it holy intervene, for he may use one’s Honor your father and mother innocence or inexperience to (especially in old age) encourage them to struggle more and hence cause them to fall into the sin Do not murder of pride, or any other wicked plan of Do not commit adultery (either in Satan. The wise King Solomon warns action of thoughts) us saying: “But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no Do not steal (or bribe) one to help him up” (Ecclesiastes: Do not bear false witness (such as

76 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! lying or forgery) find, knock and it will be open and to Do not covet that which is not yours you. It is important to persevere in he life of prayer. Another great Biblical example from which to apply spiritual exercises, is Follow the golden rule of treatment: Do unto others what you would have from Christ’s Sermon on the them do unto you. Mount : Spiritual poverty or humbleness From the first Epistle of our teacher St. Paul to the Corinthians, (Chapter Meekness towards all people 13), let us practice all kinds of Mercy for the needy love : Struggling for purity of heart and “Love suffers long and is kind” ; bear simplicity. all people kindly. Struggling to be a peacemaker, not a “Love does not envy” ; let us practice troublemaker. not to envy others. Bearing tribulation and persecution “Love does not parade itself” ; a and false witnessing with joy, as long person must not boast before others as it is for God’s sake. concerning the things they may have. Not provoking hostility with others, “Love is not puffed up” ; pride is a and hence hindering prayer. terrible vice, for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the Being lawful in all things. humble. Whoever asks anything of you, give “Love does not behave rudely” ; a unto them, regardless of your loving person does not speak rudely situation. Learn to give, even if it but decently, just like a clear spring only a little. bringing forth sweet water. Love your enemies, pray for them, “Love does not seek its own” ; the ask for their blessing, help them in loving person is not selfish but loves times of need. others, sacrificing and giving readily. Give in secret, and pray and fast in Avoid selfishness for it is the cause of moderation. many troubles. Trust in God, just like the lilies of the “Love is not provoked” ; does not get field and the birds, who trust in God’s angry, for the anger of man does not providence. Trusting means to result in the righteousness of God. depend on God on not on oneself. “Love thinks no evil” ; for all things Struggle with all your might to hold are pure to the pure minded. The your tongue so that you do not fall pure person always puts others into condemnation. For the sin of the before themselves. tongue is dangerous and may bring “Love does not rejoice in iniquity” ; about the wrath and judgment of nor in catastrophes that may hurt God. others. Practice praying at all times. Ask, “Love rejoices in the truth” ; rejoices you will be given, seek and you will for the good of others, whether it be

77 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! success, riches, joy, children, or any all and avoid all other blessings given by God. Practice being a good listener, and “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and listen patiently to all, regardless of weep with those who weep” (Romans whether they may be younger or in 12:15) . less of a position than you. “Love bears all things” ; practice being Do not complain to anyone, other patient. Do not lose your temper than God, with humility. quickly lest you fall and commit grave mistakes, and even lose the love and Practice being cheerful with all respect of others. To be able to bear people, regardless of whether they is to be able to love. Bear all things, may be aggressive or rude. all situations and all people, without Every Christian should be obedient, complaint. wise and flexible. “Love believes all things” ; for love is Spiritual Exercises In Prayer simple, and is not deceiving. It is wise and insightful. Practice reverence during prayer : reverence of heart and body, and “Love hopes all things” ; hopes for the tranquility of the senses. good and happiness of others. Learn the Psalms, Gospels, and “Love endures all things” ; practice prayers of the Agbia, gradually. patience, for with it comes the crown of life. Learn to bear others, even Practice praying at all times, whether those who may be troublesome, while you are working, walking, or knowing that your patience will result even sitting with others. in goodness. Practice reciting always the ‘Jesus “Love never fails” ; despite the Prayer’ : “O my Lord Jesus Christ various trials and tribulations which have mercy on me a sinner!” may occur, true love will never fail Practice praying for others, and at all but will stand fast in the face of any times, show love to all. test. “Love is as strong as death ... Practice the Lord’s commandment of many waters cannot quench love, nor praying for enemies And For Those can floods drown it. If a man would Who Insult You. give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised” Spiritual Exercises In Fasting (Songs 8:6-8). Be committed to church fasts, with all SPIRITUAL EXERCISES IN care. HUMILITY A period of abstinence during fasting Do not provoke people to anger is necessary, but may differ from one person to another. Be quite and peaceful in all things; your speech and actions should be Be moderate with the types of fasting peaceful food you may eat. Do not interfere in the affairs of SPIRITUAL EXERCISES IN others, regardless of who they READING maybe, relative or otherwise. Love Daily reading of the Bible is very

78 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! important. vague or generic. Read at least one chapter from the Specification of the exercise : Old Testament daily. specific points must be emphasized, Bible reading must be done on a such as, abstinence, no judging of regular basis, but not just as a habit. others, no stealing, and so on. Keep beside you a pen and notebook The occasion of the exercise : for whilst reading the Bible, to jot down example, we cannot practice silence points. on a day when there is a special family gathering. Likewise, we cannot Highlight or underline the verses fast when there is a wedding, and so which you find most effective, and on. write your notes or thoughts in the margins. Gradual progression in exercises : it is important for one to Write in the notebook the verses you progress gradually in their spiritual need to learn during that day, and life, lest they suddenly fall. keep reciting it throughout the day. If possible, write a small contemplation Duration of the exercise : these spiritual exercises must be ongoing of what you found effective and so that they may eventually bear beneficial about the verse or the good fruits and result in good habits. chapter read. St. Ephraim said, “Every practice Record and make special note of the which does not take long, does not practical verses from the chapter, bear fruits.” One of the saintly which you feel can benefit you and fathers applied one spiritual exercise practically be applied, such as: every year, which he would practice “Whoever asks you for anything, give with diligence. St. Arsenius took to him”, “Do not judge so that you three year to perfect the virtue of will not be judged”, “Love without silence in his life. hypocrisy”, “Hate evil and do good”, : requires “Share in the needs of the saints”, Success of the exercise the person to be convinced of its “Bless and do not curse - rejoice with need and benefits. those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” Success of the exercise : requires the constant prayer of the confessing Try to practice these spiritual person, to God so that He may help exercises, and learn to live by them. and strength him in his spiritual life CONDITIONS FOR THE SUCCESS and progression so that his spiritual OF SPIRITUAL EXERCISES exercises leads to bearing good fruit. Some conditions are necessary to He also needs the prayers and ensure the success of the spiritual fellowship of his confession-father, so exercises, for those who practice that he may consistent in his spiritual them : life. This is especially so for those beginning in their life of confession. It
Clarity of the exercise: it is is important for them to accurately important that the instructions of write down the instructions given to what must be exercised are clear them by their confession father, and to the repenting person, and not

79 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! for them to strive diligently in compiling with his instructions. Success of the exercise : requires the use of a spiritual notebook, which the confessing person to assist them in their progression, so that they may grow in spiritual stature and grace. AMEN. “COME TO ME , ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN , AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” Matt 11:28

80 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! admit every sin you are asked about A CATECHISM ON CONFESSION whether you have done it or not, as some people mistakenly think they should Your When preparing to go to confession, every confession must be realistic and therefore Orthodox Christian should try to true. remember all the sins that he has committed, whether voluntary or Another reason why you should not simply involuntary, and should examine his life in say, “I have sinned in everything, word, detail. If there are sins that were deed, and thought, and by omission,” committed before his last confession, but without giving further details, is because which he then forgot to confess, he should your spiritual father needs to know mention these also. exactly what you have done in order to give you good advice. Also such a short, When you come to confession, you should undetailed confession means that you are confess your sins sincerely, remembering avoiding what confession is intended to that you are not confessing them to the achieve, i. e. to bring you to admit what priest, but to God Himself, Who already you have done and to admit that you were knows, but wants you to admit your wrong in doing it. Your spiritual father wrongs and your guilt. You should not feel already knows that you are a sinner, for embarrassed before your spiritual father, no man is without sin; even the holy because, being a man like yourself, he Apostle Paul described himself as the knows human weaknesses and the “chief of sinners.” Each sin must be inclination that all people have towards mentioned in turn, just as you would sin, and thus he cannot judge you harshly enumerate all your symptoms to a doctor. when you come to confession. But maybe You should not just think of a couple of you are embarrassed to confess your sins main trends to “discuss,” and neglect to before your spiritual father because you mention the innumerable other sins. are afraid of losing his good opinion? On the contrary, if you value his good Do not mention the sins of others in your opinion, you should understand that he confession, unless this is necessary for will respect you all the more for the your spiritual father to understand how sincerity of your confession. Also, if you and why you yourself have sinned. If you are ashamed and afraid to lay bare your have a personal problem involving other sins before your spiritual father, how will people, which you would like to discuss you bear it when at the Dread Judgment with your spiritual father, or if you are in your sins—if you have not been freed of need of advice or some consolation for them by true repentance—will be revealed some unkindness that has been done to before God Himself, His angels, and all you, make an appointment to see your mankind, both people you know and spiritual father at some other time. Also, strangers? If you remember this, you will do not use the fact that many people want to free yourself from your sins and commit some sin that you have committed from the punishment that they bring upon as an excuse for it. Still less say “but you, and will confess them in all sincerity everyone does that.” For one thing, you before your spiritual father. You should have come to confess your own sins, not hide nothing wrong that you have done, those of others. How can you be sure that but at the same time you should not add without exception every human being anything extra, and not blame yourself for commits any given sin? Or even though what you have not done by simply saying, you might know of their sin, how can you “Everything I have done is sinful,” or be sure they have not repented of it in some such catch-phrase. Nor should you their heart? Pay no heed to the sins of

81 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! others. Oftentimes we imagine the future. However, you may mention if motives and intentions and sinful there is any special circumstance, such as inclinations of others, for no man knows some particular temptation or outside the heart of another. pressure that it would be useful for your Confess your sins fully but concisely; one spiritual father to know, so that he can does not have to make a story of them! advise you how to deal with it. That in itself can be an evidence of pride. It is important not to overlook any sin, but Particularly regarding carnal sins, do not to mention all the sins that you have go into detailed descriptions of sin. If your committed. spiritual father feels that you need to If you are asked whether you have confess any particular sin in fuller detail, committed a particular sin, it is not good he will ask you about it, and then you enough to reply, “I can’t remember.” This should not hesitate to describe it fully and is, of course, much less likely to happen if to answer all his questions. you go to confession regularly. It is good Before going to confession make a at the end of your confession to admit thorough preparation, and examine your that there may be other sins which you life so that you recognize your sins. If you have forgotten or have not realized that wish you can write out a list, or keep a you have committed—such a sin might be list day by day. In order to check your by a careless word or action which has sins, it is wise to check them against some upset someone and perhaps caused them list. One can use the Ten Commandments, to sin. the Beatitudes, or the list of sins in the Unless your spiritual father asks you about prayer of daily confession of sins read them, do not mention sins that you have before going to sleep each day, or that in not committed, nor good deeds that you the prayer at the end of the Canon to the have done. If you are asked whether you Guardian Angel in the Prayer Book. Such have committed some sin and have not, checking against a list is very beneficial, simply say “No.” Do not say, “I have otherwise one tends to remember only committed no serious sins,” because this the most serious sins, or the most means that you do not realize how sinful noticeable or most extraordinarily, and to what you have done is, and how sinful forget, perhaps deliberately, the your insensitivity is. underlying ones, the ones that have become habitual, and the things that we Also do not be insensitive to the feelings have forgotten even to remember as sins and weaknesses of others, including your because they have become so much a part spiritual father. If you have not confessed of our life. Sins of neglect, omission, and for some time, or have some particular laziness often fall into this category, as do difficulty and are likely to need a long the ones that are seemingly respectable: confession, try not to come on the eve of pride, vanity, etc. a great feast or when there will be many other people going to confession, but Do not try to make excuses for your sins, come on a day when there are likely to be for the more that you justify yourself, the few, or make a special arrangement with less forgiveness you will receive. It is the priest. Also, unless it is otherwise important that you yourself should fully completely impossible (because, for realize how wrong each sin you have instance, you live far from the church), do committed is—and the more you not come for confession either understand the wrongfulness of any sin, immediately before the Divine Liturgy the easier it will be for you to make an (when the priest will be preparing the effort of will to avoid committing it in the

82 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! gifts) or during the service, when you will is St. Paul’s excommunication of a cause the entire congregation to wait Christian of the Church of Corinth for while your confession is heard. incest; then, because of his penitence, he If after your confession you are hoping to received him back into the Church (11 receive a blessing to partake of the Holy Cor. 2:6-8). Mysteries, it is best to come for the Although penance would seem to be a confession after the evening service on punishment, its purpose is not to make the previous night. retribution for sins, to pay back a debt, You must be truly sorry for the sins you but is rather corrective, medicinal, and have committed. Unless you really regret instructive—to cure the sinner from his having done them, and intend to try to sinful habits, to instruct him regarding avoid them in the future, you lack true both the harmful nature of what he has penitence, without which your sins are been doing, and ways to change his life, not forgiven. so that he shall not repeat his sin. Penance is intended to deepen and It is also necessary to confess with faith in increase the penitent’s regret for what he Jesus Christ and to trust in His mercy. has done, and to strengthen the desire of Only if we believe and trust in Jesus his will for correction. The Apostle says, Christ can we receive remission of our “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to sins. Judas Iscariot, for example, salvation not to be repented of” (II Cor. repented of his sin, not before one man, 7:10). This is upheld by the canons of the but before all, and he returned the pieces Ecumenical Councils and the teaching of of silver. But instead of believing in Jesus the Fathers, who describe penance as a Christ and trusting in His mercy, he fell means of spiritual treatment to cure the into despair and, receiving no remission, diseases of the soul. The 102nd canon of he died a terrible death. Thus, in addition the Sixth Ecumenical Council says: “The to careful confession and true character of a sin must be considered repentance, faith and hope are essential from all points and conversion expected. for the salvation of a sinner. And so let mercy be meted out.” Penances — Their Nature and Purpose Moral Guidance or “The Opening of Penance is a form of discipline or a One’s Thoughts” prohibition administered by the priest (in It is necessary to distinguish between the accordance with the canons or laws of the mystery of confession itself, and the Church) to those repentant Christians for moral guidance of a spiritual father in whom it is necessary, much as a doctor “the opening of thoughts” which is still prescribes a suitable medicine or used, especially in some monastic treatment. It is a form of treatment for a communities, but is something quite moral sickness. Examples of penances are: different from confession. The telling of fasting over and above what is required of one’s thoughts and actions before a all Orthodox Christians, special prayers of spiritual elder, from whom one seeks repentance with prostrations, reading moral guidance, has a vast psychological books which will help in overcoming one’s significance. It is very useful for moral weakness, and the performance of’ good training, the correction of bad inclinations works. and habits, and the overcoming of doubts Penances are not given to all who come to and indecisiveness. In some monasteries confession, but only to those who, by the this is practiced daily, but it is not a nature or seriousness of their sins, require course to be entered upon lightly. Bishop this special medicine. An example of this Ignatius Brianchaninov says, “An 83 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! indispensable condition of such submission is a Spirit-bearing guide, who by the will of the Spirit can mortify the fallen will of the person subject to him in the Lord, and can mortify all the passions as well.” And he issues dire warnings about heeding “Elders” falsely so-called. Nonetheless, some writers (notably Prof. Andreyev) suggest that some form of “opening of the thoughts” can form part of Christian family life, so that husband and wife open their thoughts to each other each day. Of course such a practice is far removed from the spiritual discipline of Eldership of which Bishop Ignatius writes. Either way, this type of spiritual guidance, although very beneficial when rightly ordered, does not have the significance of a mystery or grace-bearing Church rite like confession, which is why confession itself, the sacrament of penitence, can take place only before a priest.

Reprinted from The Shepherd, published by the Brotherhood of St. Edward the Martyr, London, England.

84 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! Confession: the profession of faith. Without the second and third elements, the first is Sacrament of pointless. To the extent we deny God, Reconciliation we reduce ourselves to accidental by Jim Forest beings on a temporary planet in a random universe expanding into

nowhere. To the extent we have a Without confession, love is destroyed. sense of the existence of God, we It is impossible to imagine a vital discover creation confessing God's marriage or deep friendship without being and see all beauty as a confession and forgiveness. If you confession of God. "The world will be have done something that damages a saved by beauty," Dostoevsky relationship, confession is essential to declared. We discover that faith is not its so much something we have as restoration. something we experience -- and we For the confess that experience much as sake of that glass confesses light. The Church bond, you calls certain saints "confessors" confess because they confessed their faith in what you've periods of persecution even though done, you they did not suffer martyrdom as a apologize, result. In dark, fear-ridden times, the and you faith shone through martyrs and promise not confessors, giving courage to others. to do it In his autobiography, Confessions , again. Saint Augustine drew on all three In the context of religious life, senses of the word. He confessed confession is what we do to certain sins, chiefly those that safeguard and renew our relationship revealed the process that had with God whenever it is damaged. brought him to baptism and made Confession restores our communion him a disciple of Christ and member with God. of the Church. He confessed his faith. The purpose of confession is not to His book as a whole is a work of have one's sins dismissed as non-sins praise, a confession of God's love. but to be forgiven and restored to But it is the word's first meaning -- communion. As the Evangelist John confession of sins -- that is usually wrote: "If we confess our sins, he is the most difficult. It is never easy faithful and just, and will forgive our admitting to doing something you sins and cleanse us from all regret and are ashamed of, an act unrighteousness." (1 Jn 1:9) The you attempted to keep secret or apostle James wrote in a similar vein: denied doing or tried to blame on "Therefore confess your sins to one someone else, perhaps arguing -- to another, and pray for one another, yourself as much as to others -- that that you may be healed." (Jas 5:16) it wasn't actually a sin at all, or Confession is more than disclosure of wasn't nearly as bad as some people sin. It also involves praise of God and might claim. In the hard labor of

85 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! growing up, one of the most We are social beings. The individual agonizing tasks is becoming capable as autonomous unit is a delusion. The of saying, "I'm sorry." Marlboro Man -- the person without Yet we are designed for confession. community, parents, spouse, or Secrets in general are hard to keep, children -- exists only on billboards. but unconfessed sins not only never The individual is someone who has go away but have a way of becoming lost a sense of connection to others heavier as time passes -- the greater or attempts to exist in opposition to the sin, the heavier the burden. others -- while the person exists in Confession is the only solution. communion with other persons. At a conference of Orthodox Christians in To understand confession in its France not long ago, in a discussion sacramental sense, one first has to of the problem of individualism, a grapple with a few basic questions: theologian confessed, "When I am in Why is the Church involved in my car, I am an individual, but when forgiving sins? Is priest-witnessed I get out, I am a person again." confession really needed? Why confess at all to any human being? In fact, why bother confessing to God We are social beings. The language even without a human witness? If we speak connects us to those God is really all-knowing, then he around us. The food I eat was grown knows everything about me already. by others. The skills passed on to me My sins are known before it even have slowly been developed in the crosses my mind to confess them. course of hundreds of generations. Why bother telling God what God The air I breathe and the water I already knows? drink is not for my exclusive use but has been in many bodies before Yes, truly God knows. My confession mine. The place I live, the tools I use, can never be as complete or and the paper I write on were made revealing as God's knowledge of me by many hands. I am not my own and all that needs repairing in my doctor or dentist or banker. To the life. extent I disconnect myself from others, I am in danger. Alone I die, A related question we need to and soon. To be in communion with consider has to do with our basic others is life. design as social beings. Why am I so willing to connect with others in every Because we are social beings, other area of life, yet not in this? confession in church does not take Why is it that I look so hard for the place of confession to those we excuses, even for theological have sinned against. An essential rationales, not to confess? Why do I element of confession is doing all I try so hard to explain away my sins can to set right what I did wrong. If I until I've decided either they're not stole something, it must be returned so bad or might even be seen as acts or paid for. If I lied to anyone, I must of virtue? Why is it that I find it so tell that person the truth. If I was easy to commit sins yet am so angry without good reason, I must reluctant, in the presence of another, apologize. I must seek forgiveness to admit to having done so? not only from God but from those 86 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! whom I have wronged or harmed. But if I can confess to anyone We are also verbal beings. Words anywhere, why confess in church in provide not only a way of the presence of a priest? It's not a communicating with others but even small question in societies in which with ourselves. The fact that the phrase "institutionalized religion" confession is witnessed forces me to is so often used, the implicit message put into words all those ways, minor being that religious institutions and major, in which I live as if there necessarily impede or undermine were no God and no commandment religious life. Yet it's not a term we to love. A thought that is concealed seem inclined to adapt to other has great power over us. contexts. Few people would prefer we got rid of institutionalized health care Confessing sins, or even temptations, or envision a world without makes us better able to resist. The institutionalized transportation. underlying principle is described in Whatever we do that involves more one of the collections of sayings of than a few people requires the Desert Fathers, the Gerontikon: structures. "If impure thoughts trouble Confession is a Christian ritual with a you, do not hide them, but tell communal character. Confession in them at once to your spiritual the church differs from confession in father and condemn them. The your living room in the same way more a person conceals his that getting married in church differs thoughts, the more they from simply living together. The multiply and gain strength. But communal aspect of the event tends an evil thought, when revealed, to safeguard it, solidify it, and call is immediately destroyed. If everyone to account -- those doing you hide things, they have the ritual, and those witnessing it. great power over you, but if you could only speak of them In the social structure of the Church, before God, in the presence of a huge network of local communities another, then they will often is held together in unity, each wither away, and lose their community helping the others and all power." sharing a common task while each provides a specific place to recognize Confessing to anyone, even a and bless the main events in life from bartender, taxicab driver or stranger birth to burial. Confession is an in an airport, renews rather than essential part of that continuum. My contracts my humanity, even if all I confession is an act of reconnection get in return for my confession is the with God and with all the people and well-worn remark, "Oh that's not so creatures who depend on me and bad. After all, you're only human" -- have been harmed by my failings and something like the New Yorker from whom I have distanced myself cartoon in which a psychologist through acts of non-communion. The reassures a Mafia contract killer community is represented by the stretched out on the couch, "Just person hearing my confession, an because you do bad things doesn't ordained priest delegated to serve as mean you're bad." Christ's witness, who provides

87 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! guidance and wisdom that helps each penitent overcome attitudes and habits that take us off course, who declares forgiveness and restores us to communion. In this way our repentance is brought into the community that has been damaged by our sins -- a private event in a public context. "It's a fact," writes Fr. Thomas Hopko, "that we cannot see the true ugliness and hideousness of our sins until we see them in the mind and heart of the other to whom we have confessed." * * * This is an extract from Confession: Doorway to Forgiveness (Orbis Books, 2002). Jim Forest's earlier books include Praying with Icons, Ladder of the Beatitudes as well as biographies of Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton.

88 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! Preparation for Confession SEVEN DEADLY SINS 1. Pride THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 2. Covetousness 1. Thou shalt have no other gods 3. Lust before Me. 4. Anger 2. Thou shalt not make any graven 5. Gluttony image, or bow down before any 6. Envy creation in heaven or on earth. 7. Sloth 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain. ACCESSORIES TO SIN 4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. By counseling, by commanding, by 5. Honor thy father and thy mother. consenting, by provoking another to 6. Thou shalt not kill. sin; by praise of flattery, by 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. concealment, by silence, or by 8. Thou shalt not steal. defending that which is wrong. 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

10. Thou shalt not covet that which is QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF TO thy neighbors. PREPARE FOR CONFESSION

• Have you prayed to God upon rising and before eating and COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH sleeping? • During prayer were you distracted 1. To abstain for servile work on by other thoughts? Sundays and Holy Days. • Did you make the sign of the 2. To attend Divine Liturgy on Cross carelessly? Sundays and Holy Days. • Have you attended Church 3. To fast and to abstain on the days services regularly? appointed by the Church. • When in Church, have you been 4. To confess our sins and to receive inattentive, laughed or talked the Holy Mysteries at least once a unnecessarily? year. • Have you used the name of the 5. Not to solemnize marriage at Lord in swearing or in a joking forbidden times. way? 6. To pray to God every day, • Have you sworn or murmured especially at morning and against God? evening.

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• Have you been ashamed to make • Have you failed to give aid to the sign of the Cross in front of someone in need, especially when others? asked? • Have you attended parties, • Have you donated to the needs of movies, etc. during the hours of the Church? Church services? • Have you been cruel to animals? • Have you failed to keep the fast or • Have you taken something other rules of the Church? without asking? • Have you believed in astrology, • Have you failed to return a book superstitions, fortune-tellers or or other thing that you have the like? borrowed? • Have you strayed from the • Have you been stubborn, insistent teachings of the Church by on pressing your point of view? unbelief or indifference to the • Have you plotted or taken revenge Faith? on one who's offended you? • Have you failed to ask for God's • Have you told falsehoods, help in every effort? distorted the truth, cheated, • Have you concealed sins at judged others or gossiped? confession? • Have you joked of the faults of • Do you show your parents proper others, or exposed the faults of respect? Have you been rude to another to make yourself the them, talked back or otherwise better? offended them? • Have you been vain? Sought glory • If your parents are reposed, have or praise for yourself? you prayed for them. • Does your inner peace disappear • Have you been disrespectful to when others are unfair to you or members of the clergy, your judge you? elders, teachers or superiors? • Are you proud? Do you brag of • Have you been angry or irritated? your abilities, position or • Have you abused anyone? Used possessions? Do you consider foul language? Struck someone? yourself worthy or sinless in the Offended someone in an sight of God? argument? • Have you been overly concerned • Have you raised your voice in with your appearance? Are you anger? properly attired in God's house? • Have you joked or made fun of • The 7th commandment includes the handicapped, unfortunate, or all sins of a sexual nature, either elderly? by thought, word, or deed, any of • Are you truly at peace with these must be confessed. everyone? • Have you been envious of • Have you asked forgiveness of another's possessions, appearance those you may have offended? or standing?

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• Have you fulfilled all obligations faithfully? Have you been lazy? • Have you been impatient? Fallen into despair or apathy? Had thoughts of suicide? • Are you attached to smoking, alcohol, or other drugs? Food or drink? • Do you give up your heart to money or other earthly possessions?

91 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! miserliness, unmercifulness and A Lament for Sin cruelty;

St. Basil the Great I weep over my laziness, indolence, negligence, love of comfort, Weep over your sin: it is a spiritual weakness, idleness, absent- ailment; it is death to your immortal mindedness, irresponsibility, soul; it deserves ceaseless, unending inattention, love of sleep, for hours weeping and crying; let all tears flow spent in idle pursuits, and for my lack for it, and sighing come forth without of concentration in prayer and in ceasing from the depths of your Church, for not observing fasts and heart. not doing charitable works.

In profound humility I weep for all I weep over my lack of faith, my my sins, voluntary and involuntary, doubting, my perplexity, my conscious and unconscious, covert coldness, my indifference, my and overt, great and little, committed weakness and unfeelingness in what by word and deed, in thought and concerns the Holy Orthodox Faith, intention, day and night, at every and over all my foul, cunning and hour and minute of my life. reviling thoughts;

I weep over my pride and my I weep over my exaggerated sorrow ambition, my self love and my and grief, depression and despair, boastfulness; I weep over my fits of and over sins committed willingly. anger, irritation, excessive shouting, swearing, quarreling and cursing; I weep, but what tears can I find for a worthy and fitting way to weep for I weep for having criticized, all the actions of my ill fated life; for censured, gossiped, slandered, and my immeasurable and profound defamed, for my wrath, enmity, worthlessness? How can I reveal and hatred, envy, jealousy, vengeance expose in all its nakedness each one and rancor; of my sins, great and small, voluntary and involuntary, conscious I weep over my indulgences in lust, and unconscious, overt and covert, impure thoughts and evil inclinations; every hour and minute of sin? When covetousness, gluttony, drunkenness, and where shall I begin my and sloth; penitential lament that will bear fitting fruit? Perhaps soon I may have I weep for having talked idly, used to face the last hour of my life; my foul language, blasphemed, derided, soul will be painfully sundered from joked, ridiculed, mocked, enjoyed my sinful and vile body; I shall have empty gaiety, singing, dancing and to stand before terrible demons and every pleasure to excess; radiant angels, who will reveal and torment me with my sins; and I, in I weep over my self indulgence, fear and trembling, will be cupidity, love of money and unprepared and unable to give them an answer; the sight and sound of

92 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! wailing demons, their violent and numberless quantity of cutting, bold desire to drag me into the poisonous, insolent, frivolous, vulgar, bottomless pit of Hell will fill my soul coarse, brazen words! with confusion and terror. And then the angels of God will lead my poor How often, affected by beauty, have I soul to stand before God 's fearful fed my mind, my imagination and my seat of judgment. How will I answer heart with voluptuous sensations, the Immortal King, or how will I dare, and unnaturally satisfied the lusts of sinner that I am, to look upon My the flesh in fantasy! How often has Judge? Woe is me! have no good my tongue uttered shameful, vulgar answer to make, for I have spent all and blasphemous things about the my life in indolence and sin, all my desires of the flesh! hours and minutes in vain thoughts, desires and yearnings! How often have I yearned for power and been gluttonous, satiating myself And how many times have I taken on delicacies, on tasty, varied and the Name of God in vain! diverse foods and wines; because of intemperance and lack of self-control How often, lightly and freely, at times how often have I been filled past the even boldly, insolently and point of satiety, lacked sobriety and shamelessly have I slandered others been drunken, intemperate in food in anger; offended, irritated, mocked and drink, and broken the Holy Fasts! them! How often, through selfishness, pride How often have I been proud and or false modesty, have I refused help vainglorious and boasted of good and attention to those in need, been qualities that I do not possess and of uncharitable, miserly, unsympathetic, deeds that I have not done! mercenary and grasped at attention!

How many times have I lied, How often have I entered the House deceived, been cunning or flattered, of God without fear and trembling, or been insincere and deceptive; how stood there in prayer, frivolous and often have I been angry, intolerant absent-minded, and left it in the and mean! same spirit and disposition! And in prayer at home I have been just as How many times have I ridiculed the cold and indifferent, praying little, sins of my brother, caused him grief lazily, and indolently, inattentively overtly and covertly, mocked or and impiously, and even completely gloated over his misdeeds, his faults omitting the appointed prayers! or his misfortunes; how many times have I been hostile to him, in anger, And in general, how slothful I have hatred or envy! been, weakened by indolence and inaction; how many hours of each How often have I laughed stupidly, day have I spent in sleep, how often mocked and derided, spoke without have I enjoyed voluptuous thoughts weighing my words, ignorantly and in bed and defiled my flesh! How senselessly, and uttered a many hours have I spent in empty

93 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! and futile pastimes and pleasures, in lawlessness, glory to Thy righteous frivolous talk and speech, jokes and judgment; and if Thou wouldst not laughter, games and fun, and how destroy me together with my much time have I wasted conclusively lawlessness, glory to Thy boundless in chatter, and gossip, in criticizing mercy! others and reproaching them; how many hours have I spent in time- wasting and emptiness! What shall I answer to the Lord God for every hour and every minute of lost time? In truth, I have wasted my entire life in laziness.

How many times have I lost heart and despaired of my salvation and of God's mercy or through stupid habit, insensitivity, ignorance, insolence, shamelessness, and hardness sinned deliberately, willingly, in my right mind, in full awareness, in all goodwill, in both thought and intention, and in deed, and in this fashion trampled the blood of God 's covenant and crucified anew within myself the Son of God and cursed Him!

0 how terrible the punishment that I have drawn upon myself!

How is it that my eyes are not streaming with constant tears?.. If only my tears flowed from the cradle to the grave, at every hour and every minute of my tortured life! Who will now cool my head with water and fill the well of my tears and help me weep over my soul that I have cast into perdition?

My God, my God! Why hast Thou forsaken me? Be it unto me according to Thy will, 0 Lord! If Thou wouldst grant me light, be Thou blessed; if Thou wouldst grant me darkness, be Thou equally blessed. If Thou wouldst destroy me together with my

94 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! without ceasing, he pictures him to AN ORTHODOX himself, he cares for him, and in all CONFESSION circumstances his beloved friend is never out of his thoughts. But I, WHICH LEADS THE throughout the day, scarcely set aside even a single hour in which to INWARD MAN TO sink deep down into meditation upon HUMILITY God, to inflame my heart with love of Him, while I eagerly give up twenty- three hours as fervent offerings to Turning my eyes carefully upon the idols of my passions. I am myself and watching the course of forward in talk about frivolous my inward state, I have verified by matters and things which degrade the experience that I do not love God, spirit; that gives me pleasure. But in that I have no religious belief, and the consideration of God I am dry, that I am filled with pride and bored and lazy. Even if I am sensuality. All this I actually find in unwillingly drawn by others into myself as a result of detailed spiritual conversation, I try to shift examination of my feelings and the subject quickly to one which conduct, thus: pleases my desires. I am tirelessly curious about novelties, about civic 1. I do not love God . For if I loved affairs and political events; I eagerly God I should be continually thinking seek the satisfaction of my love of about Him with heartfelt joy. Every knowledge in science and art, and in thought of God would give me ways of getting things I want to gladness and delight. On the possess. But the study of the Law of contrary, I much more often and God, the knowledge of God and of much more eagerly think about religion, make little impression on earthly things, and thinking about me, and satisfy no hunger of my God is labor and dryness. If I loved soul. I regard these things not only God, then talking with Him in prayer as a non-essential occupation for a would be my nourishment and delight Christian, but in a casual way as a and would draw me to unbroken sort of side-issue with which I should communion with Him. But, on the perhaps occupy my spare time, at contrary, I not only find no delight in odd moments. To put it shortly, if prayer, but even find it an effort. I love for God is recognized by the struggle with reluctance, I am keeping of His commandments (If ye enfeebled by sloth, and am ready to love Me, keep My commandments, occupy myself eagerly with any says our Lord Jesus Christ), and I not unimportant trifle, if only it shortens only do not keep them, but even prayer and keeps me from it. My time make little attempt to do so, then in slips away unnoticed in futile absolute truth the conclusion follows occupations, but when I am occupied that I do not love God. That is what with God, when I put myself into His Basil the Great says: 'The proof that presence every hour seems like a a man does not love God and His year. If one person loves another, he Christ lies in the fact that he does not thinks of him throughout the day keep His commandments'.

95 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! 2. I do not love my neighbor by my conduct and my constant care either . For not only am I unable to to satisfy the life of the senses. Were make up my mind to lay down my life the Holy Gospel taken into my heart for his sake (according to the in faith, as the Word of God, I should Gospel), but I do not even sacrifice be continually occupied with it, I my happiness, well-being and peace should study it, find delight in it and for the good of my neighbor. If I did with deep devotion fix my attention love him as myself, as the Gospel upon it. Wisdom, mercy, love, are bids, his misfortunes would distress hidden in it; it would lead me to me also, his happiness would bring happiness, I should find gladness in delight to me too. But, on the the study of the Law of God day and contrary, I listen to curious, unhappy night. In it I should find nourishment stories about my neighbor and I am like my daily bread and my heart not distressed; I remain quite would be drawn to the keeping of its undisturbed or what is still worse, I laws. Nothing on earth would be find a sort of pleasure in them. Bad strong enough to turn me away from conduct on the part of my brother I it. On the contrary, if now and again I do not cover up with love, but read or hear the Word of God, yet proclaim abroad with ensure. His even so it is only from necessity or well-being, honor and happiness do from a general love of knowledge, not delight me as my own, and, as if and approaching it without any very they were something quite alien to close attention, I find it dull and me, give me no feeling of gladness. uninteresting. I usually come to the What is more, they subtly arouse in end of the reading without any profit, me feelings of envy or contempt. only too ready to change over to secular reading in which I take more 3. I have no religious belief . pleasure and find new and interesting Neither in immortality nor in the subjects. Gospel. If I were firmly persuaded and believed without doubt that 4. I am full of pride and sensual beyond the grave lies eternal life and self-love. All my actions confirm recompense for the deeds of this life, this. Seeing something good in I should be continually thinking of myself, I want to bring it into view, or this. The very idea of immortality to pride myself upon it before other would terrify me and I should lead people or inwardly to admire myself this life as a foreigner who gets ready for it. Although I display an outward to enter his native land. On the humility, yet I ascribe it all to my contrary, I do not even think about own strength and regard myself as eternity, and I regard the end of this superior to others, or at least no earthly life as the limit of my worse than they. If I notice a fault in existence. The secret thought nestles myself, I try to excuse it, I cover it within me: Who knows what happens up by saying, 'I am made like that' or at death? If I say I believe in 'I am not to blame'. I get angry with immortality, then I am speaking those who do not treat me with about my mind only, and my heart is respect and consider them unable to far removed from a firm conviction appreciate the value of people. I brag about it. That is openly witnessed to about my gifts: my failures in any

96 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! undertaking I regard as a personal insult. I murmur, and I find pleasure in the unhappiness of my enemies. If I strive after anything good it is for the purpose of winning praise, or spiritual self-indulgence, or earthly consolation. In a word, I continually make an idol of myself and render it uninterrupted service, seeking in all things the pleasures of the senses, and nourishment for my sensual passions and lusts.

Going over all this I see myself as proud, adulterous, unbelieving, without love to God and hating my neighbor. What state could be more sinful? The condition of the spirits of darkness is better than mine. They, although they do not love God, hate men, and live upon pride, yet at least believe and tremble. But I? Can there be a doom more terrible than that which faces me, and what sentence of punishment will be more sever than that upon the careless and foolish life. that I recognize in myself?

From "The Way of a Pilgrim" ("Otkrovennye rasskazy strannika dukhovnomu svoemu Otcu")

97 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! A sincere confession of people treat me, but at how I treat other people. And if they treat me in an Orthodox Christian a hostile way, inspire me, Oh Lord, to pay them back with love and Bless me, O Lord and Savior, to goodness and pray for them. confess to Thee not only with words, but also with bitter tears; and there I have also sinned in that I think is much to weep for... very, very little about my sins. Not only at ordinary times of the year, My faith in Thee vacillates, O Lord! but even when I am preparing for Thoughts of skepticism and disbelief Communion I do not remember push themselves in to my soul much them, I do not try to call them to more often than they ever have. mind for confession. Why? General phrases come to mind: Of course, the spirit of the times is to "Nothing special, I am sinful like blame, and people that I meet are to everyone. Oh Lord, it is as if I did blame, but even more to blame am I not know that in Thy eyes both every myself, because I do not struggle "idle word" and even the sinful desire with disbelief, because I do not pray in my heart is a sin. to Thee for aid. And how many of these words and I am still more to blame if I am a desires pile up within me in just one temptation for someone else, by deed day, not to mention in a whole year! or word or just by cold silence when Thou alone, Lord, knowest them; people speak of the faith. grant me to see my transgressions, have mercy on me, and save me. I have sinned in this, O Lord: forgive and have mercy, and grant me faith. Further: I acknowledge as my constant sin the lack of almost any My love for other people, even my struggle with evil. As soon as any relatives, is diminishing. Their occasion or provocation appears, I continual requests for help and their plunge headlong into the pit of sin, forgetfulness of how much I have and then, just as soon as I have already done for them causes mutual fallen, I ask myself: what have I hard feelings. done? A fruitless question, because it does not help me to become better. But I am more guilty than they are: guilty because although I have the And if at this point I feel sorrow, it means to help them, I help them only proceeds from my self-esteem having grudgingly; guilty because I help suffered, and not from the realization them not for pure, Christian that I have offended Thee, Oh Lord. I motivations, but out of pride and a neglect struggling not only with gross desire for gratitude and praise. evil, but even with the most frivolous and harmful habit. I do not know how Forgive me, Oh Lord, soften my heart to master myself and I do not even and teach me to look not at how try.

98 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! I have sinned; forgive me! and heart by judging others and I am contentious often and for long Furthermore, the sin of irritability, periods of time; I sin not only against which predominates in me, is not my soul, but against my body as well, withdrawing from me in the least. by immoderately consuming food and When I hear a sharp word, I do not drink. reply with good-natured silence but behave like a heathen: an eye for an Accept, Oh Lover of Mankind, my eye, a tooth for a tooth. And hostility repentance, that I might approach flares up for trifles and lasts for days Thy holy and life-giving Mysteries in and weeks. peace, for the remission of sins, for the correction of this temporary life, I do not think of conciliation, but try and for the inheritance of eternal life. to get revenge when an opportunity Amen. presents itself. "I am not worthy to ask forgiveness, I have sinned without number, Oh Oh Lord!" Lord. So the great teacher of penitence, Have mercy, forgive me, and calm Saint Ephraim the Syrian, once my heart! exclaimed of himself.

Besides these most grievous sins, my "How can we resist the attack of sin? whole life is a chain of sins: I do not How can we deny entry to the value the time that You have given passions?", Saint Basil the Great for gaining eternal salvation. asked Saint Ephraim, who answered only by shedding tears. I very often stand irreverently, pray mechanically, judge others while they What can I, the consummate and are praying, but do not look after incorrigible sinner, say to thee now, myself. O Lord?

At home I sometimes pray with great Through the prayers of our holy reluctance and absent-mindedness, fathers, Ephraim and Basil, grant me, so that often I do not hear my own Oh Lord, repentance, and words, and prayer, and sometimes I simply omit tears. it. Help me to spew out of myself, like Such are my attitudes towards Thee, deadly poison, my evil deeds, idle Oh Lord, and I can say nothing else words, and wicked thoughts. but "forgive and have mercy! If I have forgotten to tell anything, In my relations with people I sin with Thou knowest know all and will all my senses; I sin with my tongue remind me; for I do not want to by pronouncing false, foul, conceal anything. reproachful, or suggestive words; I sin with my eyes; I sin with my mind

99 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! Thou comandest command me, "tell I consider as an enemy anyone who your iniquities before thou seekest tells the truth about me. justification. I do not want to put myself out by But I say: "My sins are multiplied, Oh doing a good turn, but I get angry if Lord, and they multiply incessantly. someone does not do me a good They have no limit. turn.

I know and I remember that even an I coldly refuse a neighbor in need, impure thought is an abomination in but when I myself am in need, I Thy sight, but I not only think, but tiresomely appeal to him. also do, things that grievest Thee. I do not like to visit the sick, but if I I know that I am doing evil, but I do am sick, I expect everyone to care not refrain from it... for me without my asking.

Thus, my repentance has not yet Lord, send down in to the depths of even begun, and the end is not in my soul a ray of heavenly light, that I sight for my evil carelessness about might see my sins. sin. There is truly no limit to my foul thoughts, bursts of self-esteem, My confession is almost always vainglory, pride, gossip, resentment, limited to only a superficial naming of and vengefulness. some sins.

I quarrel often, and I become angry, Oh my God, my conscience gave You cruel, envious, lazy, and blindly a promise to start a better life, but I stubborn. broke the promise and live as before.

Although I am of no importance, I Unless I have turned over a new leaf, think very highly of myself. I do not I am ashamed to appear before a want to honor those worthy of honor, mere human with whom I have often but at the same time I demand not been true to my word. undeserved deference for myself. How could I stand before Thee, my I lie ceaselessly, but I get angry at God, without shame and self- liars. I judge those who speak evil or reproach, when so many times before who are thieves, but I myself am a Thy Throne, before the angels and thief and an evil-sayer. saints, I have given promises and have not fulfilled them. I defile myself by lustful thoughts and stimuli, but sternly judge others for How base I am! How criminal! immodestly. “To Thee, Oh Lord, is truth, and to I cannot bear being joked about, but me are shameful faces " (Book of I myself love to taunt others, Daniel). respecting neither persons nor places, even doing it in church.

100 The Priest’s Guide for the Rite of Confession: Fr. Isaac Henke: NOT for Distribution! Only your boundless goodness can Grant it to me who repents, grant it endure me. Thou dost not destroy the according to Thy great mercy; forgive sinner; do not destroy the penitent. all the bad things that I have done, said, and thought. Teach me how to bring to mind and count the sins of my past life, the and while granting forgiveness, send sins of an empty-headed youth, the me also, Oh Lord, the strength, so sins of proud manhood, the sins of that I might be able henceforth to day and of night, sins against Thee, live according to Thy will and not to my Lord and Savior. offend Thee.

How can I count them in the few Help me, and I will be saved; help minutes in which I stand in this Holy me by granting me to receive Thy Place? I remember, Lord, that thou holy Mysteries; and that I may didst heed the few words of the receive them worthily, declare to me publican and the thief. by the lips of Thy priest, declare by Thy Holy Spirit, the grace of pardon I know that thou mercifully greetest and forgiveness, which can not be even a readiness to repent, and I heard by the ear, but are heard in a pray to Thee with all my soul, "My deeply-moved heart and in peace of Lord, accept as my repentance the conscience. daily confession of sins that the sacred book contains. Amen.

I have many more sins than it lists, Translated by Seraphim F. Englehardt from and I have no way to make amends a leaflet published on Mount Athos for them.

I offer now only a striving for thee and a desire for the good, but I have no strength to reform.

Oh Lord and Lover and Mankind!

Thou dost not drive away the sinner who comes to Thee, beseeching Thee for forgiveness.

Before he even comes to the door of Thy mercy, thou hast already opened it for him; before he falls down before Thee, thou hast already stretched out Thy hand to him; before he confesses his sins, thou hast granted him forgiveness.

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