The main thing in repentance…
The main thing in repentance is the anguish of the heart over being deficient in the Lord’s eyes and a firm resolution to try to be diligent in everything in the future.
–Saint Theophan the Recluse (1815-1894)
God cannot turn away…
God cannot turn away his face from those who cast themselves at his feet with a humble and contrite heart.
–Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
We refuse to weep for our sins…
Therefore we must always dread the final day, which we can never foresee. This very day is a day of truce, a day for conversion. And yet we refuse to cry over the evil we have done! Not only do we not weep for the sins we have committed, we even add to them.
–Saint Gregory the Great (c. 540-604)
Do not sin…
But do not sin… expecting that you will repent; and do not succumb [to sin] being confident of forgiveness! Remember that death will not delay. Do not craftily seek means to draw nigh the pleasure of sin with a knavish mind! God is not mocked [Gal. 6:7]. His knowledge precedes your thoughts. Affliction will overtake you suddenly, and when you cry out, He will not answer you.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
My heart with contrition…
I’m certain of this – that if my conscience were burdened with all the sins it’s possible to commit, I would still go and throw myself into our Lord’s arms, my heart all broken up with contrition; I know what tenderness He has for any prodigal son of His who comes back to Him.
–Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)
Raise up your heart…
Raise up your heart after a fall, sweetly and gently, humbling yourself before God in the knowledge of your misery, and do not be astonished at your weakness, since it is not surprising that weakness should be weak, infirmity infirm, and frailty frail.
–Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
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