Let those of us who have been worsted by a bodily passion not be negligent in repenting and feeling sorrow for ourselves for the sorrow of judgment ever test us.
–Abba Moses (330-405) a Desert Father
Repentance raises the fallen, mourning knocks at the gate of Heaven, and holy humility opens it.
–Saint John Climacus (c.525-606)
The purpose of guilt is to bring us to the Lord, after that it has no purpose.
–Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
Weep over your sin: it is a spiritual ailment; it is death to your immortal soul; it deserves ceaseless, unending weeping and crying; let all tears flow for it, and sighing come forth without ceasing from the depths of your heart. In profound humility I weep for all my sins, voluntary and involuntary, conscious and unconscious, covert and overt, great and little, committed by word and deed, in thought and intention, day and night, at every hour and minute of my life.
–Saint Basil the Great (330-379)
Whoever offers repentance ought not only to wash his sin with tears, but ought to cover his former transgressions with better deeds, lest the sin be imputed to him.
–Saint Ambrose of Milan (339-397)
