LXXVIIII. Quomodo homines amorem saeculi in semetipsis puniant

LXXVIIII. Quomodo homines amorem saeculi in semetipsis puniant

But those who toil in the love of this world, if they want to overcome those evil spirits that prioritize worldly matters, and if they see the punishments they deserve, ef-! they should strive to flee, chastising themselves with sackcloth and whips, and starving themselves with simple bread and water, according to the pleasures, will, time, and conduct by which they have sinned; and according to what the true teacher, in his humanity, has prescribed for those who repent, with the presentation of priests; for whoever wishes to repent justly must be presented to his judge, through whom, according to the nature of the sin, repentance is imposed upon him. But this judge is a priest in the place of my same Son. For the care of a person's mind accuses them, as they present their sins to the priest through the confession of their wrongdoings, just as it was demonstrated in the law regarding lepers by my servant Moses. Therefore, sins must be revealed to the priest, because a respectful fear of confession is present in my son's sweat, and repentance comes with drops of his blood.