It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution

It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution

And then it started, like a guilty thing
Upon a fearful summons.

And then it started, like a guilty thing
Upon a fearful summons.

He who flees from trial confesses his guilt.

He who flees from trial confesses his guilt.

Men's minds are too ready to excuse guilt in themselves.

Men's minds are too ready to excuse guilt in themselves.

Nothing is more wretched that the mind of a man conscious of
guilt.
[Lat., Nihil est miserius quam read more

Nothing is more wretched that the mind of a man conscious of
guilt.
[Lat., Nihil est miserius quam animus hominis conscius.]

Sin with the multitude, and your responsibility and guilt are as great and as truly personal, as if you alone read more

Sin with the multitude, and your responsibility and guilt are as great and as truly personal, as if you alone had done the wrong

Whatever guilt is perpetrated by some evil prompting, is grievous
to the author of the crime. This is the read more

Whatever guilt is perpetrated by some evil prompting, is grievous
to the author of the crime. This is the first punishment of
guilt that no one who is guilty is acquitted at the judgment seat
of his own conscience.
[Lat., Exemplo quodcumque malo committitur, ipsi
Displicet auctori. Prima est haec ultio, quod se
Judice nemo nocens absolvitur.]

Let guilty men remember, their black deeds
Do lean on crutches made of slender reeds.

Let guilty men remember, their black deeds
Do lean on crutches made of slender reeds.

Guilt is the source of sorrow, 'tis the fiend,Th' avenging fiend, that follows us behindWith whips and stings.

Guilt is the source of sorrow, 'tis the fiend,Th' avenging fiend, that follows us behindWith whips and stings.