Open confession is good for the soul.

Open confession is good for the soul.

Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin;
For to deny each article with oath
Cannot remove nor read more

Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin;
For to deny each article with oath
Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception
That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.

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

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

We confess our bad qualities to others out of fear of appearing naive or ridiculous by not being aware of read more

We confess our bad qualities to others out of fear of appearing naive or ridiculous by not being aware of them

Nor do we find him forward to be sounded,
But with a crafty madness keeps aloof
When read more

Nor do we find him forward to be sounded,
But with a crafty madness keeps aloof
When we would bring him on to some confession
Of his true state.

Confession is always weakness. The grave soul keeps its own secrets, and takes its own punishment in silence.

Confession is always weakness. The grave soul keeps its own secrets, and takes its own punishment in silence.

There is no refuge from confession but suicide; and suicide is confession

There is no refuge from confession but suicide; and suicide is confession

Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.

Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.

There are many persons who look on Sunday as a sponge to wipe out the sins of the week

There are many persons who look on Sunday as a sponge to wipe out the sins of the week