Dear Gabriel,

How do we make a good confession? I never know what to say. But I remember once when I expressed my inability to accept my lot, the priest said simply “Listen, listen to the words of the absolution.” Normally we are so grateful to have garbled off a few inadequate words that we barely listen to these words which are full of poetry and meaning for us.

Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

I absolve you of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.