alloyed joy and satisfaction as I feel at this present moment."
4. My dear young friend, if you never, or but rarely, have felt such sensible consolation after you have been to confession, it is no sign that your confession was not a good one. If you have made it with all due seriousness and contrition, you may rest assured that God has forgiven your sins, and bestowed abundant graces upon you.
Thus the sacrament of Penance is, in very deed, the fountain of life, the medicine of salvation, the death of sin, the place of healing for souls, the beginning of all that is good. O blessed Penance, what marvelous changes does it effect! That which was lost is found again, that which was spoiled is made new again, that which was dead is restored to life.
All is won, all is saved, for the truly contrite soul, which through the power of this sacrament has regained the friendship of God, has become once more a child of God and joint heir with Jesus Christ of the kingdom of heaven.
Have you sinned as none else in the world have before you? Are you blacker than all other creatures in guilt?
O fear not! O fear not! the mother that bore you
Loves you less than the Saviour whose blood you have spilt!
O come, then, to Jesus, and say how you love Him,
And swear at His feet you will keep in His grace;
