A parishioner went to confession on Holy Monday. He repented of his sins and added at the end that during Lent he became humiliated again. Hearing this, the confessor was stunned, and then shouted:
- Go, sinner! I cannot absolve you of your sins until I ask the lord’s permission. Come back tomorrow.
The confessor went to the bishop. And he burst out laughing and ridiculed him for not being able to find suitable repentance for such a small sin.
“Let him read the “Our Father” three times and the “Virgin Mary” four times, and then take communion,” said the bishop.
The next day the sinner came to find out what kind of repentance was imposed on him. The confessor told him about the bishop’s decision and added:
“Thank God that our ruler is so kind, otherwise you would have learned what it means to eat fasting meals.”
Before he had time to forgive the confessor’s sins, another appeared and said that he had been humiliated three times. The confessor was confused: he did not know what kind of repentance to impose. The lord's advice does not apply here. But soon he was found:
“Eat meat tomorrow and the day after tomorrow,” he said, “then read the “Our Father” three times and the “Virgin Mary” four times, and on Thursday come and take communion with the fear of God.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru