1513: SSPX Florida Newsletter Nº 31
Editorial: Benefits of the Confession, by Fr. Marc Vernoy. Sacred Heart in the Sacrament of Confession, by Fr. Joshua Jacobs. Pascua Florida Pilgrimage 2023. A Daily Examination of Conscience, by Fr. Pierre Duverger. Our School Is Not an Option. Prayer for the Defeat of Marxist Enemies of the Cross. True Sorrow for Sin, by Fr. Scott Settimo. Spiritual Last Will. Sanford Summer Retreat in 2023. SSPX Floridian Mass Centers.
Authentic penitence, then, is not a mere passing act, but a permanent state, a supernatural sorrow welling up within, throughout one’s life.
A pious legend has it that St Peter, even to the day of his martyrdom, whenever he heard the crowing of the cock, wept anew. Of course, we know of the flood of sorrow that poured out from him on the night of his denial of Our Lord (cf. Mt. 26:75); but even though he does not mention a permanent state of penitence, his epistles cannot be sur- passed for their stirring pleas for humility, watchfulness, and fear of the Lord. St Paul, on the other hand, exhibits an overt sense of repentance. “I am,” he says, “the least of the apostles, who am not wor- thy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God” (1 Cor. 15:9).
We must remember always that we are sinners. In all truth, if we are to be saved, we must have a deep, sincere, and efficacious sorrow for our sins. Should we attempt to evade the absolute obligation of repentance, we will be lost: “Unless you shall do penance, you shall likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3). Clothe yourself in penitential garb here and now if you would hope to be clothed in nuptial garments at the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Extract of Fr. Settimo's Article: True Sorrow for Sin
