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GERMANUS: And whence can there be aroused in us this holy and salutary
contrition from humiliation, which is described as follows in the person of
the penitent: "I have acknowledged my sin, and mine unrighteousness have I
not hid. I said: I will acknowledge against myself mine unrighteousness to
the Lord," so that we may be able effectually to say also what follows:
"And Thou forgavest the iniquity of my heart;" or how, when we kneel in
prayer shall we be able to stir ourselves up to tears of confession, by
which we may be able to obtain pardon for our offences, according to these
words: "Every night will I wash my bed: I will water my couch with
tears;" if we expel from our hearts all recollection of our faults,
though on the contrary we are bidden carefully to preserve the remembrance
of them, as the Lord says: "And thine iniquities I will not remember: but
do thou recollect them?" Wherefore not only when I am at work, but also
when I am at prayer I try of set purpose to recall to my mind the
recollection of my sins, that I may be more effectually inclined to true
humility and contrition of heart, and venture to say with the prophet:
"Look upon my humility and my labour: and forgive me all my sins."
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