S31.01.01 When one goes to one's confessor, then he must prostrate
himself before him with utmost fear of God and humility, and in a weeping voice ask him that he
prescribe for him penance for all those faults that he has committed against God's will;
S31.02.01 and he must confess his misdeeds to him, so that the
priest
may know what kind of penance he should prescribe for him.
S31.03.01 Then the priest must ask him what belief he has in God,
and must charge him variously concerning his soul's need and warn (him) and say
thus:
S31.04.01 "Do you believe in God the Almighty and in the Son and
in
the Holy Spirit?"
S31.04.02 "Do you believe that all men must arise from death on
Judgment Day?"
S31.05.01 "Do you regret all that is evil that you have done, said,
and
thought?"
S31.05.02 "Are you willing to forgive each of those who has ever
sinned against you?"
S31.06.01 If he says, "I am willing," then say to him, "May God
have mercy on you and grant (it) to me that I may be able to do so."
S31.06.02 "Fast each day in this Lenten period to the ninth hour
(nones) and
abstain from dairy foods and guard yourself againt the eight chief sins so that you do not commit
them."
S31.06.03 "They are murder and theft and false oaths and avarice and
fornication and gluttony and calumny and false witness."
S31.06.04 "And keep the twelve Ember Days that are in the year, and
guard yourself against witchcraft and sorcery and fornication and detraction and pride and
covetousness of other men's possessions;
S31.06.05 guard yourself against all these things."
S31.07.01 "And love your Lord with your whole mind and with all
your might and all your power and with all your inner heart steadfastly, and be merciful to the
poor and gentle and charitable and diligent in attending church and giving tithes to God's church
and to the poor."
S31.08.01 "Then God will be gracious to you and merciful and kind,
and you will be permitted then to dwell with him in the world of all worlds ever without end, if
you do so."
S31.09.01 "And I ask that you tell me all that you have ever done that
is evil, for it is better that
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