ninety-nine sheep in the desert, and have sought thee the stray one; and now that, as a good shepherd, I am ready to take thee upon my shoulders, rejoicing to carry thee back to my fold, defraud me no longer of my desire, and my angels of their joy, with which they rejoice over one sinner doing penance.
Man. Truly I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost, but thou, O Lord, seek thy servant, for thou earnest to seek and to save that which was lost. To thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee; but, oh, the occasion of magnifying thy glory, if, according to thy promises, thou showest thy mercy to the wretched and downcast; and overcomest, when thou art judged, the perverse judgments' of men, who do not think of thee in goodness, but deem thee too cruel and severe in punishing the sins of men. But I, who know thy mercy and goodness, will return to thee, as a prodigal son to the Father of mercies. Oh, cast me not away from thy face.
7. Examination of conscience the first step towards contrition and confession.
Christ. Return, my son; why dost thou eat the husks of swine abroad, when thou mayest be fed upon the children’s dainties at home? Return to me with thy whole heart, and I will receive thee to my arms. Here is the way: First of all, recount in the bitterness of thy soul all the days and years which thou hast spent in sins. Examine thyself seriously; carefully clear the hiding-places of thy conscience. If thou do this only thoughtlessly and carelessly, much will escape thee; for the heart is perverse, and unsearchable, and who can know it? Nothing is more difficult, but, at the same time, nothing is more useful, than to know one's self. If thou knowest not thyself, all other knowledge is vain. To know thy own disease is the beginning of health.
Man. In many things we all offend, and thou, O Lord, hast proved me, and known me, and numbered all my steps, for all things are naked and open to thy eyes. Thou best knowest what is in man, and understandest my thoughts afar off; but who is there of us who understands his sins? From my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord. For I fear all my works, knowing that thou dost not spare the offender; my iniquities are multiplied above the hairs of my head, and I was not able to see. But thou, O true light, who enlightenest every man that comes into this world, enlighten the darkness of my mind, that I may see where I have swerved from
