What does repentance mean in the Church? Let's try to answer this question. Sometimes we just don't understand grace. We think that everything we want must be earned instead of just accepted. The accusation is often heard that we do not preach repentance enough. In fact, when you put an end to your wrong faith and begin to believe that God wants to bless you, this is the beginning of repentance.
Repentance does not stop. The word “repentance” means a change of mind.
Repentance and the Book of Life
Every person has probably heard such a word as repentance. For the most part, this concept evokes thoughts of religion and the church, but in fact it is much broader. In general, everyone needs repentance. It is enough just to realize its strength and power, and also learn to repent correctly.
Obviously, if something has already been done, it cannot be changed. No one knows how to turn back time, so you cannot ask forgiveness from a deceased relative or friend, even if you really want to. But to some extent, mistakes can still be corrected.
An experienced esotericist or an advanced Christian knows that in the esoteric sense the past can still be changed. If we look at this from a technical point of view, we can say that every person has a so-called Book of Life, in which the history of existence, actions, sins of all incarnations of a particular soul are recorded. It is worth saying that bad deeds do not disappear anywhere, sooner or later there will be a reckoning for them.
Important! If you repent correctly, doing it sincerely, then amendments regarding sins are made to the Book of Life. The dark pages are gone, replaced by light ones. From this moment on, it is believed that the person has made amends for his sins.
Arguments from literature
- M.A. Sholokhov “The Fate of Man.”
We have already used M.A. Sholokhov’s story “The Fate of a Man” several times to argue essays 15.3. This work is about courage, willpower, spiritual purity, courage. The main character of the work is a man with an inner core, endowed with courage and moral purity. But even such people have moments of bitter repentance in their lives. Having gone through the entire war and escaped from fascist captivity, Andrei Sokolov cannot tell without a lump in his throat how he was escorted to the front with his whole family in the first days of the war. The daughters were silent, trying to hold back tears, although they sparkled in the corners of their eyes, the son shrugged his shoulders as if from the cold and was also silent, and his wife cried without stopping, saying goodbye to him as if forever. All night the pillow did not dry out from tears, and in the morning they could not tear it away from her husband’s chest. He tried to persuade her not to cry, to hold her heart together, but it seemed that she did not hear or see anyone. Then anger took over the hero, and he lightly pushed her away from him. “Until my death, until my last hour, I will die, and I will not forgive myself for pushing her away!” says Andrei Sokolov. Maybe this incident would not have been etched in his memory if the war had not taken his entire family away from him: his wife Irina and daughters died during the bombing, and his son died at the front. “Why did I push her away then? Even now, when I remember, my heart feels like it’s being cut with a dull knife,” the hero cannot forgive himself. So belated repentance torments him, and there is no one to ask for forgiveness, and no one to ease his soul. Listening to his story, we understand how painful belated repentance is, and also that we need to try not to offend our loved ones, take care of them, so that we don’t have to later experience the feelings that Andrei Sokolov experiences.
2. F.M. Dostoevsky “Crime and Punishment.”
One of the most famous works about repentance is the immortal novel by F.M. Dostoevsky “Crime and Punishment.” We learn about a poor law student who created a theory about two types of people: “trembling creatures” and “those with rights.” “Trembling creatures” are just material, they can only give birth to their own kind and do not have the right to shed blood, but “those with the right” can decide destinies and influence the course of history. They have the right to even break the law. Wanting to check which category he belongs to, he kills the old pawnbroker Alena Ivanovna. In his opinion, this is a useless, harmful old woman. By killing her, you can use her money, help not only yourself, your family, but also people like the Marmeladovs. But, having decided to kill Alena Ivanovna, he did not understand that the murder cannot be calculated and, together with the mischievous old woman, he also kills a random witness, Lizaveta. After these murders, his conscience begins to torment him, he lost peace and repented of what he had done. He not only killed the innocent Lizaveta, but also could not use the old woman’s money, since he would have immediately given himself away. Remorse tormented him like a whole herd of wild animals; he wanted to relieve his soul, the torments of conscience and repentance were so terrible. He found a devoted listener in the person of Sonya Marmeladova. It was she who became a real salvation for Rodion Raskolnikov. Reading the scenes of repentance of the main character, we understand that if he is able to realize his mistakes, then everything in his life can be changed for the better.
3. V. Bykov “Sotnikov”
The work of Vasil Bykov takes the reader to the years of the Great Patriotic War. We get acquainted with the main characters of the work - Sotnikov and Rybak. Both of them were partisans, they were in a partisan detachment. The fisherman came from a peasant family, from childhood he was accustomed to working a lot and hard, and was physically strong. He is a brave soldier, a good comrade. He carries out the commander’s assignments unquestioningly, does not refuse to go on reconnaissance, and during one of the missions he helps the wounded Sotnikov. Sotnikov is an intellectual; ideological considerations brought him into the partisan detachment. He is a little weak physically, but strong in spirit. Despite poor health, the hero does not refuse to go on reconnaissance, and when he is captured, he does not surrender his comrades, he is ready to die in order to save others. The fisherman agrees to work for the police. He justifies himself by saying that, being close to the enemy, he will have an excellent opportunity to help the partisans. And only when he was appointed executor of Sotnikov’s execution, he realized what a trap he had fallen into, what an unfortunate mistake he had made and began to repent. It will be bitter for him to remember how he betrayed his comrade, Sotnikov’s words spoken from the scaffold will resurface in his memory again and again.
Repentance: what is it?
Definitions of concepts in esotericism
Repentance is a request to the victim and the Higher Powers for forgiveness for what he has done with full awareness of the horror of his act, and also a generally accepted ritual that includes certain words and so on. In fact, repentance is understanding and awareness of one’s sin (the evil caused).
Components of repentance:
- A clear understanding of the evil brought and the damage caused, as well as the broken spiritual laws.
- Recognition of one's own sin and guilt before the victim and the Higher Powers. You need to be sincere with yourself and listen to the voice of your conscience.
- Verbal requests for forgiveness. For example: “I apologize for...”, “I was wrong in...”, “I repent...”. This is said both to a specific person and at the level of the Subtle World (that is, to God, the soul of the deceased, and so on). It is worth saying that sometimes this is not enough. A person can receive complete forgiveness only when he really understands his action and what his actions led to, and repents of them.
- After repentance, you need to do something to confirm your intentions, that is, change yourself and your life. This will allow the Higher Powers to be convinced of the sincerity of repentance, which will entail the removal of sin.
Priests on repentance
According to Isaac the Syrian, sincere repentance is a wide gate for God's grace, and there is no other way.
Silouan of Athos argued that to those who dislike their sinful deeds, God will forgive all sins.
In his “Letters to Spiritual Children,” Abbot Nikon begged the Orthodox believers remaining on earth to constantly repent, considering themselves sinful tax collectors, begging God for mercy.
Repentance
In the book “Paths to Salvation,” Theophan the Recluse writes that through repentance, a sinner learns to love his neighbor, because with forgiveness there is no longer pride and conceit, and if there is, then there is no repentance. Everyone checks themselves.
Hegumen Gury also attached great importance to repentance, claiming that only through repentance can the existing world be cleansed.
Saint Ephraim the Syrian compares repentance to a crucible, in the fire of which simple metals are melted, and gold and silver come out.
Jesus left two main commandments on earth - love for God and man.
Mistakes during repentance
Sometimes it is very difficult to get an answer from God, even if you constantly go to church and pray. Failures continue to haunt, illnesses worsen, a person feels unhappy. The reason is most likely that people ask for forgiveness for selfish reasons. They consider God the fulfiller of even the most stupid desires. There may also be mistakes in which repentance will not work. This:
- An apology for the sake of an apology, without awareness of sin. This is probably the most common mistake. It will not be possible to deceive the Higher Powers, because they know how to notice lies and insincerity.
- Reluctance to admit your sin, lack of awareness of your crime. This is typical for proud individuals who do not know how to admit they are wrong. Sins keep piling up and piling up until karma deals a crushing blow.
- An apology followed by another sin. God does not like idle talkers, and also those who ask for forgiveness, and then run on to commit further misdeeds, believing that they, too, will be immediately forgiven.
- Replacing repentance with guilt. A person destroys himself with a feeling of guilt, not wanting to apologize and admit his mistakes. He does not make a decision about what to do next or how to live, but simply constantly gnaws at himself.
- Thoughtless utterance of prayers when no energy (feelings) is put into the text. Someone may pray simply because “it’s the right thing to do.” But in this case, the words simply will not reach God, and he will not be able to help. Prayer should always be conscious. Otherwise, the request will not reach the Light Forces, but the Dark Forces, which always charge a fee for the fulfillment of desires. Therefore, you should not repeat texts “automatically”.
Arguments from folk wisdom
- “Repentance is half of healing,” says a Russian folk proverb. It says that the pangs of conscience are very painful; if a person experiences them, it is very difficult for him, but if he repents, then this is almost half of the healing. That is, having repented, a person calms his conscience, and he feels better.
- “Repent, but don’t do the same thing again,” our ancestors taught us in a Russian folk proverb. They said that if a person has repented of something, then he needs to try not to commit previous sins, there is no need to take up the old ways.
- “Late repentance will not save,” our wise ancestors said, meaning that repentance can be belated. Weeks or years will pass, a person will repent of his words or actions, but there is no one to ask for forgiveness, there is no way to correct mistakes. And he will be tormented by remorse, from which there is no escape.
- “Without repentance there is no forgiveness,” says the Russian folk proverb. Our ancestors meant that only the person who repents of his actions is worthy of forgiveness. If he does not feel his guilt, does not understand his mistakes, such a person cannot be forgiven.
- “No matter how hard you try, admit the truth,” our ancestors warned in a proverb. It says that a person, no matter how hard he tries to hide something, will still have to ever tell the truth, because there always comes a moment when repentance comes, which pushes to sincere confessions.
- “Even a sword cannot cut a guilty head,” says the famous proverb. It says that a person who repents of something deserves forgiveness, since only the one in whom the soul is alive and whose conscience has not died always repents. Such people have a chance for correction, so they are worthy of forgiveness.
- “Hastiness is followed by repentance,” says the Arabic proverb. It warns us that we should not rush in either deeds or words, because haste very often leads to repentance. Therefore, before you say an offensive word or commit any action, you should think.
- “After defeat, repentance will not help,” says a Tajik proverb. The meaning of this proverb is that repentance will not help if you have already suffered defeat. Having lost a victory, there is no need to repent that the wrong tactics were used, the wrong actions were taken.
- “In haste there is repentance, in reflection there is salvation,” says a Turkish proverb. It contains a very important meaning and the right lessons. There is no need to rush into anything, because later you may have to repent. You need to think, reflect, weigh your words and actions more often. This will become salvation from the pangs of conscience and from bitter repentance.
- “The beginning of anger is madness, the end is repentance,” says an Arabic proverb. Indeed, when anger overwhelms us, we cease to be aware of our words and actions, we can say a lot of hurtful and caustic words, and commit unworthy acts. But when anger subsides, repentance takes its place. We begin to regret both what we said and what we did.
How to get rid of guilt?
It's no secret that guilt leads to self-destruction. The most important thing is to realize that this is a negative feeling, not a positive one, there is nothing good or useful in it. It is not shame when the voice of conscience hints to a person that he is wrong. The charge of guilt is exclusively negative.
How to deal with guilt:
- Understand that guilt destroys personality.
- Write down on paper what exactly depended on the culprit in this situation, and what did not depend, and what was impossible to influence. It's important to be honest with yourself.
- Tell yourself: “I forgive myself for everything that I could not influence, and for everything that I was to blame for!”
- Write down in a separate notebook how to correct the mistakes made.
- Treat yourself positively and do not engage in self-flagellation.
Repentance prayers
Prayer from the Canon of Repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ
Master Christ God, who healed my passions with His passions and healed my ulcers with His wounds, grant me, who have sinned much against You, tears of compunction; dissolve my body from the smell of Your Life-giving Body, and delight my soul with Your Honest Blood from sorrow, from which the enemy gave me a drink; lift up my mind to You, which has fallen to the ground, and lift me up from the abyss of destruction: for I am not the imam of repentance, I am not the imam of compunction, I am not the imam of consoling tears that lead children to their inheritance.
My mind has been darkened by worldly passions, I cannot look to You in illness, I cannot warm myself with tears, even love for You. But, Lord Jesus Christ, treasury of good things, grant me complete repentance and a laborious heart to seek Yours, grant me Your grace and renew the eyes of Yours in me image. Leave you, don’t leave me; come to seek me, lead me to Thy pasture and number me among the sheep of Thy chosen flock, educate me with them from the grain of Thy Divine Sacraments, through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother Tere and all Your saints. Amen.
Prayer of Ephraim the Syrian
Lord and Master of my life, do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, covetousness and idle talk.
Grant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant.
To her, Lord, King, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother, for blessed are you forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of repentance, read in days of unrest
Lord, God, Almighty, look upon us, Your sinful and unworthy children, who have sinned before You, who have angered Your goodness, who have brought Your righteous wrath upon us, who have fallen into the depths of sin. You see, Lord, our weakness and spiritual sorrow, weigh the corruption of our minds and hearts, the impoverishment of faith, the departure from Your commandments, the multiplication of family disorders, divisions and discord. Church members, You see our sorrows and tribulations, from illnesses, famines, drowning, burning and the internecine warfare taking place.
But, Most Gracious and Humane-loving Lord, give understanding, instruct and have mercy on us, the unworthy. Correct our sinful life, quench discord and disorder, gather the scattered, unite the scattered, give peace and prosperity to our country, deliver us from grave troubles and misfortunes. All-Holy Master, enlighten our minds with the light of the teachings of the Gospel, warm our hearts with the warmth of Your grace and direct me to the doing of Your commandments, so that the All-Holy and Glorious may be glorified in us I am Yours, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
How is repentance different from confession?
Some people wonder if there is any difference between confession and repentance. Of course, there are differences. Correct confession leads a person to sincere repentance, which he feels with all his soul. Of course, it is also very important who conducts the confession.
There are very good priests who can carry out this event correctly. They help people open their hearts, understand the severity of their actions and truly repent of them. Only in this case can one get rid of sins. Alas, this is not always the case.
During confession, a person shares his bad deeds and opens his heart first of all to God. Repentance is a logical continuation of confession. It can be sincere if people are aware of the sinfulness of their actions and decide not to make such mistakes again. By the way, the process of confession itself does not every time involve repentance. Telling a priest about your atrocities does not always mean that the person confessing will not do so again. He may simply feel better and continue to live as he lived before.
Step to repentance
In fact, confession is a very important step towards true repentance, which in turn changes a person radically. Thanks to unity with God and the Light Forces, it is quite possible to make changes in your own consciousness and subconscious, as well as destiny.
Repentance, as already mentioned, leads to the purification of karma, spiritual growth and development, but it has nothing to do with the feeling of guilt.
If confession is carried out according to all the canons, it is a kind of healing under the guidance of a priest. With his mentoring, he helps the sinner to realize his actions and try to correct them, teaches him to forgive himself and pushes him to repentance.
Is confession necessary for repentance?
Of course, not necessarily. It all depends on the person himself. If he feels that he has committed an atrocity that will affect his karma, repents and wants to receive forgiveness from God, then the ritual of repentance can be performed anywhere, not necessarily in church. Only the state of mind is relevant here. It is worth noting, of course, that staying in the temple allows you to properly tune in to repentance.
For some people, confession is vitally necessary - for example, those who feel a lack of faith and the protection of God. The priest will become a guide allowing you to talk with the Higher Powers.
Prayer of repentance
Another important question is how to pray correctly. In general, the Prayer of Repentance is not tied to a particular religion. It must come from the heart, after fully understanding one’s own sin, with the desire to correct one’s own mistakes. Of course, repeating such offenses should be avoided.
Of course, it is not at all necessary to use texts compiled by other people for prayer. It is quite possible to speak on your own, talking about personal problems and motives and asking for forgiveness in your own way.
How should you pray?
There are several simple rules that help you pray correctly:
- The correct body position is sitting on your knees or standing at full height with your head bowed. You can't slouch.
- Hands can be positioned in two ways: the right hand placed on the heart or placed on the chest.
- During prayer, you need to tune in to repentance for your wrongdoing, gratitude for the life experience you have gained, and a desire to cleanse your soul. There should also be joy from liberation.
- What should I say? What comes from the heart. You can appeal like this: “Heavenly Father, Powers of Light, I ask, I pray, accept my prayer and my repentance.” In the end, it is worth thanking for the opportunity to cleanse the soul.
- To strengthen prayer, you need to voice your own motives and let the Higher Powers understand that the person praying is aware of the gravity of his actions. They also need to be informed about what further actions will be aimed at avoiding sins.
- At the end of the prayer, you need to open your mind to the blessing of the Higher Powers. To do this, you need to be in silence for a couple of minutes, clearing your mind of all extraneous thoughts.
Thus, repentance is very important for every person. It allows you to cleanse your soul and come to peace. The most important thing here is not to be led by feelings of guilt and act from the heart.
Latest materials
The meaning of repentance is not in admitting oneself as a sinner - that would be too simple, but in changing the lifestyle that leads to sin.
Archbishop John Shakhovskoy
Penance. A story about a child's confession told by a mother
How to live with sins from confession to confession? - question to the priest
I don't understand anything! How the tongue interferes with confession
How to confess correctly?
Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan explained why people sometimes don’t know what to repent of
How did the saints repent, pray and humble themselves? 9 examples from lives
The repentance of a murderer and the repentance of a siege survivor: priests tell what someone else’s experience of confession teaches them
Confession turned into soul-searching and fishing out little things... What's wrong with me?
7 deadly sins, or how many passions can really destroy us
Where can I find a recipe for repentance? - conversation with the priest
Read all materials
