Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 3.52

That a man ought not to reckon himself worthy of consolation, but more worthy of chastisement 

1. O Lord, I am not worthy of Your consolation, nor of any spiritual visitation; and therefore You deal justly with me, when You leave me poor and desolate. For if I were able to pour forth tears like the sea, still should I not be worthy of Your consolation. Therefore am I nothing worthy save to be scourged and punished, because I have grievously and many a time offended You, and in many things have greatly sinned. Therefore, true account being taken, I am not worthy even of the least of Your consolations. But You, gracious and merciful God, who wills not that Your works should perish, to show forth the riches of Your mercy upon the vessels of mercy, vouchsafes even beyond all his own deserving, to comfort Your servant above the measure of mankind. For Your consolations are not like unto the discoursings of men. 

2. What have I done, O Lord, that You should bestow any heavenly comfort upon me? I remember not that I have done any good, but have been ever prone to sin and slow to amendment. It is true and I cannot deny it. If I should say otherwise, You would rise up against me, and there would be none to defend me. What have I deserved for my sins but hell and everlasting fire? In very truth I confess that I am worthy of all scorn and contempt, nor is it fit that I should be remembered among Your faithful servants. And although I be unwilling to hear this, nevertheless I will for the Truth’s sake, accuse myself of my sins, that the more readily I may prevail to be accounted worthy of Your mercy. 

3. What shall I say, guilty that I am and filled with confusion? I have no mouth to utter, unless it be this word alone, “I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned; have mercy upon me, forgive me.” Let me alone, that I may take comfort a little before I go whence I shall not return even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death. What do You so much require of a guilty and miserable sinner, as that he be contrite, and humble himself for his sins? In true contrition and humiliation of heart is begotten the hope of pardon, the troubled conscience is reconciled, lost grace is recovered, a man is preserved from the wrath to come, and God and the penitent soul hasten to meet each other with a holy kiss. 

4. The humble contrition of sinners is an acceptable sacrifice unto You, O Lord, sending forth a smell sweeter far in Your sight than the incense. This also is that pleasant ointment which You would have poured upon Your sacred feet, for a broken and contrite heart You have never despised. There is the place of refuge from the wrathful countenance of the enemy. There is amended and washed away whatsoever evil has elsewhere been contracted. 

IMAGE: El Greco, The Penitent Magdalene (c. 1580)