Auricular Confession, that is – private confession – is about forgiveness.

In the same way that we apologize for transgressions against each other, the Christian faith necessitates the confession of sin to God.

I think this point is mostly about being honest and transparent about both your celebrations – and your shortcomings.

Here Jacobs points to the complexities of self-reflection.

Done in a a constant way, it can be nothing but depression.

And skipped completely can leave one without much empathy or perspective.

Made me laugh.

And I tend to blog in the same way, short and sweet.

Better to follow the principle articulated by W. H. Auden: “The same rules apply to self-examination as apply to auricular confession: Be brief, be blunt, be gone.”

-Alan Jacobs, How To Think