To fall and be injured is human, since —even if a man’s life lasted for only one day— his mind is inclined to evil from his youth. 1 But to fall and remain fallen is not human. Repentance recreates man; it was given to us to cure the soul after baptism. If it did not exist, rarely would a person be saved. That is why, the virtue of repentance is unending as long as man is alive, for only the perfect do not err. My children, every time you see your thoughts reproaching you for some sin, immediately take the medicine: repent, weep, go to confession, and behold, you return to your former and better state.
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1. cf. Gen. 8:21
From the book
Councels from the Holy mountain
Selected from the letters and homilies of Elder Efraim of Arizona
