“Of how much greater faith and salutary fear are they who . . . confess their sins to the priests
of God in a straightforward manner and in sorrow, making an open declaration of conscience
. . . I beseech you, brethren, let everyone who has sinned confess his sin while he is still in this
world, while his confession is still admissible, while the satisfaction and remission made
through the priests are still pleasing before the Lord.”
(St. Cyprian of Carthage, The Lapsed, A.D. 251)
