Blessed Hyeronimus while living in Palestine in ascetic endeavour at the cave from Bethlehem where our Saviour was born had a wondrous vision on the feast of Nativity.
Our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him as a child and asked him:
`Hyeronimus, now when all the people give me something what will you give me?`
`My virtues and prayers` answered blessed Hyeronimus.
`It is very good but won`t you give me anything else?`
.`My heart, my soul and myself!`
`I receive these as well. But I want something more from you.
`What else could I give You, my Lord?` asked puzzled the lover of Christ.
`Give me your sins.`
Blessed Hyeronimus with a broken heart started to cry. He asked among his tears:
`And what do You need my sins for, my Lord?`
`I want to take them on Myself!`
Did you hear? `Give me your sins!` Jesus Christ wants our sins. Let us give them to Him in the Holy Sacrament of Confession and He will forgive them.
Excerpt from The forgotten remedy – The holy sacrament of confession – Archimandrite Serafim Alexiev, Sophia Publishing.
