He who has done true penance, and has been loosed from the bond by which he was fettered and separated from the body of Christ, and has lived well after his penance; after his reconciliation, when he has died, goes to the Lord, goes to rest, and will not be deprived of the kingdom of God, and will be separated from fellowship with the devil. He who does penance while he is healthy, and, when he has been reconciled and has lived well, is secure. And what is it to live well after penance? I tell you: Abstain, if you will, from drunkenness and from concupiscence, from theft, from evil speech, from immoderate laughter, from idle words — of which men are to render an account on the day of judgment. But do you wish, brother, to be freed from hell, and to escape that which is uncertain?
Do penance while you are healthy. For if you have done true penance, and the last day or a sudden death finds you, you are secure. Hasten by all means to the priest, that you may be reconciled. If you do so, you are secure, because you received penance at the very time when you were still able to sin. But if you wish to do penance then, when you can no longer sin, the sins have forsaken you, not you them. O penance, which — God taking pity — remits sins and keeps them for paradise! O penance, what shall I report of you to us? You soften all adversities, you heal all that is broken. O penance, more glowing than gold, more brilliant than the sun, which no sin conquers, nor defection overcomes, nor despair blots out!
Penance rejects avarice, shudders at rage, flees luxury, strengthens love, tramples pride, restrains the tongue, orders morals, hates evils, shuts out vices; toward those above it is suppliant, to those below it is submissive. In its heart is contrition, in its mouth confession, in its work all humility: this is perfect and fruitful penance. Thus to the penitent God is at hand, to the hungry he is a nourisher, to the thirsty a giver of drink. O penance, mother of mercy and mistress of virtues, great are your works! You raise up the fallen, you revive the despairing; through you Christ points out to us the kingdom of heaven drawn near, saying: 'Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven shall draw near' (cf. Matt. 4:17). Amen.