Psalm 31, "Thanksgiving for the forgiveness of sins."

The Holy Father said that in Psalm 31 we find the "personal testimony of a convert" who has committed "serious sins and does not have the courage to confess his sins to God. It is a terrible interior torment, described with strong images. . The convert feels the weight of the hand of God on him, conscious that God is not indifferent to the evil perpetrated by man, because He is the guardian of justice and truth."

"Unable to go on in this way, the sinner decides to confess his sins with a courageous declaration which seems to foreshadow that of the prodigal son in Jesus' parable." God "responds right away with generous forgiveness. . For the faithful who repent and are forgiven, despite life's trials, a new horizon of safety, faith and peace" is opened up.

"We can apply this psalm," he concluded, "to the sacrament of confession..."

VIS article.