Remorse is Memory－awake — Confession

Remorse－is Memory－awake－¹
Her Parties all astir－
A Presence of Departed Acts－
At window－and at Door－

Its Past－set down before the Soul ⁵
And lighted with a Match－
Perusal－to facilitate－
And help Belief to stretch－

Remorse is cureless－the Disease ⁹
Not even God－can heal－
For 'tis His institution－and
The Adequate of Hell－

(F.781/J.744)

[1, 3] Remorse, Presence:: the act of disclosing sins to a priest to obtain sacramental absolution, a confession.
[3, 4] window, Door:: of the confession booth.
[6] Match:: to fit, suit, make equal.
[8] Belief:: the Christian belief.
[9, 10] cureless, God:: confession cannot heal a soul's remorse.
[11] institution:: the confession as a religious practice.
[12] Adequate, Hell:: the small dark confession booth.

"With lively emotions of piety I followed my parents on Whitsunday into the Graumunchen Church, which was decorated, according to custom, with flowers and fresh may. I was led by my mother, who was equally moved, through the church to the confession room, commonly called the comfort-room (Trostkammer). A crowd of people of the lower classes were waiting before the door. Many, t was evident, had waited longer than they could well afford, till as many as could find room could be admitted; when they were confessed, admonished, and absolved in a mass, and paid the indispensable confession fee (Beicht groschen). ─ The Eclectic Magazine of Foreign Literature, Science, and Art (1843)