Self-Delusion and True Contrition, by Alfred Wilson CP. Roman Catholic Books.

   This small book is excerpted from Pardon and Peace, published by Roman Catholic Books for Fort Collins, CO.
   The four chapters are food for thought for those who fear the sacrament of reconciliation, and/or have misguided concepts bout it. The chapters are entitled A Load off Your Mind, Sidelights on Self, Feelings and Phobias, and Bogeys. Those who steer away from the sacrament  from fear of being reprimanded, those who see it as bad as going to the dentist, those who want to confess to God alone: all these need to read this book.
   Sidelights on self gives a detailed examination of conscience and asks dozens of questions on these topic: lies, pride, justice, charity, purity, authority, obedience, parents, marriage, and in church. It also provides three general examinations of conscience.
   The third chapter deals with feelings, phobias, counterfeits and scruples. Also there is a good section on the formation of conscience and importance of following one's conscience.
   Bogeys is a good chapter dealing with a variety of false and nearly false concepts involving the sacrament of reconciliation. Some of these are: doubtful sins, forgetting a serious sin, considering venial sins as really mortal, fear of not being clear to the confessor, concept of general confessions, lack of faith, and is the sin serious enough to confess.

St. Margaret of Scotland (1050?-1093): November 16

   Margaret of Scotland was a truly liberated woman in the sense that she was free to be herself. For her, that meant freedom to love God and serve others.
   Not Scottish by birth, Margaret was the daughter of Princess Agatha of Hungary and the Anglo-Saxon Prince Edward Atheling. She spent much of her youth in the court of her great-uncle, the English king, Edward the Confessor. Her family fled from William the Conqueror and was shipwrecked off the coast of Scotland. King Malcolm befriended them and was captivated by the beautiful, gracious Margaret. They were married at the castle of Dunfermline in 1070.
   Malcolm was good-hearted, but rough and uncultured, as was his country. Because of Malcolm's love for Margaret, she was able to soften his temper, polish his manners and help him become a virtuous king. He left all domestic affairs to her and often consulted her in state matters.
   Margaret tried to improve her adopted country by promoting the arts and education. For religious reform she encouraged synods and was present for the discussions which tried to correct religious abuses common among priests and lay people, such as simony, usury and incestuous marriages. With her husband, she founded several churches.
   Margaret was not only a queen, but a mother. She and Malcolm had six sons and two daughters. Margaret personally supervised their religious instruction and other studies.
   Although she was very much caught up in the affairs of the household and country, she remained detached from the world. Her private life was austere. She had certain times for prayer and reading Scripture. She ate sparingly and slept little in order to have time for devotions. She and Malcolm kept two Lents, one before Easter and one before Christmas. During these times she always rose at midnight for Mass. On the way home she would wash the feet of six poor persons and give them alms. She was always surrounded by beggars in public and never refused them. It is recorded that she never sat down to eat without first feeding nine orphans and 24 adults.
   In 1093, King William Rufus made a surprise attack on Alnwick castle. King Malcolm and his oldest son, Edward, were killed. Margaret, already on her deathbed, died four days after her husband.