Shame prolongs what you hide

Some priests in these accounts hid a stained corporal or kept silent about what had happened because they felt fear and shame. The secret did not erase the fact; it only added many years of restlessness. After making a mistake, the first reaction is usually to protect your image. You think remaining silent will spare you consequences, but maintaining a double life requires remembering excuses, avoiding questions, and carrying what took place entirely alone. Acknowledging the truth may be costly at first and might demand reparation. Even so, it opens up a way out. Shame loses its power when it stops deciding which parts of your life can be seen.