“True contrition is a second innocence” (John Tauler).
We can understand this well if we think, for example, of the repentance of Peter, who wept bitterly when he realised that he had denied the Lord for whom he had declared that he was ready to give his life (Lk 22:55-62). What Jesus had foretold must have burned in his heart, and when he became aware of his denial, this memory and this pain must have led him to a profound conversion, because he loved the Lord.
This sentence of John Tauler is of great depth. In fact, true contrition completely melts a man’s pride. He no longer defends himself or justifies his actions, but abandons himself completely and unconditionally to the mercy of our beloved Father and is ready for whatever God asks of him. In fact, he attains a state of innocence, because, by contrite confession of his faults and conversion, man is washed by the Blood of the Lamb and is as if born again.
Anyone who has ever experienced such true contrition will have noticed how a deep sorrow for sin and for every attitude associated with it passes through his heart. It is a great grace, like everything our Father gives us. We can ask for the grace to deeply repent of everything that, through our own fault, still stands between us and the Lord, everything that offends His love. Sometimes God even allows people who have already set out on the path of holiness to fall into grave sin, so that all pride melts away and the soul is clothed once again in that innocence of which John Tauler speaks.