By Teri Petrocco
Posted: February 26, 2026
As a child growing up in a Catholic household, I often heard the admonition that I needed to “repent”. Repent carried a negative connotation, implying that I had done something shameful and thus, deserving of punishment. My “punishment “ was often the reciting of ten Hail Marys. Even though, in truth, most, if not, all of my sins, were fabrications.
Since we were all sinners, I felt not having sins to recite in the confessional would certainly be deemed a mortal sin. So, false venial sins were an acceptable compromise. I never understood why a prayer would be considered a punishment, but I knew enough not to question the authority of the priest. So I dutifully recited my penance until the next confessional date. This ritual continued into my early twenties.
My mother passed away unexpectedly when I was 24. I still vividly recall the Sunday I skipped mass and declined confession. As I drove to the nearby Ralph’s to pick up my weekly groceries, I was literally shocked when lightning did not strike me dead. My Catholic practice ceased that day, but not my relationship with God. My spiritual beliefs have enabled me to navigate life’s travails. So, today prayerful meditation nurtures my soul.
During my meditation reading, I came across the original Greek word, metanoeó, which has been translated into the English word, repent. Repent was a word with which I had an intimate relationship . The original meaning of metanoeó refers to a change of mindset that leads to changed behavior. This perspective does not equate to shame and punishment, rather, I see it as an expression of growth and learning. I find myself ‘repenting’ on a regular basis now and where I once found shame, I now find joy and pride. A profound shift in understanding or awareness lost in translation and finally found at age seventy five.
PHOTO CREDIT: The Beyond, Georgia O’Keeffe, 1972
WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK! Please send your questions or comments on this article or the blog in general to: asuolliblog@gmail.com
