Theodora deeply regretted cheating on her husband, thinking that night somehow covered her wrongdoing. This is exactly what St. Theodora believed, honestly thinking that the darkness would hide her from God. Theodora lived in Alexandria during the 5th century and tried to live honestly and close to God. She was married to a good husband, who was similarly a faithful Christian. The devil recognized the holiness of St. Theodora and sent her many temptations. He even led another rich man to send her gifts in hopes that she would eventually have sex with him.
The man left in the morning and when her husband returned from a trip, St. Theodora wept bitterly. Ashamed at what she did, St.
Theodora changed her clothing and cut her hair, joining the monastery as a man. She spent several years at the monastery as a penance for the sin she committed. She was too ashamed to reveal herself to him and spent the rest of her life away from him. He then spent the rest of his life in the same cell that his wife occupied.
The story of St. Theodora reminds us that even saints can make mistakes. This does not mean that we need to run to the nearest monastery every time we sin, but we do need to run to God, asking him for forgiveness. The good news is that God will gladly receive us into his loving arms, just like the Prodigal Son that Jesus talks about in the Gospels. God is always there waiting for us, we simply need to turn away from our sin and run towards him.
But if we do find ourselves in the morning regretting what we did the night before, run to the nearest Church and be reconciled to God. He is there waiting for you, ready to pick you up like a loving Father, setting you on the right path back to him. Read more: How to go to confession, a step-by-step guide. Read more: Addicted to porn? Alessandro Serenelli can help you break free. Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox.
