False shame, which is an off-shoot of pride, prevents us from confessing our sins to the man of God. It prevents us from confessing our failings to our brethren and from owning up to what we really are. Instead, it is so common for us to put on the mask of hypocrisy and to appear as if we were perfect and righteous, and without the slightest fault! When we fail to confess our sins, the reality is that we are trying to swim against the current of the river and as a result, sooner or later, our strength will fail and we will gradually sink. Let us remember the words of Saint Augustine, who encourages us to confess our sins; he said: "If we fail to confess our sins, God will make them known, but if we confess our sins, God will hide them."