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Mark Tully asks if confession is really good for us. He considers the pros and cons of owning up in political life and talks to historian Eamon Duffy about the rite of confession.

On the last Sunday in Lent, Mark Tully asks if confession is really good for us. He examines the secular and political benefits of owning up to crimes and misdemeanours in public life, as well as talking to religious historian and writer Eamon Duffy about the history of confession as a religious rite.

There are stories here of politicians caught red-handed, a priest confessing posthumously to his atheism - and to his hatred for the confessional box - and of the sheer psychological relief of forgiving.

The programme includes readings from James Joyce, Elizabeth Jennings and A. C. Clarke, with music by Caroline Barnett and Hans Zimmer among others.

The readers are Adjoa Andoh and Arsher Ali

Producer: Frank Stirling
A Unique production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4.

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 29 Mar 2015 23:30

Music Played

  • Carol Barnett

    Confession Suite III

    Performer: Carol Barnett.
    • Cyprus, First Impressions.
    • Inova.
  • Hans Zimmer

    Nixon Defeated

    • Frost/Nixon [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack].
    • Varèse Sarabande.
  • Niels Marthinsen

    The Confessional Suite: I.Moderato

    Performer: Aarhus Symfoniorkester.
    • Monster Symphony / Panorama / The Confessional Suite.
    • Dacapo.
  • Peter Cornelius

    Absolve Domine

    Performer: KammerChor Saarbrücken.
    • Peter Cornelius: Seele, Vergiss sie Nicht.
    • Carus.
  • M. Wedel

    Lent Confession

    Performer: St. JohnÂ’s Russian Orthodox Choir.
    • Folk Songs of Old Russia.
    • Cook Records.

Readings

Title: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Author: James Joyce Published by Penguin 

Title: Mary Magdalene  Author: Christina Rosetti  Published by Aurum Press in ‘The Illustrated Poets’  

Title: Father Meslier’s Confessional Author: A.C. Clarke Published by Overstep Books in ‘Fr Meslier’s Confession’ 

Title: ForgivenessAuthor: Elizabeth Jennings Published by Carcanet in ‘Moments of Grace’ 

Broadcasts

  • Sun 29 Mar 2015 06:05
  • Sun 29 Mar 2015 23:30