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PREFACE
To r e co mme nd t he V/UDUA Con^QJi^OJiLi we co u l d qu o t e t he
Ar s who o nce s a i d t ha t t h i s i s t he bo o k which made a co nf e s s o r
him. We co u l d qu o t e t he Te r e s i an C o nf e r e nce o f 1923 which s
t he ?HOXJJ> co nt ai ns a l l t he mys t i cal and a s c e t i c a l t he o l o gy of St ^ TS
r e s a o f J e s u s , St . Fr anci s de Sal e s , and St . Al p ho ns u s hims e l f . Bui"'
f o r t he Re de mp t o r i s t no o t he r r e co mme ndat io n i s ne e de d t he n t o sa*
t ha t i t comes "f r o m t he p e n o f Al p ho ns u s Li gu o r i " .
This e di t i o n o f t he PA\aXC6 has be e n made as an ai d t o stud-en
We ho p e t h a t t he y wi l l f i nd i n i t many s t r i k i n g e xamp l e s o f t he t he
l o gi c a l ge ni u s and bu r ni ng ze al o f o u r ho l y f o u nde r . No at t e mp t K
be e n made t o e mbe l l i s h t he t e x t . I t i s no t a s cho l ar l y "p u bl is hab'
e di t i o n - i t i s me r e l y a s t u de nt wo r kbo o k. Pe r hap s some Ame r ican SB;
de mp t o r i s t t he o l o gi an wi l l gi ve u s t he l o ng o ve r du e Engl i s h e dit io n;
o f St . Al p ho ns u s ' mo r al wo r ks . And p e r hap s t he n St . Al p ho ns u s wi l l
r e ce i ve t he p r a i s e from Ame r ican p r i e s t s t h a t he s o r i g h t l y de s e r ve s ^
In making t hi s t r a ns l a t i o n we have t r i e d t o s t ay cl o s e t o t he
Lat i n Gaude e d i t i o n . At t i me s we have f o l l o we d t he l e ad o f t he Spa^
i s h Mo r io ne s e di t i o n and o mi t t e d a s e c t i o n, bu t i n e ach cas e o f omil
s i o n we have made a no t e o f t he f a c t .
Thanks go t o t ho s e who p i t che d i n t o make t he t r a ns l a t i o n: JM
B ar r e t o , P. Vo e l ke r , J . Ea r l , E. O' C o nno r , J . Far ni k, G. Ende r l e , K^l
Ebe r har d, R. F e n i l i , and R. Mar chand. A ve r y s p e ci al wo r d of t hank?
go e s t o Ve r y Re ve r e nd Raymond Mi l l e r , who e nco u r age d u s i n t hi s p r o -.
j e c t and al l o we d u s t o u s e hi s t r a n s l a t i o n o f chap t e r ni ne .
Thanks go t o o t o Fat he r M. Ze l l e r and t o R. Mar chand who P
ai
-'
D
*4
t aki ngl y che cke d o ve r t he f i r s t e di t i o n t o e r as e as many mi s t ake s as *
p o s s i bl e be f o r e t he f i na l dr af t was made . Thanks f i na l l y t o a l l w o ^, |
he l p e d p u t t he bo o k t o ge t he r : P. Su l l i van, N. De l o r t , J - He r ge nr e |
D. Po l e k, E. Ga s t a l di , W. C l e ar y, K. Ebe r har d, R. C ar abi n, E. Morgan
R. Gama, H. Fo nt ai ne , L. Ani o l , and B r o t he r Aqu inas .
-
R. Schi bl i n
Edi t o r
fOR uiAR D
Se ve r al ye a r s ago , a t Oconomowoc, Wi s co ns i n, a gr o u p o f f ac-
u l t y and s t u de nt s wo r ke d o u t an Engl i s h t r a ns l a t i o n o f t he VfUDUA
Con^ZA&CLfUA. by St . Al p ho ns u s Li qu o r i . Thi s was a l i mi t e d e di t i o n. ,
mo s t l y f o r cl as s r o o m u s e . (C f . , I nt r o du ct i o n)
Wit h t he r e ne wal o f t he Sacr ame nt o f Re co nci l i at i o n, wi t h
t he r e ne we d s t u dy and di s c u s s i o n o f t he new r i t e , we t ho u ght i t
wo u l d be o p p o r t u ne t o make t he VhnXAj, avai l abl e t o a l a r g e r au di -
e nce o f Re de mp t o r i s t s .
Ve r y Re v. J o s e p h L. Ke r i ns , C . SS. R. has gr aci o u s l y agr e e d. .
t o f i nance t he new e d i t i o n and has as ke d t h a t t he VA.CUCL6 be s e nt
t o a l l t he c o nf r e r e s .
Re v. Ro be r t J . Mi chal i k, C . SS. R. has do ne a gr e at s e r vi ce
by p r e p ar i ng t he manu s cr i p t f o r t h i s new e di t i o n. He has c a r r i e d
t he wo r k t hr o u gh f r o m t he f i r s t s t e p t o t he l a s t .
We s e r i o u s l y ho p e t h a t t h i s Engl i s h ve r s i o n o f t he VKHXAA
wi l l be o f he l p t o many Re de mp t o r i s t s i n t h e i r de manding wo r k as
C o nf e s s o r s and Sp i r i t u a l Di r e c t o r s .
DANIEL L. LOWERY, C.SS.R.
RECTOR/PRESIDENT
MT. ST. ALPHONSUS
ESOPUS, NEW YORK
J A N U A R Y 5, 1978 - FEAST OF ST. JOHH WEUMAM/, C.SS.R.
I
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE:
CHAPTER TWO:
CHAPTER THREE:
CHAPTER TOUR:
CHAPTER Tl\JE:
CHAPTER SIX:
CHAPTER SEVEN:
CHAPTER EIGHT:
CHAPTER NINE:
CHAPTER TEN:
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
Fo u r Du t i e s o f C o nf e s s o r
Gu ide f o r He l p i ng Unp r e p ar e d Pe ni t e nt s 27
De al i ng wi t h Var io u s Pr o f e s s i o nal s
Occas i o ns o f Sin
Habi t u ar i e s and Re ci di ve s
C e ns u r e s , Re s e r vat i o ns , Imp e dime nt s
Sp e ci al Si t u at i o ns
C o nf e s s i o nal Pr u de nce
The Gu idance o f De vo u t So u l s
A Word t o Pas t o r s
As s i s t i ng t he Dying
49
55
63
75
88
104
111
149
168
Imroducii io n
Without a doubt, God will richly reward priests who are consci-
entious confessors.* To work for the salvation of one's fellow men is
to assure oneself of salvation. As St. James puts it: "Let him know
that whoever brings a sinner back from his erroneous ways, will save
his soul (and the Greek text shows that this means the soul of the one
that does the converting) and will win the forgiveness of many sins."
(James 5/20)
The Church grows sad when she sees so many Catholics on their
way to Hell due to the ignorance and carelessness of bad confessors.
The salvation of souls, she knows, depends to a great extent on the
guidance given them in confession. Pope St. Pius V once said, "Let
us have good confessors and we shall witness the transformation of all
Christians." If only all confessors had that degree of learning and
piety which their office demands, the world would not be so filled
with sin, nor would Hell be so peopled with the souls of baptized
Catholics.
When I say "piety" I mean more than the mere state of grace. I
mean a genuine moral goodness with which he must nourish not only him-
self, but even his penitents. He must guide their consciences, and
therefore he must be neither too indulgent nor too severe. He must
deal with the disease of sin without becoming infected himself. He
must discuss things with women and children which they are embar-
rassed to mention and yet not be hurt himself. He must be coura-
geous in dealing with those whom the world honors and treat them with^"
out human respect. In a word, he must be rich in his charity, gentle
in his meekness, and self-possessed in his prudence.
6.
To do all this demands more than ordinary holiness. He needs
a degree of virtue which will never be his unless he is a friend of
prayer, faithful to his daily meditation. For these two means -
prayer and meditation * are the only ways to win the graces and
lights necessary for the lofty office of hearing confessions. It
is an office, some say, which would put even the angels to the test.
Without further ado, let us begin this small work on the man-
ner of hearing confessions. As we go along, I will refer many times
to my Moral Theology where matters are treated more at length. I rec-
ommend that work to the reader, if he wishes to see more of the proofs
and explanations.
*The reader will note that the paragraph numbering has been omitted.
The only practical reason I could think of for keeping it was to fa-
cilitate reference to the original. However, before me I have four
copies of the RtaxcA and each has a different set of paragraph num-
bers. For that reason, I think our system of sub-titles will do a
better job of facilitating reference than the paragraph numbers.
Editor.
CHAPTER ONE
four Duft
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OC Co\>CSSOVS
THE ROLE OF FATHER
In o r de r t o be a f at he r t o hi s p e ni t e nt s , t he co nf e s s o r must
have char i t y. He mu s t show hi s l o ve f i r s t o f a l l by r e ce iving e v-
e r yo ne who comes t o him f o r co nf e s s io n wit h kindne s s - whe t he r t he y
be p o o r o r u ncu l t u r e d o r e ve n s i nne r s . Some p r i e s t s wi l l he ar onl y
de vo u t s o u l s ; o t he r s he ar o nl y t he we al t hy be cau s e t he y do no t have
ne r ve enough t o t u r n t he s e away. But i f some p o o r s i nne r comes t o
co nf e s s io n, he wi l l he ar him be gr u dgingl y and t he n cu r t l y s e nd him
away. And s o i t hap p e ns , t hat t r o u bl e d s o u l s - who o f t e n have t o
f o r ce t he ms e l ve s t o come t o co nf e s s io n - become e mbit t e r e d when
t he y s e e how r u de l y t he y ar e r e ce ive d. They imagine t hat t he r e i s
no one who wi l l he l p and abs o l ve t he m, and t he n t he y s l i p back i nt o
t he i r habi t s o f s i n, in de s p ai r of t he i r s al vat i o n.
A good co nf e s s o r wi l l act f ar di f f e r e nt l y. When s u ch a s i n-
ne r comes t o him, he wi l l welcome him wit h kindne s s and even wit h a
no t e o f t r iu mp h at t he gain he has be e n f o r t u nat e enough t o s nat ch
from t he de vi l ' s gr as p . He r e al i ze s t hat t hi s s acr ame nt was i ns t i -
t u t e d p r i nci p al l y f o r s i nne r s - no t t he j u s t , be cau s e ve ni al s ins
can be removed in many ways o t he r t han co nf e s s io n. He remembers
t he words of C hr i s t : " I t i s my mis s io n t o cal l s i nne r s , and no t t he
s a i nt s . " (Mk 2/17) C l o t hing hims e l f wit h s e nt ime nt s o f co mp as s io n,
as t he Ap o s t l e s ays , (Col 3/ 12), he wi l l s oon dis co ve r how many men
ar e s unk in t he de p t hs of s i n. In o r de r t o win them back t o God,
t he n, he mu s t r e ce i ve them wit h de e p l o ve and l e t them s e e how much
he want s t o he l p t he m. Words s o me t hing l i ke t he s e may be ap p r o p r i-
at e :
8.
"The r e ' s no need t o be af r ai d. Take yo u r t ime and once you
ge t a ho l d o f yo u r s e l f you can t e l l yo u r s i ns . And t he r e ' s ho r e a-
s o n t o ho l d anyt hing back be cau s e yo u ' r e ashamed of i t . I f you ge t
s t u ck, I ' l l he l p you examine yo u r co ns cie nce - s o t he r e ' s no ne e d
t o wo r r y. Say a l i t t l e p r aye r o f t hanks t o Al might y God Who has
be e n good enough t o give you t ime t o come back t o Him. Now you can
s t a r t o ve r . God wi l l s u r e l y f o r give you al l yo u r s i ns - no mat t e r
how bi g t he y seem - j u s t as l o ng as you ar e s i nce r e l y s o r r y f o r
t he m. You've go t e ve r y r e as o n i n t he wo r l d t o be at p e ace no w. . " (1)
Next t he co nf e s s o r must show an even gr e at e r kindne s s as he
act u al l y he ar s t he co nf e s s io n. He must be car e f u l t o show no imp a-
t i e nce o r we ar ine s s . And above a l l , he must no t show t hat he i s as -
t o u nde d at t he s i ns , as l o ng as t he s i nne r i s no t s o cal l o u s and im-
p e r t i ne nt t hat he t e l l s hi s s i ns wit ho u t t he s l i ght e s t t o u ch o f
shame and dis co mf o r t . B e cau s e t he n he would be bo u nd, as we l l as he
co u l d, t o make t he s i nne r r e al i ze t he hide o u s ne s s o f hi s s i ns and
s hake him from hi s dange r o u s l e t har gy. However he s ho u l d no t i nt e r -
r u p t t he p e ni t e nt in o r de r t o make t hi s co r r e ct io n l e s t he f r i ght e n
him i nt o co nce al ing some of hi s s i ns . This i s t he o r dinar y t hi ng,
ye t at t ime s t he co nf e s s o r wi l l have t o i nt e r r u p t and co r r e ct r i ght
away. This i s ne ce s s ar y, f o r i ns t ance , when he co nf e s s e s some ve r y
gr e at s i n o r some habi t of s i n, in o r de r t o imp r e s s him wit h i t s
gr avi t y. St i l l t he co nf e s s o r mu s t be car e f u l no t t o i r r i t a t e t he
p e ni t e nt o r t o f r ight e n him. When he has f inis he d t he co r r e ct i o n,
he s ho u l d t e l l him r i ght away t o co nf e s s t he r e s t of hi s s i ns .
"OK, t he n, l e t ' s no t ge t u p s e t o ve r t h i s . Go d's mercy i s
bi gge r t han yo u r s i ns . So go on now and t e l l t he r e s t o f yo u r s i ns .
Do n' t ho l d anyt hing back. If yo u do , t h a t ' l l be a s acr i l e ge and
t hat wo u l dn' t be t he way t o f i ni s h t hi s now t hat yo u ' ve made s u ch
a good s t a r t . "
At t he end of t he co nf e s s io n, t he co nf e s s o r must make s u r e
t hat t he p e ni t e nt r e al i ze s t he gr avi t y o f hi s s ins and t he t e r r i -
f ying s t at e o f hi s s o u l , bu t t hi s he s ho u l d do wit h t he gr e at e s t
char i t y. He must s peak s e r i o u s l y i n o r de r t o br i ng t he p e ni t e nt
t o a be t t e r frame of mind, bu t i n s u ch a way t hat i t i s cl e ar he V
i s no t s p e aking in ange r bu t wit h a de e p l o ve and co nce r n f o r hi s
s o u l .
"Do you r e al i ze now how s i nf u l yo u r l i f e has be e n? Do you
r e al i ze a l l God has done t o de s e r ve t hi s i s t o l o ve you? He has
shown you no t hing bu t l o ve , and t hi s i s what you gave Him in r e -
t u r n. J u s t f o r a minu t e l e t ' s r e cal l who t hi s God i s - a B e ing
perfectly happy, in need of nothing - and He became man to show His
love for you - and died on the cross to save you from the pains of
hell. Where do you think you'd be now if you had died before to-
night? You know where you'd be - you'd be in hell - forever in hell
with no chance to escape it. The same thing will happen to you if
you go out of this confessional without the firm determination not
to sin, to change your life for the better. Sin can only bring you
unhappiness, here on earth and someday in hell. So wipe out the
past and start over. Turn your back on sin and come into the arms
of a God Who has waited to have you all these years. God wants to
give you His grace - I want to help. What do you say? Will you
make that determination?"
In order to draw his penitents to God, St. Francis de Sales
took time out to tell them of the peace that God's friends enjoy
in contrast to the unhappiness which fills the lives of those who
live as strangers to God. (2) Then the confessor should help the
penitent make an act of sorrow and absolve him if he is disposed.
Finally he should make suggestions as to how the sinner can keep
from sin, and then impose a penance on him.' But if the penitent
is incapable of absolution, the confessor should assign a day on
which he should return:
"I will expect you back on such-and-such a day. Meanwhile
put alot of trust in Our Lady and pray to her everyday. If I'm
not hearing confession when you get here, then come to the rectory
and have the brother at the door call me, and I'll be right down."
In short, be kind in sending him away. This is the way that
sinners will be saved - namely, with as much love as one can muster.
If, on the other hand, they come to a confessor who treats them
harshly, they will come to hate confession and put it off, and will
end up unabsolved and on their way to hell.
THE ROLE OF VOCTOR
To be able to prescribe the right remedy to his penitent's
spiritual sickness, the confessor must know its origin and cause.
Some confessors ask for nothing more than the number and the spe-
cies of the sins. As soon as they are convinced that the penitent
is disposed, they send him away almost without a word.
10.
A good confessor acts very differently. First he investi-
gates to find out how the sickness started and how grave it has be-
come. He asks if there is a habit of sin, if there are occasions -
some time or place or persons or circumstances that provoke him to
sin. In this way, he can do a better job of correcting the penitent,
of disposing him for absolution, and of giving him profitable reme-
dies for correcting his sins.
Next he makes the pertinent observations. Even though he
should treat his penitents as a loving father, still as a doctor
he is bound, when it is necessary, to warn and to correct them.
This is especially necessary in the case of the very sinful who
seldom come to confession. He should warn and correct everyone
who needs it, without respect of persons. It makes no difference
whether he be priest or prelate, governor or elite, as long as he
has confessed with little evidence of sorrow. Pope Benedict XIV
compares the words of the confessor to those of the preacher: "The
confessor's warnings are much more effective than those of the
preacher, for he knows the case in question and the preacher does
not. For this reason, he can make more pertinent warnings and
prescribe remedies which fit this particular sin." (3)
The confessor should never worry about the ones waiting in
line for confessions. As St. Francis Xavier said, it is better to
hear a few confessions well than to hear many which bear little
fruit. Confessors sin if they come across an indisposed penitent
and immediately tell him to leave the confessional, for fear of
wasting time with him. Learned theologians have said that, when
a penitent comes indisposed, the confessor is obliged as far as
possible to dispose him for absolution. To do this, he could tell
the penitent, for example, how much his sin's have offended God,
how great is his danger of being condemned to hell, and so forth.
And it makes little difference if others are waiting or even if
they leave without going to confession, for the confessor is re-
sponsible not for them, but for the one who is here and now in
the confessional.
The confessor is also obliged to instruct the penitent if he
is culpably ignorant of any point of natural or positive law. If he
is inculpably ignorant, it depends. If he is inculpably ignorant
of something necessary for salvation, then the confessor is obliged
to instruct him. If he is inculpably ignorant of some other matter
(of which he can be ignorant) - even something of the divine law,
the confessor should prudently decide whether the instruction will
be profitable for the penitent. If it will not be profitable, he
should not make the correction, but rather leave him in good faith.
1 1 .
The reason is: the danger of formal sin is a much more serious
thing than material sin. God punishes formal sin, for that alone
is what offends Him. This I proved more sufficiently in my Moral
Theology. (4)
For the same reason, it is also commonly taught that, if a
person has contracted an invalid marriage because of some occult
impediment and is in good faith, the confessor should leave them
in good faith when the impediment becomes known - as long as there
is no danger of infamy or scandal or of incontinence - and meanwhile
proceed to obtain the dispensation from the Sacred Penitentiary. If
one of these married partners comes to confession during this time
and accuses himself of not rendering the marriage debt, theologians
say that the confessor must even oblige him to it by making some
general statement about spouses being under grave obligation to
render the marriage debt to each other. (5)
How should the confessor act with a couple who are about to
contract an invalid marriage and there is prudent fear of formal
sin or of scandal, if he tells them about its nullity? In this case
the bishop has the same power of dispensing as he has in urgent dan-
ger of death, according to canon 1054. (6) And if recourse to the
bishop is difficult, and the grave danger of infamy or scandal can
in no way be avoided, the confessor can dispense occult cases, but
only in the internal sacramental forum.
The confessor should also admit to demand restitution when
he certainly foresees that the penitent, who is now in good faith,
would surely disregard his warning.
Nevertheless, the following cases are exceptions to leaving
the penitent in good faith:
1.) When the penitent's ignorance redounds to the harm of
the common good. The confessor is a defender of the good of soci-
ety and he is bound to prefer the public good to the private good
of his penitent, even when he realizes that the correction will be
useless. Consequently, he must always instruct rulers, confessors,
prelates, and parish priests who are neglecting their obligations,
because ignorance in these men - even if it is invincible - will
always hurt society. People will see what they are doing and con-
sider it all right to imitate them. Pope Benedict XIV teaches that
confessors must also correct the ignorance of those who frequent
the sacraments, lest others see what they are doing unchecked and
consider it licit. (7)
12.
2. ) Ano t he r cas e whe r e co r r e ct i o n o f i gno r ance mu s t al ways
be made : i f t he p e ni t e nt as ks abo u t s o me t hi ng, t he co nf e s s o r i s
t he n o bl i ge d t o i n s t r u c t him i n t he mat t e r . Fo r i n t h i s cas e t he
i gno r ance i s no t i nvi nci bl e i n s u ch a way t h a t i n s t r u c t i o n can be
o mi t t e d.
3. ) Ano t he r cas e whe r e c o r r e c t i o n mu s t be made : i f t he
co nf e s s o r r e a l i z e s t h a t t he p e n i t e n t wi l l qu i ckl y acce p t t he co r -
r e c t i o n , e ve n t ho u gh he wo u l d f i ght i t a t f i r s t . If t he r e i s a
do u bt abo u t whe t he r t he c o r r e c t i o n wi l l be he l p f u l o r har mf u l , f o l -
l o w t he s e r u l e s which I have o u t l i ne d i n my Mo r al The o l o gy: (8)
A. ) I f t he r e i s no p o s i t i v e r e as o n t o f e ar t h a t i t
wi l l har m t he p e n i t e n t , t he i ns t r u c t i o n s ho u l d
be made .
B . ) I f he do u bt s whe t he r t he co r r e ct i o n wi l l har m o r
he l p t he p e n i t e n t , t he co nf e s s o r s ho u l d we igh t he
har m and t he u s e f u l ne s s , and t he de gr e e o f f e ar
o f har m agai ns t t he ho p e o f f r u i t , and cho o s e t he
gr e a t e r .
f
C. ) Ot he r wi s e , he mu s t o r di na r i l y t r y t o avo i d f o r mal
s i n mo r e t han me r e ma t e r i a l s i n s .
Af t e r he has co r r e ct e d and i n s t r u c t e d t he p e n i t e n t , t he co n-
f e s s o r s ho u l d di s p o s e him f o r abs o l u t i o n by he l p i ng him make a c t s
o f t r u e s o r r o w and ame ndme nt . And l e t me war n co nf e s s o r s t h a t
t he r e ar e few p e ni t e nt s - e s p e c i a l l y among t he u ni ns t r u c t e d - who
come t o co nf e s s i o n wi t h p r e -made act s o f s o r r o w.
Some co nf e s s o r s t hi nk t he y have do ne e no u gh i f t he y me r e l y
as k t he p e ni t e nt s o me t hing l i k e t h i s : Do yo u want God t o p ar do n
t he s e s i ns ? (which i s no t a t r u e a c t o f s o r r o w) Or : Ar e yo u s o r -
r y f o r t he s e s i ns wi t h a l l yo u r h e a r t ? And wi t h no t hi ng e l s e ,
t he y go ahe ad and abs o l ve t he m.
Once agai n, a go o d co nf e s s o r wi l l act ve r y d i f f e r e n t l y , a t
l e a s t t o war d a p e ni t e nt who i s i n mo r t al s i n . He wi l l s p e ak t o him
t o make s u r e t h a t he has a t r u e s o r r o w and de t e s t a t i o n f o r h i s s i n s .
F i r s t he s ho u l d he l p him t o make an act o f a t t r i t i o n :
"Did yo u e ve r s t o p t o t hi nk whe r e yo u wo u l d be now i f yo u
had di e d i n s i n? He l l i s no t a ve r y ni ce p l a c e . You wo u l d be t he r e
now - s u f f e r i ng t he p ai ns o f h e l l - f i r e , r e j e c t e d f o r e ve r by Go d,
'
13.
never any hope-of eyen changing it all. This is what your sins
would have done. Make an act of sorrow, then, telling God that
you are sorry for having offended Him and having deserved hell."
Note that it is not enough for an act of attrition merely to say:
"sorry for my sins because they have deserved hell;" rather you
must say: "sorry for my sins because they have offended God and
deserved hell."
Next the confessor should try to draw the penitent to make
an act of contrition. "Your sins have not only deserved hell, they
have insulted the most loving Person that exists, they have made
light of a Person Who is nothing but Goodness and Lovableness. You
have turned away from Him and scorned His friendship and His grace.
Are you sorry for this more than anything in the world? Do you
hate the sins that you have thrown up in the face of so loving a
God? Are you willing to die a thousand deaths than ever commit
them again?"
Before going on we should note: if a penitent has obtained
absolution and then immediately confesses another sin, he must e-
licit a new act of sorrow before being absolved again, because
there is a new judgment to be made. (9)
Lastly the confessor should give a penance that he considers
will further the penitent's chances at salvation, that is, one that
is adapted to his particular condition and one that he judges will
be carried out. He should take note that even though Trent demands
a penance corresponding to the gravity of the sins, still he may,
for a just cause, lessen the penance for a number of reasons. (10)
For instance, if the penitent is really crushed with sorrow, if it
is a time of jubilee, or very specially if the penitent is suffer-
ing some illness of body or soul. And lastly when the confessor
prudently judges that a penance which corresponds to the sins will
not be fulfilled. We know that Trent teaches that penance and
sins should correspond to each other, but we say that besides this
the penance should correspond to the penitent's capability. In this
way, the penance will be a help and not a hindrance to the peni-
tent' s salvation. When it happens that the penance is neither
helpful to his salvation nor fitted to his particular strength or
weakness, then the penance is a poison and not a remedy. And yet
in this sacrament, amendment of one's life is the end intended,
rather than making all the satisfaction due for sin. The Ritual
says this very thing when it tells the confessor to have "the dis-
position of the penitent" in mind. (11)
M M
14.
St - Thomas has s o me t hing wo r t h co ns ide r ing on t h i s . "The
do ct o r do e s no t give me dicine s o s t r o ng t hat i t i s o u t o f p r o p o r -
t i o n t o t he p at i e nt ' s we akne s s , wit h t he r e s u l t t hat e ve n a gr e at e r
s ickne s s hi t s him. In a s i mi l ar way, gu ide d by a di vi ne imp u l s e ,
t he p r i e s t wi l l no t al ways imp o s e t he whol e p e nance demanded f o r a
s i n, l e s t t he p e ni t e nt de p ai r and abandon co nf e s s io n co mp l e t e l y. "
In ano t he r p l ace he s ays : "J u s t as a t i ny f i r e i s s mo t he r e d i f a
good de al of wood i s t hr o wn o n i t , s o i t can hap p e n t hat a p e ni -
t e nt ' s f i r s t weak s igns o f s o r r o w can be s mo t he r e d by an e xce s s ive
p e nance . " And he adds : " I t i s a good ide a i f t he p r i e s t l e t s t he
p e ni t e nt know how bi g a p e nance s ho u l d be give n, and t he n imp o s e s
one t hat t he p e ni t e nt can handl e . " And again he s ays : " I t i s s af e r
t o impose l e s s t han i s due r at he r t han t o o much, f o r God wi l l be
qu icke r t o f o r give e xce s s ive mercy t han e xce s s ive s e ve r i t y. What
i s mis s e d by e xce s s ive mercy can be made up f o r i n p u r gat o r y. " (12)
Ge r s o n, C aj e t an, and St . Ant o ninu s a l l t e ach t hat t he co n-
f e s s o r s ho u l d impose a p e nance which he p r u de nt l y t hinks t he p e ni -
t e nt wi l l be abl e t o handl e , and which he wi l l r e adi l y acce p t . If
t he p e ni t e nt maint ains t hat a p e nance i s t o o much f o r him i n hi s
weak co ndit io n, t he n, as t he s ai nt p o i nt s o u t , "No mat t e r how much
he has s inne d, he s ho u l d no t be r e f u s e d abs o l u t i o n, l e s t he de s -
p ai r . " (13) He go e s on t o s ay t hat i t i s enough i n a cas e l i ke
t hi s , t o impose t he ge ne r al p e nance u s ing t he wo r ds of t he Rit u al
"qiUdqiUd bonl izcoXli, ztc". In t hi s way a l l t he good t hat he
do e s wi l l be j o ine d t o t he Sacr ame nt , as St . Thomas t e ache s , and
be o f gr e at e r val u e i n s at i s f yi ng f o r hi s s i ns . (14) Many mo r al -
i s t s t e ach wit h p r o babi l i t y t hat t he r e i s j u s t cau s e f o r cu t t i ng
t he p e nance down i f t he co nf e s s o r t hinks t he p e ni t e nt wi l l be e n-
co u r age d t o come t o co nf e s s io n more o f t e n.
St . Thomas o f Vil l ano va give s a b i t o f wisdom i n t hi s l i ne :
"Impose an e as y p e nance , t he n e nco u r age t he p e ni t e nt t o more dif -
f i cu l t t hi ngs . " (15) I t i s good t o t e l l t he p e ni t e nt how bi g a
p e nance hi s s i ns have me r it e d. He go e s o n: "Even t ho u gh you u r ge
t he p e ni t e nt t o do more di f f i cu l t t hi ngs , e nd up imp o s ing o nl y
what you p r u de nt l y t hink he wi l l car r y o u t . " St . Fr anci s de Sal e s
s ays t hat i t would be a good i de a t o as k t he p e ni t e nt , i f he t hinks
he i s s t r o ng enough t o e xe cu t e t he r e gu l ar p e nance ; i f he do e s no t
t hink s o , t he n commute i t t o s o me t hing e l s e . (16) At t ime s i t i s
good t o s l i p i nt o t he p e nance (bu t no t 4u6 g/iavX.) a gr ave p e nance
o r an o bl i gat i o n due on some o t he r t i t l e .
From al l t hat has be e n s ai d, i t s ho u l d be cl e ar t hat co n-
f e s s o r s act imp r u de nt l y i f t he y impose p e nance s t hat ar e beyond
15.
the strength of their penitents. How many are there who do not hes-
itate to absolve indisposed recidives, foolishly thinking that they
will cure them by burdening them with a grave penance, even when
they realize that it will not be carried out? For instance, for a
man who barely gets to confession once a year, they impose "weekly
confession for a year"; for a man who ordinarily does not say five
decades over the space of a week, they impose "fifteen decades a
day"; or what is more ridiculous , they impose disciplines and men-
tal prayer on those who have not even heard the words. What will
come of this? -Erven though they accept the penance in order to get
absolution, they will afterwards do nothing about fulfilling it.
Then they think (especially the uninstructed Catholics) that they
automatically lapse back into sin because they think that confession
is no good without the penance. They end up falling into their old
way of life, and afraid at the thought of having to fulfill such a
penance, they live out their days in sin. This is what comes of
penances that are too big - some call them "fitting" (to the sin) ,
but they should call them extremely "unfitting".
However, outside these cases (namely, a penitent's weakened
condition or an extraordinary show of sorrow) the confessor is
wrong if he imposes a light penance for a grave sin. while this is
licit in certain circumstances, he should ordinarily impose a grave
penance which obliges AU.b QKO.V*.. In line with this, I will make a
few pertinent remarks:
1.) When a penitent forgets the penance, he is no longer
bound to anything, unless he can easily find out what
it was from the confessor who imposed it.
2.) The confessor cannot impose a public penance for oc-
cult sins; but he must impose a public penance if there
is no other way of removing scandal or of repairing
someone's reputation. Still he should not insist on
the public penance if the penitent is opposed to it
and can in some other way repair the scandal, such as
by frequenting the sacraments.
3.) Sometimes a penance can be imposed on the condition "if
the penitent will fall back into sin". But remember,
penances like this are not very often successful, es-
pecially if they stretch over a long period. He will
easily relapse into sin.
16.
4. ) I f a p e ni t e nt comes and as ks t h a t a p e nance imp o s e d by
ano t he r co nf e s s o r be co mmu t e d, many s ay t h a t t he who l e
co nf e s s i o n mu s t be r e p e at e d t o t h i s p r e s e nt co nf e s s o r
a t l e a s t i n ge ne r a l , s o t h a t he wi l l know t he s t a t e o f
co ns ci e nce . B u t many o t he r s s ay t h a t t h i s i s no t ne c-
e s s a r y, s i nce i t i s e no u gh i f t he new co nf e s s o r knows
t h a t t he p e n i t e n t ' s own s t r e ngt h i s no t u p t o s u ch a
bi g p e nance . He can f r o m t he p e nance al r e ady imp o s e d
ar gu e t o t he gr a vi t y o f t he s i ns f o r which i t was im-
p o s e d, and i n t h i s way gu i de hi ms e l f i n changi ng t he
p e nance . And p r o babl y t he co nf e s s o r hi ms e l f can make
t he move t o commute t he p e nance , i f he f o r e s e e s t hat
t he p e ni t e nt wi l l ve r y l i k e l y ne gl e c t t he p e nance a-
ga i n, as he has al r e ady do ne .
Ho we ve r , an i n f e r i o r co nf e s s o r may no t change a p e n-
ance imp o s e d by a s u p e r i o r f o r r e s e r ve d s i n s , u nl e s s
i t i s d i f f i c u l t f o r t he p e r s o n t o r e t u r n t o t he s u p e -
r i o r , o r u nl e s s a gr ave cau s e u r ge s t h a t t he p e nance
be change d. Fo r t he n he co u l d r e as o nabl y p r e s u me t he
s u p e r i o r ' s p e r mi s s i o n.
5. ) The p e nance canno t be change d o u t s i de o f co nf e s s i o n -
no t e ve n by t he same co nf e s s o r . Thi s can be do ne o nl y
r i g h t af t e r a bs o l u t i o n, be f o r e t he p e ni t e nt has l e f t
t he co nf e s s i o nal .
As t o what p r e ci s e p e nance s s ho u l d be imp o s e d, r e me mbe r t ha t
t he p e nance i s s u p p o s e d t o be no t o nl y a r e me dy, bu t a s a t i s f a c t i o n
f o r p a s t g u i l t as we l l . C o ns e qu e nt l y, mo r t i f i c a t i o n o f t he s e ns e s
s ho u l d be imp o s e d f o r s i ns o f s e ns u a l i t y , al ms gi vi ng s ho u l d be im-
p o s e d f o r s i ns avar i ce , p r aye r f o r bl as p he my, and s o o n. B u t he
s ho u l d al s o t ake i nt o acco u nt what wi l l be b e t t e r and mo r e he l p f u l
f o r t h i s p a r t i c u l a r p e ni t e nt . Whil e i t i s ve r y he l p f u l t o imp o s e
f r e qu e nt at i o n o f t he Sacr ame nt s , me nt al p r a ye r , and al ms gi vi ng i n
t he ms e l ve s , i t wo u l d be har mf u l f o r o ne who i s no t u s e d t o s u ch
t h i n g s . The f o l l o wi ng ar e f o r t he mo s t p a r t go o d p e nance s f o r e v-
e r yo ne : j o i ni ng a c o nf r a t e r ni t y, making an a c t o f s o r r o w e ach e ve -
ni ng f o r a c e r t a i n t i me , making some p a r t i c u l a r r e s o l u t i o n e ach
mo r ni ng s ayi ng wi t h St . Ph i l i p Ne r i : "Lo r d d o n ' t l e t me o u t o f yo u r
s i g h t t o day o r I ' l l t u r n my back o n yo u . " Making a da i l y v i s i t t o
t he B l e s s e d Sacr ame nt and t o an image o f Mary as ki ng f o r t he gr ace
o f p e r s e ve r i ng i n t he s t a t e o f gr ace . Saying a t l e a s t f i ve de cade s
o f t h e r o s a r y. Saying t hr e e Hai l Mar y' s mo r ning and e ve ni ng wi t h
t he p r a ye r : "My Mo t he r , he l p me no t t o o f f e nd God t o day. " (This
I
17.
penance I always impose, or at least advise.) Reminding themselves
before they go to bed that they could now be in the fire of hell or
that they will one day die in this very bed. For some (especially
clerics), reading each day from a spiritual book. But St. Francis
de Sales warns that the penitent should not be loaded with too many
things lest he be confused and frightened away. (17)
With regard to the remedies which should be given to the pen-
itent, there are general ones and particular ones. The general ones
are:
1.) To love God, since He has created us for no other pur-
pose. He should make sure that the penitent knows a-
bout the interior peace that comes from friendship with
God; and the hell-on-earth which is the lot of God's
enemies.
2.) To pray to the Blessed Virgin, especially by saying the
Rosary. They should pray to their guardian angel and
patron saint as well.
3.) To frequent the sacraments. Especially tell them to go
to confession immediately, if they should ever fall in-
to mortal sin again.
4.) To meditate on the eternal truths, especially on death.
Encourage the father of the family to make a daily med-
itation with his family, or at least to say the rosary
with them.
5.) To practice the Presence of God, saying in the midst of
temptation, "God is watching me."
6.) To make an examination of conscience each evening, with
sorrow and a determination not to sin again.
7.) For the laity, to join some confraternity, for priests,
to make mental prayer before Mass and a thanksgiving
after it, or at least to make some spiritual reading
before and after Mass.
Special remedies should be given for the different habits of
sin. For instance, if a man hates another, suggest that he pray for
the one he hates each day by reciting an Our Father or a Hail Mary
18.
f o r him. If he i s bo t he r e d by t he memory of some i nj u s t i ce do ne t o
him, t e l l him t o c a l l t o mind t he i ns u l t s he ap e d upon C hr i s t . If a
s inne r has f al l e n i nt o s i ns agains t t he s i xt h commandment, he mu s t
be t o l d t o avo id i dl e ne s s and t o s t ay away from bad co mp anio ns and
o ccas io ns of s i n. If he has de ve l o p e d a bad s e x habi t o ve r a p e -
r i o d of t i me , he mu s t avo id no t o nl y t he p r o ximat e o ccas io ns o f s i n,
bu t even t he r e mo t e o ccas io ns which (be cau s e o f hi s we akne s s ) have
become p r o ximat e f o r him. I t i s e s p e ci al l y in t hi s cas e t hat t he
co nf e s s o r s ho u l d imp o s e t he t hr e e Hail Mar y's mo r ning and e ve ning
in ho no r of Mar y's p u r i t y, t e l l i ng him t o s ay t hi s p r aye r be f o r e
he r image , and t o i ncl u de a new r e s o l ve no t t o s i n and a f e r ve nt
p r aye r f o r p e r s e ve r ance . Bu t most of a l l t he co nf e s s o r s ho u l d s e e
t o i t t hat a p e r s o n wit h t hi s kind of habi t go e s t o Holy Communion
f r e qu e nt l y, f o r Communion i s cal l e d "t he wine s p r inging f o r t h v i r -
gins . "
If a p e ni t e nt i s i n t he habi t of bl as p he ming, t he co nf e s s o r
s ho u l d u r ge him t o make f i f t e e n cr o s s e s on t he e ar t h wit h hi s t o ngu e
e ach t ime he bl as p he me s , and t o s ay an Our Fat he r and a Hail Mary
e ach day t o make up f o r hi s bl as p he my. Each mo r ning when he ge t s
up he s ho u l d renew hi s r e s o l ve of acce p t ing e ach o ccas io n o f ange r
me e kl y, s aying t hr e e t ime s t o t he B l e s s e d Vi r gi n, "My Lady, give
me p at i e nce . " This wi l l s e r ve no t o nl y t o win f o r him Mar y' s he l p ,
bu t al s o t o ge t him u s e d t o s aying t he s e wor ds i ns t e ad o f bl as p he my.
The co nf e s s o r s ho u l d as s ign o t he r r e me die s f o r o t he r s i ns -
acco r ding t o hi s own p r u de nt j u dgme nt as t o t he cir cu ms t ance s , t he
p e r s o n, and hi s di s p o s i t i o ns .
THE HOLE Of TEACHER
"Fo r t he l i p s o f t he p r i e s t ar e t o ke e p kno wl e dge , and i n-
s t r u ct i o n i s t o be s o u ght from hi s mo u t h. " (Mai 2/7) I t i s t he
co nf e s s o r ' s du t y t o know t he l aw we l l , i n o r de r t hat me may e xe r -
ci s e t he o f f i ce o f t e ache r , f o r i f he i s igno r ant o f i t , nat u r al l y
he canno t t e ach i t t o o t he r s . Note t hat St . Gr e go r y cal l s t he t as k
of di r e ct i ng s o u l s t hr o u gh l i f e t o e t e r nal s al vat i o n t he a r t o f
a r t s . "Gu idance o f s o u l s i s t he gr e at e s t of a r t s . " (18) St . Fr anci s
de Sal e s s ai d t hat t he o f f i ce o f he ar ing co nf e s s io ns i s t he mo s t di f -
f i cu l t of a l l , be cau s e t he co nf e s s o r ' s knowl edge i s f o r no t hing e l s e
t han e t e r nal s al vat i o n; i t i s t he most di f f i cu l t of a l l , be cau s e i t
demands a kno wl e dge o f a l l s ci e nce s , p r o f e s s io ns and a r t s , be cau s e
mo r al t he o l o gy i t s e l f e mbr ace s s o many f ace t s of l i f e , and be cau s e
19.
it consists in so many positive laws, and sacred canons which he
must be able to interpret properly. And on top of all this, each
case and each absolution differs because of a myriad of circum-
stances . Some men who call themselves great theologians look with
disdain on moral theology which they call casuistry and study only
briefly. They say it is enough to know the general principles and
then one can hear confessions well. No one can deny, of course,
that each particular case should be solved by principles, but we
do say that where the difficulty lies is in trying to apply the
principles to this particular case, entangled as it is in so many
different circumstances. The problem lies in knowing which prin-
ciples to apply to this case, and this cannot be done without care-
ful attention to the reasons on each side. Now this is precisely
what moral theology has done - it has gone into detail showing
which principles should be used in solving many different cases. In
our day, there are so many laws, so many decrees, so many responses
that the ordinary priest cannot possibly know them except with the
help of the casuists who collect them, and solve so many practical
problems which the confessor can easily find. New authors are, con-
sequently, more useful than older ones.
With good reasons does one author say that many theologians,
while they know so much about the speculative sciences, are so ig-
norant of moral matters which, as Gerson says, are the most diffi-
cult of all. (20) There is not one so learned that he cannot at
times learn something new in this field. It follows that confessors
may never interrupt their study of moral theology. The learned
Sperelli says that confessors are wrong if they spend their time in
other studies to the neglect of moral. Afterwards they cannot dis-
tinguish one sin from another, with the result that both confessor
and penitent are rushed into eternal damnation.
We do not deny, however, that less learning is needed for
hearing the confessions of simple people than of politicians, busi-
nessmen, clerics and the like. Less knowledge too is needed to hear
confessions in the country than in the city, especially if it is a
place without a priest, and the people are left with the alternative
of not going to confession for a long time. Still there is no excuse
for the confessor who goes into the confessional unprepared. It is
necessary that the confessor know at least some basic things:
1.) He should know how far his jurisdiction extends. Each
priest must remember that he needs special faculties to
hear the confession of religious women and their nov-
ices. (21) However, any priest could validly and licit-
ly absolve any religious woman granting these conditions
a. ) t hat t he p r i e s t be ap p r o ve d by t he o r dinar y of t he
p l ace f o r he ar ing co nf e s s io ns of women (wit ho u t t hi s
t he co nf e s s io n woul d be i nval i d) ;
b. ) t hat t he r e l i gi o u s as k him s e r i o u s l y e i t he r in s i ck-
ne s s o r f o r qu i e t of co ns cie nce , e i t he r by ap p r o ach-
ing a co nf e s s o r who i s t he r e f o r some o t he r p u r p o s e
o r he r s e l f cal l i ng a co nf e s s o r t o come;
c. ) t hat t he co nf e s s io n be in a chu r ch, o r at o r y, o r a
p l ace de s ignat e d e ve n pA mocklin dcXiLi,} i f t hi s co n-
di t i o n i s mis s ing t he co nf e s s io n would be i nval i d.
Each co nf e s s o r s ho u l d know which s i ns and ce ns u r e s ar e r e -
s e r ve d, at l e as t t ho s e which he i s l i ke l y t o me e t more o f t e n. We
wi l l l i s t t he p r i nci p al o ne s :
RESERVED TO THE HOLY SEE SPEC IALISSIMO MOPO
a. ) Sacr i l e gi o u s abu s e of t he co ns e cr at e d s p e ci e s .
b. ) Vio l e nt l ayi ng o f hands on t he Po p e .
c. ) Abs o l ving o r f e igning abs o l u t io n of o ne ' s
acco mp l ice i n a s i n of imp u r it y,
d. ) Dir e ct vi o l at i o n of t he s acr ame nt al s e al .
RESERVED TO THE HOLY SEE SPEC IAL! MOPO
a.)
b.)
c.)
d.)
e.)
Apostasy, Heresy,- Schism.
Editing books of apostates, heretics, or schismatics
which promote apostasy, etc.; also to defend or read
such books or others forbidden nomincutim.
Impeding the exercise of ecclesiastical jurisdiction,
by having recourse to the civil power.
False denunciation of a confessor for the crime of
sollicitation.
Forbidden YKLQOtiajtio for a cleric.
RESERVED TO THE HOLY SEE SIMPLICITER
a.) Enrolling in the masons or similar sects.
b.) Violation of the clausura of nuns or regulars.
c.) Engaging in a duel or being an accomplice in one,
2 1 .
RESERVED TO THE ORDINARIES
a. ) Mar r ying be f o r e a no n-C at ho l ic mi ni s t e r , bap t i zi ng
o r e du cat ing o ne ' s chil dr e n as no n-C at ho l ics .
b. ) Vio l e nt t r e at me nt o f a cl e r i c o r a r e l i gi o u s .
c. ) Abo r t io n, Q.^Zdtu. Ataito.
d. ) Ap o s t at e s from r e l i gi o n, and r e l i gi o u s f u gi t i ve s
in i>a.cAJJ> (s u s p e ns io n) .
e . ) Mar r iage in s imp l e p e r p e t u al vows .
2. ) C o nf e s s o r s s ho u l d know, s e co ndl y, how t o di s t i ngu i s h
ve ni al s i ns from mo r t al s i ns , at l e as t t ho s e of com-
mon o ccu r ance . As t o t ho s e t hat ar e no t common, t o
know at l e as t enough t o ge t a do u bt .
3. ) They s ho u l d know f i nal l y which qu e s t io ns t he y s ho u l d
as k; t he cir cu ms t ance s of t he s i ns at l e as t t ho s e t hat
change t he s p e ci e s ; what co ns t i t u t e s t he p r o ximat e o c-
cas io n of s i n; what indu ce s t he o bl i gat i o n of r e s t i t u -
t i o n; what kind of s o r r o w and r e s o l ve ar e ne ce s s ar y;
and f i nal l y which remedy s ho u l d be give n i n o r de r t o
he l p t he p e ni t e nt o u t of hi s s i nf u l habi t .
Any co nf e s s o r who dar e s t o he ar co nf e s s io n wit ho u t s u f f i -
ci e nt knowl edge i s ce r t ai nl y in a s t at e of damnat io n. God Hims e l f
condemns him: "Since you have r e j e ct e d kno wl e dge , I wi l l r e j e ct
you from my p r i e s t ho o d. " (Osee 4/6)
Even t he ap p r o val o f t he bis ho p wi l l no t e xcu s e him, i f t he
p r i e s t i s cl e ar l y inco mp e t e nt . The ap p r o val wi l l no t inf u s e t he ne -
ce s s ar y kno wl e dge , r at he r i t s ho u l d p r e s u p p o s e i t . However l e t me
has t e n t o add: i f a co nf e s s o r o nl y do u bt s abo u t hi s co nf ide nce , l e t
t he s u p e r i o r ' s j u dgme nt r e - as s u r e him as l o ng as he t r i e s di l i ge nt -
l y t o f i t hims e l f f o r t he t as k.
As I s aid be f o r e , no co nf e s s o r mu s t e ve r l ay as ide hi s s t u dy
of mo r al t he o l o gy. The f ace t s o f t hi s s cie nce ar e s o many and s o
var i e d t hat e ve n i f he has s t u di e d much, he wi l l e as i l y f o r ge t them
af t e r a p e r io d of t ime be cau s e some t hings t hat he s ho u l d know wi l l
hap p e n s o s e l do m. Fo r t hi s r e as o n, he s ho u l d r e vie w hi s mo r al t he -
o l o gy o ve r and o ve r .
22.
THE ROLE OF JUVGE
The l as t r o l e o f a co nf e s s o r - t hat o f j u dge - i s ve r y im-
p o r t ant . J u dge s ar e o bl ige d t o l e ar n t he f act s , t o examine t he
p r o o f s , and t he n t o p as s s e nt e nce . The co nf e s s o r must l e ar n t he
s t a t e o f t he p a t i e nt ' s co ns cie nce , t he n f ind o u t hi s di s p o s i t i o ns ,
and f i nal l y imp ar t o r deny abs o l u t i o n.
As t o t he f i r s t du t y - t hat o f l e ar ni ng t he s t a t e o f t he
p e ni t e nt ' s co ns cie nce . I t s ho u l d be no t e d f i r s t o f a l l t hat t hi s
du t y i s p r i mar i l y t he p e ni t e nt ' s . Yet i t canno t be do u bt e d t hat
t he co nf e s s o r i s bound t o he l p him examine hi s co ns cie nce i f he
s e e s t hat t he p e ni t e nt has no t done i t we l l . He mu s t as k him
qu e s t i o ns , f i r s t as t o t he s i ns which he i s more l i ke l y t o have
co mmit t e d - t he n as t o t he i r number and s p e ci e s .
He must remember in p ar t i cu l ar f ive t hi ngs :
1.) I t i s e xt r e me l y wrong t o dis mis s t he u ni ns t r u ct e d p e n-
i t e nt , t e l l i ng him t o go o u t and examine hi s co ns cie nce
be t t e r . Fat he r Se gne r i cal l s t hi s an u np ar do nabl e e r -
r o r , and wit h good r e as o n. (22) Some men - f o r one
r e as o n o r ano t he r - f ind i t har d t o examine t he i r co n-
s cie nce s p r o p e r l y. When t he y ar e dis mis s e d wit ho u t
he l p , t he r e i s dange r t hat f e ar of t hi s di f f i cu l t y
wi l l ke e p them from co nf e s s io n and t he y wi l l be l e f t
in t he i r s i ns . Fo r t hi s r e as o n, t he co nf e s s o r s ho u l d
give them a hand i n e xamining t he i r co ns cie nce s . He
s ho u l d go t hr o u gh t he commandments, e s p e ci al l y i f t he y
ar e t he t yp e t hat ne gl e ct t he i r e t e r nal s al vat i o n and
ar e s t r ange r s t o t he t hings of God, l i vi ng o u t of co n-
t act wit h sermons and chu r che s . The e r r o r becomes
t r agi c i f be cau s e o f a l ack o f e xaminat io n he would
s e nd away some u ni ns t r u ct e d p e r s o n who had p r e vio u s l y
ke p t back a s in o u t of shame, e ve n i f i t would mean
do u bl ing back o ve r t he co nf e s s io ns of many ye ar s . And
a l l t he more s o , be cau s e of t he gr e at dange r t he r e
would be of hi s l o s i ng hi s s o u l , i f he did no t r e t u r n.
St i l l he s ho u l d no t qu e s t io n t o o minu t e l y. He s ho u l d
o nl y as k abo u t t ho s e s i ns which t he y co u l d e as i l y have
co mmit t e d, j u dging from t he i r co ndit io n and cap abi l i -
t i e s . And i f t he p e ni t e nt seems t o be p r o p e r l y i n-
s t r u ct e d and i s car e f u l in making hi s co nf e s s io n, i n-
cl u ding t he cir cu ms t ance s as be s t he can, t he co nf e s s o r
i s no t bound t o make any inqu ir y at a l l .
i i j i
23.
2.) The confessor should note secondly that it is better
to ask the necessary questions as soon as the penitent
mentions a thing, rather than wait till the end of the
confession. This way the confessor will not forget
what he was going to ask and will not have to ask the
penitent to repeat parts of his confession. This would
be a heavy burden on the penitent.
3.) Confessors should never think that they can pass a cer-
tain judgment on the gravity of a sin by asking a per-
son whether he thought it was mortal or venial. For the
penitent, as I know from experience, will very often
answer the first thing that comes to his mind. And if
the confessor repeats the same question a little fur-
ther on, the answer may be just the opposite.
4.) Concerning the number of sins that flow from a bad hab-
it, a certain number very often cannot be had. The con-
fessor should then try to learn the penitent's condi-
tion, that is, his manner of living, the relation of
the bad habit to other occupations, the amount of time
spent with the accomplice, the place where he spends
most time. Then he should try for the number by ask-
ing the penitent to tell him about how many times he
has sinned in a day or a week or a month, proposing
several numbers so that he can make a choice. And if
the penitent chooses the highest number, it is a good
idea to ask a higher number still.
Even with this, however, the confessor should not make
a certain judgment concerning the number. He should
note the frequency in general and make his judgment
general - whatever the number is before God. Some the-
ologians teach that with regard to internal habits of
sin, such as hatred, bad desires, and bad thoughts, it
is enough if you determine the period of time over
which the habit has lasted; but this is not entirely
satisfying to me, because of the different circum-
stances in which men live. Some live with few occa-
sions of bad thoughts; others are more easily influ-
enced by their passions. Therefore it is necessary in
addition to ask some general questions about the occu-
pation, the surroundings, and the passions which in-
fluence the individual. Only in this way can he make
a judgment concerning the number of internal acts.
24.
If after two or three questions, the confessor still
cannot make more than a confused judgment, he should
not be troubled. When he is dealing with such a
mixed-up and confused conscience, it is impossible to
expect for greater clarity.
5.) Finally the confessor should note that, even though
general confessions are most useful, he should not
be too demanding in having previous confessions re-'
peated. Father Segneri says that there is no obli-
gation to repeat confessions, except in the case
where that is clearly necessary or in the case of
some evident error. (23) The fact that a person has
relapsed into sin is not a certain sign that the con-
fessions have been invalid, especially if he did not
fall for some time, or if before he fell he made some
effort. It is different in the case where the peni-
tent falls almost immediately - two or three days
after the confession - without fighting the tempta-
tion at all. Here it seems almost certain that sor-
row and resolve were lacking.
...... M M * ;.- -,-.. . ,
25.
1. This series of exhortations has been somewhat edited to Ameri-
can idiom.
2. St. Francis de Sales, Avertissements aux conf. ch 1, art 2, #7.
3. Benedict XIV, Apostolica constitutio, June 26, 1749.
4. MT, Lib VI, n. 610 (Moral Theology of St. Alphonsus)
5. MT, Lib VI, n. 611
6. Brought up to date in keeping with the Code.
7. Benedict XIV, loc. cit.
8. These rules were taken from the Spanish edition of the PAOXC6
(Moriones, Madrid 1952). They are included in a footnote on
page 53, and taken from MT, Lib VI, n. 616.
9. A note was omitted here, which Gaude says was reversed by
Alphonsus in a later edition of MT.
10. Trent) sess 14, de Poenit, ch 8.
11. Roman Ritual, Ordo ministr. Sacr. Penit.
12. St. Thomas: Suppl. qu 18, art 4; Quodlib. 3, art 28
and Opusc. 65, de Offic. sacerd.
13. St. Antoninus, part. 3. tit. 17, cap. 20.
14. St. Thomas: Quodlib. 3, art 28.
15. St. Thomas of Villanova, Serm. in fer VI post Domin. IV
quadrag., n. 13, post med.
16. St. Francis de_ Sales: Avertissements aux conf. ch. 8, art. 1.
2 6.
17. St . Fr ancis de Sal e s ; Ave r t is s e r ae nt s aux co nf . ch. 8, a r t . 2.
18. St_. Gr e go r y; Re gu l ae p as t , l i be r , p ar t 1, ch 1.
19. St . Fr ancis de _Sal e s : Ave r t is s e me nt s au x co nf . , i nt r o .
20. Gio r danni, I s t r u z. p e r i no ve l l i co nf e s s o r i , p ar t I n . 18;
Ge r s o n, Tr . de Or at io ne , p ar t 3, i n f i ne .
21. This s e ct i o n o n co nf e s s io nal f acu l t i e s and o n r e s e r ve d s i ns
was t ake n from t he Sp anis h e di t i o n, in ke e p ing wit h t he
p r e s e nt co de o f canon l aw.
22. Se gne r i; I I C o nf e s s o r e i s t r u i t o , ch. 2, v. f.
23. Se gne r i; i bi d, ch 2, ve r s . med.
2 7.
CHAPTER TUO
VDUICL^ co r Hdp l nq
Uh pre. car t e l r init ait s
The reader should not expect a detailed treatment of the com-
mandments and precepts in this chapter. I have given that in my Mor-
al. Theology. Here I will limit myself to the things that confessors
should ask when they feel that the penitent has come into the confes-
sional unprepared. In one or the other case, I will note how the con-
fessional practice differs from the theoretical consideration.
FIRST COMMANDMENT
Ignorance o -the FoXtH
The confessor should question to see if the penitent knows the
principal mysteries of the faith, namely, that there is a God, that
he rewards good and punishes evil, the mystery of the Trinity and the
mystery of the Incarnation and Death of Jesus Christ. If the penitent
does not know these four mysteries, he is not capable of receiving ab-
solution, as Innocent XI made clear in his condemnation of proposition
sixty-four.
Ask him if he knows the creed, the commandments, the sacraments,
etc., at least with regard to the substance of these things.
28.
Fat he r Le o nar d o f Po r t Mau r i ce , t he f amo u s and b r i l l i a n t mi s -
s i o nar y, make s a go o d p o i nt when he s ays t h a t t he co nf e s s o r i s bo u nd
t o i n s t r u c t t he p e ni t e nt i n t he mys t e r i e s o f Fa i t h , a t l e a s t i n t he
f o u r p r i nc i p l e mys t e r i e s which we me nt i o ne d. And he go e s o n t o s ay:
" I t i s no t a good i de a t o s e nd u ni ns t r u c t e d p e o p l e away wi t h t he ad-
vi ce t h a t t he y s ho u l d f i nd s o me o ne e l s e t o t e ach t he m. Af t e r s u ch
advi ce , t he y wi l l do no t hi ng and wi l l r e main i n t h e i r i gno r ance u n-
t i l t h e i r de at h. The b e s t t h i n g , t he n, i s f o r t he co nf e s s o r t o gi ve
t he m a s ho r t i ns t r u c t i o n i n t he p r i n c i p a l mys t e r i e s . Have t he m make
wi t h him act s o f f a i t h , ho p e , l o ve o f God, and c o n t r i t i o n . The n l ay
u p o n t he m t he o bl i ga t i o n o f g e t t i n g i ns t r u c t i o n f r o m t h e i r p a s t o r ,
no t o nl y i n t he s e f o u r mys t e r i e s b u t i n a l l t he t r u t h s ne ce s s ar y by
ne ce s s i t y o f p r e c e p t . " (1)
I f yo u ar e de al i ng wi t h p e o p l e who , e ve n t ho u gh t he y ar e u n-
i ns t r u c t e d, wo u l d be o f f e nde d i f yo u qu e s t i o ne d t he m as t o t h e i r
Fa i t h , Sai nt Le o nar d s ays t h a t i t i s o p p o r t u ne t o t e l l t he m s o me -
t hi ng l i ke t h i s : "Say, how abo u t r e c i t i n g t he C hr i s t i an a c t s t o -
ge t he r . " And t he n whi l e making t he act o f Fai t h t he co nf e s s o r wi l l
i ncl u de a l l t he ne ce s s ar y t r u t h s : My God, be cau s e yo u ar e t he i n -
f a l l i b l e t r u t h and be cau s e yo u have r e ve al e d t h i s t r u t h t o yo u r
ho l y C hu r ch, I be l i e ve a l l t h a t t he C hu r ch p u t s f o r t h f o r me t o be -
l i e v e . I be l i e ve e s p e c i a l l y t h a t t he r e i s One God i n Thr e e Di vi ne
Pe r s o ns . I be l i e ve t h a t t he Son be came Man, di e d f o r u s o n a cr o s s \
and r o s e from t he de ad and we nt t o he ave n f r o m whe r e He wi l l o ne
day come t o j u dge a l l me n, c a l l i n g t he good t o e nj o y he ave n, s e nd-
i ng t he bad t o be t o r t u r e d i n e t e r n a l f i r e .
B e ne di ct XIV make s an i mp o r t ant o bs e r vat i o n, name l y t h a t yo u
mu s t de ny abs o l u t i o n t o t he p e r s o n who has cu l p abl y ne gl e ct e d t o
l e ar n t he t r u t h s o f f ai t h which ar e ne ce s s ar y bo t h by ne c e s s i t y o f
me ans and ne ce s s i t y o f p r e c e p t . I f a p e r s o n, o n t he o t he r hand, i s
i gno r ant o f t r u t h s ne ce s s ar y o nl y by ne c e s s i t y o f p r e c e p t , he can
be abs o l ve d i f he s i nc e r e l y p r o mi s e s t o l e ar n t he m. He r e i s what
t he Po p e s ai d o n t h i s s e co nd p o i n t : "The p e ni t e nt can be abs o l ve d
i f he ackno wl e dge s hi s v i nc i b l e i gno r ance and p r o mi s e s t h a t he wi l l
make s u r e t o l e ar n e ve n t hi ngs ne ce s s ar y wi t h ne ce s s i t y o f p r e c e p t . "
(2)
2. ) Su.pva>JjtloYi
Ask t he p e ni t e nt i f he has e ngage d i n o r t au ght s u p e r s t i t i o u s
p r a c t i c e s , u r ge d a no t he r ' s a s s i s t a n c e , whom he l e d t o co o p e r at e i n
hi s s i n .
29.
Point out to them that every superstitious practice, even
though done out of charity or in some necessity, is always illic-
it. In my Moral Theology I have given a fuller treatment of this. (3)
3.) Bad Con&eA6A-onA
Ask the penitent if he has omitted confessing any sins in
the past out of shame. This is a good question to ask those who
seldom get to confession. Ask if something is troubling them. And
if there is, encourage them to make a good confession this time,
to tell everything openly and with confidence, to get whatever
this thing is off their chest, etc.
One priest used to say that by asking this question about
past bad confessions, he kept many from making another bad con-
fession.
If you find out that there have been sacrilegious confes-
sions and want to determine how many, ask him how often he has
gone to confession and communion since his last good confession.
Ask him also if he has adverted to the sacrilege each time he went
to confession or communion, for it is possible to make a bad con-
fession and then afterwards forget about it. This is especially
the case if the bad confession took place in childhood. This point
is important for there is no obligation to repeat the confessions
they made while oblivious of the former bad confession.
Ask him if he knew he was not fulfilling his Easter duty
during these years of bad confessions. (4)
It is a good idea to ask this question about bad confessions
as you begin helping the penitent. If you do it later and discover
a bad confession, you merely waste time because the confession must
be gone over again, and there will probably be little change from
what has already been said.
Help them see what a serious sin it is to scorn the Blood
of Christ by concealing their sins.
Finally ask him if he has fulfilled the penances given him.
If he has not, find out if it was a case of forgetfulness, or be-
cause he did not want to, or because he put it "off intending to do
it later or to ask for a commutation. See if he thought he sinned
by putting it off like this.
30 .
4.) Scandal and Cooperation
Ask him i f he has i ndu ce d anyo ne t o s i n , i f he has acce p t e d
t he he l p o f o t he r s i n s i nni ng, o r i f he hi ms e l f co o p e r at e d i n t he
s i ns o f o t he r s . Ask bar t e nde r s i f t he y gave l i qu o r t o p e o p l e who
we r e al ways ge t t i ng dr u nk. Ask women i f t he y p r o vo ke d men t o bad
t ho u ght s by t h e i r i nde ce nt co nve r s at i o ns , o r j o ke s , by f l i r t i n g ,
o r by t he cl o t he s t he y wo r e .
As f o r co o p e r at i ng i n t he s i ns o f o t he r s . He r e t he co nf e s -
s o r mu s t know how t o di s t i ngu i s h be t we e n f o r mal and mat e r i al co o p -
e r a t i o n. The r e i s f o r mal co o p e r at i o n i f o ne co ncu r s i n t he s i nf u l
act i t s e l f , as i n f o r ni c a t i o n, o r when o ne co o p e r at e s i n t he bad
wi l l o f t he s i nne r , f o r e xamp l e by p r o t e ct i ng a t hi e f o r a mu r de r -
e r - f o r e nco u r age me nt i n s i n means s har i ng t he s i n n e r ' s bad i n -
t e nt i o n. Things l i ke t h i s ar e f o r mal co o p e r at i o n. The y ar e a l -
ways i l l i c i t be cau s e t he y ar e i n t r i n s i c a l l y wr o ng. (5)
The r e i s mat e r i al co o p e r at i o n i f o ne co ncu r s i n act i o n t h a t
i s i ndi f f e r e nt i n i t s e l f , bu t which t he age nt can u s e f o r an e v i l
p u r p o s e , s u ch as t o s e l l wine t o a man who want s t o ge t dr u nk. Ma-
t e r i a l co o p e r at i o n can be l i c i t i f t he r e i s a j u s t cau s e . Ho we ve r ,
t he j u s t cau s e mu s t be p r o p o r t i o nat e t o t he co o p e r at i o n. I have
c l a r i f i e d t h i s imp o r t ant co ns i de r at i o n i n my Mo r al The o l o gy. (6)
SECONV COMMIVMEhIT
7. ) PeAjuAu
The confessor should ask if the penitent has sworn falsely
in or out of court. If he has sworn falsely before a judge, he
sins against justice as well as religion, and can at times be bound
to make the truth known or to repair the damage he has caused.
If he swore, ask him if it was by God, by the saints, or by
his soul. If he swore by his conscience, or by faith (without ad-
ding Holy Faith or Faith of Christ) , he can most probably be ex-
cused of perjury and of grave sin.
The confessor should note that many ordinary people do not
consider it a grave sin to swear falsely, when no harm comes to
another. Nor do they think they are swearing falsely when they use
31.
some s u ch p hr as e , in o r de r t o t hr e at e n t he i r chi l dr e n, e ve n t hough
t he y do no t int e nd t o car r y i t o u t . At l e as t t he y do no t adve r t
t o t hat .
2. ) VOW
The confessor's first job here is to determine whether the
penitent has really made a vow, for ordinary people often confuse
the notions: desire, resolution, and vow. In trying to find this
out, it is useless to ask the penitent if he bound himself under
pain of mortal sin, because people quickly say no to such a ques-
tion. It is better to ask if he thought - at the time he made the
vow - that he would sin gravely in not keeping it. In this way,
you can deduce whether he bound himself seriously or lightly.
If the confessor discovers what is certainly a real vow, he
should find out whether the penitent thought it was a grave sin to
delay fulfilling it, as he did, or if he thought he was justified
by resolving to fulfill it later on.
It might be useful here to include some remarks on commu-
tation and dispensation of vows.
The private vows reserved to the Holy See are:
1.) that of perfect and perpetual chastity, and
2.) that of entering an order with solemn vows provided
both these vows are made absolutely, and after the per-
son's eighteenth birthday. (7)
Non-reserved vows can be dispensed for a just cause, pro-
vided this dispensation does not harm some third person. Those
who can dispense are:
1.) the local ordinary can dispense all his subjects and
even peAegAxiu. in his diocese;
2.) the superior of an exempt clerical institute can dis-
pense those under his care, namely, professed reli-
gious , novices and others who stay day and night in
the religious house as maintenance people, as students,
as guests, or as patients;
3.) those to whom the Holy See has given the faculty to
dispense.
J Z .
In this last group are confessors who belong to religious orders
who, by reason of an ancient privilege which the code did not ab-
rogate, can dispense all the vows of the faithful which the bish-
op can dispense.
As to commutation, the confessor must not be scrupulous in
this regard, because any reasonable motive is sufficient. To les-
sen the danger of breaking the vow would even be a sufficient rea-
son for commuting. He should not worry either, about whether the
matter substituted is equal, since exact equality is not demanded,
only a moral equality.
Ask the penitent if he ordinarily does some good work that
is not obligatory, or if he is inclined to one, and then commute
the vow to this. But the safest commutation for any kind of vow
is frequentation of the sacraments. Note that perpetual vows can-
be commuted to temporary vows provided due proportion is kept, and
that real vows can be commuted to personal and vice versa.
As to dispensation. For dispensation you need a greater
cause. Examples would be: a grave danger of breaking the vow,
great difficulty in keeping it, or the fact that the vow was made
with little thought or deliberation. It is always a good idea,
nevertheless, to add some commutation to the dispensation.
Both commutation and dispensation can be made outside of con-
fession unless the contrary is indicated in one's faculties. Consid-
ering everything, it is best to give them during confession.
3.) Blasphemy (8)
The confessor should ask the penitent if he has blasphemed,
that is, said or done anything that contained contempt or insult to
God. It suffices that he be conscious of the meaning of the words
or signs used; it is not necessary that he have the express inten-
tion of insulting God. To offer such contempt to someone close to
God, such as a saint, or to something close to God, such as His
Heaven, would be the same.
The confessor should distinguish this from a disrespectful
use of the Name of God or of Jesus in anger or thoughtlessness.
This is ordinarily only a venial sin.
Ask him if he'blasphemed in front of children, because then
there would be a sin of scandal besides.
33.
TKI RP COMMANDMENT
7. ) Obligation to HzaA MtiA-6
With r e gar d t o t h i s , t he co nf e s s o r s ho u l d as k t he p e ni t e nt i f
he de l i be r at e l y mis s e d Mass on Sundays o r ho l y days , i f he adve r t e d
t o t he f act o r i f i n mis s ing i t he do u bt e d abo u t t he t ime f o r t he
Mas s . For ve r y o f t e n a p e ni t e nt wi l l p u t o f f he ar ing Mass t i l l l a t e ,
e ve n t ho u gh he may hap p e n t o f ind a Mass and at t e nds i t , ne ve r t he -
l e s s he e xp o s e d hims e l f wit ho u t j u s t cau s e t o t he dange r of mis s ing
i t - and t hi s many u ni ns t r u ct e d p e ni t e nt s do no t accu s e t he ms e l ve s of .
If he s ays he did mis s Mas s , as k him t he r e as o n why, be cau s e
somet imes i t co u l dn' t be he l p e d. Examples of t hi s ar e :
1.) mo t he r s who canno t l e ave t he i r chi l dr e n al o ne ;
2. ) t ho s e who have some s ick p e r s o n t o car e f o r ;
3. ) t ho s e who have a j o b t hat canno t be mis s e d on Sunday;
4. ) t ho s e who do no t have cl o t he s f i t f o r chu r ch-go ing;
5. ) t r ave l l e r s who canno t ge t t o Mass wit ho u t gr e at dif -
f i cu l t y o r dange r .
2.) The. Obligation not to Wonk
Ask the penitent if he did forbidden servile work on Sundays
or holy days. If he answers yes, ask him:
How long he worked and what type of work it was. According
to the more common opinion of theologians one does not commit a mor-
tal sin if he keeps under two hours.. Others allow even a longer
time if the work is light or if there is some more notable reason.
If he says that he sometimes worked for more than two hours, some-
times less, ask him how many times he did this, thinking that he
was committing a grave sin. Instruct him also in the fact that it
is sinful to work for a long time, even when the work is done not
for pay but solely for enjoyment.
Ask him what reasons he had for working. Was he following
the custom of the locale, or was there necessity? -Certainly pov-
erty can excuse; poor people are ordinarily excused if they cannot
support themselves and their families without working on Sunday.
People who sew their clothes on Sunday because they could not sew
them on other days are also excused, and similar cases. But you
must correct the wrong notion that it is always permissible to work
on holy days, if you are not working for a wage.
Many theologians allow a man to work in order not to be idle,
if idleness is for him a probable danger of sin. I think this opin-
ion is valid only in very rare circumstances when a person is so
tempted that he cannot get rid of the temptation except by working.
Finally it sometimes happens that a man of the house will
force his wife and children to work on holy days; in such a case
they can be excused from the law forbidding servile work. At times
employees are told to work on Sunday by their employers, and at
times it is even impossible for them to get to Mass. In cases such
as this the employee is bound to quit the job unless there is some
written contract, or unless standing up to the boss like this would
result in serious inconvenience. (9)
Here the confessor might also stop to ask the penitent if he
broke the fast of abstinence on Fridays, on vigils, during Lent, and
at the Ember days.
FOURTH COIMAMWEHT
1.) ClUtdAzn
Ask chil dr e n i f t he y hat e t he i r p ar e nt s . He r e yo u would have
two s i ns , one agai ns t char i t y, t he o t he r agai ns t p i e t y.
Ask them i f t he y dis o be ye d t he i r p ar e nt s by r e f u s i ng t o f o l l o w
an e xp r e s s o r de r co nce r ning a s e r i o u s mat t e r , s u ch as no t go ing o u t
at ni ght , no t e ngaging i n s e r i o u s game s , no t hanging ar o u nd wit h bad
co mp anio ns , and s o o n.
But no t e : wit h r e gar d t o t he cho ice o f o ne ' s s t a t e i n l i f e ,
chi l dr e n ar e no t bound t o obey t he i r p ar e nt s . In f act p ar e nt s s i n
gr ave l y i f - wit ho u t some r e as o nabl e cau s e - t he y f o r ce t he i r c hi l -
dr e n i nt o mar r iage , i nt o t he p r i e s t ho o d, o r i nt o t he r e l i gi o u s l i f e .
They would al s o s i n i f t he y u nj u s t l y ke p t t he i r chi l dr e n from f o l -
l o wing t he r e l i gi o u s s t a t e i f t he chi l dr e n f e l t cal l e d t o i t .
r I:
. !"
35.
Ask if they showed disrespect for their parents, in word or
deed, or if they offered them a grave insult in their presence, as
would be the case if they called them drunkards, brutes, crooks,
fools, or if they expressed contempt for what they did or if they
did anything else to offer them grave injury. However, to call
them old or ignorant or stupid should not be condemned as mortal
sin absolutely, unless it did offend them gravely.
The child who shows such a lack of respect for his parents
must restore their wounded honor by asking their pardon, before
those in whose presence he insulted them. The confessor would not
act prudently, however, if he were to make the act of asking pardon
too humiliating a thing. And especially if he were to demand that
this humiliation be done before he would give the child absolution.
It is better to exhort them to ask pardon, rather than to impose it
as a grave obligation. (10)
2.) ?0Jl<LYlt>
Ask p ar e nt s i f t he y ar e f ai l i ng in t he i r o bl i gat i o n of e du -
cat ing t he i r chi l dr e n. In p ar t i cu l ar , as k them i f t he y check t o
s e e i f t he i r chi l dr e n know t he cat e chis m, t o s e e i f t he y go t o
Mass and t o t he s acr ame nt s , t o s e e i f t he y avo id bad co mp anio ns .
Ask p ar e nt s i f t he y have give n s candal t o t he i r chil dr e n by
bl as p he ming i n t he i r p r e s e nce and s o f o r t h. Ask them i f t he y f ai l e d
t o co r r e ct t he i r chi l dr e n, e s p e ci al l y i n mat t e r s of t he f t .
Ask i f t he y al l o we d t he i r t e e n-age dau ght e r t o br ing home a
bo yf r ie nd and be al o ne wit h him. Check above a l l i f t he y have
t he i r chi l dr e n s l e e p i ng in t he same be d wit h t he m, o r i f t he y have
br o t he r s and s i s t e r s s l e e p i ng t o ge t he r .
Ask them i f t he y p r o vide s u f f i ci e nt food f o r t he i r chi l dr e n.
Ask t he m, f i nal l y, i f t he y have u nj u s t l y f o r ce d a chi l d i nt o
a s t at e o f l i f e agai ns t t he chi l d' s wi l l , f o r t hi s would be a mo r t al
s i n. whil e t hi s may seem ne gl i gi bl e t o t he m, i t i s t he cau s e o f
gr ave harm bo t h t o t he chi l d and t o t he chu r ch.
3. ) HuAbandi, and wViue.6
Ask hu s bands i f t he y have p r o vide d f o r t he f amil y.
-- t he y have i r r i t a t e d t h e i r hu s bands , e ve n t o t he
ASK
v - T t h e x bl as p he me . And as k t he m i f t he y have f u l f i l l e d
p o i nt o f making
r e g a r d t o
t he mar r i age a c t . Many a woman damns
t h e i r o bl i gat i o n ^
b e c a u s e o f f a
i i
u r e
i n t h i s ma t t e r . If t he
he r s e l f and he r ^ ^
h
. ^
h& s d r a w n i n t o a m u l t i t u d e o f
hu s band i s
d e
^
e
o f
^ 1 3 , t he co nf e s s o r mu s t be car e f u l t o s p e ak
s i ns . In s p e ^ o be di e nt t o yo u r hu s band i n t he act s
i n ge ne r al
t e r i
~ '
r i a g
e ? o r do yo u have any anxi e t y wi t h r e gar d
which p e r t a m t o qu e s t i o n i s u nne ce s s ar y i n t he cas e o f
t o yo u r mar r i e d i
i i e
; . ? , _
-, ^ ;
n n
a s o l i d s p i r i t u a l l i f e ,
a woman l e adi ng a SWJ. r
FI FTH COMMAWPMEMT
St n
D
at Pc^Lr i
J
Ask a p e r s o n i f he de l i ght e d i n some mi s f o r t u ne s u f f e r e d by
hi s ne i ahbo r o r i f
n e
wi s he d e v i l u p o n him. In t h i s mat t e r , t he
p e ni t e nt mu s t s p e cif y t he var i o u s t hi ngs he has wis he d u p o n hi s
ne i ahbo r - f o r i ns t ance , de a t h, l o s s o f ho no r , l o s s o f we al t h, e t c .
Each o f t he s e i s nu me r i cal l y d i s t i n c t when he e f f i caci o u s l y wi l l e d
t o i n f l i c t t he m on him, o r whe n he s p e c i f i c a l l y want e d o ne i n p a r -
t i c u l a r t o be f al l him. On t he o t he r hand, acco r di ng t o a p r o babl e
o p i ni o n i t i s no t ne ce s s ar y t o s p e ci f y e ach d e s i r e , i f he o nl y de -
s i r e d t he m as one gr e at mi s f o r t u ne , t h a t i s , i f he de s i r e d t he m a l l
as means co nt r i bu t i ng t o h i s ne i ghbo r ' s f a l l .
C o nf e s s o r s o f t e n have t r o u b l e f i gu r i ng o u t whe t he r t he cu r s e s
o f o r di nar y p e o p l e ar e mo r t al s i ns o r o nl y v e ni a l . To f i nd o u t :
1.)
2.)
3.)
First see whether the penitent at the time he uttered
the curse really wanted it to be fulfilled. But this
alone is not enough to make a certain judgment. Con-
sequently!
ask whether the curse was aimed at a member of the
family or at someone else. When a person curses a
relative - especially his own children or his wife
or parents - it is ordinarily not done maliciously.
Finally find out what occasioned the curse. If it
was made is a grave outburst of anger, then it is
very possible that there was a malicious desire.
:
i
I'
37.
It will not suffice if the penitent tries to excuse his curs-
ing by saying that he desired the evil only in the act of cursing
and not afterwards, That in itself is enough to make the curse a
mortal sin. The confessor should ask the number of sins and judge
them at least as they are before God. If the person is a recidive
in this vice, he should not be absolved unless he first corrects
his ways or shows signs of extraordinary sorrow.
2.) ImuZii
Ask t he p e ni t e nt i f he has s e r i o u s l y o f f e nde d hi s ne ighbo r ,
and i f t hi s was done in t he p r e s e nce o f o t he r p e o p l e . If i t was
done be f o r e o t he r s , he i s bound t o r e s t o r e t he ne i ghbo r ' s good
name in t he p r e s e nce o f t ho s e o t he r s by as king hi s f o r give ne s s o r
by giving some p r o o f o f hi s e s t e e m f o r t he one he has i nj u r e d.
This o bl i gat i o n ce as e s i f t he co nf e s s o r p r u de nt l y j u dge s
t hat t he inj u r e d p ar t y has waive d hi s r i ght , o r i f he r e f u s e s t o
r e ce ive a p u bl i c ap o l o gy e i t he r t o avo id f u r t he r dis gr ace o r t o
ke e p o t he r s from r emember ing t he i nci de nt . The o bl i gat i o n al s o
ce as e s i f i t i s f e ar e d t hat an ap o l o gy wi l l o nl y inf l ame new
hat r e d.
If t he o f f e ns e was unknown t o o t he r s , t he o f f e nde r mu s t s t i l l
ask p ar do n, bu t o nl y i n p r i vat e .
I t i s good t o no t e t hat when two p e o p l e ar e mu t u al l y i ns u l t -
ing e ach o t he r by cal l i ng each o t he r names l i ke t hi e f , p r o s t i t u t e ,
e t c . , t hi s i s no t al ways s e r i o u s l y s i nf u l e ve n t ho u gh t he accu s a-
t i o ns might be gr ave in t he ms e l ve s . The r e as o n f o r t hi s i s t hat
no one t ake s t hi s s e r i o u s l y, t he one who i s do ing t he i ns u l t i ng
do e s no t mean what he s ays , and t ho s e who he ar do no t be l i e ve what
i s s ai d. I t i s di f f e r e nt however when p ar t i cu l ar i nci de nt s and
acco mp l ice s ar e named.
Fi nal l y ask t he p e ni t e nt i f he was r e s p o ns ibl e f o r cau s ing
e nmit y by t e l l i ng someone what he he ar d from ano t he r .
3. ) WoJUVLd
Ask him if he hated anyone, or if he denied an enemy the or-
dinary signs of friendship.
38.
Let us recall here the doubt which the authors consider: is
the offended person bound to forgive the one who has offended him?
Salmanticenses says that he is bound to forgive the injury but not
to remit the public punishment because that looks to the common
good. Speculatively this opinion is good. But in practice I have
never dared absolve anyone who assured me he forgave his enemy,
but at the same time demanded that justice take its course, saying
that criminals should be punished. I could never persuade myself
that their zeal for the common good and for justice was free from
a desire for revenge, (for often they were themselves guilty of
many offenses.) They cry out for justice not for criminals in
general, but merely for their personal enemies. As many authors
point out, this love for the common good is very possibly nothing
more than a cloak for their own desires for revenge. Despite this
however, I would absolve them in the following cases:
SIXTH CflMMAWPMW
1.) TkoagkU
Ask the penitent if he desired or took delight in impure
things and whether or not he fully adverted to and consented to
these things.
Ask if they had a desire for a young girl, a widow, or for
a married woman, and find out just how far they intended to go.
It is good to note that ordinary people commonly realize that rape
is a greater sin than mere fornication; but on the other hand they
do not know the special malice of adultery. Consequently it is not
a good idea to tell those with a habit of adultery about its spe-
cial malice, even when there is little hope that the admonition
will effect anything.
1.) if he is ready to forgive and only demands a just res-
titution for damages, unless it is a case where the of-
fender is too poor to pay back even a part of the debt;
2.) if he forgives the offender on the condition that he
move to some other locale. This, either because the '
person offended has sons or brothers just waiting to
take revenge, or because the enemy is so insulting
and quarrelsome that he does not think he could put
up with his taunts.
i.
\
i: i.;
39.
If they have consented to bad thoughts, you must find out
the number if you can. If this is impossible, find out how many
times they consented in the space of a day, week, or month. If
they cannot even do this much, ask them if they desired every wom-
an they met or that came to mind - or if there was just one woman
in particular that they thought of and always gave consent to the
thought. Find out whether they were thinking of her all the time,
or if it was just when they saw her.
Finally ask them if they did something to carry out their
bad thoughts. As we pointed out in the Moral Theology (11) , these
things, even though indifferent in themselves, are contaminated by
the evil end in view, and they must be confessed as external sins,
(that is, as actions that are begun if the sin was not afterwards
consummated.) (12)
2.) Obicano. Sptzck
To find out how much scandal was given, ask how often and
before whom this kind of conversation was engaged in: whether be-
fore men or women, married or unmarried, children or adults. Girls
and boys are more easily scandalized than adults, especially those
adults who are steeped in this vice.
Ask what they said, whether or not they named the genitals
of the opposite sex. It is hard to excuse this from mortal sin.
Ask whether they said these things in anger or in fun. If
they were said in anger, scandal and pleasure are not so easily
present. The confessor should be careful not to absolve recidives
in this sin, even if they saw it was all in fun, unless they first
amend or show some extraordinary signs of sorrow.
Ask if they boasted of some sin. If they did, three sins are
often present; namely, the scandal for all who hear, the boasting
itself, and the complacency over the sin mentioned. They should
therefore be questioned as to what particular sin they boasted of.
Finally ask them if they took delight in listening to the
impure conversations of others. Did they realize their obligation
to make fraternal correction at the time and think it was useful.
I
4 0 .
3. ) ImpuJiz Act i o ns
Ask wi t h whom ( i . e . , wi t h what ki nd o f p e r s o n) t he y s i nne d?
Ask i f t he y s i nne d mo r e t han o nce wi t h t he s ame p e r s o n. Ask whe r e
t he s i n t o o k p l ace (i n o r de r t o r e mo ve an o ccas i o n) . As k how many
t i me s t he s i n was co ns u mmat e d, and how many i nt e r r u p t e d a c t s we r e
p r e s e nt , a p a r t f r o m t he s i n. Ask whe t he r t he y co ns e nt e d t o t he s i n
l o ng ahe ad o f t i me , f o r t he n t he i nt e r na l a c t s wo u l d be i nt e r r u p t e d
and i t wo u l d be ne ce s s ar y t o make t he j u dgme nt : t he r e we r e as many
s i ns co mmi t t e d' as t h e r e we r e i nt e r r u p t i o ns i nt e r ve ni ng, s u ch as
s l e e p , d i s t r a c t i o n , e t c . J u dge t h i s as i t i s be f o r e Go d, o nl y as k-
i ng t he l e ngt h o f t i me t he s i n we nt o n. The cas e wo u l d be d i f f e r -
e nt i f t h e e v i l r e s o l ve was made t wo o r t hr e e days be f o r e t he s i n
t o o k p l a c e , and was no t r e t r a c t e d du r i ng t h a t t i me , f o r t he n i t i s
l o o ke d u p o n as o ne s i n.
If they co mmit t e d s e l f - a bu s e , as k i f they t o u che d t he ms e l ve s
in an i mp r o p e r way o u t s i de o f s e l f - a bu s e , admo nis hing t he m t h a t
t he s e t o u che s t o o ar e mo r t al s i n s . Ask i f t he y de s i r e d o r de l i ght e d i,
i n t hi nki ng o f i nt e r c o u r s e wi t h o ne o r mo r e women o r wi t h bo ys , as
t he y e ngage d i n s e l f - a b u s e . F or t he y wo u l d t he n co mmit as many d i s -
t i n c t s i n s .
I t s ho u l d be no t e d i n p as s i ng t h a t i f anyo ne has c o i t u s be - X
t we e n t he ar ms o r l e gs o f a woman, he co mmit s - be s i de s t he s i n a-
ga i ns t nat u r e - a s i n o f i ncho at e o r a f f e c t i ve f o r ni c a t i o n, as t h e -
o l o gi ans commonl y t e a c h. The r e wo u l d be t wo s i ns o f d i f f e r e n t s p e -
c i e s , o ne agai ns t nat u r e i n e f f e c t , t he o t he r o f f o r ni c a t i o n i n i n -
t e nt i o n. (13)
As t o t he s i ns o f mar r i e d p a r t n e r s , t he co nf e s s o r i s no t o r -
d i n a r i l y bo u nd t o as k abo u t t he mar r i age de bt . No r i s i t f i t t i n g t o
as k i f t he y r e nde r e d t he mar r i age de bt , u nl e s s t he qu e s t i o n i s ad-
dr e s s e d t o t he wi f e i n as mo de s t a way as p o s s i b l e , f o r i ns t a nc e ,
"Did yo u o be y yo u r hu s band i n e ve r yt hi ng?" As t o o t he r t h i n g s , t he
co nf e s s o r s ho u l d no t s ay anyt hi ng u nl e s s he i s as ke d.
SEVENTH COMMANtWENT
J . ) Thz&t
Ask the person if he has stolen and from whom. Ask if it was
from one person or from many, alone or with others, on one occasion
4 1 .
o r on many. If he s t o l e a gr ave amount e ach t i me , he co mmit t e d a
mo r t al s i n e ach t ime . If he s t o l e in s mal l amount s e ach. t ime , hi s
s i n wi l l be mo r t al when a l l of t he s e t o ge t he r form a gr ave sum, un-
l e s s he had t he i nt e nt i o n of s t e al i ng a gr ave sum r i ght from t he
s t a r t .
When t he amount becomes gr ave , t he p e ni t e nt has a gr ave o b-
l i gat i o n t o make r e s t i t u t i o n, at l e as t of t he l a s t p ar t which made
t he amount gr ave .
In s mal l t he f t s more i s demanded be f o r e t he y add u p t o a gr ave
sum. The amount wi l l have t o be l ar ge r s t i l l i f he s t e al s from dif -
f e r e nt p e o p l e . In s mal l t he f t s co mmit t e d o ccas io nal l y from di f f e r e nt
p e o p l e , do u bl e t he o r dinar y gr ave sum i s r e qu i r e d f o r a gr ave s i n.
And i f a no t abl e t ime has e l ap s e d be t we e n t he f t s , namely two mo nt hs ,
t he n t he r e i s p r o babl y no gr ave mat t e r by r e as o n o f co al e s ce nce .
I t i s p r o babl e t hat t he p e r s o n who e at s f r u i t from t he o r char d
of ano t he r can be e xcu s e d a t l e as t from gr ave s i n. I t woul d be di f -
f e r e nt i f t he f r u i t we r e r ar e o r wo r t h much o r i f one t o o k a co ns id-
e r abl e amo u nt . In t hi ngs l i ke t hi s which ar e s o o u t i n t he o p e n,
t he r e must be a gr e at e r qu ant it y be f o r e t he s i n i s gr ave . '
Fo r t he same r e as o n, s e r vant s can be e xcu s e d who t ake t hi ngs
t o e at in t he i r e mp l o ye r ' s home, p r o vide d t he y do no t t ake a gr e at
amount o r e xt r ao r dinar y de l i caci e s . Nor s ho u l d you co ns ide r i t a
mo r t al s in f o r a man t o cu t wood o r gr aze hi s he r d on p u bl ic l and
when t hi s i s f o r bidde n - t hi s t yp e o f p r o hi bi t i o n i s o nl y p e nal l aw.
To f igu r e o u t t he gr avi t y o f a t he f t , ke e p in mind t he s t at u s
o f t he p e r s o n who has be e n r o bbe d. I have t r e at e d t hi s at l e ngt h i n
my Mor al The o l o gy. (14) When t he t he f t i s co mmit t e d by o ne ' s chi l d
o r wi f e , a much gr e at e r amount i s ne e de d in o r de r t o have a mo r t al
s i n, and o nl y r ar e l y wi l l t he y be bound t o r e s t i t u t i o n 6ub QKasji..
2.) Re cit at io n
Once t he co nf e s s o r has e s t abl i s he d t he p e ni t e nt ' s gr ave o b-
l i gat i o n t o make r e s t i t u t i o n, f ind o u t i f he i s abl e t o make i t e ve n
i f wit h some di f f i cu l t y. Do no t abs o l ve u nt i l r e s t i t u t i o n i s made,
e ve n i f t he r e ar e e xt r ao r dinar y s igns o f p e ni t e nce . Goods ar e l i ke
t he bl o o d o f o ne ' s ve ins - t he y l e ave o nl y wit h vio l e nce and he ar t -
ache . Be cau s e of t h i s , e xp e r ie nce t e ache s t hat a p e r s o n wi l l have
a gr e at de al of di f f i cu l t y i n making r e s t i t u t i o n af t e r abs o l u t i o n.
4 2 .
The co nf e s s o r can make an e xce p t io n t o t hi s i n f avo r o f a p e r s o n wit h
such a de l i cat e co ns cie nce t hat t he r e i s no room f o r do u bt .
I s ai d "even i f wit h some di f f i cu l t y. " But i f t he p e ni t e nt
would have t o s u f f e r gr ave ne e d in o r de r t o make t he r e s t i t u t i o n,
i . e . , i f he woul d l o s e hi s j u s t l y acqu ir e d s o ci al p o s i t i o n, he co u l d
t he n de l ay making r e s t i t u t i o n, p r o vide d t he p e r s o n t o whom r e s t i t u -
t i o n i s due i s no t in gr ave ne e d hims e l f . However, even when t he
cr e di t o r i s in gr ave ne e d, i t i s a p r o babl e o p inio n t hat t he t hi e f
has no o bl i gat i o n t o make r e s t i t u t i o n when he hims e l f i s i n gr ave
need and r e s t i t u t i o n would r e du ce him t o qu as i-e xt r e me ne e d. Bu t
t hi s l a t t e r i s l i c i t o nl y u nde r two co ndi t i o ns :
1.) t hat t he t hi ng s t o l e n do e s no t e xi s t i n t he form in
which i t was s t o l e n, and e s p e ci al l y,
2. ) t he cr e di t o r ' s ne e d di d no t ar i s e from t he t he f t .
When you have e s t abl i s he d t hat t he p e ni t e nt can l i c i t l y de -
l ay making r e s t i t u t i o n, you s ho u l d t r y t o ge t him' t o pay back a l i t -
t l e at a t i me , o r ge t him t o do some work f o r t he man he r o bbe d, o r
have him give t he man a gi f t now and t he n.
I t i s imp o s s ibl e t o me nt io n he r e e ve r yt hi ng t he co nf e s s o r
s ho u l d know abo u t r e s t i t u t i o n, f o r i t i s a vas t and de t ai l e d t r e a-
t i s e . I wi l l however no t e some o f t he t hings which happe n more f r e -
qu e nt l y and ar e more p r a c t i c a l :
When t he r o bbe r y was made by a gr o u p o f men, you de cide i f
t hi s p ar t i cu l ar man i s bound t o r e s t o r e t he who l e amount by t hi s co n-
s i de r at i o n: did he go al o ng wit h t he o t he r s be cau s e he was u r ge d t o ,
t hat i s , t he r o bbe r y would have t ake n p l ace i n t he same way wit ho u t
him? In t hi s cas e , he i s bound o nl y t o r e s t o r e hi s s har e . Bu t i f
t he r e i s a common agr e e me nt co nce r ning t he t he f t (e ach e nco u r aging
t he o t he r ) t he n e ach i s bound t o t he r e s t i t u t i o n o f t he who l e a-
mount [in &oLidum.) In p r act i ce , i t i s o f t e n di f f i cu l t t o co nvince
o r dinar y p e o p l e - e s p e ci al l y t ho s e wit h a no t t o o t e nde r co ns cie nce -
t hat t he y ar e o bl ige d t o r e s t o r e what t he o t he r s have s t o l e n. On t he
o t he r hand, t he owner hims e l f wi l l be s at i s f i e d i f each of t he t hi e ve s
r e t u r ns t he p ar t he t o o k. The co nf e s s o r can r e s t co nt e nt , t he n, i f
he makes known t o t he p e ni t e nt hi s o bl i gat i o n t o make r e s t i t u t i o n;
he need no t go i nt o de t ai l abo u t t he e xact amount he i s bound t o r e -
s t o r e , l e aving t hat u p t o t he p e r s o n' s own co ns cie nce .
If a p e r s o n i nf l i ct e d some damage on ano t he r ' s p r o p e r t y and
in no way be ne f i t e d from i t , he i s no t bound t o make co mp e ns at io n,
.; / ' "'
A
43.
provided always that he did not foresee the damage he caused, or pro-
vided he is not tried in court and sentenced because of it.
Sometimes the robbery is uncertain; that is, the person who
was robbed is unknown. In this case, the penitent is obliged to make
restitution either by having Masses said, or by giving alms to the
poor or to charitable institutions. If the thief himself is poor,
he could apply the money for himself and his family.
If he knows the person whom he robbed, he must make restitu-
tion to him. Surprisingly enough, many confessors tell the penitent
to make restitution in the form of alms or of Mass stipends. I hold
the opinion that in such a situation, the penitent is still obliged
to make restitution to the owner, because in every theft, even acci-
dental theft, the injured ownership must be restored to the owner. I
have never been able to convince myself of the opposite opinion.
I have said it would not be seriously sinful for a man to make
restitution by giving alms to the poor when it is a. question of small
thefts, even though the coalesced sum is grave and the owners are
known, for the reasons given in the Moral Theology. (15) I would
even excuse him from venial sin if he had a reasonable cause for doing
this. For example, if it would be a notable inconvenience for him to
make restitution to the owner, or if the poor in the area are so needy
that he could presume the owner's consent to make the restitution in
their favor.
One who cheats many of his customers in tiny amounts and is
not sure which customers he cheated, is obliged to pay them back by
lowering his prices or by adding something to the amount he sells.
He should not make restitution in favor of the poor, as some allow.
If he did do this, he would not be guilty of serious sin, as I men-
tioned before; and with a just cause he would not even commit ve-
nial sin.
If a person takes or keeps something that belongs to another,
presuming that the owner would willingly give it to him if he asked
for it, he is not bound to return it.
If a person forgets about the restitutiton he was obliged
to make, and gives the person he robbed a gift, he would not be
bound to make further restitution.
If the stolen article no longer exists and the thief made no
gain from the theft, there is a grave obligation of restitution only
when three conditions are verified:
44.
1.) the theft was a grave internal sin against commutative
justicef
2.) there was an external action or influence which effica-
ciously caused the damage; and
3.) this action or influence was fully ox gravely unjust and
there is certainty on this point.
So much for the taking of another's property.
As to keeping it, the confessor cannot oblige the penitent to
make restitution if he has on his side a probable opinion and legit-
imate possession. Certainly if he obtained the possession in good
faith and tried seriously to locate the owner, there is no obliga-
tion to make restitution. This holds unless he is certain of the
right another has to it.
Even when the obligation'to restitution is certain, the con-
fessor at times should not tell the penitent of it. This occurs when
the penitent is surely in good faith and the confessor is certain
that his instruction will be of no use. The authors teach that he
should not instruct in this case. The reason is, he should not ex-
pose the soul to danger by letting what is only a material sin be-
come a formal sin.
With regard to contracts and restitution, the confessor must
consult with others, study books on the matter, and then make his de-
cision. I will make only one observation here concerning contracts.
If the confessor comes across a contract that has become the custom
in some area, he should not condemn it too quickly. He should study
all the circumstances. Some of these contracts seem exorbitant and
unjust at first; but when you take all the circumstances into account,
they are not unjust.
(16)
As to prescription, see what I have said in my Moral Theology,
..i
i !
&
"
EIGHTH COMMAMPMENT

Fi r s t o f f , as k t he p e ni t e nt i f he has hu r t ano t he r ' s r e p u t a- .
t i o n. Ask i f he did t hi s by e xp o s ing some t r u e f act o r by inve nt ing
a s t o r y abo u t t he m. If he e xp o s e d some t r u e f act , f ind o u t i f i t was
o ccu l t o r p u bl i c (be cau s e p e o p l e we r e t al ki ng abo u t i t o r be cau s e of
a co u r t t r i a l . )
r'
45.
Ask him i f he t o l d hi s s t o r y be f o r e one p e r s o n o r many. Find
o u t how many. Ask i f he p u bl is he d go s s i p as i f i t we r e a l l hi s own
o r as i f he p icke d i t u p from o t he r s .
As t o r e s t o r i ng ano t he r ' s r e p u t at i o n. If t he wor ds were s l an-
de r , t he s l ande r e r must r e ve al t he t r u t h. If t he wor ds we r e s inf u l
de t r act i o n, t he de t r act o r mu s t r e p ai r t he damage as be s t he can, wit h-
o u t t e l l i ng a l i e . For e xamp l e , he can s ay: I made a mis t ake , I was
mis t ake n. Some even p e r mit : What I s ai d was a l i e - meaning " l i e "
in t he e qu ivo cal s e ns e in which Scr i p t u r e s ays t hat e ve r y s i n i s a
l i e . I u s u al l y s u gge s t t hi s p hr as e : I was j u s t t al ki ng t hr o u gh my
hat . This i s ambigu o u s , f o r what e ve r he s ays comes "Through hi s
ha t , " t hat i s , from hi s he ad.
Sometimes t he r e i s a r e al f e ar t hat r e s t o r i ng o ne ' s good name
wi l l have no more bad e f f e ct s f o r t he o ne i nj u r e d t han good o ne s . Fo r
e xamp l e , when men have f o r go t t e n some r at he r s candal o u s e ve nt . The
co nf e s s o r s ho u l d presume t hat t hi s i s t he cas e when a l o ng t ime has
p as s e d i n which no one has s p o ke n o f t he mat t e r . I t would no t be
r i ght f o r t he de t r act o r t o dig up t he p as t in hi s at t e mp t t o r e s t o r e
t he o t he r ' s good name. C o ns e qu e nt l y, t he be s t t hi ng t o do he r e i s
t o have t he s inne r t ake some o ccas io n t o p r ai s e t he go o dne s s of t he
man he has de t r act e d and t he r e by t o r ai s e him in t he e ye s o f o t he r s .
The co nf e s s o r s ho u l d t r y t o have t hi s r e p ai r i ng of ano t he r ' s
r e p u t at i o n done be f o r e abs o l u t i o n, whe r e t hi s i s co nve nie nt , be cau s e
t o l e ave i t t i l l af t e r war ds wi l l make i t di f f i cu l t , even t ho u gh no t
as di f f i cu l t as i s r e s t o r i ng money af t e r abs o l u t i o n.
Note f i nal l y, t hat in t he mind o f St . Thomas, i t i s r e al de-r*
t r act i o n and a s i n t o r e ve al t he s i ns o f o ne ' s ne ighbo r wit h t he i n-
t e nt i o n of hu r t i ng hi s r e p u t at i o n. I t i s no t de t r act i o n i f you men-
t i o n t he s ins o f ano t he r in o r de r t o avo id o t he r e vi l s . Fo r i ns t ance ,
you may inf o r m p ar e nt s o f t he i r chi l dr e n' s mis de me ano r s , e mp l o ye r s o f
t he i r e mp l o ye e s ' , s u p e r i o r s o f t he i r s u bj e ct s ' , s o t hat t he s e men i n
au t ho r i t y may make t he co r r e ct i o n o r p o i nt o u t t he harm t hat wi l l come
t o o t he r s . However, t he harm o ne want s t o avo id by t hi s inf o r ming
mu s t be of gr e at moment o r at l e as t no t much l e s s we ight y t han t he
harm t hat wi l l come t o t he r e p u t at i o n o f t he o ne who i s inf o r me d o n.
We dis cu s s e d t he o bl i gat i o n o f r e s t o r i ng ano t he r ' s ho no r when
i t was r u ine d by i ns u l t i n t he s e ct i o n on t he f i f t h commandment.
Au t ho r s u s u al l y dis cu s s r as h j u dgme nt s when de al ing wit h t he .
e ight h commandment. Many p e o p l e co nf e s s t hat t he y have t ho u ght u n-
kindl y of t he i r ne ighbo r . As t o t h i s , i t i s ne ce s s ar y t o ke e p in
mind t hat when t he r e ar e s u f f i ci e nt gr o u nds f o r making a j udgment
46.
concerning an action, the judgment is not rash. It is just and free
from sin. In most cases however, it is not a question of judgment
but of suspicions. Parents >.and superiors will have to have these
suspicions at times if they are going to stop certain sins; for exr-
ample, to keep the servants from stealing, or to keep their daughter
from committing sin with a boyfriend, and so forth. However the
penitent should be advised to keep these suspicions to himself, un-
less there is some reason for conferring with another.
C0MMA WPMWS Of THE CHURCH
With regard to the obligation to hear Mass on Sunday and to
rest from servile work, confer the section on the third commandment.
When questioning a penitent or answering his questions about
the fast and abstinence laws, the confessor should remember these
points. (17)
Abstinence (binding all those past their seventh birthday)
is called complete when no meat and no soup or gravy made from meat
are allowed. Complete abstinence is to be observed on all Fridays,
Ash Wednesday, the eve of the Immaculate Conception, Christmas Eve
or December 23rd (all are free to choose either one), and on Holy
Saturday (unless the Bishop dispenses). Partial abstinence (i.e.,
when meat and soup or gravy made from meat may be taken at one meal)
is to be kept on Ember Wednesdays and Saturdays and on the vigil of
Pentecost.
The fast binds all over 21 and under 59 years of age. It is
to be observed on the"weekdays of Lent, on Ember days, on the vigils
of Pentecost and Immaculate Conception, and on the day before Christ-
mas eve. On these days one full meal is allowed. This means one's
ordinary full meal, or in the case of those whose ordinary meal is
very small, it can mean the objective norm of 32 ounces so that their
two lesser meals are not too small to maintain strength. Besides the
main meal, two other meatless meals (sufficient to maintain strength)
may be taken, but together they should not equal another full meal.
There is, further, to be no eating between meals (this includes milk
shakes and malteds).
Causes which excuse from the fast and abstinence are: sickness,
convalescence, a mother who is nursing, a woman who is pregnant, those
who know that fasting will cause them sickness (headaches, etc.), and
working-men whose work is of an exhausting nature, even if they feel
they could fast without injuring their health. When there is doubt
about any of these excusing causes, the penitent could consult his
parish priest or his confessor.
. M M I . J . I I I i i i i i i n i i i i i i u i n i i .
M m m J U I
" " . " ' ' "
47.
The l aw o f f a s t i s no t d i v i s i b l e which me ans t h a t o nce i t i s '
br o ke n, i t no l o nge r ho l ds t h a t day. The l aw o f abs t i ne nce i s d i -
v i s i b l e which me ans t h a t t he r e i s s i n e ach t ime me at i s e at e n.
As t o t he gr avi t y o f t he s e s i n s . To de l i b e r a t e l y e at what
amo u nt s t o a s e co nd f u l l me al wo u l d be a gr ave br e aki ng o f t he f a s t ;
and e ach t ime s o me t hing i s t ake n be t we e n me al s wo u l d be a ve ni al s i n.
To e a t mo r e t han t wo o u nce s o f me at wo u l d be a gr ave br e aki ng o f t he
abs t i ne nce l aws ; e a t i ng a s mal l e r amo u nt o f me at wo u l d be o nl y v e -
n i a l .
CONCLUSION
Once t he co nf e s s o r has he l p e d t he p e ni t e nt e xamine hi s co n-
s ci e nce , he s ho u l d di s p o s e him t o r e ce i ve abs o l u t i o n. That i s , he
s ho u l d r o u s e him t o s o r r o w f o r hi s s i ns and u r ge him t o acce p t t he
p e nance . The co nf e s s o r mu s t be s u r e no t t o o mit t h i s e xami nat i o n
when he t hi nks i t i s ne ce s s ar y. Sadl y e no u gh, many co nf e s s o r s f a i l
i n t h i s r e gar d.
1. Le o nar d o f Po r t Mau r i ce , Di s co r s o mi s t i co e mo r al e , n. 26.
2. B e ne di ct XIV, C o ns t . Et s i minime , n. 12 (Fe b. 7, 1742)
3. MT, Lib I I I , n. 14f f .
4. Canon 861.
5. Thi s s e nt e nce has be e n adde d f r o m Gau de ' s f o o t no t e t o n. 23.
6. MT, Lib I I , n. 63, v and Lib I I I , n. 571.
7. This and the following paragraph have been brought into line
with present legislation. Can. 1309, 1313.
48.
8. This section on blasphemy has been very much shortened. For in*-
teresting reading on Italian customs, confer the Latin.
9. Last paragraph changed somewhat, with ideas on employer-employee
relations introduced from the Spanish, Moriones edition, pg. 119,
10. This paragraph abbreviated, due to the fact that "kissing the
feet" is no longer a common confessional penance.
11. MT, Lib V, n. 32.
12. MT, Lib V, n. 42.
13. Tamburinius, Method, confess., lib 2 ch 7, n 64; Holzmann, De
Praecept. decal, n 720 ad 4; and Sporer, Theol. mor., part-4,
ch 3, n 636.
J
14. MT, Lib III, n. 527.
15. MT, Lib III, n. 534, qu 2.
16. MT, Lib III, ex n. 504.
17. Brought in line with present legislation by the editor from
Father Browne's Handbook of Notes on Theol.
5
i
:
!'
11
_J
49.
CHAPTER THREE
L/Ealina wifn
Various frocdssiorials
In questioning his penitents, it is sometimes not enough for
the confessor merely to ask whether they have fulfilled their obli-
gations. If he has reason to suspect that the person is lax or care-
less in his duties, he should pose pointed questions as to their
main obligations.
PRIESTS
Ask him if he has said his Divine Office and if he has sat-
isfied his Mass obligations or put them off for a notable time.
Ask if he is involved in business enterprises, or if he en-
gages in games forbidden by canon law. (can 138 and 142)
50.
Ask if he has said Mass hurriedly. If he rushes through it
in less than fifteen minutes, he could hardly be excused from mor-
tal sin, for it is impossible to offer Mass - even a Requiem - in
such a short time without mangling the words and ceremonies. Cer-
tainly it could not be said in that amount of time with the grav-
ity and decorum called for by so solemn a Sacrifice. Added to this
is the grave scandal given to the faithful who, says Bellarmine,
must think that such priests do not believe in the presence of
Christ's Divine Majesty. (1)
It is not out of place to ask him if there is a scarcity of ;
;
confessors in the locale where he is. If there is such a scarcity, .
(
he can be obliged to himself for the hearing of confessions, as I
:
;
have proved in my Moral Theology. (2) St. Thomas points out that
God instituted priestly power in His Church, so that priests would ''
administer the sacraments to the people: "Et id.Q.0 poiiUX. OJidLnzm
ixi id uX qiLldcun aVJJ> iacAamznta. ViadoAQj/X." This is why priests
are called the light of the world, the salt of the earth, the help-
ers of God. . . |
If, then, the purpose of the priesthood is the administra- ;.
tion of the Sacraments, how can you excuse a priest from sin who
does not equip himself for this office when the faithful around
him have no one to confess to and consequently are living in sin
and in danger of damnation? How can you excuse him when he frus- J
trates the very purpose of his priesthood, if in his laziness he \\
will not make himself available for confession, which after Baptism
is the most necessary of all the sacraments for salvation?
The words of the Lord are terrifying when He speaks of
priests who are negligent in the matter of their neighbor's sal-
vation. "If I say to the wicked man, you shall surely die; and you
do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his wicked con-
duct so that he may live: that wicked man shall die for his sin,
but I will hold you responsible for his death." (Exech. 3/18)
If a priest tries to make excuse, saying that he lacks the
talent and ability for it, St. Francis de Sales accuses him of
false humility. He says all this is a figment of self-love and
false humility by which he attempts to cover up his own laziness.
When God gives a talent, He gives it to be used. The one who makes
use of it obediently is the one who is really humble. The proud
have a reason for doing nothing because they are relying on their
own strength. But the humble are the courageous souls, because they
do not rely on their own strength, but they place their trust in
God who loves to manifest His omnipotence through our weakness.
u.
I
(SpgpHgapjwPB3iw-fl
51.
This is why the humble man is ready and willing to undertake any-
thing.
If a confessor does hear confessions, and his fitness is
prudently doubted, ask him if he has studied sufficiently and es-
pecially if he has kept up his study. As we pointed out in chapter
one, to do a good job of hearing confessions, it is not enough to
have studied once.
Ask him if he has absolved anyone who was in a proximate oc-
casion of sin or a recidive who did not exhibit extraordinary signs
of sorrow.
If per chance he has committed the crime of sollicitation
ad tUApia,, remind him of the penalties attached to this: that he
is suspended from the celebration of Mass and from hearing con-
fessions, deprived of all benefices and dignities, and that in
graver cases he may even be degraded, (c. 2368)
FASTQRS
Ask him whether he fulfills his duty of correcting his sub-
jects, especially those who harbor hatred, engage in obscene speech,
and so on. (3)
Ask him if he sees to it that his subjects - one and all -
fulfill their Easter Duty. How often in our missions we run into
people, especially prominent people, who have for years been neg-
lecting this precept, and the pastor has never called it to their
attention or taken steps to help them.
Ask if he acouinistered the sacraments in person when a sub-
ject was in danger of death or when they requested them - especially
the sacrament of penance. I say "in person" because when he can do
it himself, he does not fulfill his duty by entrusting it to others.
Ask whether he has duly assisted those who were dying.
Ask if he has preached on Sundays. Theologians say that a
pastor sins mortally if he fails to preach for one straight month
or for enough Sundays to add up to three months in the space of a
year, provided of course he is not legitimately impeded.
If hi s i s a l ar ge p ar i s h, as k him i f he has give n t he s u r --.
p l u s income t o t he p o o r , o r t o p io u s i ns t i t u t i o ns as he s ho u l d.
Ask him i f he has be e n car e f u l t o t e ach C hr i s t i an do ct r i ne -
t he mys t e r ie s o f Fai t h and t he means of s al vat i o n - t o chi l dr e n and
t o u ni ns t r u ct e d adu l t s . Inqu i r e e s p e ci al l y as t o whe t he r he has
t au ght them t he s o r r o w ne ce s s ar y t o r e ce ive abs o l u t i o n, and i f he
has t au ght chi l dr e n what t he y ne e d t o know t o make t he i r Fi r s t Com-
mu nio n, as s o o n as t he y ar e o l d enough t o make i t . Ne gl ige nce i n
t hi s du t y i s u s u al l y du e t o t he f act t hat a p as t o r do e s no t want
t o go t o t he t r o u bl e o f i ns t r u ct i ng t hem. (4)
BISHOPS
When it seems to the confessor that a bishop has been negli-
gent in fulfilling his obligations, he should ask first if he has
used the necessary diligence to find out not only about the knowl-
edge of the candidates for ordination, but also about their posi-
tive goodness of life.
He should ask if he gives confession faculties only to
priests thoroughly examined in doctrine and practice - other-
wise they will do more harm than good.
Ask how he administers the income for his benefices. After
he has taken out what is necessary for decent support, he should
distribute what remains to the poor.
Ask him whether he has complied with his duty of residence.
He may not absent himself from his diocese for even three months,
when it is for mere recreation and the like. (c. 338)
Ask him is he is careful to check on scandals in his dio-
cese and if he remedies them in the best way he can, even to the
extent of calling on the civil authorities if this is necessary.
Lastly, ask him if he makes sure to give good example. Prel-
ates have a special obligation in this regard. If they are not what
they should be, how can they correct those of their clerics who are
lax?
. i ^ i
- - -
r~mrr*~-
S3.
CLOISTEREV HUMS
Ask her if she has failed in her vows, especially that of
poverty by taking things or giving them away without permission.
Ask if she has recited the Divine Office, for the opinion
that nuns are not obliged to say the office in private is not suf-
ficiently probable.
Ask if she has any dangerous friendships, at least by word
or by letter. If she does have them and refuses to give them up,
the confessor should be firm in denying absolution. Even if there
is no gravely sinful purpose in these, there is always danger, and
certainly there is scandal and bad example for the other religious.
Ask her if she bears a grudge against any of her sisters.
If the nun has some duty, ask her how she takes care of it.
For instance, if she is an extern, does she carry suspect letters
and messages; if she is doorkeeper, does she negligently leave the
door open with some danger of scandal to the nuns or to outsiders.
If she is prioress, does she take due precaution when men are al-
lowed to enter the convent, or does she introduce abuses. Even
small abuses must not be introduced, because they tend to have se-
rious effect on regular observance and so they can be serious sin
for her.
JUDGES
Ask them if they have discriminated against some clients.
Ask them if they have executed the cases confided to them with
dispatch. Ask them whether they have let themselves be carried
away by passion in making their judgments, or if they have passed
judgment without studying the matter enough.
NOTARIES
Ask them how they have conducted themselves in taking depo-
sitions. Ask if they have omitted key questions. Ask if they have
diminished or decreased the depositions presented to them.
54.
VOCTORS
Ask him whether he is sufficiently versed in medical knowl-
edge and practice. Ask him is he is conscientious in studying the
more difficult cases that come up, as he is obliged to.
Ask him if he has authorized a dispensation from fast, ab-
stinence, or from office or Mass merely out of human respect, when
there was no need for the dispensation, or at least not enough of
a need to make the fast (or whatever it was he dispensed) harmful
or seriously inconvenient.
Ask him if he has given dangerous remedies to those whose
sickness had not yet reached the critical stage.
Ask him if out of friendship he has sent his prescriptions
to druggists with little conscience and less training, or who are
stocked with bad products.
Ask him if he has taken care of the poor, especially when
they were in grave or extreme need.
Ask him if he has advised those who are dangerously sick to
go to confession in due time. If he fails to do this at the start,
the sick person will be frightened and lose all hope, when later
on pressure is put upon him to make his confession. And the sick
man will easily slip into the danger of death unconfessed. (5)
As to druggists, ask them if they have given pregnant women
medicine for an abortion or sold one drug in place of another or
for more than it was worth.
'
1. Be Ge mit u C o l u mbae , Lib I I , ch 5.
2 . MT, Li b VI , n. 6 2 5 .
I
3. Reference to engaged couples omitted; cf. pg n. 1.
4. A few lines concerning the age of first communion which was
then 12 have been omitted; as well as a section on the pas-
tor's duty of giving testimonials for ordinands.
5. The oath for doctors prescribed by Pius V in his Bull, Supra
Gregen, has been omitted.
6. Omitted the last four sections on businessmen, tailors, sales-
men and hairdressersall of which are built on an economic
and social atmosphere very different from ours, and for that
reason are not easily adaptable.

1
! i
I
l!
! i I
1
;
55.
CHAPTER FOUR
CJccasions oc Si In
The confessor must be very careful in dealing with those who
are in proximate occasions of sin, whether they be habituaries or re-
cidives. Confessors very often make mistakes in regard to these
points. Consequently in the following two chapters we will treat,
first of all, occasions of sin, and then habituaries and recidives.
It is a fact that if men took the precaution of fleeing oc-
casions of sin, they would not fall nearly so often, for once the oc-
casion is done away with, the devil is almost helpless. But when
they voluntarily place themselves in proximate occasions, the enemy
almost always claims the victory. An occasion - especially in re-
gard to sex pleasures - is like a net which ensnares a man into sin
and blinds his mind so that he can sin without realizing what he is
doing. Let us proceed to some practical cases.
"-^~ T i n
5 6 .
KWS Of OCCASIONS
*
n
#ce s s ar y. A
Occas io n i s f i r s t di vi de d i n t o vo l u nt ar y an- _
0

Q
_
c a
_
r
vo l u nt ar y o ccas i o n i s o ne which can e a s i l y be avoi*-*- ^ ^ ^ ^ s can-
o ccas i o n i s o ne which canno t be avo i de d wi t ho u t gr<*
4
^ o ccas i o n
da l . The ne xt di v i s i o n i s i n t o p r o xi mat e and r e mo t *- ^
e n n e i r u n s
i s r e mo t e when i t o nl y r a r e l y p r o vo ke s a man t o *** . ^
i f c t h e
_
i nt o i t al mo s t e ve r ywhe r e . I t i s p r o xi mat e p2A a t * p r o xi mat e
e r a l i t y o f men wi l l f a l l i n t o s i n i n mo s t cas e s . ** some bu t i s
p2A acciden& ( i . e . , r e l a t i v e ) i f i t i s no t p r o xi mat ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
p r o xi mat e f o r o t h e r s , be cau s e t he y f r e qu e nt l y f a l l
i v
^
e y
p r u de nt l y
an o ccas i o n o r be cau s e , kno wing t h e i r own we akne s s , ^ ^
a s i o n i s n o t
f e ar t h a t t he y wi l l f a l l . Some au t ho r s ho l d t ha t **
i n f c Q g i f t
^
p r o xi mat e u nl e s s a man al mo s t al ways o r ve r y o f t e n ** *
e
o ccas i o n i s
B u t t he common and t r u e o p i ni o n t e ache s t h a t a p r o xi
o ne i n which a man f r e qu e nt l y f a l l s i nt o s i n.
v. *i o ccas i o n i s
Ho we ve r i t s ho u l d be no t e d t h a t e ve n t ho u gh *>
l
i&f some go o d and
s o me t ime s p r o xi mat e f o r mo s t me n, i t can be r e mo t e . , -
l o n s
which
p r u de nt i ndi vi du a l p e r s o n. And o n t he o t he r hand, <* ' ^. knows
ar e commonly r e mo t e , may be p r o xi mat e f o r s omeone e l - '
r e
_
a r
^
t o
f r o m p a s t e xp e r i e nce o r f r o m a s i nf u l be nt (e s p e ci a ~
1 a r s
^
n I n a
i mp u r i t y) t h a t he i s we ak and i nc l i ne d t o war d a P*
1
'**" p r o ximat e o c-
cas e l i k e t h i s , a p e r s o n i s o bl i ge d t o avo id no t onk, *
t u a
^i
v p r o x
_
cas i o ns b u t e ve n r e mo t e o ccas i o ns (which f o r him ar e
i mat e ) .
AecASions o f s i n .
He r e by way o f e xamp l e a r e a few p r o ximat e o^
,_
n Q
t hi s wi f e .
1. ) A man who co habi t s wi t h a woman who i s
*. x, and l yi ng when
2. ) One who f r e qu e nt l y f a l l s i nt o bl as p he my *
e ngage d i n game s .
fight or falls
3.) One who often gets drunk or gets into *
vern
into some impurity when in a particular
house.
i I
f ,
'-.
1
'V.
VOLUNTARY PROXIMATE OCCASIONS OF SIM
i e*s
t he o ccas i o n-
Thi s t yp e o f o ccas i o n canno t be abs o l ve d u ni * ^ ^ ^
i r s t no t - c rift o f +-ho o o o a c i ' o n OT at - l e a s t DXOm*
ary first gets rid of the occasion or at least px
57.
it (which we will treat in the next paragraph) . Similarly a person
cannot be absolved if every time he visits a certain house ** even
if only once a year ^^ he commits sin there; fox such visiting is al->
ready a proximate occasion for him. Neither can he be absolved whose
presence in a proximate occasion of sin gives grave scandal to others-
even though he himself does not fall. Some theologians add that abso-
lution must also be denied to a man who will not avoid an external oc-
casion of sin to which is joined some bad habit or serious temptation
or violent passion, even though up to now he has not sinned in this
occasion. The mere danger of falling is enough to oblige him to re-
move the occasion. Thus for instance, they say that if a maid is
tempted by the man of the house she works for and she knows she will
easily fall, she is obliged to quit her job if that can easily be
done. It would be rash for her to think she is safe in such a situ-
ation. (1)
Generally speaking, young men and women who are beginning to
"keep company" should not be indiscriminately accused of grave sin.
Still I think that it is only with difficulty that they free them-
selves from a proximate occasion of grave sin. This is quite clear
from experience: out of a hundred young people you will scarcely
find two or three who have not fallen into mortal sin in this oc-
casion. If it is not so at first, it will soon become so. At first,
they see each other because of their mutual attraction, then the at-
traction becomes passion, and passion then fixes itself in the heart,
becomes an obsession in the mind, and leads them into countless sins.
For this reason, Pico of Mirandola, bishop of Albano, issued
an edict warning confessors in his diocese that such young people
were not to be absolved if after three warnings from others
they did not discontinue their company-keeping, especially if there
were dates at night alone (with the clear danger of kissing and
petting), or if this was done against the command of their parents,
or with a companion whose speech was provocative. (2)
As a general rule, when confessors are dealing with the dan-
ger of formal sin and especially with sins of impurity, they must be
as strict with the penitent as is necessary to safeguard his eternal
salvation. A confessor whose "kindness" prompts him to allow them
to remain or to put themselves in an occasion, is actually being very
unkind. St. Thomas of Villanova calls a confessor who condescends to
such a thing zealous without real zeal. (3) This kind of charity is
against charity. Penitents often try to make the confessor think
that removing the occasion will bring great scandal. But let the con-
fessor stand his ground and pay no attention to such fears. There
will be far more scandal if they see a person come out of confession
58.
and go back to the same occasions of sin. Either they will know
nothing of the penitent's sins and will suspect nothing when he
gives up the occasion; or they will know of them, and by avoiding
the occasion, the penitent will regain his good name rather than
lose it.
Many moralists hold that occasionaries can be absolved once
or twice before removing the occasion of sin, even if it is volun-
tary, provided of course that there is a firm resolve and a promise
to remove it.
But here we have to make a distinction that Saint Charles
Borromeo made, between occasions that are continuous and those that
are interrupted. A continuous occasion is, for example, when a man
keeps a mistress in his home, or when a maid gives in every time
she is tempted by the man of the house. An example of an interrupted
occasion is the man who blasphemes in a game, or gets drunk or gets
into a fight when he is in a tavern. (4)
Keeping this distinction in mind, St. Charles teaches and
rightly that a penitent who is in an interrupted occasion of sin
can be absolved two or three times once he resolves to avoid the
occasion. If, after this, he has not avoided the occasion and
falls back into sin, he cannot be absolved until he first gets rid
of the occasion.
But for those in continuous occasions of sin, St. Charles
teaches that absolution must be denied until they have removed the
occasion. We have shown that this opinion is absolutely to be held
in our Moral Theology. (5) The reason is this: this penitent is
indisposed for absolution if he does not first remove the occasion
of sin, because he places himself in the proximate danger of break-
ing his resolve and consequently of remaining in the same occasion
of sin. Let us explain more clearly. A man certainly sins gravely
if he is in a voluntary proximate occasion of sin and will not re-
move it. Now this matter of removing an occasion is a very diffi-
cult one; it demands doing a great deal of violence to oneself. And
this becomes all the more difficult if he has already been absolved.
The threat of being refused absolution is gone and he will try to
convince himself that he will resist the temptation rather than re-
move the occasion of sin. Consequently he remains in the occasion
and is certain to fall back into sin. Daily experience proves that
most penitents who have been absolved by some careless confessor
make no attempt to avoid the occasion and immediately fall into an
even worse state. For this reason, we hold that a penitent sins
gravely if he seeks absolution before removing the occasion of sin
and the confessor who absolves him sins even more gravely.
'-.
; 1
I
; 5
i
59.
While this is the ordinary procedure in handling continuous
occasions of sin, theologians-make some exceptions, allowing the
confessor to absolve before the occasion has been removed. Namely:
1.) The first case is the penitent who shows extraordinary
signs of sorrow and the confessor makes the prudent
judgment that there is no longer a proximate danger of
breaking the resolution to remove the occasion. The ex-
traordinary signs are then indications that a strong
grace will help the penitent to be firm in removing the
occasion. Still, when absolution can be deferred with-
out much difficulty, I would like to see it deferred
until the occasion has been effectively removed.
2.) Another exception is the case in which the penitent can-
not return, or at least cannot return for quite a time.
He can then be absolved if he is judged to be well dis-
posed and promises to remove the occasion immediately.
The danger of breaking the promise is considered remote
in relation to the inconvenience that the penitent would
undergo in having to leave without absolution or in hav-
ing to seek absolution from another priest or in remain-
ing for a long time without the graces of this sacrament.
Since there is a certain moral necessity for receiving
absolution, the penitent has the right to be absolved
immediately, even before he removes the occasion. In
this case the fact that he cannot remove the occasion
before absolution is on a par with a necessary occasion;
This exception does not hold however if the penitent
has been warned previously by another confessor to re-
move the occasion, and has not done so. He is then con-
sidered a recidive and cannot be absolved until he shows
extraordinary signs of sorrow, as we will see in the next
chapter.
NECESSARY PROXIMATE OCCASIONS OF SIN
So much for voluntary occasions of sin. When speaking of nec-
essary occasions, we must distinguish between physically necesaary
and morally necessary. An occasion is physically necessary when a
person is in prison, or when he is in danger of death and there is
no time or no way for him to break with his mistress. An occasion
is morally necessary when it cannot be removed without scandal or
60.
grave harm to one's life, reputation or fortune. When the occasion
is necessary, the penitent can be validly absolved even with these
occasions still present, for in this case he is not obliged to re-
move it. He must however promise to use the means necessary to
change it from proximate to remote. These means are:
1.) in the case of impurity in particular to avoid the com-
pany of the accomplice, even, if possible, the mere
sight of her;
2.) to frequent the sacraments;
3.) to pray frequently, renewing each day his promise not
to sin again and to avoid the occasion as far as pos-
sible.
It is a good practice to make this renewal each morning before a
crucifix.
The reason for this procedure with necessary occasions is
that the occasion in itself is not sin strictly speaking, nor does
it compel a person to sin. Consequently, an occasion of sin can
easily co-exist with a true sorrow and the resolve of not sinning.
We must still hold that everyone is under obligation to avoid prox-
imate occasions of sin, but. we must understand this of voluntary
occasions of those which the penitent himself has freely chosen.
For when the occasion is morally necessary, the danger is rendered
remote by use of suitable remedies, and Gkxl will surely not with-
hold His grace from one who sincerely resolves not to offend Him.
The scriptures do not say that he will perish who is in danger, but
rather, he who loves the danger; whereas one who does not want to
be in danger can hardly be said to love it. Commenting on this,
St. Basil said: "One who places himself in danger or allows him-
self to remain in it because of some urgent cause or necessity -
when he would not wish to at another time - is said not to love the
danger, but to suffer it against his will. God then will pour out
more grace upon him lest he perish in the danger." (6)
The moralists all agree that it is permissible to absolve
those who will not give up some position, duty, or habitation
which is an occasion of sin for them without doing themselves sen
rious harm --..-as long as there is always a true purpose of amending
and of using the means to amend. Examples of this are: doctors
who are in an occasion of sin when tending to women, or priests
when hearing their confessions w for if either of them drop these
duties they could not live according to their state.

61.
Still all agree that it is a good idea in cases like these to
defer absolution at least to make the penitent more conscientious in
using the means given him to render the occasion remote. I go fur-
ther and say that the confessor not only can but even should defer
absolution when he can easily do this, especially in matters of im-
purity. The confessor is obliged as doctor of souls to prescribe
suitable remedies, and in my opinion, the best remedy of all for
one who remains in a proximate occasion of sin is to defer absolu-
tion, since experience proves that many, once they have received
absolution, fail to use the means prescribed and fall into sin
again. But when absolution is deferred, they will be more careful
to use the means and to resist temptations, because of the fear
that they will be deprived of absolution again next time they go to
confession.
Some will perhaps consider me too strict in this matter. But
this has always been my practice and it will continue to be with re-
gard to those in proximate occasion of sin, even though they be nec-
essary occasions, and even though there are extraordinary signs of
sorrow as long as I judge there is no special reason for absolve
ing them immediately. This procedure is, I feel, much more advan-
tageous for the penitent's eternal salvation. If all confessors
would do this, think how many sins would be avoided and how many
souls would be saved!
CONCLUSION
I repeat what I said above: when the confessor is trying to
free a penitent from formal sin, he must use the more benign opinion
in so far as prudence dictates. But if the benign opinion renders
the danger of formal sin more proximate (as is the case with prox-
imate occasions of sin), it is useful and sometimes necessary to
use the stricter opinion. For in this case the stricter opinion
is definitely more advantageous for the salvation of their souls.
If a person who remains in a necessary occasion of sin piles
up, even with the help of the remedies, a record of similar sins
and there seems to be small hope of improvement, he should be denied
absolution as long as the occasion of sin lasts. I believe this is
based on the Gospel command: if your eye scandalizes you, pluck it
out . (Mk. 9/46) This excludes the case in which the penitent shows
extraordinary signs of sorrow, for they can always can be taken as a
safe hope of improvement.
62.
1. Omitted here a.reference to engaged couples. As Ford^Kelly
pointed out CContemporary Moral Theology, 1) Alphonsus' po-^
sition seems "almost unbelievably stern" but the editor is
not so reluctant as they to "explain it as pertaining to
another time and another social milieu." Because of that it
;
.
has been omitted.
2. No reference was given for the quote from Pico.
3. Thomas of Villanova, cone. fer. sexta p. dom IV Quad num 12.
4. Sh. Charles, Acta Eccl. Mediol., part 4.
5. MT, Lib VI, n. 454.
6. St . B as i l , C o ns t i t u t i o ne s mo na s t i c , ch 5. '
-
(
i aJi-V.xjUJTng'n
63.
CHAPTER FIVE
HaM
u ar it s
I\CldLlVS
HABITUARIES
Habituaries are those who have contracted a habit of sin which
they have not yet confessed. Theologians teach that they can be ab-
solved the first time they confess the bad habit, or once they have
rejected it provided they have true sorrow for it and the firm re-
solve of employing the means that will bring about correction.
However, if the habit is deeply ingrained, the confessor can
defer absolution to see how faithful the penitent will be in carry-
ing out the prescribed means and to impress upon the penitent the
seriousness of his bad habit.
m
It should be noted here that in regard to external sins, five
falls a month can constitute a bad habit, provided there is some in-
terval between each of the falls. In the matter of fornication, sod^
omy, and bestiality, a considerably smaller number is enough to es-
tablish a habit. For example, a person who fornicates once a month
over tne space of a year can well be called an habituary.
RECIDIVES
Recidives are those who have gone to confession and then re-
lapsed into the same, or almost the same, sinful habit, with no im-
provement .
According to the common opinion, recidives cannot be absolved
if they manifest nothing more than ordinary sorrow; that is, if they
merely confess their sins and say they are sorry and do not intend
to sin again. The reason for this is that a habit of sin relapsed
into with no sign of improvement gives grounds to the suspicion that
the penitent's supposed sorrow and purpose of amendment are not sin-
cere. Consequently absolution should be delayed for a time, until
there is a good sign of improvement.
In regard to this point there has been regrettable harm done
to souls. So often bad confessors injudiciously absolve scores of
recidives, with the result that the recidives themselves see how
quickly they are absolved and begin to lose their horror for sin and
spend their lives sunk in the mire of sin.
Some theologians allow absolution to recidives who give only
ordinary signs of sorrow - up to the third or fourth relapse. But
I could never bring myself to agree with this opinion. An habituary
who falls back into sin without any correction even after one con-
fession is a true recidive, and there is a founded suspicion that '
he is not properly disposed.
RECIDIVES W VENIAL SIN
Before going on, it should be noted that this rule holds even
for recidives in venial sin. While it is commonly held that those
who commit venial sin can be absolved more easily (because their oc->-
casions are more frequent), still there is a fear that confessions
*
65.
of this kind are sacrilegious or at least invalid, because the common
opinion teaches that it is a grave sin and a sacrilege to receive ab~
solution for venial sins without true sorrow and purpose of amendment.
It is not enough to be sorry for the astounding number of venial sins,
while lacking sorrow for any sin in itself.
The confessor must be careful not to absolve these penitents
injudiciously. Even if they are in good faith, he cannot be excused
from sacrilege, for he would be imparting absolution to penitents
who cannot be considered to have the dispositions necessary for ab-
solution. Therefore, if he does not want to commit a sin himself,
the confessor should take care either to dispose the penitent to be
sorry for some particular venial sin which he hates very much, or to
ask him to confess some serious sin of his past life. (He can con-
fess this in general without giving the number.) In this way the
confessor will have certain matter for absolution. Otherwise he
would be obliged to delay absolution for some time.
MLAV Of ABSOLUTION
I said "for some time", because it is not necessary to delay
absolution for months or even years as the rigorists' demand, whether
it be to recidives in venial sin or to recidives in mortal sin. Or-
dinarily a delay of eight or ten days will be enough, if the sin
proceeds from weakness. Reputable theologians teach that a month's
delay is excessive and dangerous, because, after this long a stretch,
it is hard to get a recidive to return. (1)
Benedict XIV favors this opinion. In speaking of confessors
who delay absolution when that is proper, he says: "Let the con-
fessor urge them to return as quickly as possible, so that they may
be given the benefits of sacramental absolution." (2) Notice the
words "as quickly as possible" and "that they may be given". I
hold that absolution can be delayed for fifteen or twenty days at
most.
But this rule does not apply to the "Easter Lambs". Exper-
ience tells us to give them a longer delay, because there is suf-
ficient reason to suspect that they are keeping out of sin in or-
der to avoid the censure (3) rather than with the sincere intention
of changing their lives.
66.
Ano t he r e xce p t io n mu s t be made f o r t ho s e who succumbed t o an e x-
t e r nal p r o ximat e o ccas io n of s i n. Most of t he s e s ho u l d be t e s t e d f o r
a gr e at e r t i me , be cau s e , as we no t e d in t he l a s t chap t e r , an o ccas io n
i s a more di f f i c u l t f o r ce t o r e s i s t . However e ve n he r e a mo nt h' s de -
l ay wi l l be l o ng e no u gh, bu t t he co nf e s s o r mu s t on no acco u nt t e l l
t he p e ni t e nt no t t o r e t u r n t i l l t he month i s o u t . This would f r i ght e n
him o f f . The be t t e r t hi ng i s t o have t he p e ni t e nt r e t u r n af t e r one o r
two we e ks , and t he n ne at l y p u t abs o l u t io n o f f t i l l t he end of t he
mo nt h.
EXTRAORVIUARy SIGNS Of SORROW
As we have s ai d, o r dinar y s igns o f s o r r o w and p u r p o s e of amend-
ment ar e no t s u f f i ci e nt t o j u s t i f y abs o l u t io n o f r e ci di ve s . The com-
mon o p inio n demands e xt r ao r dinar y s i gns , and s ays t hat t he s e s u f f i ce .
The r e as o n f o r t h i s : a s o l i d and we l l -gr o u nde d e xt r ao r di nar y s ign
wi l l remove t he s u s p icio n t hat t he p e ni t e nt i s indis p o s e d - a s u s -
p icio n t hat was p r e s e nt owing t o t he p r e vio u s r e l ap s e .
The B is ho p s o f Belgium s p o ke r i ght l y when t he y s ai d: "In t he
co nve r s io n of a s i nne r , God do e s no t r e gar d t he amount o f t ime as
much as he r e gar ds t he amount o f s o r r o w. " Hence t he y f o r bade co nf e s -
s o r s t o demand t hat r e ci di ve s u nde r go a l e ngt hy p r o bat io n as t he o r -
dinar y co ndit io n f o r abs o l u t i o n. The bis ho p s act e d co r r e ct l y, f o r a
p r o bat io n p e r io d by i t s e l f i s no t a s ign of co nve r s io n. C o nve r s io n
comes by di vi ne gr ace and t hat do e s no t demand t ime bu t o f t e n wor ks
i ns t ant ane o u s l y. Thus a change o f he ar t can be e f f e ct i ve l y de t e r -
mined by o t he r s i gns even wit ho u t a t ime of p r o bat i o n.
Ot he r s igns of t he p e ni t e nt ' s act u al di s p o s i t i o n ar e some-
t ime s e ve n be t t e r t han a p r o bat io n p e r io d f o r manif e s t ing hi s co n-
ve r s i o n. The s e s igns di r e ct l y t e s t i f y t o t he p e ni t e nt ' s di s p o s i -
t i o n, whil e t he p r o bat io n t e s t i f i e s o nl y i ndi r e ct l y. I t f r e qu e nt l y
hap p e ns , in f act , t hat a p e r s o n wi l l abs t ai n from s i n f o r a l o ng
t ime wit ho u t be ing dis p o s e d f o r abs o l u t i o n.
Hence o ne au t ho r s ays : "If t he r e l ap s e comes from a p e r s o n' s
own we akne s s wit ho u t any o t he r e xt r i ns i c vo l u nt ar y cau s e , i t i s a l -
mo s t r as h t o s ay t hat he i s al ways i ndi s p o s e d. " In ano t he r p l ace
t hi s t he o l o gian s ays t hat i f a r e ci di ve s i ns be cau s e o f t he co mp u l -
s io n o f a bad habi t , he s ho u l d be abs o l ve d as l o ng as he manif e s t s
a f ir m r e s o l ve t o u s e t he means f o r hi s co r r e ct i o n. He adds : "In
o u r o p inio n, o t he r p r o ce du r e s ar e t o o r i go r o u s , and co nf e s s o r s who
employ them ar e s e t t i ng as ide t he t r u e s p i r i t of t he Church and of
67.
Christ. The sacrament of penance is not only one of judgment, but al-
so one of healing and salvation." (5)
The moralists list several things that are considered extraor-
dinary signs of sorrow:
1.) An over-powering sorrow poured out in tears (provided they
flow from compunction for their sins) or a heartfelt ex-
pression of sorrow, which is sometimes a more sure sign
than tears.
2.) A lessening in the number of sins - provided the penitent
was in the same occasions and temptations. Or: the peni-
tent managed to remain in the state of grace for a consid-
erable time after his last confession, say for twenty or
twenty-five days when he ordinarily fell several times a
week. Or: he fell only after a vigorous fight. Or: he
had stayed clear of mortal sin for some time before com-
ing to confession.
3.) Applying oneself diligently to the task of improvement is
an extraordinary sign. For example, the penitent consci-
entiously avoided the occasions of sin, used the means
prescribed by the confessor, or he used fasting, prayer,
and good works in order to uproot the vice.
4.) Another extraordinary sign: he asks the confessor for a
remedy or for a new way of improving himself. Similarly:
he promises to use the means which the confessor suggests,
especially if this is the first time that he has received
that suggestion. However I question whether he can com-
pletely be trusted if he makes this promise without any
other extraordinary signs of sorrow. Penitents often
promise things quickly in order to get absolution - and
then have difficulty in keeping their promise.
5.) A spontaneous confession. It is not spontaneous if the
penitent comes only to fulfill his Easter Duty, or to keep
with a custom of going to confession at certain times, for
instance at Christmas. It is not spontaneous if he is
forced into it by his parents, his teacher, or his em-
ployer. A confession is spontaneous only if he comes en-
tirely on his own, led by some divine light, and with no
other purpose but to receive divine grace. It is very
clear if, in order to make his confession, he made a long
trip, deprived himself of considerable gain, suffered
68.
some grave inconvenience, or triumphed over a serious in-
ternal or external repulsion.
6.) If he comes because of some extraordinary impulse. For in-
stance, a sermon he heard, the death of a friend, fear of .
some imminent calamity, such as an earthquake or a plague.
7.) If he confesses sins he has previously confessed out of
shame.
*
8.) If after the confessor's counseling he shows signs of a
new realization of the evil of sin and of the danger to
his own salvation.
Some writers give other signs. For instance, if the penitent ac-
cepts a big penance willingly, if he claims he repented of his sin as
soon as he had committed it, or if he protests that he would rather die
than sin again. I am not so sure that these signs are sufficient in
themselves. I would rather say that they serve to strengthen other
sufficient signs.
MORAL CERT1TUVE OF THE PENITENT'S V1SP0S1T10NS
Whenever there is one of these signs, from which the confessor
can prudently judge the penitent's change of heart, absolution can be
given. The confessor needs moral certainty concerning the penitent's
dispositions in order to absolve. In some sacraments, where the mat-
ter is physical, physical certainty is required. But this is not the
case with the sacrament of penance. The matter of confession is mor-
al, that is, the actions of the penitent, and consequently moral cer-
titude is enough.
Actually it is enough for the confessor to have a prudent prob-
ability as to the penitent's dispositions with no prudent suspicion of
the opposite. If more were required it would be difficult to absolve
any sinner, for all the signs a penitent could give us would never es-
tablish anything more than a kind of probability in regard to his dis-
positions.
The author of \YU>&W.TJLOYU. pth. Li novzZLi Con{,A&osvl says: "To
impart absolution, nothing more is required than a prudent and prob-
able judgment as to the penitent's dispositions. Therefore, if the
circumstances do not give rise to a doubt about the penitent's dispo-
sitions, the confessor should let things rest and not trouble himself
or the penitent by trying to establish a certainty that is impossible.'
(6)
69,
Here let it be noted: recidives in blasphemy can more easily
be absolved than those in sins of hate, theft, or lust, for these
latter habits are rooted more fiercely and involve a more impelling
inclination to the sin.
PERMISSIBLE TO VElky ABSOLUTION FOR A DISPOSED PENITENT
We have established the fact that the confessor can absolve
habituaries and recidives who prove that they are disposed for the
sacrament by some extraordinary sign of sorrow. We did not, how-
ever, say that the confessor must absolve him. It is up to the con-
fessor to delay absolution if he feels that a delay is expedient.
The penitent does admittedly have a right to absolution once he has
confessed his sins, still he does not have a right to be absolved
immediately. The confessor, in his office of doctor, can and some-
times must delay absolution when he judges it necessary for the
spiritual progress of his penitent.
But is it ordinarily a good idea to use this delaying tactic
without the penitent's consent? Certainly it would not be a good
idea if it would do the penitent more harm than good, or if it would
cause him to suffer some dishonor and perhaps the danger of losing
his reputation.
Allowing for this exception, some hold that delay of absolu-
tion is the better practice when dealing with this type of recidive.
On the other hand, others more commonly hold that it should be done
only rarely. This opinion is held by the celebrated missionary,
Father Leonard of Port Maurice. But I feel that it is better to say
that no general rule can be made; rather the confessor must judge
each case according to its own circumstances. He should pray for
God's guidance and then proceed to judge according to his lights. (7)
My thinking on the matter is this. If the penitent has re-
lapsed from his own weakness (as in the case of anger, hatred, blas-
phemy, self-abuse, and doZtcZatio motLO&a) , I hold - and this is the
most common opinion of theologians - that it is hardly ever a good
idea to delay absolution, if the penitent is disposed. We should
trust that the grace of the sacrament will do more toward his prog-
ress than a delay of absolution.
But the picture is different with a person who has relapsed
because of some occasion of sin, even if it is a necessary one. The
reason is this: an occasion of sin arouses a more vivid craving for
70.
the sin, and the presence of one's accomplice has a more violent ef-
fect -upon the senses and upon one' s affection for sin than does a
habit of sin. Because of this, the penitent who is caught in some
occasion has to do violence to himself, not only in order to over-
come the temptation, but even in order to get himself away from the
company and presence of his accomplice. He must do this in order to
render a proximate occasion remote.
Delay of absolution is especially necessary if the occasion is
voluntary and should be entirely avoided. To absolve in such a case
would run the risk of putting the penitent in danger of breaking his
promise to remove the occasion, as we have already mentioned.
With the habit of sin, the danger of breaking one's resolve
is ordinarily more remote. On one hand, there is no external ob-
ject strongly impelling him to sin. On the other, the retention of
the bad habit is not voluntary - while the failure to remove the oc-
casion in the other case is voluntary. Because of this, God gives
greater help to the habituary, when he needs it, and we can conse-
quently expect more progress from the sacrament than from a delay of
the sacrament. The grace of God will be stronger and more effica-
cious in order to help the penitent uproot his bad habit.
In support of this opinion, Salmanticenses asks: "Why do we
hope for more grace from a delay of absolution, which deprives the
sinner of grace - than from absolution itself, which gives him grace
and makes him a friend of God?" (8) Cardinal Toledo, speaking of
the sin of self-abuse, feels that no remedy is more efficacious in
counteracting this habit than a frequent reception of the sacrament
of penance. This sacrament, he says, is the greatest restraining
influence they can employ; a person who neglects it will need a
miracle to rid himself of this habit. (9)
In the life of St. Philip Neri, we learn that the means he
used for curing recidives in this kind of habit was nothing else but
frequent confession. The Roman Ritual confirms this opinion in its
treatise on Penance: "For those who easily relapse into sin, it is
profitable to suggest frequent confession and, if useful, communion."
(10) In saying "those who easily relapse", it is unquestionably
speaking of those who have not yet uprooted their bad habit.
Some theologians seem as though they want to save souls through
nothing but rigorism and say that recidives are worse off if they are
absolved before progress has been made. But I would like them to tell
me if all these recidives really leave stronger and if they all im^
prove, when they are sent out without absolution and without the grace
www
71.
of the sacrament. How many times during the missions have I run a-
cross poor penitents who had been dismissed without absolution only
to give up their struggle against vice and sink into despair, not
returning to confession for several years.
But once again, a person must follow the lights given him by
God. In this matter of absolving recidives, those who are over-le-
nient are just as wrong as those who are too rigorous. In fact, they
even do more harm and are the cause of many being lost, because their
number is greater and the majority of habltuaries come to them for
confession. Still the rigorists do their share of damage, and I think
that a confessor should feel guilty not only if he absolves a person
who was indisposed, but also if he dismisses a penitent who was dis-
posed without absolving him.
I will conclude this section by making three statements. First:
I do not deny that sometimes a delay of absolution is profitable to a
disposed recidive. Secondly: it will always be possible to frighten
this kind of recidive by acting as if one cannot absolve him. Thirdly:
ordinarily speaking, for recidives who have relapsed because of their
own weakness and are now manifesting the fact that they are disposed
for absolution by some extraordinary sign, the benefit of absolution
will far outshine that of delaying absolution.
If only confessors would absolve just the recidives who give ex-
traordinary signs of sorrow. It is a sad fact that so many absolve all
recidives without distinction - without looking for an extraordinary
sign, without warning them, without even offering them a suggestion for
making progress. As a result, this wholesale harm to souls continues,
thanks to this practice and not to the practice of delaying absolution
for those who are disposed.
SEMINARIANS WITH A HABIT OF SIN
All that we have said up to now about habituaries and recidives
does not apply - ordinarily speaking - to seminarians who have a habit
of sin, especially that of impurity. There are special norms for them.
-
A lay person who is an habituary can be absolved as often as he .,
is disposed to receive the Sacrament of Penance. But the seminarian-
habituary is different, because he is headed toward Sacred Orders. It
is not enough for him to be disposed toward the sacrament of Penance;
he must also be disposed for Orders - otherwise he is disposed for
neither one. The reason is this: a person who has barely escaped from
72.
the state of sin is not fit to ascend the altar. If there is not pos-
itive proof of the progress demanded by the greatness of the state to
which he aspires, he sins gravely by willing to receive Sacred Orders,
even if he is presently in the state of grace.
For this reason, the confessor cannot absolve him unless he
promises not to receive Orders - to which he cannot ascend until he
has proven himself fit by a probation period of several months. This
has been treated at length in my Moral Theology and it is the common
opinion of theologians. (11) They teach that in order to receive
Sacred Orders, common goodness (that is, mere immunity from mortal
sin) is not enough, but a special degree of goodness is required,
namely, that by which the ordinand is free from any habit of sin.
St. Thomas teaches this when he says: "Sacred Orders demand
sanctity Hence the burden of Orders should be laid on walls that.
have already been seasoned with holiness.. .that is, those that have
drawn off the dampness of vice." (12) The reason for this is that, if
the ordinand does not have this special sanctity, he is not fit to be
set over the people to exercise the great ministry of the altar. As
St. Thomas adds: "Those who are set over the people by dignity of
their Orders should also be superior to them by virtue of their sanc-
tity." (13) And in another place he says the same thing even more
forcefully: "Through Sacred Orders men are deputed for the solemn
ministry which serves Christ Himself in the Sacrament of the altar. To
fit them for this, they need greater interior holiness than is required
even for the religious state." (14)
An exception to this must be made in favor of the seminarian
who would receive so extraordinary a compunction from God that he would
be freed of his former weakness. As the Angelic Doctor says: "Some-
times God converts the heart of man by such a strong grace that he im-
mediately and perfectly reaches spiritual sanctity." (15) Still, con-
versions like this are rare, especially in those about to be ordained.
The fact that a seminarian would seek out some religious monastery in
order to make a retreat makes little difference, for many do this -
not on their own - but because they are forced into it.
When a seminarian actually has received a great grace of this
kind from God (Whose mercy is awesome) , the confessor can absolve him.
I am referring to a grace which would change him so much that, even
though he still felt his sinful tendencies, he would feel at the same
time a tremendous repugnance for sin. He would realize that his bodily
craving was so notably diminished that with the help of grace he could
now resist temptations with ease. Furthermore, he would be fully de-
termined not only to avoid sin and the occasions of sin in the future,

73.
but he would even resolve to use every worthwhile means to lead a
priestly life- He would begin immediately to strengthen his con-
version by repeated prayers for perseverance - with such confidence
in God that the confessor could be morally certain of a profound
change in his life. The confessor can surely absolve this penitent,
even if he wants to be ordained immediately after confession.
Nevertheless, even if this kind of compunction is present, the
confessor should still do all he can to persuade him to postpone his
ordination. With such a postponement, the ordinand can effectively
uproot the bad habit and put his resolution into practice. If it
turns out that the ordinand will not postpone the ordination, the
confessor, in his role of doctor, can for the penitent's greater good
delay absolution, and thus force him to put off his ordination.
This course of action should be taken only if there is no danger
of infamy by such a delay. For if there is this danger, the penitent
has a right to be absolved right away.
Outside of this case, the confessor must be strict when it comes
to absolving ordinands who are habituaries. Afterwards they ordinarily
turn out for the worse and bring down upon the people and the Church a
great deal of harm.
1. Juenin, Commentarius de Sacramentis, diss 6, qu 77, ch 4, art 7 ;
Giordanini, Instruzione, part 1, ch 9, n. 215; Jorio, Instruzione,
ch 1, #4.
2. Benedict XIV, Apostolica, #22 (June, 1749)
3. Referring to an excommunication which existed in various dio-
ceses against those who did not fulfill the Easter Duty.
(Moriones, Spanish Edition, pg 217)
4. Bishops of Belgium cited in Croix, Theol Mor., Lib. VI, part 2,
n 1823.
74.
5. Giordanini, Instruzione, part 1, ch 15, n. 355 and ch 9, n. 213.
5. ibid, part 1, ch 15, n. 350.
7. St. Leonard of Port Maurice, Doscorso mistico e morale, n. 10.
8. Salmanticenses, tr VI, ch 5, n. 68.
9. Toledo, Instructio Sacerdotum, lib 5, ch 13, n. 6.
10. Ritual, Ordo Administr. Poenit. n. 19.
11. MT, Lib VI, n. 63, 68.
12. ST. Ilallae, qu 189, a. 1.
13. Supp. qu 35, a. 1.
14. Ilallae, qu. 184, a. 8.
15. Ilia, qu 86, a. 5.
I '
75.
CHAPTER SIX
Ce usurps
KtS Ervaii
5 r\ ra.iioY \ s,
liTipEclimririls
PENITENTS WITH RESERVEV CENSURES
If a p e r s o n comes t o co nf e s s io n who has co nt r act e d a ce ns u r e
o r a r e s e r ve d cas e , i t woul d be an act of char i t y f o r t he co nf e s s o r
wit ho u t f acu l t i e s t o t ake i t upon hims e l f t o go t o t he bi s ho p . The
bis ho p can hims e l f abs o l ve , o r de l e gat e someone t o abs o l ve ce ns u r e s
s imp l y r e s e r ve d t o t he Holy Se e . Or e l s e t he co nf e s s o r s ho u l d wr i t e
di r e ct l y t o t he Sacr e d Pe ni t e nt i ar y, i f t he abs o l u t i o n has t o come
from t he Holy Se e . The method of wr i t i ng t o t he Sacr e d Pe ni t e nt i ar y
wi l l be i ndi cat e d l at e r on i n t hi s chap t e r .
What we wi l l no t e he r e i s t hat , i f anyone i s i gno r ant of a
common law ce ns u r e , he do e s no t incu r i t ; no r does he i ncu r t he r e s -
e r vat i o n, be cau s e cas e s r e s e r ve d t o t he Pope ar e f o r t he most p ar t
r e s e r ve d AatLonz COMuAcLt. I t i s di f f e r e nt wit h e p i s co p al cas e s . Fo r
when t he cas e i s r e s e r ve d AaXtone. -6at , a p e r s o n i ncu r s i t e ve n i f he
i s i gno r ant o f t he ce ns u r e . Fu r t he r mo r e , no ce ns u r e i s i ncu r r e d by
o ne who i s i nvi nci bl y igno r ant of i t . (1)
We should mention too, that in the time of a jubilee a sac-
rilegious confession does not take away the reservation, as is
clear from the statement of Pope Benedict XXV. (2) I hold the same
thing if the confession was invalid.
But outside jubilee time, if someone makes an invalid con-
fession to a confessor who has faculties to absolve reserved cases,
it is the common and more probable opinion that he leaves absolved
from the reservation. It is more common and sufficiently probable
that the person who makes a sacrilegious confession is freed from
his reservation, as long as he did not culpably keep back the re-
served sin.
PENITENTS WITH AN OBLIGATION TO VENOUHCE
The confessor should keep in mind that he has a grave duty
to impose upon the penitent the obligation of denouncing to super-
iors anyone who is seriously guilty of heresy.or blasphemy, which
is accompanied by intellectual error and pertinacity. There is no
such obligation in the case of ignorance, carelessness, or slip of
the tongue, for then it would be enough if the penitent merely
called the error to the person's attention.
In addition to this, the confessor should insist that women
and children denounce priests who solicit them ad tuJvpi.0. or engage
in suggestive conversations with them in the confessional. In my
Moral Theology I treat this matter more at length. (3)
Regarding this obligation, the confessor should keep in mind
these practical points:
1.) He should not be too quick to impose on the penitent
the obligation of denouncing when it is a case of so-
licitation. In doubt as to whether there was solici-
tation or not, the obligation should not be imposed.
However, in these two doubtful cases, there is basis
enough for moral certainty:
a.) when the words or actions of themselves implied
solicitation and the penitent is in doubt only as re-
gards the intention of the solicitor; or b.) when there
was strong - though not certain - indication of solici-
tation , with no indication to the contrary.
I
I
I
77.
2.) Secondly the confessor should not be too quick to take
upon himself the obligation of denouncing. He could do
this in some rare instance out of charity; for instance,
when the penitent would have grave difficulty in ap-
proaching the superior.
3.) Finally the confessor should never omit imposing this
obligation of denouncing on a penitent who has been so-
licited, even though he foresees that it will not be
carried out. This obligation has been placed upon the
confessor by the Pope himself. Consequently, if the
penitent will not fulfill the obligation, the confessor
should postpone absolution. The same treatment should
be employed, if the confessor suspects that the peni-
tent will have difficulty in fulfilling the obligation.
On the other hand, it is a good idea to absolve the pen-
itent if he seriously intends to denounce as soon as he
can, even though at present he is impeded from doing so.
These denunciations should be made at least within a
month. (4)
/
PEN1TEHTS WITH MARRIAGE IMPEDIMENTS
I. When the penitent has an impediment and the marriage has
has not yet been entered into, we must make several distinctions:
A. IN NORMAL CASES
The confessor who learns of a public impediment in the con-
fessional should send the penitent to the pastor.
If the impediment is occult, the confessor himself should
offer to obtain the dispensation. In doing this bear in mind that
the local ordinary can dispense:
1.) when there is some doubt of fact regarding the impedi-
ment, if it is a case in which the Pope is accustomed
to dispense;
2.) when recourse to the Holy See is difficult and there is
danger of grave harm in delay, as long as the case is
one in which the Pope is accustomed to dispense;
78.
3.) when it is an impediment of minor degree, by virtue of
the quinquennial faculties.
If, despite these faculties, the Ordinary cannot dispense,
the confessor should have recourse to the Sacred Penitentiary.
8. IN VANGER OF VEATH OR IN CASE OF URGENCY
Ihe confessor should have recourse to the ordinary of the
place when there is danger of death (which is wider than "in aAti.-
cato moKtUs") or when it is an urgent case. This urgent case is
defined: when the impediment is discovered just when everything is
prepared for the wedding which cannot be postponed until the dis-
pensation arrives from the Holy See without probable danger of
grave harm.
In the event that this recourse to the ordinary is impossi-
ble without some really grave difficulty or without the danger of
violating the seal, the confessor himself can dispense. His power
in this case must be exercised in the act of sacramental confession
and is good only for the internal forum. It extends to every sin-
gle impediment of church law, even though they be multiple, except
these two: the impediment which proceeds from priesthood, and the
impediment that proceeds from affinity in the direct line of a con-
summated marriage.
But take note. If this is only a case of some urgency, then
he can dispense only occult impediments. If this is a case of dan-
ger of death, he can also dispense public impediments and even from
the form prescribed for marriage.
II. When the penitent has already contracted an invalid
marriage.
A. SAN AT JO IN RAVJCE. If the marriage has to be revalidated
by a Aancutio in hjxdi.ce. and only in the internal forum, the confessor
himself should write directly to the Sacred Penitentiary, since the
6anai.o is given exclusively by the Holy See.
8. SIMPLE CONY ALIO AT JON. If it is to be revalidated by a
simple convalidation, the directions we just gave concerning dis-
pensations apply. Consequently in cases where the confessor him-
self can dispense from marriage impediments, he can also revali-
date the marriage.

79.
1

The co nf e s s o r s ho u l d remember t hat f o r t hi s co nval i dat i o n,
two t hi ngs ar e ne ce s s ar y, i . e . , t he r e mo val of t he imp e dime nt - i f
t he r e i s o ne - and t he r e ne wal of co ns e nt . The p ar t y who knows o f
t he imp e dime nt i s o bl ige d t o t e l l t he o t he r of t he i nval i di t y o f
t he i r mar r i age . This i s de du ce d from t he u s u al f o r mu l a empl oyed
by t he Sacr e d Pe n i t e n t i a r y : "ut dlcXa mvJLLoAJL dt nuLUXcutZ ptviohLt,
COYU> ZiULU ceXtLo/UVtCL, <Lt(L. "
St r i c t l y s p e aking t he n, i t i s no t enough t o s ay: "If yo u
had no t o nce mar r ie d me , woul d you mar r y me now? Te l l me you wo u l d. "
Or : "Fo r my p e ace o f mind, l e t ' s r e ne w o u r f o r me r co nt r act . " Fo r
co ns e nt s l i ke t hi s de p e nd upon t he p r i o r co ns e nt which was nu l l .
Ne it he r i s i nt e r co u r s e s u f f i ci e nt , as some s ay, e ve n when i t i s do ne
wit h mar i t al i nt e nt .
I t i s a l l r i ght t o s ay ho we ve r : "Our mar r iage was i nval i d
be cau s e o f a ce r t ai n cir cu ms t ance (t he r e i s no o bl i gat i o n t o mani-
f e s t t he p r e ci s e imp e dime nt ), l e t ' s r enew o u r co ns e nt . " Or : "When
I mar r ie d yo u , I did no t have t r u e co ns e nt " (f o r no_ co ns e nt i s no t
t r u e co ns e nt ). Or : "I do u bt t he val i di t y of o u r mar r i age , s o l e t
u s co nt r act i t o ve r agai n. " In t he s e cas e s t he new co ns e nt do e s
no t depend upon t he o l d o ne .
Ho we ve r , when i t i s p r u de nt l y f e ar e d t hat t he abo ve -me nt io ne d
ways would br i ng t he cr ime i nt o t he o p e n wit h t he co ns e qu e nt dange r
o f qu ar r e l i ng, inf amy, o r s candal and o n t he o t he r hand t he o ne who
i s aware o f t he imp e dime nt co u l d no t be e xcu s e d from r e nde r ing t he
de bt - t he n, o nce t he di s p e ns at i o n has be e n gr ant e d, i t wi l l be
enough i f he u s e any o f t he ways give n above o r i f he al o ne r e ne ws
hi s co ns e nt . In s u ch a s i t u at i o n he can f o l l o w t he o p inio n which
s ays t hat hi s co ns e nt t o ge t he r wit h t he co ns e nt t he o t he r p ar t y
once gave i s enough t o co nval idat e t he mar r iage , f o r t he y s ay t hat
t he o t he r ' s co ns e nt vi r t u al l y r e mains i n t he co nt inu e d u s e o f mar -
r i age o r i n t he co nt inu e d co habi t at i o n.
HOVELS TOR WRITING TO THE SACREV PENITENTIARY
Fi r s t o f a l l , some ge ne r al no r ms . Remember t hat r e co u r s e t o
t hi s t r i bu nal i s had o nl y i n mat t e r s of t he i nt e r nal f o r u m, whe t he r
s acr ame nt al o r e xt r a-s acr ame nt al .
The addr e s s i s : Emmo. D. C ar di nal i Po e ni t e nt i ar i o Mai o r i ,
Pal azzo de i C o nve r t e ndi, Via de l l a C o nci l i azi o ne , Roma ( I t a l i a ) .
The he ading o f t he l e t t e r i s : Emmo. D. C ar dinal i Po e ni t e nt i ar i o
Maio r i, Emine nt is s ime Domine:
80 .
Then t he cas e i s s e t f o r t h, o mi t t i ng t he names and s u r name s
of t he p ar t i e s i nvo l ve d, and s u bs t i t u t i ng t he l e t t e r N. o r made-up
name s , Fabi u s , Ti t i u s , Li vi a
In e xp l ai ni ng t he cas e , t he bar e f act wit h cl ar i t y o f c i r -
cu ms t ance s i s t he f i r s t t hi ng i ndi cat e d. Then t he r e as o ns ar e
give n, and at t he e nd t he p e t i t i o n i s e xp r e s s e d.
The l e t t e r co ncl u de s wit h a f o r mu l a s o me t hing l i ke t h i s :
"Sacnam Emineniiae VeAtnae Punpunam deoAcuZon," o r "Qua pan. eAt
nevenentia me pno{iteon." Then: "EmZnentlae VeAtnae humZZZZmum
lamuZum."
Then give t he p l ace , day, mo nt h, and ye ar i n which t he r e -
qu e s t i s be i ng made . Fi nal l y t he s i gnat u r e o f t he p e t i t i o ne r . At
t he bo t t o m of t he wr i t t e n t e xt ar e no t e d t he name and addr e s s o f
t he p e r s o n t o whom t he r e s p o ns e s ho u l d be s e nt .
1.) Fo r mu l a o f r e co u r s e t o t he Sacr e d Pe ni t e nt i ar y.
Emmo. V. CandinaZZ PoenitentZanZo WaZonZ
EmZnentiAAZme Vornine:
TitZuA in excommunicaiionem incidit Sanctae Sedi AZmpZZciten
neAenvatam ob deZictum de quo in can. 2342, #1. AbAoZutuA in ca&u
uAgenti ad nonmam can. 2254 pen me ad S. PoenitentZaniam necunnit,
panatiA huiuA mandotiA Atone.
Qua pan eAt nevenentia me pno^iteon EminentZae \leAtnae
devotiAAimum.
Chicago, 29 Jul. 1951
John Voe, AacendoA.
JndZcationeA ad neAponAionem ZnAcnZbendam: U.S. Rev. John
Voe, 1472 WeZZZngton St., Chicago, JZZ.
2. ) Fo r mu l a o f r e co u r s e i n cas e s o f canon 2254.
Emmo. V. CandinaZZ PoenitenZanZo MaionZ
EminentiAAime PnincepA:
CaZuA AacendoA compZZcem Auum [veZ duoA, tneA, etc., compZZ-
ceA AUOA) in peccato tunpi AemeZ [out biA, ten, etc.] abAoZvit [veZ
81.
abAolvexe Aimulavit; out etiam: complicem Auum in peccato tuxpi,
qui peccatum complicitatiA, a quo nondum {,uexat abAolutuA, ipAO
Titio ad hoc tarn inducente, non eAt con^eAAuA).
Nunc poenitentia ductuA ad me. venit petenA abAolutionem
admiAAi cximiniA , quern ego vexAantem in COAU uxgenti abAolvi ad
noxmam can. 2254, #1.
Hoc Eminentiae VeAtxae xenuntio, Aimul Aigni{icanA Titium
libenti anirno Eminentiae VeAtxae mandatLh obedixe pa/uxtum eAAe.
Sacxam Eminentiae VeAtxae Puxpuxam deoAculox.
Chicago
H.H., AacexdoA.
Vignctux Ema. V. xeAponAum Aic mittexe: U.S. Rev. N.N.,
1742 Wellington St., Chicago, 111.
3.) Formula for requesting a dispensation from an occult
matrimonial impediment.
Emmo. V. Caxdinali Poenitcntiaxio IKaioxi
EmZnenZiAAime ac PevexendlAAlme Vominc:
CaiuA et Caia matximonium inixc cupiunt; vexum ligantux
Zmpedimento occulto, contxacto ex adultexio et pxomiAAione Aibi
invicem ^acta ^utuxi matxlmonii duxantc matximonio, quo altex-
utxa [vel utxaque) paXA pxiuA ligabatux.
Cum autem AZ diApenAatio CZA negaxetuA, pxobabile pexi-
culum adAit ne matximonium dumtaxat civile celebxatuxi Aint.
Humilitex xogatux Eminentia VeAtxa ut Aupex cximiniA
impedimenta, quod occultum eAt, eiA benigne pxovidexe dignetux.
Et VeuA, etc. (Conclude as before.)
4.) Formula for convalidating a marriage which is invalid
because of an occult impediment.
Emmo. V. Caxdinali, etc.
RU^UA contxaxit matximonium cum Plavia, cum qua adultexium
conAummavexat, mutuo {,idem Aibi danteA de matximonio intex Ae ine-
undo; quod ut celexiuA conAequexetux RufiuA, inAcia Plavia, iAtiuA
conjugi occulto moxtem pxocuxavit.
Cum impedimentum Ait omnino occultum et Aepaxatio liexi non
poAAlt abAque gxavi Acandalo et abAque pexiculo incontinentiae, ab
Eminentia VeAtxa diApenAationem Aibi neceAAaxiam humilitex e4ilagitat.
Et VeuA, etc.
-
8 2 .
5. ) Formula r e qu e s t ing a banatlo In Kadlec f o r t he in-
t e r nal forum.
Emmo. V. CoKdlnail, eta.
Sacendob Toannu Voe, United Statu, Emmae. VutKae haze
neveKenteK exponit:
W.W.W. ct U.N.N. matKimonium contnaxeKunt die 19 jut. anni
1951 -In eeetula paKoeelatl b. Uicnaelib, oppidl N., Vloeuib . V. . .
in United Statu, conam baeeKdote N.
At matKimonium hoe nullum evabit quia bacendob el abbibtenb
necUbania detegatlone caKebat; qui de
L
eetub mipeK eognitub {ult
quamvlb adhue oeeultub manet.
Cum putatl eonjugu iam pet tKU annob vitam matKimoniatem
bona {ide agant, et pKolem habeant, magna dotoKe a^ieeKentuK bi
matrimonii nuilitab elbdem bignifiicaKetuK, ut matKimonium in ^oKma
oKdinania eonvaildaKent; et idem baeeKdotl abblbtenti pKobKobum.
Quane oKatoK ab Emma. \lutKa bupplex pobtutat ut dignetuK
pKaedletum matKimonium banana in Kadiee.
Eminentiae VutKae PuKpuKam KeveKenteK deobeutoK
6.) Formula requesting a dispensation from a vow of per-
petual chastity.
Emmo. V. CoKdinatl, etc.
!
I
Titlub, cum eutitatib peKpetuae voto bit obbtKietub, et
cum In gKavl veKbetuK penieuto ineontinentlae, bupplieiteK oKat
Eminentlam VutKam, ut dignetuK oKatohi a pnae
L
ato voto dibpen-
batlonem indulgene, quo matKimonium contKaheKe pobbit.
Et Veub, etc.
7. ) For mul a r e qu e s t i ng a dis p e ns at io n from an i r r e gu l ar i t y
ar i s i ng from an o ccu l t de l i ct .
Emmo V. Candlnali, etc.
Titlub, bacehdob, In iKKegutaKitatem ineidit ob pKocunatum
aboKtum electa beeuta.
Cum ipbi bit peKieulum infiamiae bl a eetebKando abbtineat,
humliiteK ab Emlnentia \lutaa huiub iKKeguioAitatib dibpenbationem
expobeit.
SacKom Eminentiae VebtKae PunpuKam...
v
83.
d.) Whenever the confessor prudently judges that the
faculty to absolve cannot be asked from the le-
gitimate superior without serious inconvenience
to the penitent, or without danger of violating
the sacramental seal.
e.) If the penitent confesses outside the diocese where
the sin is reserved (provided the sin is not also
reserved in the diocese in which the confession is
heard), even though he left his own diocese for the
purpose of obtaining absolution. (6)
i
When the confessor has been commissioned to execute the dis-
pensation, he can use the following formula as an extension of the >
sacramental absolution: "Et in&apeA, aiictoAltate apoAtotica nuJit
conceA&a, dL&pento tecum t>apeA tmpeaUmento [cnJmiyiu>, pAoventente
ex. adattehA.0 cum contagtdtcio), at matAtmontum cum W.W. AUAAUA con-
tAokeAe poA&ki, Aenovato contenta; et pAolem, &l quam 6at>cipte&
(vet 6a6cept6ti) legitAmam decloAo. In nomine VQAAAA, etc."
FACULTIES FOR ABSOLVING RESERVED CASES
A. IN NOMAL CIRCUMSTANCES
When a penitent with a reserved censure comes to him, the
confessor should exhort him to go to confession to a priest who
has faculties to absolve from censures - or if he prefers, the
penitent can write (even via the confessor) to the competent su-
perior. But the following points should be taken into consider-
ation.
1.) The reservation of sins AOJtione &ai, both papal and
episcopal, ceases completely in these five cases:
a.) When the sick who cannot leave their house confess.
(The sickness may even be light - as long as it
keeps the patient at home.)
b.) When the penitents confess with a view to marriage,
either to be contracted or validated.
c.) When the legitimate superior has refused the fac-
ulty to absolve, when asked in an individual case.
84 .
2. ) In do u bt f u l cas e s , e i t he r do u bt o f law o r do u bt o f f act ,
t he r e s e r vat i o n do e s no t ho l d. Doubt of l aw: whe t he r o r no t t he
l aw o f r e s e r vat i o n e xt e nds t o t he p e ni t e nt ' s p ar t i cu l ar cas e . Doubt
o f f act : whe t he r he co mmit t e d i t , whe t he r i t i s gr ave o r no t , whe t h-
er" o r no t t he cir cu ms t ance s r e qu i r e d f o r t he r e s e r vat i o n ar e p r e s e nt .
This i s ce r t ai n f o r r e s e r ve d LaJtaJL 6ZnZYVU-Q.z ce ns u r e s and i s wit h
p r o babi l i t y ap p l i e d al s o t o s i ns r e s e r ve d tvztlOYlZ &UA. (c. 2245)
3. ) The co nf e s s o r s ho u l d al s o che ck t o s e e i f t he p e ni t e nt
was igno r ant of t he ce ns u r e o r of t he r e s e r vat i o n, f o r as we no t e d
abo ve , t hi s e xe mp t s t he p e ni t e nt from t he p e nal t y and from t he r e s -
e r vat i o n.
4. ) If t he co nf e s s o r , unawar e (even cu l p abl y) o f t he r e s e r -
vat i o n, abs o l ve s t he p e ni t e nt from t he ce ns u r e and from t he s i n, t he
abs o l u t io n o f t he ce ns u r e i s val i d, p r o vide d t hat i t i s no t oh hominz
o r r e s e r ve d ApzcicutUA-uno modo t o t he Holy Se e . (c. 2247 #3)
5. ) Mis s io nar ie s a t t he t ime of t he Mis s io n (and ap p ar e nt l y
a t t he t ime of t he r e t r e a t t o o ) can abs o l ve p e ni t e nt s from s i ns r e -
s e r ve d by t he bi s ho p , e ve n HOJtiOYlZ ZZYU>UJUIZ. (c. 899)
6. ) At t he t ime o f a j u bi l e e o r ho l y ye ar , t he B u l l s which
p r o mu l gat e i t u s u al l y co nce de t o co nf e s s o r s t he f acu l t i e s t o abs o l ve
from al mo s t a l l r e s e r ve d ce ns u r e s and s i ns , e ve n from t ho s e t ake n
i nt o ^0H.um conhzyitioALun, e xce p t t ho s e r e s e r ve d i>pzzJJjJLu,himo modo t o
t he Holy Se e .
B . W VANGER OE VEATH
A dange r o f de at h i s p r e s e nt when i t i s p r u de nt l y f e ar e d t hat
de at h can r e s u l t from any cau s e ; whe t he r i nt r i ns i c o r e xt r i ns i c . Ex-
amp l e s ar e : gr ave i l l n e s s , a di f f i cu l t chi l dbi r t h, a dange r o u s
j o u r ne y, and e ve n mo bi l i zat i o n o f t he army wit h t he i nt e nt o f war ,
as t he Sacr e d Pe ni t e nt i ar y de cl ar e d on March 12 and May 29, 1915.
In t hi s cas e , " al l p r i e s t s (even he r e t i c s , s chi s mat i cs , e x-
co mmu nicat e s and de gr ade d), al t ho u gh no t ap p r o ve d f o r co nf e s s i o ns ,
val i dl y and l i c i t l y abs o l ve any p e ni t e nt s (e ve n r e l i gi o u s women)
from any s i ns o r ce ns u r e s , no mat t e r how r e s e r ve d o r how no t o r i o u s
(even t ho s e r e s e r ve d 6pZzhaLi6&Ajno modo) , e ve n t ho u gh t he r e i s an
ap p r o ve d p r i e s t p r e s e nt . " (c. 882) The abs o l u t i o n from ce ns u r e s
howe ve r has i t s e f f e ct o nl y i n t he i nt e r nal f o r u m.
:
85.
I
The s o l e e xce p t io n t o t hi s f acu l t y i s t he abs o l u t io n of o ne ' s
own acco mp l ice i n a s i n of imp u r it y: whil e i t i s al ways val i d i n t he ;
dange r of de at h, i t i s no t l i c i t on t he co nf e s s o r ' s p ar t , o u t s i de |
t he cas e o f ne ce s s i t y, (c. 884)
The o ne abs o l ve d in t hi s cas e i s o bl ige d t o have r e co u r s e .
If he was abs o l ve d from an ah homiyUL ce ns u r e , he mu s t have r e -
co u r s e - o nce he has co nval e s ce d - t o t he one who i nf l i ct e d t he
ce ns u r e , o r t o hi s s u p e r i o r , s u cce s s o r , o r de l e gat e . If he was ab-
s o l ve d from a ce ns u r e 4pe.cXaXc6.6tmo modo r e s e r ve d, o r from an e x-
communicat ion i ncu r r e d by a p r i e s t who at t e mp t s e ve n a ci vi l mar -
r i age and canno t s e p ar at e from t he woman, he must have r e co u r s e t o
t he Sacr e d Pe ni t e nt i ar y o r t o t he o r dinar y o r one wit h de l e gat e d
f acu l t i e s . He mu s t s u bmit hims e l f t o them u nde r p ain o f r e - i ncu r -
r i ng t he same ce ns u r e t o e xe cu t e what e ve r t he y impos e on him. (c.
2252)
C o nce r ning t hi s r e co u r s e , no t e f ive t hi ngs :
1.) The p hr as e "once he has co nval e s ce d" means o nce t he
cau s e which p u t him in dange r of de at h has di s ap -
p e ar e d.
2. ) He mu s t have r e co u r s e wi t hi n a mo nt h' s t ime .
3. ) The co de do e s no t command t he co nf e s s o r t o admonish
t he p e ni t e nt r e gar ding hi s o bl i gat i o n of having r e -
co u r s e ; s t i l l he s ho u l d do s o , i f t he r e i s hope t hat
i t wi l l be p r o f i t abl e .
4. ) In p r a c t i c e , t hi s admo nit io n can be o mit t e d i f t he
p e ni t e nt i s ne ar de at h, o r be yo nd hope of r e co ve r y.
5. ) The r e co u r s e can be made p e r s o nal l y o r by t e l e p ho ne
o r t e l e gr ap h.
C . IN l/ERV URGENT CASES
j
A very urgent case occurs when the censure cannot be ex- 1
ternally observed without danger of grave scandal or of infamy,
or when it is hard for the penitent to remain in mortal sin dur-
ing the time necessary to reach the competent superior.
I n t h i s cas e any co nf e s s o r
t o he ar t he p e n i t e n t ' s co nf e s s i cr '
ce ns u r e s i n t he i n t e r n a l f o r u m, r.c
(c. 2254 #1)
,
;
g, o ne who has f a c u l t i e s
"^jfcsoive tcutat &zyvtQjvtLa.z.
' ,'.wr how t he y ar e r e s e r ve d.
- S-J.
C o nce r ning t h i s f acu l t y, nbt *
1. ) Al t ho u gh t he cano n che f
:
tloJL ce ns u r e s which h
s V
*
2 . )
4 . )
5. )
j c*
^v^ f o l l o wing t hi ngs :
^ s p e ak o f {VWuLaJL AZYVten-
"
:
^5cy be e n i n f l i c t e d by s e n-
*ha o p i ni o n o f Re g a t i l l o t he
t he s e t o o . (7) t e nce o r p r e c e p t , s t i - -
co nf e s s o r can abs o l ve
vjve r e co u r s e , u nde r p ai n o f
The p e r s o n abs o l ve d mu? _
a
ao nt h' s t i me t o t he
r e - i n c u r r i n g t he ce ns o r *-
co mp e t e nt s u p e r i o r .
t his o bl i gat i o n o f havi ng
3. ) The co nf e s s o r mu s t iniyo* . . . ^ g p e ni t e nt r e f u s e s t o
he canno t be abs o l ve d.
r e co u r s e o n t he p e ni t e t .
f e s s o r s ho u l d have r^"."
V
*V* - ^c, r e co u r s e t he n i s mo r -
d i f f i c u l t f o r t he co n**' . ^. f e s s o r can gi ve abs o l u t i o n
a l l y i mp o s s i bl e , and . J l . gi ca o f havi ng r e c o u r s e . He
wi t ho u t imp o s ing t he *~_ ^^At i s r e qu i r e d by l aw (s u ch
s ho u l d me r e l y have h i *
v%
* h
a
s candal , and car r y
as r e p a i r t he i nj u r y ^ impose o n him a f i t t i n g p e n-
o u t s u i t a b l e r e me di e s . . ^ ce ns u r e . Thi s p e nance
ance and s a t i s f a c t i o n
v
^,- ^
t
i
s n o
t d
o n
e i n a r e a -
s ho u l d be s o imp o s e d t n ^
t h e c o n
f
e s s o r #
t he p e n-
s o nabl e amo u nt o f t i n** ;>e nal t y.
i t e n t wi l l agai n i ncu t W>
^,*e wit h a f i c t i t i o u s name ,
Thi s r e co u r s e s ho u l d be
v ;
>f
e
s s o r , as was s a i d b e -
by l e t t e r o r t hr o u gh t he
f o r e .
fcht co nf e s s o r canno t abs o l ve i n
The o nl y ce ns u r e which
s c c a B r a n
i c a t i o n i nc u r r e d by
ve r y u r ge nt cas e s i s W co nt r act e ve n a c i v i l mar -
t he p r i e s t who p r e s u me * ^
i s
i mp o s s i bl e f o r t he
i f f o r s o me r e **
04
r i a ge t hough t he y ar e f i r ml y r e -
co u p l e t o s e p a r a t e , e w . br o t he r and s i s t e r wi t ho u t
s o l ve d t o l i ve t o ge t he r
l o s s o f c h a s t i t y .

87.
1. As can be seen this chapter has been brought into line with
present code legislation - according to the Spanish Moriones
edition of the ?/iaxM>.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Benedict XIV, encycl. Inter praeteritos, Dec. 3, 1749.
MT VI, n. 675ff.
Section on denouncing is taken from the original Pnaxti -
except the last two paragraphs were omitted in the Spanish
"pon no titan ya hoy en vtgon".
C. 1044, 1045.
C. 900 and 2247 #2 - English wording taken from A. Browne.
Institutiones Juris Canonici II, n. 979.
"A
CHAPTER VN
S
f
cm I Sl Ui
ions
THE CONFESSOR WITH CHJLVREM
With children the confessor should make it a point to be kind
and very gentle. His first duty is to find out if they know the
truths of their Faith. If they do not, he should instruct them pa-
tiently, at least with regard to those truths necessary for salva-
tion. He should do this right then and there if time allows; other-
wise he should refer them to someone else.
As to the confession itself, he should first let them confess
the sins they remember. Once this is done he might think it neces-
sary to ask the following questions, as a way of helping them examine
their consciences:
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1.) Did you keep back any sins that you were afraid to tell? j
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2.) Did you speak without respect about saints or holy days?
Did you swear to something that was not true?
3.) Did you miss Mass on Sunday or on a Holy Day? Did you
talk during Mass? Did you work on Sunday?
4.) Were you disobedient to your parents, or disrespectful
to them by making fun of them, by slapping them, by
talking back to them, or by wishing evil on them. (Re-
call here what was said in chapter two under the fourth
commandment about how children should be made to beg
forgiveness from their parents.)
5.) Did you commit any sins of impurity? On this point
the confessor should be careful in his questioning.
He should begin in fairly general terms and not go
straight to the point. First, did they use bad words?
Did they tell dirty jokes with other boys and girls?
Then he may ask if they committed any impure actions.
Often it is good, even if the child says no, to probe
a little further....How many times....Did you say
five times? He may also ask if they sleep with any-
one , and if they play with themselves when they are
in bed.
He may ask girls if they have a "crush" on some young
man, and if there have been any bad thoughts involved
in this. From the answers he gets, he can go on to
further questions. But he should never ask a boy or
girl if he or she reached an orgasm. It is better to ^s
go without material integrity, than tell them about
something they do not know and just arouse their
curiosity. (1)
6.) Did you steal anything, or damage anything that be-
longed to another?
7.) Did you tell the secret sins of someone else?
8.) As to the precepts of the church: did you fulfill the
law regarding confession and Easter Duty? Did you eat
meat on abstinence days?
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When it comes to absolving children, once again a good deal
of care is reuqired.
If you are fairly sure that they have sufficient use of rea-
son, they should be absolved if they are properly disposed. You can
judge their use of reason by various indications; for instance, how
distinctly they confess their sins and how adequately they answer
your questions, how aware they are of the consequence of sin - that
it offends God and merits Hell for them. If they are recidives in
mortal sin, they should be treated as adults: that is, if they do
not show extraordinary signs of sorrow, absolution should be put
off.
If you doubt whether the child has perfect use of reason, he
should be absolved conditionally when he is in danger of death or
when he needs absolution in order to make his Easter Duty. Signs
that he has not reached the use of reason are: he doesn't remain
composed in the confessional but looks around, fiddles with his
hands, and brings up things not connected with confession. He
should be absolved conditionally too if he confesses something
doubtfully mortal. Conditional absolution is all right when there
is a just cause for it and here the possibility of freeing this
child from a doubtful state of sin is certainly a just cause. Even
if the child is recidive, he should be so absolved. Absolution
should be delayed for those who have the perfect use of reason, as
a way of having them return properly disposed. But this hope is
not to be found in children who lack the use of reason.
/
Many moralists teach (with probability) that a doubtfully
disposed child like this can be absolved conditionally even if he
confesses only venial sin - at least after a space of two or three
months. This is so that he will not go for a long time without
the grace of the sacrament, or perhaps even without sanctifying
grace, if he has forgotten to confess some mortal sin.
The confessor should see to it that these youngsters make
the act of sorrow necessary to receive absolution. For instance,
he could put it to them in the guise of a little talk: "Do you
love God Who is so great and so good - the God Who created you and
died for you? You have hurt this God and now He wants to forgive
you. Make an act of hope that He will forgive you out of love for..
Jesus Who died for you. But do you know that your sins deserve
Hell? Say with me: My God, I do not ever want to offend You again,
etc."
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The penance imposed on children should be as light as pos- j
sible. The confessor should insist that they say it as soon as
possible. Otherwise they will forget about it or skip it. He
should try especially to instill into children a devotion to the
Mother of God, urging them to say the rosary every day and to say
the three Hail Mary's morning and night with this ejaculation: "My
Mother, keep me from mortal sin."
With regard to a child's vocation, a confessor must never
decide it for him. He may prudently determine which state in life
he thinks God wants the child to embrace, and then try to persuade
him to embrace that state - but that is all.
If he is dealing with someone who wants to enter religion,
the confessor's first obligation is to examine the order which he
wants to enter, for if it is a lax order, it would be better (or-
dinarily) to remain in the world. Once he joins such an order he
will begin to act like the others, and the hopes he had will be
lost sight of. Unfortunately this has happened to many.
But if the child wants to enter a fervent order, the confes-
sor should test the vocation by making the following inquiries: as
to impediments that will bar him from entering, as to health, as to
parents who may need his help. Most important of all he should
evaluate the child's reasons for wanting to enter. Is it a good
one - such as, to unite himself to God, to make reparation for his
former life, to avoid the dangers of the world? Or is the prin-
cipal motive a worldly one - such as, to lead an easier life, to
be free of his family's hard lot, or to please his parents who are
forcing him into it? If his motive is a bad one, the confessor
must see to it that he does not enter religion, for there is no
real vocation. And entering religion without a vocation would have
a disastrous outcome. If, on the other hand, the motive is good
and there is no impediment, neither the confessor nor anyone else
should deter him from following his vocation. St. Thomas even says
that to do so would be a grave sin. However sometimes it is a
prudent thing for the confessor to delay the entrance, in order to
make sure this is a firm and lasting resolution. This is especially
true if he knows that the youngster is flighty. It is also true
if the decision was made at the time of a mission or a retreat, for
in a burst of fervor the child could very well make a resolution
which lacked solid foundation.
If it is a boy who wants to become a diocesan priest, the
confessor should not be quick to agree without a long and thorough
t e s t o f t he young man's u p r ight mo t ive s , of hi s kno wl e dge , o r cap a-
b i l i t i e s . Dio ce s an p r i e s t s have t he s ame , and e ve n gr e at e r o bl i ga-
t i o ns t han r e l i gi o u s have , and ye t t he y must l i ve s u r r o u nde d by t he
dange r s o f t he wo r l d. C o ns e qu e nt l y, t o be a good dio ce s an p r i e s t ,
he must be car e f u l t o l e ad an e xe mp l ar y l i f e - cu t o f f from t he
wo r l d' s p l e as u r e s and from s i nf u l men and give n t o p r aye r and f r e -
qu e nt ing o f t he s acr ame nt s . But qcuA Zi fvcc z cuxdabmu& zum?
Wit ho u t t hi s t he dio ce s an p r i e s t wi l l p l ace hims e l f i n a s t at e of
al mo s t ce r t ai n damnat io n, e s p e ci al l y i f he t ake s on t hi s l i f e in
o r de r t o s at i s f y t he ambit io ns of hi s p ar e nt s . (We me nt io ne d be -
f o r e - in chap t e r two - how s e r io u s a s i n p ar e nt s commit by f o r cing
t he i r chi l dr e n t o e nt e r t he r e l i gi o u s l i f e o r t he p r i e s t ho o d agai ns t
t he i r own cho i ce . )
As t o gi r l s who want t o co ns e cr at e t he i r vi r gi ni t y t o J e s u s
C hr i s t , t he co nf e s s o r s ho u l d no t p e r mit them t o make a p e r p e t u al
vow o f chas t i t y u nl e s s he i s s u r e t hat t he y l e ad a vi r t u o u s l i f e ,
ar e we l l acqu aint e d wit h as ce t i cal p r i nci p l e s , and e s p e ci al l y give
t ime t o p r aye r . At f i r s t , he s ho u l d al l o w them t o make a vow of
chas t i t y o nl y f o r a t i me , s ay from o ne f e as t t o ano t he r .
Fi nal l y, two t hi ngs s ho u l d be r e cal l e d wit h r e gar d t o t ho s e
who want t o o r mu s t ge t mar r ie d. (I s ay "mu s t " in r e f e r e nce t o
i nco nt i ne nt p e r s o ns who wi l l u s e no o t he r means of r e s t r ai ni ng
t he ms e l ve s bu t mar r iage . ) Fi r s t of a l l , p ar e nt s s i n who wit ho u t
j u s t cau s e s t and in t he way of a s u i t abl e mar r iage f o r t he i r c hi l -
dr e n. Se co ndl y, chi l dr e n s i n (and co ns e qu e nt l y t he co nf e s s o r mu s t
f o r bid i t ) when t he y wis h t o e nt e r a mar r iage which br i ngs shame
on t he i r f amil y. I t i s wrong t o o f o r them t o wis h t o co nt r act a
mar r iage which t he i r p ar e nt s ar e agai ns t (even t ho u gh i t i s no t
s hame f u l bu t wi l l p r o ve a s candal t o them) u nl e s s t he chi l dr e n
have an e xcu s ing cau s e . This mat t e r I have cl ar i f i e d i n my Moral
The o l o gy. (2)
THE CONFESSOR ANV THE SCRUPULOUS
Many au t ho r s give r u l e s f o r de al i ng wit h t he s cr u p u l o u s p e n-
i t e nt s . Bu t ce r t ai nl y t he gr e at e s t remedy af t e r t hat of p r aye r i s
o be die nce t o t he i r di r e ct o r . Fat he r Se gne r i cal l s t hi s t he o nl y
r e me dy, in f act . From t hi s flow two imp o r t ant r u l e s .
1.) The co nf e s s o r must co nvince t he s cr u p u l o u s p e r s o n t hat
i t i s al ways s af e be f o r e God t o obey hi s s p i r i t u a l d i -
r e ct o r whe r e t he r e i s no s u r e s i n. In do ing t h i s , he
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is not obeying man, but God Himself who says: He who
hears you, hears Me. This is the teaching of St. Ber-
nard, St. Antoninus, St. Francis de Sales, St. Philip
Neri, St. Teresa, St. John of the Cross, St. Ignatius
Loyola, Blessed Dennis the Carthusian, Blessed Humbert,
Venerable Master Avila, Gerson, and countless others.
2.) The penitent must be convinced that the only anxiety he
should have is in not obeying. Scrupulosity exposes
them to the danger of losing not only their peace of
mind, their devotion and progress in virtue, but even
their sanity and above all their soul. Scrupulosity
can grow to such proportions that they are driven to
despair, and end up (as frequently happens) taking
their own life or letting down all barriers against sin.
The confessor must try to get it across to the scrupulous
person that God does not weigh every least detail of our lives. He
wants us during life to be uncertain about our salvation for our
own good. We try/ as best we can not to offend Him, and then leave
the rest to His Mercy. We admit that we cannot save ourselves
without the help of His Grace and so we pray for it with perse-
verance, confidence, and peace of mind. St. Francis de Sales once
said: "It is a good idea for us to close our eyes in the darkness
and difficulties of life and walk through them under God's loving
care. We should be at peace if our spiritual director tells us we
are doing well and let it go at that. The obedient man will never
be lost." (3) St. Philip Neri assures the scrupulous penitent that
he will never have to give God an account of his actions if he obeys
his confessor. (4) St. John of the Cross calls it a mark of pride
and lack of faith for a person not to trust the advice of his con-
fessor. (5)
Because of all this, the confessor should speak very often
to the scrupulous penitent of the confidence he should have in
Jesus Christ Who died for our salvation, and in His most holy
Mother whose great power is at the mercy of those who come to her
for help. The confessor should try to' get him to be convinced of
the certainty of his salvation whenever he runs to Jesus and Mary
who are ready to hear every prayer addressed to them.
The confessor should forbid them to read books which in-
crease their anxiety and to mix with other scrupulous persons. If
one of them is troubled with terrible guilt-feelings, he may even
forbid him to attend sermons on terrifying subjects. He may even
forbid him to examine his conscience in regard to the things that
trouble him irrationally.
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If the scruple is nothing more than the fear of giving into
bad thoughts (as for instance, against faith or purity or charity)
the confessor should not hesitate to disregard it.and assure the
penitent that these thoughts are trials and that there is not con-
sent or sin.
In this matter, the confessor should use the rule: when a
person has a tender conscience, he should be presumed not to have
committed the sin unless he is extremely certain that he has. As
Father Alvarez says, such a terrible thing cannot happen to one
who hates sin without its being clearly recognized. Consequently,
it is sometimes good to forbid the penitent to accuse himself of
such thoughts again, unless he is sure and can testify under oath
that he consented to them.
The confessor should take note that the scrupulous are not
to be guided by particular rules but by very general ones. Par-
ticular rules will never help him reach the point where he can
guide himself. He will always doubt whether or not it applies to
this case. For the present circumstances will always seem a bit
different from what the confessor had in mind.
The anxiety may be concerning past confessions - whether or
not he sufficiently explained all the sins or circumstances, or
whether he was sorry. If it comes to the confessor's attention
that the penitent has made a general confession once before or for
a notable time has constantly repeated certain things of the past,
he should forbid him ever to think about these again. He should
also tell him never again to confess his past sins unless he is
ready to swear that they were certainly mortal sins and that they
were certainly never confessed. When confession brings with it
such inconvenience and danger, the scrupulous penitent is not
bound to preserve material integrity - at least when there is any
doubt about it - even if he forgets to mention a mortal sin. The
authors teach that the anxiety that troubles him is more than
enough to excuse from integrity.
The confessor should make sure that the penitent obeys him
with exactness. If he does not obey, he should be reprimanded,
deprived of Holy Communion and treated severely. The ordinary
thing, of course, is to treat the scrupulous with kindness, but
when it comes to obedience, severity has to be used. If they lose
hold of this one life raft, they will sink into insanity or into
a life of sin.
ful.
Some scrupulous persons fear that everything they do is sin-
In counseling one like this, the confessor should command him
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to act without restraint and overcome his anxiety. He should tell
him that his first obligation is to conquer his scruples, whenever
what he is doing is not clearly sinful. This is what the moralists
along with Father Segneri teach. (6) Some object that this is tell-
ing him to act in a state of doubt because the scruple is not set-
tled, but their objection is invalid. It is almost impossible to
expect the scrupulous to do such a thing. Their fear is not a true
dictate of conscience (a formed conscience as Gerson calls it) , nor
is it a true practical doubt. It does not destroy the judgment
previously made and virtually enduring, even though now, under the
pressure of the anxiety, it is not adverted to. This judgment went
like this: I do not sin by doing what I am not certain is_ sin. In
acting, then, he does not go against this judgment but against his
groundless fear. For this reason, the confessor may command the
scrupulous to conquer their anxiety and disregard it by freely do-
ing whatever it tells them not to do. And he may assure the peni-
tent that he need never confess such a thing.
THE CONEESSOR ANV THE VEVOUT /
Those who are devout and go to Communion frequently should
ordinarily be urged to receive the Sacrament of Penance once a
week.
If such a penitent were to confess only imperfections and
nothing was clearly a venial sin, he can be absolved conditionally,
according to Bonacina. However I think this should not be allowed
except on very rare occasions when they cannot - or cannot easily -
mention something from their past life which would be certain mat-
ter. It is my opinion too that if the penitent does not present
certain matter, the confessor is not obliged to go to the trouble
of questioning him in order to absolve. And if he has inquired ^
and found nothing, he is not obliged to give absolution, even con-
ditionally. This, I repeat, happens when the penitent confesses
faults which are only doubtfully venial sins.
It is different when the penitent confesses things that are
certainly venial sins, even though of common or daily occurrence - ,.
such as impatience, intemperance, distractions in prayer, and so
forth. In order to absolve this penitent, the confessor must check
to see if he occasionally puts forth effort to conquer the bad hab-
it. If he does, the confessor can make the judgment that his faults
flow from human weakness rather than from a lack of sorrow or re-
solve. If, on the other hand, he falls back into these faults
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frequently and without resisting them, he can be treated as a re-
cidive as we mentioned in chapter five.
The confessor should never forbid his penitents, especially
women, to go to another confessor. If he discovers that they have
gone to another, he must show no sign of being displeased. In fact,
it would be a good idea for him to tell them occasionally to con-
fess to someone else. One exception to this comes to mind - a per-
son who is very scrupulous should not be told to go to another
priest if the confessor prudently fears that another confessor who
did not know the situation would cause the penitent to lose his
peace of mind. The confessor finally should' never manifest a de-
sire to direct a particular individual.
He should never speak unnecessarily about the mistakes of
other confessors. He should sincerely try to excuse them from the
mistakes they make.
The confessor should not undertake the direction of a person
who wants to leave his present director unless there is an urgent
reason for it. So, St. Philip Neri, St. Francis de Sales, St.
Charles Borromeo, and others. (8) This kind of thing is the cause
of all kinds of disturbance, dissipation, and even of scandal.
Just because a penitent dislikes his present confessor is not rea-
son enough to change. Neither is a lack of confidence in him suf-
ficient, for, as St. Teresa says, this is often a temptation of
the devil. (9) St. Francis de Sales says on this point: "The con-
fessor should not be changed without a grave reason." (10) This
is the general rule - but it is not necessary to hold this abso-
lutely, if some legitimate cause (less than grave) for changing is
present.
Lack of holiness is, as St. Teresa says, a just reason for
changing confessors. "If the confessor seems inclined to vanity,
he may be changed, for if he is vain, he will make others vain."
(11) The confessor's lack of knowledge can also be a just cause
for changing, but there should be some clear proof of this. Fi-
nally she points out that it is never wrong - and in fact it is
very advantageous - to consult other directors about problems at
times.
The confessor should be careful to show no partiality for
one penitent. Some priests become involved with a particular pen-
itent, and they end up devoting all their time, attention, and
zeal to her. We do not deny, surely, that some penitents need more
help than others. But help is one thing - involvement or attachment
I 97.
Brfhich takes time and attention away from others is quite another.
It would be a good idea for the confessor to set aside a particu-
I
lar day or time which will not inconvenience his other penitents
for the one who needs extra help.
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In hearing the confessions of devout persons, the confes-
sor should never talk too loudly even if he is not talking about
sins. If he were to do this, others would be afraid to confess
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their sins for fear that the confessor would speak just as loudly
to them. (12)
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>.$. He should not let devout young women go about visiting
churches in such a way that they stay in church enough to cause
anxiety to their parents. He should urge them rather to prepare
themselves for married life by helping with the housework.
In regard to the way a confessor should guard against famil-
iarity with his penitents, see what we have to say in the next
chapter. And for more details on how to direct devout souls, see
the whole ninth chapter.
THE CONFESSOR AMP PEAF-MUTES
If a penitent is deaf - and as ordinarily happens - mute al-
so, the confessor should take him to a private room for confession,
in order to allow him the freedom to express his sins and his sor-
row in signs, as best he can. It might be a good idea before hear-
ing his,, confession to ask the man's friends if he has any vices and
how-to go about communicating with him. Then in the confessional,
as soon as he recognizes some particular sin and some sign of sor-
row , the confessor should give him absolution. But I would say:
always absolve conditionally unless there is moral certainty about
his dispositions.
-.vi
As to a person who cannot speak, in our opinion he is bound
to express his confession in writing if he knows how to write. When
a person is bound to a certain end, he is bound also to the ordin-
ary means of attaining that end. Note I said "ordinary". Writing
would not be an ordinary means if it would entail a serious incon-
venience to the mute person, or if there existed the danger that
his sins might become known.
98.
If a deaf person or one who is hard of hearing should come
to confession and the confessor does not realize he or she is deaf
until he begins to question him in the course of the confession,
it is a doubtful procedure to tell him in a loud voice to come
back at some other time or place. This case often comes up during
the missions and is sometimes a source of great worry to the mis-
sionary.
I think the thing should be handled like this. If the con-
fessor knows from the beginning that the person is, deaf, then he
can tell him to come back at another time. But if he notices this
only after the confession is under way - from the way the penitent
answers questions - the confessor must not then tell him to return
in a voice so loud that those near the confessional would hear.
This would surely give them the idea that the penitent had con-
fessed some serious or doubtfully serious sin. Consequently, in
this case, once he has some indication of the required dispositions
he may absolve him absolutely - even if he confessed a mortal sin.
If the dispositions are not apparent, then he should absolve con-
ditionally. Lest he break the seal, he need not try to get more
certainty as to the dispositions nor tell him to return. Finally,
he should impose a light penance, because the loud voice he must
use to give the penance will be overheard by others.
THE CONFESSOR ANV THE WING
In hearing the confessions of the dying, the confessor should
not be too demanding as to the number and circumstances of the sins,
especially if a priest has already arrived with Viaticum or if the
doctor insists that Viaticum be given quickly. It is better at a
time like this to worry about the dispositions of the penitent than
about the integrity of the confession. It would be enough if he
merely told the sick man to repeat the confession when he feels
better. The penance should be very light: it makes no difference
whether the confessor imposes a proportionate one to be said after
convalescence or whether he tells the man to come back after con-
valescence.
For someone who ordinarily cannot be without an attendant -
for example a wounded person or a woman in labor - it is enough if
they accuse themselves of sinfulness in general or mention in par-
ticular only some venial fault, always of course with the intention
of confessing integrally upon recovery.
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The co nf e s s o r s ho u l d no t e t hat , i f t he dying man i s bo u nd t o
i r e s t i t u t i o n and i s abl e t o do i t a t t he t ime , he s ho u l d be
>ld t o make i t r i ght away. I t i s no t s u f f i ci e nt f o r him me r e l y t o

e t hi s t as k t o hi s h e i r s . If he r e f u s e s t o make t he r e s t i t u -
, abs o l u t i o n s ho u l d be de nie d him.
t
l f t he word Viat icu m wo u l d de s t r o y t he dying man' s p e ace o f
, i t i s p e r mi s s i bl e f o r t he p as t o r t o give him t he Eu char i s t -
3t wit h t he wo r ds : Ac.CX.pe., tyuvtMl, \J-ioJticiM - bu t wit h t he r e gu l ar
}nu l a f o r communion: CoipuA VotniiU, YlOA&u., e t c.
If i n t he co nf e s s o r ' s j u dgme nt t he dying man i s a t t he p o i nt
hAr e he s ho u l d r e ce i ve Ext r e me Unct io n and ye t he r e f u s e s , t he
iHmendous e f f e ct s of t he s acr ame nt s ho u l d be made cl e ar t o him. I t
i ve s , f o r i ns t ance , s t r e ngt h t o r e s i s t t he de v i l ' s t e mp t at i o ns i n
bas e l a s t moments o f l i f e . I t f r e e s from ve ni al s i n, and e ve n
Mm mo r t al s i n i f he has f o r go t t e n t o co nf e s s one and i t i s s t i l l
n hi s s o u l . I t e ve n give s bo di l y he al t h i f t hi s i s e xp e di e nt f o r
ha s o u l ' s we l f ar e . But t hi s he al t h wi l l no t be give n i f t he dying
\m wai t s u nt i l r e co ve r y i s imp o s s ibl e wi t ho u t a mi r acl e . The s ac-
rament f o l l o ws t he o r di nar y co u r s e of t hi ngs by r e i nf o r ci ng t he
u r al means o f r e co ve r y.
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If in spite of all this, the sick man still refuses to be
t
inted, many authors teach - and with great probability - that
commits mortal sin. It would be a sin against charity to him-
f, since he further deprives himself of something he needs so
ch to strengthen himself.
nu c
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THE CONFESSOR ANP THE COHVEMHEV CRIMINAL
Wit h condemned cr i mi nal s t he co nf e s s o r mu s t empl oy t he
at e s t . ' char i t y and p at i e nce .
When he f i r s t v i s i t s t he man, t he co nf e s s o r s ho u l d t r y t o
Mt acr o s s t o him t he ide a t hat de at h i s act u al l y a gi f t from God
TOo want s hi m. t o be s ave d. He s ho u l d t e l l him t hat a l l o f u s have
t o l e ave t he wo r l d s oon anyway in o r de r t o e nt e r an e t e r ni t y which

wi t ho u t e nd. He s ho u l d s p e ak t o him abo u t t he hap p i ne s s o f

o s e who ar e i n he ave n, and abo u t t he wr e t che d s t a t e o f t he damne d.
Exho r t him t o t hank t he God Who has wait e d f o r him u nt i l now and
t
d no t l e t him die in t he s t a t e of s i n. Fi nal l y t r y t o ge t him t o
ce p t de at h wit h a ce r t ai n amount o f j o y by u ni t i ng i t t o t he de at h
I
I
I
100.
that Christ suffered for love of him. Assure him that if he ac-
cepts death as a punishment for his sins, he will certainly be
saved - in fact, his action will be extremely meritorious and in
heaven he will be rewarded for it.
Next urge him to go to confession and tell his sins freely.
Inquire especially if he bears hatred toward anyone, or if he keeps
on his person any superstitious object. Ask if he has entered into
a pact with the devil. Once he has been absolved, the confessor
should try to have him communicate frequently. Do what you can too
to instill in him a devotion to the Mother of God, asking her fre-
quently for the grace to die a good death.
The confessor finally should be with him, encouraging him,
as he goes to the death chamber. He should hold before him a cru-
cifix and remind him that heaven is almost his. (13)
But what is to be done if the criminal obstinately refuses
to go to confession?
First of all, the confessor should try to help him with
prayer. He should get others as well, especially religious com-
munities, to offer up for him their Masses and prayers.
Remind him that whether he repents or not the sentence will
be carried out. Ask him if he has despaired of being saved and
given his soul to the devil. If there has been such an agreement,
do all you can to convince him that it has no binding force, for
God alone is the Master of men. As soon as he revokes the evil in-
tention, God will forgive his sins.
Ask him if it is hatred of some person that is causing his
obstinancy. The confessor must realize that, it is not a good idea
to try to force confession the first time one visits an obstinate
person. He will only become all the more obstinate. Instead, talk
to him about the fact that everyone has to die, about the Mercy of
God, the joys of heaven, and the pains of hell. Give him examples
of sinners who died impenitent, or of criminals who died holy
deaths. For instance, the story of the innocent man who was con-
demned to death. Someone asked him why he did not defend his in-
nocence, and he answered: "Why should I? I've begged God for
years to let me die a shameful death just as Christ died for me.
Now my wish has come true. Should I turn around and throw away
such an answer to prayer?" And with sentiments like these he
walked off joyfully to the gallows.
i
101.
Next the confessor should give the criminal time to think
these things over. Later he should ask if perhaps he has changed
his mind. Remind him that death is near and the choice of heaven
or hell is in his hands.
If he still remains hardened, the confessor should get ev-
eryone near to pray for the man, especially to pray to the Blessed
Virgin Mary. Once again beg him not to desire his own damnation.
Even try to frighten him with threats if nothing else will work -
but always end on a gentle note.
THE CONFESSOR KNV THOSE VOSSESSEV By THE VEVJL
Some of those possessed by evil spirits have nothing more
than terrible apparitions and bodily torments. These are easy to
cure. Prayer, patience, and above all, conformity to God's will
should be urged in their case.
The confessor should never be so nafve as to think that all
cases of possession by the devil are nothing more than a figment
of one's imagination or a bodily defect. It cannot be denied that
there really are possessed people, even among Christians. This is
why the Church has composed so many forms of exorcism - a thing
she has done from the very beginning. If there were no such thing
as possession, the order of exorcist would be useless, and this we
certainly cannot agree to. Still, we have to admit that a certain
amount of suspicion regarding possession is good. Most of them
are nothing more than deceitful tricks or the result of wild imag-
inations or of sickness, especially among women.
There are other situations, however, which cause the con-
fessor far more trouble. These are the cases where the person is
bothered by sensual images and touches and even by intercourse, by
which the devil tries to arouse sexual passion. (14)
Whenever a person troubled by this type of temptation comes
to confession, the confessor should use great wisdom in helping him
meet this terrifying conflict. Cardinal Petrucci points out that
they are in great danger unless many effective remedies are put to
use - even extraordinary ones at times. Each act of resistance de-
mands special help from God and tremendous effort on the part of
the sufferer himself. It is hard to come out victorious unless he
perseveres in severe mortification and fervent prayer. Over and
102
over he should recommend himself to Christ Crucified and to the
Mother of God. If he should grow remiss in prayer or in morti-
fication, he will run the risk of becoming secretly complacent
in these sinful pleasures.
Now for a remedy. If the confessor is convinced that there
is not guilt in these temptations, he should tell the penitent to
follow this course of action: frequently call upon the names of Je-
sus and Mary, diligently turn away from the sense pleasure, go to
communion frequently, renew his resolve frequently that he does
not want to consent to any temptation or delight which the devil
might offer him, use the sign of the cross and holy water, sprin-
kling his room and his bed with the latter, carry with him a relic
of a saint or a small book of the Gospels. He shouls use private
exorcisms on himself such as: "Evil spirit, in the Name of Jesus,
I command you to leave me and never bother me again." Finally,
urge him to humble himself whenever he is troubled in this way, and
often to humble himself in other ways as well, for God often allows
a trial of this kind in order to remove some interior pride.
But if a person is guilty in regard to these temptations, or
if he seeks rather than avoids their occasions, he will be hard to
help. It is not easy to convert sinners like this who are in league
with the devil. First of all, the devil has acquired some sort of
hold over their wills, and secondly they are too weak to resist.
What they need is an extraordinary grace from God, but only very
seldom does God see fit to give such a grace to this type of sinner.
Still, if one of them comes to confession, the confessor
should not just "give up" when it comes to helping him. He should
treat him with great kindness and try to re-assure him by telling
him that where there is no consent, there is no sin. If he resists
with his will, he does not sin.
The confessor should above all use at least a private ex-
orcism against the devil. This is certainly licit. For instance:
"I as the minister of God command you, impure spirit of spirits,
to leave this child of God." Then ask the penitent if he ever in-
voked the devil or entered into a pact with him, if he ever denied
his faith or committed some sin against faith. Ask in what form
the devil appears to him - as a man, woman, animal, etc. For if
the person had intercourse with him, besides the sin against chas-
tity and religion there would be the added sin of fornication or
sodomy or incest or adultery or sacrilege (at least in intent).
The confessor should also ask where this meeting took place.
mmjM!jtMy\.i*>
103.
Next he should show how terrible this sin is, and try to get
him to make a good confession and really begin anew. Sinners of this
type often omit sins , even when they do confess.
Lastly, urge him to use the same things we mentioned above:
calling on the Holy Names, using holy water and the sign of the
cross, carrying a small Gospel book or a relic with him, and the
private exorcism on himself.
The confessor should then defer absolution, but urge him to
return often in order to keep check on how he is resisting the di-
abolical attacks and using the remedies. The confessor should not
absolve him until he has been put through a long test, for such
conversions are seldom real and very seldom lasting.
1. Omitted a few lines as not pertinent today.
2. MT, Lib VI, n. 849.
3. St. Francis, Life by Gallitia.
4. Bacci, Life of St. Philip, Bk 1, ch 20, n. 19.
5. John of the Cross, Treatise "delle spine dello spirito"
6. Segneri, II Confessore Istruito, last chapter.
7. Bonacina, de Poenit. qu 4, p. 3, n. 1.
8. Bacci, op. cit., Bk 1, ch 15; St, Francis de Sales, Maxims of
... ; St. Charles, Life by Giussano.
9. St. Teresa, Way of Perfection, ch 4.
10. St. Francis de Sales, Maxims.
11. St. Teresa, Way of Perfection, ch 5.
12. Omitted two paragraphs as not pertinent today, e.g., girls
shouldn't learn to read or write lest it be an occasion of
sin.
13. Exhortation to condemned shortened.
14. St. Alphonsus here went into a long treatment of the kinds of
diabolical possession, which we have omitted, following the new
Spanish edition. Of Moriones, pg 314, note.
CHAPTER EIGHT
104.
Lxrticxssiorial i rud UC
WEIGHING OPINIONS
...
Prudence comes into play most of all when the confessor is
trying to choose between conflicting opinions. The question that
will not concern us in this chapter is the old dispute about wheth-
er a confessor may follow a less probable and less safe opinion in
the face of a more probable one. Authors say enough about this -
I only wish they would give us reasons rather than bitter criti-
cisms.
Back in the chapter on proximate occasions of sin I gave
some space to this question - here I will repeat what I said there.
When it is a case of avoiding formal sin, the confessor should or-
dinarily follow the more benign opinion, in so far as it is permis-
sible. For only formal sin offends God.
'
" i Tiff
105.
But when the more benign opinion would expose the penitent
to the danger of formal sin, the confessor is then obliged to fol-
low the stricter opinion. In this case the stricter opinion is
the better one, as far as the penitent's salvation is concerned.
However, when the penitent wants to follow a probable opin-
ion, and is otherwise well-disposed, the confessor is obliged to
absolve him. By reason of the confession the penitent has a cer-
tain and strict right to absolution, so that he will not be forced
to get absolution from another priest, for this would involve the
serious inconvenience of repeating the confession of sins. This is
the common opinion, as I have shown in my Moral Theology. (1)
This holds especially when the confessor wants to bind the
penitent to restitution and there is some probability that he is
not bound to it. Even if the confessor does not consider the pen-
itent's side as solidly probable, he would be obliged to absolve
him - provided, of course, that the penitent is not just an igno-
rant person, but is actually backed up in his opinion by noteworthy
moralists. This would mean that he has formed for himself a true
judgment of conscience for his action.
However, this obligation to absolve does not hold if the
penitent's opinion has no apparent probability. If the confessor
considers it wholly erroneous - because in his opinion it goes a-
gainst a certain principle, or a convincing reason against which
nothing can shake his certainty - he cannot and must not absolve
the penitent who will not peacefully accept his decision.
In the case where the confessor figured his admonition
would have no effect on the penitent except to change a material
sin into formal, he should dissimulate, except in some instances
which I mentioned in chapter one.
CORRECTING CONFESSIONAL MISTAKES
If without guilt on his part, the confessor should make a
mistake affecting the validity of the sacrament, he is not bound
to tell the penitent except out of charity. And charity does not
bind where there is serious inconvenience. This holds except in
two cases:
1.) if the confessor is also the pastor, for pastors are
bound in this case to repair the grave harm done to
their subjects, and
i
106.
2.) if the penitent is in danger of death or in danger of
never confessing again. For in these cases charity
obliges even when there would be great inconvenience.
If in making the mistake the confessor was seriously at faul-
the case is different. He is them always obliged even with grave i:
convenience to repair the mistake - especially if it put the penite:
in a proximate occasion of sin. This obligation is removed, however
when the penitent has gone to confession to someone else, or has at
least gone to Holy Communion. The confessor may refer to this mis-
take outside of the confessional only with the penitent's permissior
if it could in any way harm the penitent.
If the mistake concerns only the integrity of confession - fc
instance, he did not question the penitent about the species or the
number of sins, even through his own fault - the confessor is never
bound to correct the mistake outside confession. For it would em-
barrass the penitent to hear a recounting of his sins.
If out of malice or culpable ignorance he exempted a peni-
tent from making restitution, or unjustly bound him to make it, he
must inform him of it - first asking the penitent's permission.
Otherwise, he himself is bound to restitution. If on the other
hand, he has not been gravely at fault in this, he is not obliged
to advise the penitent whenever there would be some grave incon-
venience to himself. Still if there is no such inconvenience and
he can make the correction and fails to do so, he is bound to resti-
tution himself.
Finally, if it was merely that he failed to warn the penitent
about an obligation to restitution, he himself is not bound to re-
store - even if he is the pastor, or even if he failed gravely in
the matter.
OBSERVING THE SACRAMENTAL SEAL
The confessor must be extremely prudent also when it comes tc
keeping the sacramental seal. The fact is well known and certain,
that the confessor may never speak about things heard in confession
whenever there is danger of breaking the seal either directly or in-
directly or of harm to the penitent. This holds even when the con-
fessor doubts whether or not he heard these things in confession or
in relation to confession.
107.
However, confessors are not forbidden ordinarily to mention
sins heard in the confessional in a sermon, as long as others can-
not identify the penitent, or as long as he has express permission
from the penitent.
Nonetheless, all possible caution should be used in this
matter.
Never say from the pulpit that a certain vice is common in
this particular city, if you came to know about the frequency of
the vice from hearing confessions. This holds however only when
he has not learned of the vice in some other way and when the place
is small. In a monastery especially, he should not come out too
strongly against some particular fault which, from confession, he
has found to be rather common.
The confessor should not pressure the penitent into giving
him leave to speak. In fact, he may never use a permission that
is not entirely spontaneous and free. He should consequently be
as sparing as possible in asking such a permission when there is
no definite need for it. It would be safer to suggest that the
penitent himself bring up the necessary matter to the confessor
outside confession.
Everyone realizes that the confessor may not speak about
matters treated in the confessional outside of confession, unless
he has the express leave of the penitent. In the confessional,'
however, he can bring up these things whenever he considers it
worthwhile for the penitent.
Never speak of sins heard in confession in the presence of
people whose simplicity may lead them to suspect a disclosure of
confessional matter.
The confessor may never ask the name of an accomplice, for
example to make reparation for some common offense; not even then -
in my opinion - can the penitent be obliged to give the name of the
accomplice to this particular confessor. The only thing that the
confessor can and should do is command the penitent to name the ac-
complice to those who can prevent a scandal.
However, if the penitent spontaneously wants to name an ac-
complice to the confessor, he would do well to listen and repair
the evil as he sees fit.
I
108.
Let it be noted here that by this prohibition, confessors
are not forbidden to question the penitent regarding the circum-
stances he needs to know in order to find out if different species
of sin are present, or to help the penitent spiritually. For this
reason, it might be good for him to ask if the accomplice is a
relative, if he is bound by a vow of chastity, if he lives in the
same house, if she is the maid, and the like - even if in the fol-
lowing of such a line of questioning he would indirectly discover
the identity of the accomplice. But never should he ask for the
person's name.
I
HEARING TH CONFESSIONS OF WOMEN
The confessor should be extremely prudent in hearing the
confessions of women. The Holy Office has said: "It is necessary
that the confessor always act cautiously, especially with his wom-
en penitents, vigilantly avoiding whatever might betray familiarity
or foster dangerous friendship." (2) He should ordinarily be stern
rather than agreeable when hearing the confessions of young women.
He should not allow them to speak to him in front of the confessional,
nor should he let them kiss his hand.
During the actual confession he should not let it be known
that he knows them. Sometimes they want to be thought well of and
when they realize the confessor recognizes them, they fail to make
an internal confession.
It is not prudent to look directly into the face of the
penitents, nor should he gaze after them as they leave the confes-
sional.
Outside the confessional he should not stop to speak with
them in the Church. He should avoid all familiarity and should
never accept any little gift.
Especially, he should never go to their homes. The sole
exception is the case of grave sickness. And then he should go
only if he is called. When there, he should be very careful in
hearing their confession. He should leave the door open, sit in a
place where he can be seen by those outside the room, and never fix
his eyes on the penitent's face.
109.
All this holds especially if the penitent is a devout per-
son, with whom there is danger of becoming overly attached. A very
holy man used to say that the devil, in order to start a mutual at-
traction between devout persons, uses at first the pretext of vir-
tue. He does this just to have the attraction slip from the virtue
to the person himself.
For this reason, St. Augustine says: "Short and stern must
be one's conversation with these women. Just because they are ho-
lier does not mean one need be less on guard. Actually, the holier
they are, the more they will attract." (3) And St. Thomas adds:
"Even though carnal attachments are dangerous for everyone, they
are especially dangerous for those who deal with devout persons.
The thing will seem to start in all innocence and then as famili-
arity grows, the original motives will fade out and purity will
suffer."
He goes on to say how this
-
will not be noticed at first.
The devil is not about to shoot poisoned arrows right from the
start; he is content with those which give just a tiny wound and
at the same time increase the attachment. Then quickly, these peo-
ple reach the point where they no longer act as angels, as they did
at first, but as creatures of flesh and blood. They gaze at each
other, enraptured with their pleasant conversations which still
seem innocent. Finally, they begin to long for each other's com-
pany. "And," he concludes, "the spiritual devotion is turned in-
to a carnal one."
How many priests, once good men, have lost both God and
their soul due to such an attachment.
Confessors should be careful never to become so fond of
hearing the confessions of women that they refuse to hear men who
come to them. How sad it is to see confessors spend so much time
hearing the confessions of devout women, and then have no time for
the men and married women who come to them distraught with anxiety
and problems and able to leave their homes only with difficulty.
And it turns out that these people can find no one to hear their
confessions. They live months and even years without the sacra-
ments and without God.
Such a practice in hearing confessions is not done to
please God, but to please self. I do not know what kind of a re-
ward these confessors can expect from God.
110.
However, it is another matter with those who spend time di-
recting souls to perfection. Some call this a waste of time, but
I hold that it is an occupation very pleasing to God. For this
reason I will devote the entire next chapter to this subject.
Good confessors are the ones who hear confessions in order
to please God. When they find someone in need, they prefer him to
these devout souls. Time will not be lacking when he can help
these latter, if the confessor really wants to help them.
i.
1. Lib I, n. 83 and Lib VI, n. 604.
2. Holy Office, May 6, 1943. Quote used in place of an out of
date quote from the Sacred Congregations of Bishops, 1620.
3. This and following ideas from St. Thomas are from Opusc. 64
de modo confitendi.
CHAPTER N IN E
mt G)uicL COYCE
OC L/VOUl _>Ouls
God once said to Jeremias, "This day I set you over nations
and over kingdoms, to root up and to tear down, to destroy and to
demolish, to build and to plant." (1/10) He says those same words
to each and every confessor, whose job it is not only to uproot the
vices of his penitents, but also to plant in them virtues. For this
reason, we have thought it worthwhile to include here a chapter to
help young confessors in guiding devout souls on to perfection.. As
we pointed out before, we must never drive real sinners away, but
still God dearly loves the priest who devotes time to beautifying
the souls of his loved ones, that is, by teaching them how to give
themselves to Him wholeheartedly. In God's eyes, one perfect soul
is worth more than a thousand imperfect souls. Consequently, when-
ever a confessor runs across a penitent whose life is free of mor-
tal sin, he should do all he can to lead it on to perfection and a
life of love.
J
112.
To do this, he should show that person how much God Who is
infinite loveliness deserves our love. He should show him the
gratitude that we owe our Lord for having loved us even to the
point of giving His life for us. He should tell him the danger
that threatens a person who is called by God to a more perfect
life and who turns a deaf ear to His voice. In general, the guid-
ance of these souls resolves around three considerations which we
will treat one by one:
1.) Meditation and Contemplation,
2.) Mortification, and
3.) Frequent Eeception of the Sacraments.
THE PRAYER OF UEV1TATJ0H
The first thing a confessor should do when he finds a soul
who abhors mortal sin and wants to advance in love of God is to
guide it toward the practice of mental prayer, which means toward
meditation on the eternal truths and on the goodness of God. Even
though meditation is not necessary for salvation, nevertheless
like prayer of petition, it appears necessary in order to keep a
soul in the state of grace. Sometimes sin can co-exist with other
pious devotions, but it can never co-exist with mental prayer. The
person will either give up prayer or give up sin - one or the oth-
er. St. Teresa used to say: "No matter how many sins the devil
throws in the soul's path, if only it perseveres in prayer, I hold
it certain that God will bring it safely to port. " (1) This is
why the devil tries his best to hinder souls from practicing men-
tal prayer. As St. Teresa says again, "The devil knows that he
has lost a soul which tries perseveringly to remain faithful to
mental prayer." (2) Love is the thing that binds and unites a
person to God, and the furnace of love is mental prayer or medi-
tation. As the psalmist says, "When I reflected, a fire flamed
out." (38/4)
For these reasons, the confessor should begin by introducing
the soul to the practice of prayer. At first he should set the
time for it as half an hour and then gradually increase it in pro-
portion to the increase of fervor. The confessor should not bend
in this, even if the penitent raises objections such as not having
enough time or a place in which to recollect himself. Tell him to
try it in the mornings and evenings when the house is quiet, or
even while he is at work, if that is the only thing possible. At
these times, he should raise his mind to God and think on the truths
113.
of Faith; the last things, for instance, especially death, are very
profitable for beginners. He should also meditate on the Passion
of Christ, which is a good meditation for everyone. If he can read,
he should use some spiritual book, at least as a means of beginning
the prayer. This was St. Teresa's practice.
He should advise the penitent to pick a subject for medita-
tion which will best arouse his devotion. When he hits upon some-
thing that moves him to fervor, he should pause for a moment and
stop meditating long enough to make acts of the will, prayers of
petition, and resolutions.
First, with regard to acts of the will. These are acts of
humility, gratitude, faith, hope, and above all, repeated acts of
contrition and love of God, including a total offering of himself
to God and complete resignation to His Will. He should try to re-
peat the act to which he feels himself most inclined.
Secondly, prayers of petition. Everything that he can hope
for depends on prayer. As St. Augustine says, "Almighty God ordi-
narily will not give His graces, especially the grace of persever-
ance, unless we pray for it." (3) Our Lord Himself has said, "Ask
and you shall receive." (Jn. 16/24) St. Teresa says consequently,
that if we fail to ask, we will not receive. If we want to save
our souls then, we must pray always and we should ask for two
graces in particular - perseverance and love of God. Certainly
there is no better time to pray than during meditation. Anyone
who neglects meditation will not pray much, because he will not be
reminded to think of the graces he needs and of the necessity of
prayer. Whoever fails to make meditation, therefore, will find it
extremely difficult to remain in the state of grace.
Thirdly, good resolutions. In order that the meditation may
not be fruitless and in order that the soul may put into practice
the lights it has received during meditation, good resolutions are
necessary. St. Francis de Sales in his Introduction to a Devout
Life wrote that meditation should never close without a particular
resolution, something like avoiding a more or less frequent fault
or practicing some virtue in which he finds himself weak. For more
on this point, I refer you to the next chapter, the section on men-
tal prayer.
The confessor should be conscientious in asking the penitent
for an account of his meditation, or at least if they made it. If
they did not make it, he should have them accuse themselves of this
114
omission as the first sin they mention in confession, because if
they abandon meditation they are lost. "A soul that abandons med-
itation," says St. Teresa, "throws himself into hell without the
devils having to turn a finger." (4) Think how much good confes-
sors can do for souls if only they make this tiny effort. On the
other hand, think what an account they will have to give to God
if they fail to do this, since they are obliged, as far as they
can, to see to the welfare of their penitents. Think how many
people could be put on the road to perfection and freed from the
danger of falling into mortal sin, if only confessors would go to
the little trouble of introducing them to the practice of medita-
tion and of checking up on them at least as they begin their spir-
itual life. Once a soul has formed a solid habit of meditation,
it will scarcely, if ever, lose God again. For this reason, medi-
tation should be recommended not only to devout people, but even
to sinners whose relapses into sin are often nothing more than a
question of not reflecting.
Confessors should pay special attention to this when their
penitents are troubled with spiritual desolation. When people
first begin the practices of the spiritual life, God often favors
them with special lights, with tears, and with sensible consola-
tions. But then after a while, He takes away these sources of
consolation. His reason for doing this is to test their faith-
fulness and to incite them to greater perfection by detaching them
from these sensible delights. A soul may easily become attached
to these things with a certain amount of imperfection and ill-
regulated self-love. Sensible consolations (and even supernatural
inclinations) are indeed God's gift, but they are not God. In or-
der to detach these dearly beloved souls from His gifts and bring
them to a purer love for the Giver Himself, He lets them be de-
prived of the supports which they had found in meditation and lets
them feel in its place weariness, aridity, torments, and sometimes
temptations.
At times like these, confessors should take great pains to
urge the troubled person not to give up meditation and Communion.
He should speak to them as St. Francis de Sales would, "One ounce
of meditation in desolation is worth more before God than a hun-
dred pounds of it in consolation." (5) Actually, a person that
loves God because of the consolations He gives, loves the conso-
lations of God more than God Himself. But a soul that loves Him
and clings to Him without consolations proves that he really loves
God.
W W
115
So much f o r me di t at i o n. I wi l l ne xt give a br i e f de s cr i p -
t i o n of t he inf u s e d p r aye r of co nt e mp l at i o n, wit h i t s de gr e e s . I
wi l l incl u de o t he r s u p e r nat u r al gi f t s and t he r u l e s give n by t he
mas t e r s o f t he s p i r i t u a l l i f e f o r gu i di ng s o u l s whom God has f a-
vo r e d wit h t he s e gr ace s .
THE PRATER OF CONTEMPLATION
When a s o u l has be e n bl e s s e d wit h t he gi f t o f co nt e mp l at io n,
t he co nf e s s o r mu s t u nde r s t and we l l how t o gu ide i t , and t o s ave i t
from di s i l l u s i o n. Ot he r wis e he wi l l do a good amount of damage f o r
which St . John of t he C r o s s s ays he wi l l have t o r e nde r a s t r i c t ac-
co u nt t o God.
C o nt e mp l at io n i s qu i t e di f f e r e nt from me di t at i o n. In me di-
t at i o n, a p e r s o n go e s o u t in s e ar ch o f God t hr o u gh t he e f f o r t of
r e as o ning. In co nt e mp l at io n, he gaze s upon God Who has be e n f ound
wit ho u t e f f o r t . In me di t at i o n a p e r s o n act s t hr o u gh t he o p e r at i o ns
of hi s own f acu l t i e s . In co nt e mp l at i o n, on t he o t he r hand, God
act s and t he s o u l i s o nl y act e d upon and r e ce i ve s t he gi f t s which
ar e inf u s e d i nt o i t by gr ace wi t ho u t any co nt r i bu t i o n of i t s own.
The ve r y l i ght and t he di vi ne l o ve which f i l l i t make i t l o vi ngl y
i nt e nt upon co nt e mp l at ing Go d's go o dne s s .
PRAVER 0 RECOLLECTION
B u t be f o r e God give s t he g i f t o f co nt e mp l at io n, He u s u al l y
dr aws a s o u l i nt o t he p r aye r o f r e co l l e ct i o n, o r t he p r aye r o f co n-
t e mp l at ive r e p o s e , as t he mys t ics c a l l i t . This i s no t as ye t i n-
f u s e d co nt e mp l at io n, be cau s e t he s o u l i s s t i l l in an act i ve s t a t e .
This r e co l l e ct i o n (I r e f e r t o nat u r al r e co l l e ct i o n - s u p e r -
nat u r al and inf u s e d r e co l l e ct i o n wi l l be t r e at e d f u r t he r on) o ccu r s
when t he mind has no ne e d of go ing o u t s i de i t s e l f , as i t we r e , t o
l abo r i o u s l y co ns ide r a ce r t ai n mys t e r y o r e t e r nal t r u t h. Ins t e ad i t
wit hdr aws i t s e l f from e xt e r nal t hi ngs and, r e co l l e ct e d somehow wi t h-
in i t s e l f , r e mains e f f o r t l e s s l y and s we e t l y i nt e nt upon a t r u t h o r
mys t e r y, what e ve r i t be . C o nt e mp l at ive r e p o s e i s al mo s t t he same
t hi ng, e xce p t f o r t h i s : i n r e co l l e ct i o n t he p e r s o n i s o ccu p ie d wit h
some p ar t i cu l ar t ho u ght , whe r e as i n t h i s r e p o s e t he r e i s a kind o f
ge ne r al awar e ne s s of God and t he p e r s o n f e e l s hims e l f act u al l y r e -
co l l e ct e d and l o vingl y drawn t o Him.
116.
Some mystics say that in this recollection or contemplative
repose, even though it is natural, still the soul should not only
stop meditating but even stop making acts of the will (that is,
acts of love, oblation, resignation, etc.) and just maintain an
attitude of loving attention to God without making any acts.
However, I find myself unable to agree with such a "magic"
formula. I do not deny that when a person is in this state of re-
collection, he should not try to do any meditating, because he has
already found without effort what he set out to find. (6) And be-
sides, Father Segneri says, ordinary meditating will itself pro-
duce after some time what is called acquired contemplation. This
acquired contemplation is knowing at one glance the truth which a
person once had to meditate on and work over in order to know. But
at a time like this why should the person stop making the various
acts of the will? What time could be better for making them than
the moments of recollection?
It is true that St. Francis de Sales advised St. Jane Fran-
ces de Chantal not to repeat new acts of the will when she found
herself in union with God during prayer. But why? Because St.
Jane Frances already enjoyed the gift of passive contemplation. (7)
But when a soul is still in the active state, how can good acts
possibly interfere with the operations of grace? St. Francis him-
self set a certain number of aspirations to be said within a cer-
tain time by the devout souls he used to direct. When a soul is
in the state of passive contemplation, even though it does not
merit (because it is not acting, but only being acted upon) , it
still receives a great deal of strength in order to act with great-
er perfection later on. But when a soul is in the active state, it
has to make acts in order to merit, because that is how a person
merits divine grace.
For this reason, Father Segneri's conclusion is right. (8)
When God is speaking and operating, a person should keep silent
and stop his own activity and right from the start simply give
loving attention to the divine operations. But when God does not
speak, the person must help himself as well as he can to reach
union with God, by meditating (when this is necessary) , by affec-
tions, by prayers of petition, and by resolutions. Of course, it
should be understood that these acts are not to be forced; a per-
son should make those only to which he feels himself gently drawn.
117.
.SPIRITUAL PURIFICATION
Another thing to note is that before God raises a soul to
contemplation, He usually purifies it by a supernatural aridity
which is called spiritual purification. He does this in order to
remove the imperfections which impede it from reaching contempla-
tion. There are two kinds of aridity: sensible which is in the
senses, and substantial, which is in the soul itself.
Sensible aridity, when it is natural, brings with it a dis-
gust for spiritual things and a kind of darkness that is neither
very oppressive nor very lengthy. But when it is supernatural (as
we are considering it) , it plunges the person into an extremely
profound darkness, which lasts for a long time and grows more in-
tense with the days. Nevertheless, in this condition a person
feels on the one hand more detached from creatures and thinks con-
tinually of God and desires and resolves to love Him perfectly,
and on the other hand he realizes that he is, as it were, incapable
of doing all this because of his imperfections which seem to make
God hate him. Still he never stops marching forward courageously
in the practice of virtue.
This trying aridity is the activity of grace in the soul. It
is a supernatural light, but a light which brings suffering and
darkness. It attempts to come into direct contact with what you
might call the eye of the spirit, and as it does, it finds the
senses and the faculties of the soul not yet ready for it, because
they are not as yet detached from sense pleasures. They are still
material - filled with forms, figures, and images. And as a re-
sult , this darkness is caused in the soul - a darkness so painful
and yet so profitable. By means of this darkness the soul acquires
a detachment from all pleasures of sense, whether they arise from
earthly or from spiritual things. In addition it acquires a deep
understanding of its own misery and inability to do any good at
all - and with that comes a great reverence for God Who reveals
Himself to the soul in all His Majesty and Power.
While the person is in this state, the director must move
him to hope for great things from the Hands of God Who is treating
him like this. He should tell the person not to force himself to
meditate, but to humble himself and to offer himself and abandon
himself to God, completely resigned to the dispositions of His
will, which thinks of nothing besides our good.
118.
.SPIRITUAL ARIPITy
Following this purification of the senses. Almighty God usu-
ally grants the gift of joyful contemplation and the gift of super-
natural recollection, of quiet, and of union. About these things
we will speak in a minute. But before union, and after the recol-
lection and the quiet, God ordinarily purifies the soul with spir-
itual aridity. This is also called substantial aridity, because
in it God wishes the soul to be altogether annihilated within it-
self.
Aridity of the senses is the withdrawal of sensible devotion.
Spiritual aridity, on the other hand, is a divine light by which God
makes the soul realize its own nothingness. In this state a soul
finds itself in a terrifying agony because, even though it is in-
tent on serving God, it gets a clearer glimpse of its own imperfec-
tions and the thought comes to it that God has driven it away from
Him and abandoned it as being ungrateful of the graces it has re-
ceived. It performs many spiritual exercises - meditations, com-
munions, mortifications - but each of them causes it distress. Be-
cause it finds so much disgust and difficulty in performing them,
it comes to think that they all deserve punishment and make it
hateful in the eyes of God. Sometimes such a soul even imagines
that he hates God, and that because of this God has already num-
bered him among his reprobated enemies and is now letting him even
during life experience the torments and the abandonment of the
damned. Sometimes too God allows such distress and abandonment to
be brought about by many other temptations and arousements of im-
purity, of anger, of blasphemy, of doubts against the faith, and
above all, of despair. And even though their will firmly resists
all this, the darkness surrounding them hides the fact from them
or at least makes it very uncertain, and in their profound dark-
ness and confusion they begin to fear that they have given consent
and that consequently they are all the more deserving of God's a-
bandonment.
When a confessor meets a person like this, who is on the
path of perfection and imagines that he has been abandoned by God,
he should first of all not be frightened when he sees all this con-
fusion and all these sentiments of fear and despair. Neither should
he exhibit timidity and hesitation. He should rather strongly urge
the person to fear nothing and to trust in God more than ever. He
should tell him what God said to St. Teresa - namely, that no one
loses God without knowing that he is losing Him. These ideas of
119.
blasphemy, impurity and despair, these doubts against faith are not
acts of consent to sin, he should say, but only sufferings which
will bring him closer to God if they are borne with resignation.
Tell him that God cannot hate a person who loves Him and has an up-
right will. Tell him that this is God's way of treating those whom
He loves. St. Teresa used to say: "By means of dryness and tempta-
tions God tests His lovers. And though the aridity should last a
life time, still if they do not give up mental prayer, the day will
come when all will be repaid. " (9) What a beautiful thought* this
is for a person in desolation.
The confessor then should urge the person to take courage
and expect great things from God with unbounded confidence, for He
is leading it by the surest way - the way of the Cross. On his part,
meanwhile, the person should humble himself as deserving this treat-
ment from God for the shortcomings of his past life. Secondly, he
should resign himself completely to God's Will, offering himself to
suffer these pains and even greater ones as long as God wills it.
Thirdly, he should throw himself like one dead into the arms of
God's Mercy and into the care of the Blessed Virgin who is called
the Mother of Mercy and the Comfort of the Afflicted.
Sensible aridity lasts until the senses are sufficiently
purified for the soul to be properly disposed for contemplation.
Spiritual aridity lasts until it is properly disposed for Divine
Union. It should be noted that even after Divine Union, God will
sometimes allow this aridity to return, so that, as St. Teresa
says, the soul will not grow careless and will realize its own
nothingness from time to time.
CONTEMPLATION ITSELF
When the purification of the senses and the sensible aridity
is completed, God leads the soul into the state of contemplation.
Contemplation can be either affirmative or negative. Affirm-
ative contemplation occurs when through a divine light and without
any effort on its part, the soul sees some truth. It may be a cre-
ated truth (such as the misery of hell or the happiness of heaven)
or it may be an uncreated truth (such as God's goodness, mercy,
love or power). Negative contemplation is the understanding of
divine perfections - not in particular - but with a confused, gen-
eral knowledge, which however produces in the mind a far higher
k
120
concept of God's greatness. It may also know confusedly some cre-
ated truth, such as the tearfulness of hell.
Now let us turn to the three degrees of contemplation:
Recollection, Quiet, and Union.
.SUPERNATURAL RECOLLECTION
The first degree of contemplation is supernatural recol-
lection.
We spoke of natural recollection earlier. This takes place
when a man's faculties are joined in the consideration of God with-
in him. It is called natural, not because the soul can produce it
by itself (every act of virtue, after all, needs grace in order to
be meritorious and is therefore supernatural), but because the soul
is in an active state: with the aid of ordinary grace it is doing
the work.
Supernatural recollection, on the other hand, is the recol-
lection which God produces by means of an extraordinary grace which
leads the soul into a state of passivity. It comes about then when
the faculties of the soul are concentrated not from any effort on
the part of the soul, but because of a light infused by God and
lighting up an immense and sensible love of God within the soul.
While in this state, a person should not strain itself by
trying to suspend the tranquil process of thoughts and sentiments
suggested by this divine light. Nor should he, on the other hand,
force himself to think about particular things, such as his un-
worthiness or his resolutions. Nor should he try to determine the
nature of this recollection. He should rather allow himself to be
guided by God to consider the things, and make the acts to which
he feels that God is leading him.
.SUPERNATURAL REPOSE
The next degree of contemplation is supernatural repose. In
recollection the force of the love is communicated to the external
senses, which God causes to be recollected within the soul. But in
repose, love is communicated directly to the spirit in the depths
121.
of the soul. It is also a more ardent love, and from the soul
spills over into the senses, although not always, for it can often
happen that a soul will have this prayer of repose without any sen-
sible sweetness.
St. Teresa says that in this form of prayer not all of the
faculties are bound, but that the will is suspended and bound be-
cause at this time the only object it can love is God Who is draw-
ing it to Himself. The intellect, the memory, and the imagination
are sometimes free to wander here and there. For this reason, says
the saint, a person should not be troubled at this, but should
"laugh at its thoughts and treat them like foolish ideas, remaining
in peace; the will is master, after all, and so it should control
the thoughts without any strain." (10) If, on the other hand, a
person tries to recollect his thoughts, he will not accomplish any-
thing and will lose his peace.
In this state, just as in Recollection, a person should not
strive and strain to make resolutions or other acts of its own. It
should make only the acts to which it feels itself drawn by God.
T HE PRATER OF PURE CONTEMPLATION
Let us turn now to the prayer of pure contemplation which is
the negative contemplation we mentioned before and which is far more
perfect than affirmative contemplation.
Negative contemplation is called "the bright darkness", be-
cause the intellect is darkened by the brilliance of the light,
just as a person who looks at the sun is blinded by its light and
sees nothing, realizing only that the sun is a strong light. Sim-
ilarly, God trains upon a soul in this Darkness a bright light
which does not give an understanding of any particular truth, but
rather a general and undefined knowledge of His incomprehensible
goodness. Through this it is enabled to form a vague but neverthe-
less highly elevated idea of God. When a soul begins to realize
any one of the perfections of God, it naturally forms a high idea
of His goodness. But when it realizes that the perfections of God
are incomprehensible, its idea of His goodness is surely far higher.
Cardinal Petrucci says that this prayer is called the prayer
of darkness because in this life the soul is incapable of knowing
the divinity clearly, and consequently in this state it knows it
J
122.
without knowing it, but knows it better than it could in any other
way. Due to the fact that God is not a Being Who can be representee
by any image or picture, the intellect cannot form any idea of Him,
and so it knows only that it cannot know Him. Hence, the Areopagite
calls this "the sublime knowledge of God through ignorance." (11) --
In this prayer of darkness the faculties of the soul and sometimes
even the external senses are completely suspended and the soul en-
ters a spiritual inebriation which causes it to break forth into
.uncontrollable outbursts of love, such as singing, abundant crying,
leaping, as used to happen to St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi.
T HE PRAxER OF UNION
After these degrees, God leads the soul into the prayer of
union. A soul's whole desire should be to acquire union with God)
but this passive union is not necessary, active union is sufficient.
St. Teresa says that not all souls - in fact, only a few - are led
by God on supernatural paths, but in heaven we shall find many who
did not receive these supernatural graces and are higher than those
who did receive them.
Active union is perfect conformity to the will of God, and
without doubt the perfection of divine love consists in this. "Per-
fection," says St. Teresa, "does not consist in ecstasies; true
union of the soul with God is a union of the will with the divine
will." (13) Active union, and not passive, is the necessary one.
As St. Teresa also said, souls which have only active union very
probably gain much more merit, because they have to struggle harder;
and the Lord treats them as strong souls keeping back the pleasure
that they might enjoy in this world, in order to give it to them all
at once in Heaven. (14) Cardinal Petrucci says that a soul can eas-
ily reach the point of complete renunciation of self-will and its
transformation with God, by simply willing only what God wills. And
even though it may feel the motions of the passions, these will not
prevent it from being transformed into God. Consequently, he adds,
since all sanctity consists in this, everyone should desire and
seek only this one thing, namely, that God rule him and accomplish
His will perfectly in him. (15)
St. Teresa, whose authority in these matters is well known,
goes on to treat of passive union. In this state, she says, the
person neither sees, nor feels nor notices that he is in it, because
imwuiiijww"".
1
123.
the abundance of light and love causes a blessed darkness in which
all the faculties of the soul are suspended. (16) The memory re-
members nothing but God. The will is bound to God by a love so
great that it can love nothing but God. The intellect is filled
with so much light that it can think of nothing, not even of the
grace that it is receiving; it understands a great deal, but can-
not realize what it understands. In short, a soul in this state
has a clear and experimental knowledge of God as present and uniting
the soul with Himself in the depths of its being.
This union, according to St. Teresa, does not last very long
- a half hour at most. In the other forms of contemplation which
we have mentioned, God makes His presence felt near the person; in
this one He reveals Himself within him, and the person experiences
His union with God through a sweet physical contact. For this rea-
son, a person might doubt whether or not it is really God in other
forms of contemplation, but here it is impossible. Nevertheless,
the confessor must remind such a person that he has not, because
of this, become impeccable. He should urge him to humble himself,
to be detached, to love the cross and keep himself in complete con-
formity and uniformity with the divine dispositions. He should do
this all the more, as he sees himself more favored by God, for he
may very well fear that his infidelity and ingratitude may some day
be punished severely by God. St. Teresa claims that she knew sev-
eral people who had reached this state of union, but then fell back
into mortal sin. (17)
UNION OF ESPOUSAL
There are three kinds of union: simple union, union of es-
pousal, and consummated union or spiritual marriage. The one we
have just been speaking of was simple union.
Let us turn now to the union of espousal. Almighty God
usually causes substantial aridity, that is, spiritual purifi-
cation, to precede it. We spoke of the spiritual purification
a moment ago.
There are three distinct degrees to this union of espousal:
ecstasy, rapture, and elevation of spirit. In simple union the
faculties of the soul are suspended but not the bodily senses, even
though they operate only with great difficulty. But in ecstasy,
even control of the senses is lost, so that the person does not see,
124.
nor hear, nor feel - even if he is being cut or burned. Rapture
is a very strong impulse of grace by which God not only raises the
soul to union, but sweeps it, as it were, by a sudden and violent
motion, so that even the body at times is raised over the earth
and becomes as light as a feather. Elevation of spirit occurs
when a soul feels as though it were being pulled by force away
from the body and raised violently above it, so much so that its
first reaction is an overpowering fear. In elevation of spirit,
there is both ecstasy (because of the loss of the senses) and rap-
ture (because of the violent motion). A person who had been fa-
vored with this elevation of the spirit told me that it felt as
though his soul had been torn from his body and raised up with such
speed that it seems he was travelling thousands of miles a second.
He became terrified because he did not know where it would end. But
finally the motion ceased and he was given a special illumination
on some hidden mystery of God.
But a doubt arises here: if in this state of union the fac-
ulties of the soul are suspended and the intellect is blinded by
the brightness of the light trained upon it and cannot take note
of what he sees, how can the person know and describe this mystery
of God? The mystics answer this way: when God wants a person to
understand some secret, or when He wants to favor him with a vision
(either of intellect or imagination), He diminishes the light a
bit, so that the soul is able to understand and grasp whatever God
wants him to understand.
SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE
The most perfect union of all, the one called consummated
union, is that of spiritual marriage - the highest union which God
can give to a man here on earth. In this state, the soul is trans-
formed into God and becomes one and the same thing with God, just
like a glass of water placed in the ocean becomes one and the same
thing with the water in the ocean.
In other forms of union the mystics tell us that the fac-
ulties are suspended, but in this form they are not, because here
they have been purified of their quality of sense and matter. Con-
sequently now they are capable of being united with God so that
the will loves its God with the greatest peace and the intellect
fully realizes and grasps this intimate union with God which has
taken place in the depths of the soul. It is as though a person
were to gaze upon the sun without being blinded by it, and were to
fully grasp its tremendous brilliance.
I
I
I
I
'-?yc-m'~:
125.
Fu r t he r mo r e we s ho u l d no t e t ha t t h i s u nio n i s no t t r ans i e nt
l i ke t he p r e vio u s o ne s , bu t p e r mane nt . The s o u l l i ve s i n co nt i nu al
e nj o yme nt of t he di vi ne p r e s e nce u ni t e d t o i t . In t hi s s t a t e t he r e
i s an u nbr o ke n p e ace f o r t he p as s i o ns no l o nge r di s t u r b i t in t he
l e a s t . I t s e e s t he p as s i o ns , which ap p e ar bu t do no t t r o u bl e i t ,
as t ho u gh i t we r e above t he cl o u ds , l o o king down on |ihe s t o r ms t hat
r age be l o w, no t t o u ching i t i t s e l f .
OTHER .MYSTICAL PHENOMENA VISIONS
I t might be we l l t o s ay a few wo r ds abo u t vi s i o ns , l o cu t i o ns
and r e ve l at i o ns , s o t hat t he co nf e s s o r wi l l be abl e t o di s t i ngu i s h
t he t r u e from t he f al s e .
Vis io ns ar e e i t he r e xt e r nal , i magi nat i ve , o r i nt e l l e c t u a l .
The e xt e r nal ar e t ho s e s e e n by t he e ye s . The i magi nat i ve ar e t ho s e
s e e n i n t he imaginat io n. The i n t e l l e c t u a l , t ho s e s e e n ne i t he r wit h
t he e ye s no r wit h t he i magi nat i o n, bu t o nl y wit h t he i nt e l l e c t u n-
de r a di vi ne l i ght which i nf u s e s t he i>p<Lcl<LA AJltzllA.Q-lbJMJ>. This
l a s t ki nd o f vi s i o n, s ays St . Te r e s a, i s e nt i r e l y s p i r i t u a l , f o r
t he r e i s no t hing i n i t t hat be l o ngs e i t he r t o t he e xt e r nal o r t o
t he i nt e r nal s e ns e s . No t e t hat a p e r s o n canno t s e e t hi ngs p r e -
s e nt e d t o hi s e ye s o r t o hi s i magi nat i o n u nl e s s t he y ar e co r p o r e al l y
r e p r e s e nt e d, e ve n t ho u gh t he y be s p i r i t u a l t il ings -LYl 4; bu t t he
i n t e l l e c t , on t he co nt r ar y, s e e s e ve n mat e r i al t hi ngs as s p i r i t u a l ,
o r t o s p e ak more accu r at e l y, t he i n t e l l e c t do e s no t s e e t he m, bu t
u nde r s t ands them - and u nde r s t ands t he m b e t t e r t han i f t he y we r e
s e e n wit h t he e ye s .
I t i s good t o remember t h a t vi s i o ns can be cau s e d by t he
de vi l as we l l as by God - e ve n i nt e l l e c t u a l vi s i o ns , as St . J o hn
o f t he C r o s s seems t o s ay. This i s ho we ve r e s p e ci al l y t he cas e
wi t h co r p o r e al vi s i o ns , which ar e u s u al l y (e s p e ci al l y among women)
co nco ct e d o u t o f t he i r own i magi nat i o n. (18)
The s igns which di s t i ngu i s h t he t r u e ar e :
1.) t he y come s u dde nl y, wi t ho u t t he p e r s o n' s having
t ho u ght abo u t t he m,
2. ) at f i r s t t he y cau s e co nf u s io n and t e r r o r , bu t t he n
t he y p u t t he s o u l at p e ace ,
126.
3.) they are rare; frequent ones are held in a good deal
of suspicion,
4.) they do not last long; St. Teresa says that if a per-
son gazes on a vision for a long time, it is a good
sign that it is produced by the imagination. A divine
vision passes like a flash of lightning, but remains
permanently impressed upon the mind.
5.) Finally, true visions leave behind them a very deep
peace and a vivid realization of one's own misery
and a burning desire for perfection. In this they
differ from diabolical visions which are not deeply
impressed upon the mind, and leave the soul in dry-
ness, in disquiet, with feelings of self-esteem and
with a sensible longing for more visions.
However, if all these signs are verified, St. Teresa says a
person cannot be sure, because very often the devil is able to pro-
duce a counterfeit of peace, of humility, of desire for perfection
and it is hard to tell where they come from. (20) At times the
devil will work himself into the heart so as to gain credence and
then work some deception on the person.
Hence, ordinarily speaking, the director should not forbid
a person to relate her visions to him, but should even command her
to make them known whether it is true or false. Nevertheless, he
should not betray any curiosity in regard to these things by ask-
ing for details or by prompting, such as: "Was it like this? Did
you see such-and-such a thing?" Very often a person will say yes
just out of malice or simplicity.
If a confessor comes to the conclusion that the visions are
a result of the imagination or of the devil's work, since they draw
the person away from obedience, humility and so forth, he should
plainly say so. But if he is not sure of this, then it is not a
good idea to say that they are diabolical or that they are figments
of the imagination as some confessors do who are excessively in-
credulous. (Very different from others who are excessively credu-
lous and say that everything is genuine!) To be sure, the confes-
sor should tell the penitent to beg God to take him away from this
dangerous path, and urge him to protest that here on earth he is
content to know God by the way of faith. But whatever the visions
be, the confessor should suggest that the penitent draw from them
whatever fruit he needs, especially that of being right before God.
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In this way, even if the visions come from the devil, his schemes
will be foiled.
LOCUTJOHS
Locutions may be successive, formal, or substantial.
Successive locutions occur when a person, while meditating
on some truth of faith, seems to hear his own voice, as if another
person were answering him. If this brings with it good effects
such as love of God or extraordinary humility, it may be a special
light from God. But if the person feels no increase in his ordin-
ary love for God, this is a sign that the locution comes from the
soul's own imagination.
Formal locutions occur when a person hears actual words com-
ing from outside himself. These can be perceived by external hear-
ing, by the imagination, or by the intellect. They should be ex-
amined to see whether they are divine or diabolical. This may be
discovered from the things they express or command, and by the ef-
fects they produce. If they are divine and impose such things as
patience, spiritual works, or self-denial, they will produce a
great capacity for suffering, for work, and for humbling oneself.
-
Substantial locutions are the same as formal, with this dif-
ference in the effect: formal does nothing more than instruct or
give precepts, whereas substantial immediately accomplishes what-
ever it expresses. For instance, if a substantial locution says:
"Be consoled, encouraged, or inflamed with love..."
This locution is the surest of them all. The first is very
uncertain; the second is very open to suspicion, especially when
it commands certain things to be done. Consequently, if the di-
rector sees that they are things opposed to Christian prudence, he
should absolutely forbid them. If, on the other hand, they are
not contrary to prudence, it is still a good idea to delay their
execution, especially if they are strange and unusual things - at
least until he can reach greater assurance regarding them.
REI/ELATI6WS
Finally, we come to revelations of hidden or future things,
such as mysteries of faith, or the state of one's conscience, or
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the predestination of individuals, or their death, or elevation to
some dignity and such like. These may come in three ways, namely,
by vision, by locution, or by understanding the truth.
A director should be extremely circumspect and slow in ac-
cepting these revelations as true, and especially slow in putting
them into execution. If it is a question of giving out a bit of
information received in a vision, he should above all forbid the
person to make it known to others, and then himself proceed with
extreme caution, even to the point of taking counsel with others
who are competent to pass judgment in things like this. The rea-
son for this is that this type of vision is very doubtful and open
to suspicion. Not so questionable is a revelation which gives a
deeper understanding of a truth, such as a divine mystery or an
attribute of God, the malice of sin, or the misery of damned souls,
etc. When such a revelation is in harmony with the teaching of
faith, St. John of the Cross says that no one should seek them,
but if they are given they should be received with humility and
should not be rejected.
A question rises here: should all these various kinds of
graces and supernatural communications be rejected or accepted?
We must make a distinction here which St. John of the Cross and
other learned authors make. Graces which lessen faith, in so far
as they consist in certain definite revelations such as visions,
locutions and revelations, should be strongly resisted. Those,
on the other hand, which help to perfect faith, such as vague and
general heavenly communications and "touches of God" which unite
the soul to God, need not be rejected. A person may even desire
them or ask God for them in order that he may be more closely
united to God and more firmly rooted in His holy love. Still,
this holds only for those who have already been favored with such
graces. For others the safest way is to desire and seek the ac-
tive union which is, as we said, the union of our will with God's.
When a director, then, comes across a penitent who has re-
ceived contemplation, darkness, or union, he should not command
him to resist them, but rather to receive them with humility and
gratitude. However the confessor should talk in such a way as
not to give the penitent complete assurance, but so as to leave
him with a certain fear - not enough to cause him disquiet, but
enough to keep him humble and detached. If, on the other hand,
it is a case of definite revelations (such as visions, etc.) , the
confessor should firmly insist that the penitent resist them in a
spirit of humility as was said above. This does not mean that the
penitent should condemn the vision by spitting on it, by mocking
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it, and the like. This is not allowed: he should rather protest to
God that he wants to serve Him only in the way of simple faith.
In any case, St. Teresa says that whenever a person feels in
the course of prayer that he is gently set on fire with the love of
God, he should consider the communication as coming from God. This
is not, indeed, for the sake of making him think he is better than
others, but rather to make him walk more perfectly before God. If
he keeps this in mind, God will see to it that even if the feeling
comes from the devil, it will result in the devil's defeat - defeat
from his own tricks.
CONCLUSIONS ON PRAYER
The director should keep three things in mind:
1.) He should put his penitent under obligation to refer to
him all these communications received in time of prayer.
Still he must never show that he is eager to know them,
nor should he turn around and reveal these supernatural
graces to others. Those who hear of such graces will
begin to ask the penitent to pray for them and thus put
him in the danger of becoming vain. Or they might see
him commit some little fault of vanity and then be scan-
dalized and treat him with contempt.
2.) He should not show this penitent any particular signs of
esteem, and he should never send other penitents to ask
advice or consolation or guidance from him. In fact, he
should show him less esteem than others who walk in the
way of faith. For as a general rule, these favored souls
have to be humbled constantly.
3.) If he realizes that a penitent is remaining humble and
fearful in these communications, he should help him and
even at times reassure him, if he thinks it expedient.
St. Teresa says that a person will not push himself on
to do great things for God unless he realizes that he
has received great things from God. There is no doubt
about the fact that these special graces greatly in-
flame charity. As a matter of fact, when St. Teresa
was assured by St. Francis Borgia and by St. Peter of
Alcantara that the gifts she had received were from God,
she began then not merely to advance but to fly toward
perfection. (21)
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The confessor need not think that these communications are
nothing but deception and illusion if he sees the penitent commit-
ting some fault from time to time - as long as the faults are not
fully deliberate, or committed with attachment, or committed with-
out making any account of them. Almighty God gives these super-
natural favors not only to those who are perfect, but sometimes
even to the imperfect, just for the sake of freeing them from their
imperfections and raising them to a more perfect life. Consequently
as long as it is evident that these communications are leading the
penitent to make progress in detachment from passions and in divine
love and the desire for perfection, it is a sign that they are good.
In the matter of external graces (such as visions, locutions,
and revelations) it is safer ordinarily - as we have said - if the
director shows that he does not put much store by them. After her
death, St. Teresa gave this bit of advice to a religious: "A person
should not trust visions and special revelations, nor think that
perfection consists in having these things. Even though some of
them are actually genuine, many are false and deceiving, and it is
hard to find one truth amid the many lies," (therefore the false
outnumber the true). "The more a person seeks them and values
them," she continues, "the more he will lose the way of faith and
humility, which is the one God has established as more certain." (22)
For this reason, he should tell the penitent to pray for true ec-
stasy which is total detachment from earthly things and from one's
self, for without this it is certain that he will not become a saint.
It is an especially bad sign if the director runs across a
penitent who is not convinced of his own lowliness and who tries
to maintain that his communications are certainly from God, and is
disturbed when he finds the director unwilling to accept them as
such. This is a sign either that they are from the devil (which
can be seen in the attachment to self and the pride which the
devil is producing) or that the penitent is lacking some virtues,
because he should at least begin to doubt when he sees his confes-
sor in doubt. In a case like this, the confessor should try to
humble the penitent and to arouse fear in him, as well as he can.
If the penitent continues in his obstinancy, he should be deprived
of Holy Communion and given severe mortifications, because he is
then in great danger of being deceived by the devil.
Lastly, even when the confessor thinks it would be a good
idea to tell the penitent that his communications are from God, he
should urge him always to bring before his mind some point in the
life or Passion of our dear Lord as he begins his mental prayer.
St. Teresa used to say that a person who loses the guidance of
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Jesus will never arrive at perfect union with God. Beginners medi-
tate on the Passion in a discursive way; contemplatives do not use
discursion, but they keep in mind some mystery or admire His good-
ness, mercy, or love, and God draws them, when He wants, to the con-
templation of His divinity.
MORTIFICATION
When a person is first setting out in the spiritual life,
God attracts him largely by sensible consolations and as a result
the person will often want, in a burst of fervor, to kill himself
with disciplines, cilicia, fasts, and similar exercises of pen-
ance.
During this time, then the director should be very sparing
in allowing this type of mortification. Aridity will not be long
in coming and then a person's sensible fervor will be taken away
and he will give up all mortifications. The next step in his dis-
couragement, will be to give up mental prayer or even all attention
to his spiritual life, thinking that these things are impossible
for him, and thus he will lose everything that he may have gained.
Sometimes it will also happen that a beginner will be led in his
fervor to perform pious indiscretions which will result in bodily
sickness. Then he will give up all his spiritual exercises in an
effort to find relief, with the danger that he will never again re-
sume them. The director therefore should make sure that first of
all they are solidly grounded in the spiritual life. Then he will
take into consideration their circumstances of health, their occu-
pation, and their fervor and will allow the external mortification
which he judges suitable for them according to Christian prudence.
I say "according to Christian prudence" for there are two
kinds of imprudent directors. One seems to think that the only
way for a person to make progress is to load him down with fasts,
cilicia, disciplines to blood, burnings and the like. The other
seems to refuse his penitents absolutely any external mortifica-
tion on the principle that all perfection consists in internal
mortification. This however is equally wrong, for external morti-
fications help the internal and (where they can be done) are in
some way necessary for the control of the senses. This is why we
find all the saints - some to a greater degree, some to a lesser,
but still all of them - practicing external mortification.

132
Beyond a doubt t he most imp o r t ant mo r t if icat io n which s ho u l
be r e qu ir e d of t he p e nit e nt i s i nt e r nal mo r t if icat io n. Examples c
t hi s ar e nu me r o u s : no t answering back t o i ns u l t s , no t r e ve al ing
t hings t hat would f eed o ne ' s vanit y, yie l ding in dis p u t e s , giving
in t o t he wis he s of o t he r s (t his of co u r s e wit ho u t s p i r i t u al l o s s )
I t i s sometimes advis abl e t o r e f u s e a p e r s o n any e xt e r nal mo r t i -
f i cat i o n u nt i l he has overcome some p r e do minant p as s io n, s u ch as
vanit y, r e ve nge , s e l f - i nt e r e s t , s e l f -e s t e e m, o r s e l f -wi l l . But t c
say t hat e xt e r nal mo r t if icat io ns ar e of l i t t l e o r no u s e i s ve r y
wrong. St . John of t he Cross used t o say t hat you s ho u l d ne ve r
p u t f ai t h i n a p e r s o n who condemned p e ni t e nt i al p r act ice s - even
were he t o work mir acl e s .
Right from t he s t ar t , t he n, t he di r e ct o r s ho u l d demand t hat
t he p e ni t e nt do no t hing wit ho u t o r co nt r ar y t o his p e r mis s io n. St .
John of t he Cr os s s ays t hat t ho s e who p r act ice pe nance s agains t
o be die nce make p r o gr e s s in vice r at he r t han vi r t u e .

The n, as I have p o int e d o u t , t he dir e ct o r s houl d be ve r y
s p ar ing in al l o wing e xt e r nal mo r t if icat io ns - no mat t e r how e ar -
ne s t l y t he p e ni t e nt may ask f o r them. At f i r s t i t i s s u f f i ci e nt
t o al l o w him some s l i ght and inf r e qu e nt p e nance , such as t he c i l i -
cium o r t he di s ci p l i ne o r some abs t ine nce - s o t hat he incr e as e s
hi s de s ir e f o r penance r at he r t han his act u al p r act ice of mo r t i-
f ying hims e l f . As t ime goes o n, he may al l o w penances more f r e e l y
as he s e e s t he p e ni t e nt making p r o gr e s s in vi r t u e . Once he s e e s
t he s o u l we l l -gr o u nde d in t he s p i r i t u al l i f e , he may no t wit h a
f r e e co ns cie nce deny him t he penance s u it abl e t o his co ndit io n
and cir cu ms t ance s .
In s ho r t , a ge ne r al r u l e would be no t t o give e xt e r nal mor-
t i f i cat i o ns (o r dinar il y s p e aking) u nl e s s t he p e nit e nt as ks for
them, f o r t he y ar e not ve r y val u abl e u nl e s s a p e r s o n act u al l y want:
t hem. When gr ant ing p e r mis s io n f o r such a p e nance , he s ho u l d al -
ways give a l i t t l e l e s s t han what was as ke d. As Cas s ian s ays , he
s ho u l d f ai l by e xce s s in r e f u s ing r at he r t han in al l o wing.
He s ho u l d t r y ve r y e s p e cial l y t o s u gge s t mo r t if icat io n of
t as t e . Some de vo u t p e o p l e pay ve r y l i t t l e at t e nt i o n t o t hi s , but
t hi s i s act u al l y t he har de s t and al s o t he most p r o du ct ive of s p i r -
i t u al p r o gr e s s ; and o ccas io nal l y i t even be ne f it s o ne ' s bo dil y
he al t h. St . Phi l i p Ne r i used t o s ay: "A p e r s o n who f ai l s to mor-
t i f y hi s t as t e wi l l ne ve r r e ach p e r f e ct io n. " (23) On t he co nt r ar y
a co nf e s s o r s ho u l d be slow t o al l o w mo r t if icat io n in t he ar e a of
ne ce s s ar y s l e e p , be cau s e t hi s can e as il y harm t he p e ni t e nt ' s he al t i
133.
and even his life of piety. Without sufficient sleep a person's
mind is dull and unfit for meditation and the other spiritual ex-
ercises.
Lest the penitent surrender to vanity, however, the director
should make it clear to him that no matter what mortifications he
may undertake, they will be nothing compared to what the saints
have done, or to the sufferings that Jesus Christ bore for our love.
St. Teresa says: "Everything that we can do is dirt in comparison
with a single drop of the blood that Our Lord shed for us." (24)
The best mortification of all - the one(s) that are the most
profitable and the least dangerous - are negative ones. Ordinarily
the director's permission is not even needed for these. Examples
of these are: mortifying one's curiosity in seeing things or hear-
ing news; speaking little; being satisfied with food that one does
not like or that is not prepared well; depriving oneself of fire
in winter; choosing the worst things for oneself; rejoicing when
something is lacking, even something necessary. (In this last con-
sists the virtue of poverty as St. Bernard points out: "The virtue
of poverty is not being poor but the love of being poor.") (25)
Another important one: not complaining about the weather or about
the slights and persecution one receives from others or about the
bodily pains that come from sickness. The stones of the walls of
the heavenly Jerusalem are carved with the-" chisel of suffering. As
St. Teresa said: "It is silly to think that God will admit people
who love comfort into His friendship. Those who love God simply
cannot ask for relief." (26)
A problem arises here. The Gospel says in one place: "So
let your light shine before men that they may see your good ex-
ample and praise your Father Who is in heaven." (Mt. 5/16) Then
in another place it says : "When you give alms your left hand
should not know what your right hand is doing." (Mt. 6/3) The
question is: should acts of virtue be manifested to others or
should they be kept hidden?
The answer is to distinguish. Ordinary things that are a
necessary part of Christian virtue should be performed openly -
such as, frequenting the Sacraments, making mental prayer, visit-
ing the Blessed Sacrament, hearing Mass with devotion, practicing
modesty of the eyes, keeping silence in Church, expressing the
fact that one wishes to become a saint, avoiding idle or dangerous
conversations, mortifying one's curiosity, and so forth. Things
which are, on the other hand, "of unusual supererogation" and have
134.
something singular about them should be kept hidden as much as pos-
sible. Examples of these are: the external penances which we have
already referred to (cilicia, disciplines, praying with arms ex-
tended, eating bitter herbs and so forth) and things like sighing
and weeping while at prayer. Other virtues too should be kept hid-
den as much as possible, such as caring for the sick, giving alms
to the poor, humbling oneself in the presence of those who are in-
sulting and the like. However, if at times these things can only
be done publicly, they should never be omitted as long as they are
done solely to please God.
FREQUENTING THE SACRAMENTS
Lastly, we come to the confessor's duty to direct devout
souls in frequenting the sacraments, namely the sacraments of
Penance and Holy Communion.
Regarding confession, it is a good idea to suggest that they
make a general confession if they have never done so before. If
they already have made a general confession, however, or if they
are troubled with scrupulosity, it should be forbidden to them. As
for their ordinary confession, however, there have been penitents
with extremely delicate consciences who have had a practice of
daily confession. But generally speaking it is enough for a de-
vout person, especially if he is scrupulous, to go to confession
once or at most twice a week. If it happens that they cannot get
to confession easily and they have some venial sin on their souls,
they should not for that reason omit receiving Holy Communion.
There are other means -as Trent teaches - of removing venial sin,
such as an act of contrition or love of God. (27) Consequently it
is better for them to use these means of freeing themselves from
venial sin than to stay away from Communion simply because they
cannot go to Confession. One learned author even says it will at
times be profitable for these devout persons to prepare themselves
for Communion by arousing these acts in themselves rather than by
going to confession; for if they do it by themselves, they will
probably come up with better dispositions through their fervent
acts of contrition, humility and confidence.
As to Holy Communion, we are not considering the pastor's
duty of giving Communion to any of his parishioners who ask for it
reasonably. We considered this in the Moral Theology where we saw
how Innocent XI left the practice of frequent communion completely
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in the hands of a prudent confessor. (28) Because of this I cannot
see how a pastor - except for some very obvious reason - can with a
safe conscience deny Holy Communion to those who ask for it. And
it should be noted too that this same decree forbids bishops to fix
certain days on which their people may go to Communion. Rather
what we intend to speak of in this section is of the confessor and
the way he should proceed in granting his penitents the privilege
of receiving Holy Communion.
In this matter some are too indulgent and some are too rig-
orous. Certainly, it is wrong - as Pope Benedict XIV says - to al-
low frequent Communion to those who frequently fall into mortal sin
without any serious effort to do penance or to amend, or to those
who go to Communion and retain an attachment to deliberate venial-
sin which they do not even have a desire of removing. Without doubt
it is sometimes advisable to allow Communion to a person who would
be in danger of falling into sin in order to strengthen him against
the temptation.- But for people who are in no such danger and who,
on the other hand, ordinarily commit deliberate venial sins and
show no signs of amendment or even of a desire to amend. Communion
should not be allowed more than once a week. In fact, it would be
a good idea to forbid them Holy Communion for a whole week once in
a while, just to make them realize the terribleness of their sins
and the great dignity of this sacrament. And this opinion is all
the more tenable when you remember that the more common opinion
holds that it is a venial sin of irreverence to the sacrament to re-
ceive Holy Communion in a state of actual venial sin or with an af-
fection for it. (29) (30)
On the opposite side of the fence stand many directors who,
clearly out of keeping with the mind of the Church, indiscrimi-
nately refuse frequent Communion for no other reason than that it
is frequent. They are certainly mistaken in doing this and have
no consideration of the needs or the progress of their penitents.
Even the Roman Catechism, explaining the desire of Trent that all
who attend Mass should go to Communion, teaches that pastors have
an obligation to earnestly exhort the faithful not only to fre-
quent, but even to daily Communion. They should instruct them, the
Catechism continues, that the soul needs its daily nourishment just
as the body does. (31)
I will not include here the texts which I might include
from the Fathers and from the masters of the spiritual life which
confirm what has been said, because they can be found in the many
books which treat of frequent Communion. (32)
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It is enough to point out (from the Roman Catechism and from
the decree of Innocent XI quoted in my Moral Theology) that the'
practice of frequent Communion was always approved by the Church
and by the Fathers. One learned writer says that the Fathers used
every means they could to re-kindle the practice of daily communion,
whenever they saw it dropping by the wayside. In the third council
of Milan, under St. Charles Borromeo, the obligation is imposed on
all pastors to urge their people to frequent Communion in their ser-
mons. Moreover, bishops of the province were ordered to forbid to
preach and to punish severely those who would preach the opposite
- as spreaders of scandal and as opposing the mind of the Church.
In the decree of Innocent XI bishops were ordered to see to it
zealously that frequent and daily Communion be denied to no one,
and to try to promote this devotion among the flocks.
Some rigorists admit that daily communion is allowable, but
then they turn and say that there must be the "right dispositions".
But I would like to ask them: what do you mean by these
"right dispositions"? If they mean worthy, who would ever dare go
to Holy Communion? Only our dear Lord could receive worthily, be-
cause only He is God and only God can worthily receive God. But if
they mean sufficient dispositions, we have already seen how it is
right to deny Holy Communion to those who have actual venial sins
on their souls or who retain an attachment for it. (29) But if you
are referring to those who have got rid of their attachment even to
venial sins and have overcome most of their evil inclinations and
who have a great longing for Holy Communion, they may very well -
with the consent of their confessor - receive Communion everyday,
as St. Francis de Sales says. (33) St. Thomas teaches that, if a
person experiences an increase in divine love when he receives
communion, then he should not miss going to communion every day.
These are his words: "If anyone discovers by experience that the
fervor of his love is increased by daily communion and that his
reverence is not diminished, he should go to communion every day."(3
Even though it is also virtue to abstain from Holy Communion,
still, as Father Granada says in his treatise on Communion, it is
the common opinion that it is better to go to communion everyday out
of love than to stay away out of reverence. (35)
St. Thomas himself confirms this when he says: (36) "Hence
the reverence due to this sacrament is kept in either way: whether
one receives it every day, or rather he at times abstains...Love
and hope, however, to which Scripture is always urging us, are
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preferable to fear." Actually as Father Barisoni points out, the
one who goes to communion with the desire of increasing in divine
love does not fail to make his act of reverence; in fact, he makes
a positive act of reverence, while the one who stays away, makes a
negative one.
Many saints, who surely had a great reverence for the Blessed
Sacrament, would not miss a day in going to Communion, for instance,
St. Gertrude, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa, St. Jane Frances
de Chantal. And for those who say that we have no St. Teresa's to-
day, it would be rash to suppose that God's arm has grown shorter.
Fr. Master Avila goes so far as to say that anyone who condemns the
practice of frequent communion does the work of the devil.
In any event, when you consider the doctrine cited above, it
seems that directors cannot without some fault or sin refuse fre-
quent and daily Communion to their penitents - with those exceptionsi
to forbid it once a week as some good directors are wont to do, to
forbid it at times to try the penitent's obedience or humility, or
for some other good reason. The penitent which we are talking about
is one who wants to advance in divine love, as long as he is de-
tached from any love of venial sin, tries to make frequent mental
prayer, strives after perfection, and does not fall into even venial
sins that are fully voluntary. This, according to St. Prosper, is
the degree of perfection that a person can reach in this life in
view of human weakness.
If the confessor considers it advantageous to grant such per-
sons frequent communion, Innocent XI says that it makes no differ-
ence even if they are businessmen or working people or married cou-
ples. These are his words: "Frequent communion should be left to
the judgment of the confessors. If they see that it will be prof-
itable to lay people engaged in work or in business or to married
people because it purifies their conscience and brings special
good effects or leads to an increase in piety, they should pre-
scribe it for them." (37)
Even if a person should now and then fall into a voluntary
venial sin from mere weakness and then frequently repent of it and
resolve to amend - if he should then desire to receive Holy Com-
munion in order to obtain the strength he needed not to fall and
to advance in perfection, why should Communion be denied him?
Alexander VIII has long since condemned the twenty-second
proposition of Baius which reads: "Those who claim to have a right
i
138-
to receive Communion before they have done penance for their sins
are to be judged guilty of sacrilege." And the twenty-third prop-'
osition also: "Likewise those who do not as yet possess a most pur'-"
love of God, free from any admixture, are to be kept from Holy Com-
munion ."
Trent calls this sacrament: "The antidote by which we are
freed from our daily faults and preserved from mortal sin." (38)
Surely it was with a purpose of keeping people from falling back
into mortal sin that the apostles gave daily Communion to the
first Christians, among whom were certainly many who needed just
such a means to save them from relapse - as can be gathered from
the epistles of St. Paul and St. James.
In the postcommunion for the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pen-
tecost, the Church prays: "Let whatever is vicious in our minds be
restored by the healing power of this Sacrament." Therefore Holy
Communion was instituted for the imperfect also, that they might !>'
healed by virtue of this food.
In his Introduction to a Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales,
it should be noted, has the following to say on this subject: "If
the worldly ask you why you go to Holy Communion so often, tell
them: two kinds of people need frequent Communion - the perfect
and the imperfect; the perfect in order to remain perfect, and the
imperfect in order to become perfect. The strong need it so that
they may not grow weak, and the weak need it in order to grow
strong. The sick need it to get well, and the well need it so tha~
they will not get sick. This is why you, who are so imperfect,
sick and weak, need frequent Communion." Tell them that people who
do not have to deal with worldly affairs should go to communion be-
cause they have the leisure. And those who have business with the
world go because they need it." St. Francis concludes: "Go to Com
munion, Philothea. Go as often as you can according to the advice
of your spiritual director. And believe me, the hares in the for-
est grow white because all they eat is snow, and you, by comsuming
Purity Itself in this sacrament, will become perfectly pure." (39)
In his treatise on Communion, Father Granada says: "A man
should not stay away from this Sacrament because of his unworthi-
ness, since it was for the poor that this treasure was left, and
for the sick, this medicine. Consequently no one - no matter how
imperfect he is - should stay away at a distance from this remedy
if he really wants to be cured." Father Granada actually goes on
to say that the weaker a person realizes he is, the more he should
receive this food of the strong. This agrees with what St. Ambros
said: "Since I sin continually, I should continually take medicine
And St. Augustine: "You sin daily, daily receive." (40)
139.
As far as the increase of grace is concerned, St. Thomas
teaches that the effect of this Sacrament is not blocked by venial
sins, as long as they are not committed in the very act of receiv-
ing Communion. He says that they are a partial but not a total
hindrance to the effect of this Sacrament. This is also the common
opinion. (41)
It is moreover the sound opinion of many good authors that
this Sacrament of itself, directly and &X opeAZ op2Acuto takes away
the venial sins in which a person does not find actual satisfaction.
This agrees with what the Roman Catechism says: "There is no reason
to doubt that the Eucharist remits and condones the lesser sins that
are commonly called venial. Whatever the soul lost by the heat of
passion, the Eucharist, by cleansing away these minor faults, re-
stores in its entirety." (42) As the Angelic Doctor says in line
with the common opinion, Communion stirs up an act of charity by
which the faults are taken away: "An act of charity is aroused in
this Sacrament and by it venial sins are destroyed." (43)
If, however, it later becomes clear that the person is not
advancing in virtue and is not correcting his deliberate faults -
even though they are only venial, such as seeking to have one's
taste or curiosity gratified, dressing vainly, etc. - it then seems
advisable to restrict the reception of Holy Communion, to make him
begin to think seriously about correcting his faults and improving
his spiritual condition.
It should be noted too, that even though St. Thomas teaches
that in approaching Holy Communion "great devotion is required,"
this devotion need not be the greatest possible nor need it be
sensibly felt. It is enough if the director finds deep in the pen-
itent's will a firm readiness to do whatever is pleasing to God.
Otherwise, a person who stays away from Communion because he is not
more fervent would be, as Gerson says, like the person who is cold
but will not go near the fire because he does not feel warm. For
this reason, Father Granada and Cajetan teach that pusillanimous
persons who stay away from Communion because they fear their own
unworthiness put their own progress in jeopardy.
To continue the practice of going to Holy Communion, St.
Lawrence Justinian says that a person need not feel or recognize
clearly in himself any increase in fervor, for at times this sac-
rament does its work without our knowing it. (44) St. Bonaventure
says: "Even though one is cold, he should approach with confidence
and trust in God's mercy. A person who considers himself unworthy,
should realize that it is the sick man that is all the more in need
140.
of medicine, the worse his condition is...You do not hope to be
united to Christ in order to sanctify Him, but in order that you
may be sanctified by Him." (45) And he adds further on: "Holy Com-
munion should not be skipped if at times a man feels no special de-
votion when he tries to prepare himself for it, or as he actually
receives it, or if afterwards he feels less devout than he may have
hoped." In short, as the Saint puts it, even if a person feels
less devotion after communion than before, he should not skip it.
Sometimes it is a good idea to mortify a person who has a
great desire for Holy Communion, by putting it off once in a while
- especially if this delay troubles him, for such disquiet is a
sign of pride that makes him unworthy. Conversely, if a person
feels dry and weary of going, it is a good idea to make him go
more often in order to gain strength from this sacrament.
If only there were in the world many souls who had a sincere
dread even of light faults and went frequently - even daily - to
Holy Communion, in order to make improvement in their lives and
progress in divine love. Some rigorists would call them irreverent
and presumptuous. But I say that then surely we would see Jesus
Christ loved very much!
Experience teaches those who have directed souls, as I my-
self have, what great profit is gained by those who approach com-
munion with good desires. They see how Our Lord draws them on so
wonderfully in His love, although very often He does not allow them
to realize this for their own greater good, leaving them in deso-
lation and darkness and without the comfort of sensible devotion.
For these souls, St. Teresa and Blessed Henry Suso teach that there
is no greater aid than frequent Communion.
In conclusion then, the confessor should try to encourage
frequent Communion as often as the soul manifests a real desire for
it and as often as the confessor sees that Communion helps him make
progress in the spiritual life.
He should try moreover to have him spend as much time as he
can in thanksgiving after Communion. Only rarely do you find di-
rectors who pay much attention to this point - that is, recommend-
ing that their penitents spend some notable time in thanksgiving -
because only rarely do you find priests who stop to thank Jesus
Christ after Mass. Consequently they are ashamed to ask others
to do what they do not do themselves. Ordinarily the thanksgiving
should last an hour - or at least a half hour. During it the per-
son should occupy himself with loving affections and petitions. St.
141.
Teresa says that after Communion Jesus is in the soul as on a throne
of mercy, in order to grant the person graces. "What will you have
me do for you?" He says. "After Communion," Teresa says in another
place, "let us not lose so splendid a business opportunity. His
Majesty is not wont to pay cheaply for His lodging if we give Him a
warm welcome." (46)
The director should also suggest that the person make fre-
quent spiritual communions. The council of Trent praises these
very highly. "To make spiritual communions," says St. Teresa, "is
extremely profitable. Do not fail in this, for this is the way to
show Our Lord how much you love Him." (47)
FOR THE DIRECTOR OF HUhlS: A RULE OF LIFE
By way of introduction, let me say that the things I mention
here apply only in the cases where there is nothing barring the pen-
itent in the line of health, duty or obedience. It should be under-
stood too that all this is to be done with the permission of the
spiritual director, and (in the case of external mortifications that
will be public), the superior of the convent.
First as to prayer:
1.) At least three hours of mental prayer: one in the morn-
ing, one in the evening, another after Communion.
2.) A visit to the Blessed Sacrament, and to the Blessed
Virgin Mary for half an hour, or at least for a quar-
ter of an hour. In these moments of prayer she should
renew her vows several times a day.
3.) The rosary or at least five decades, and another vocal
prayer. But there should not be many of these, because
when there are many, they are said with little fruit,
they put the person under strain, and they hinder men-
tal prayer.
4.) The frequent use of ejaculatory prayers. For example:
My God and My All. How good You are, my God. I love
you, my Jesus, crucified for me. Lord, why do not all
men love you? Would that I had never offended You! I
will what You will. When shall I see You and love You
I
J X -
face to face? Behold me ready: do with me what You
will. The spiritual director should strongly urge
these loving ejaculations and the penitent should putB
great store by them.
5.) Along with mental prayer should go spiritual reading |
for half an hour out of Rodriguez or some other book I
treating the virtues, or from the lives of the saints
which are very profitable to read.
Secondly, as to Holy Communion. It should be received eve:
day except one day each week - but then every day during the novel
nas of the Holy Spirit, of Christmas, and those of the Blessed ViB
gin. She should make at least three spiritual communions each da
1
'
I Thirdly as to mortification.
1.) The discipline - not to blood - every day for about
half an hour; discipline to blood once or twice a
month.
I
I
2.) The cilicium in the morning until dinner-time; in the
afternoon some little chain on the arm for a reminder.
She should not wear the cilicium around the waist nor!
those made of horse hair, for these are very bad for
the health.
3.) For those who can, fast on bread and water on SaturdaiJ
and the vigils of the seven feasts of Our Lady - at
least restrict oneself to one course at table. A fast
ordinarily every evening - that is, not more than
eight ounces unless there is some extraordinary neces-
sity. Abstinence from fruit on Wednesday and Friday
and during the novenas mentioned above, during which
they may also abstain from one of the dishes they usu-
ally take and add to their food some bitter herb, but |
never ashes. Never eat outside of meals, for it is |
better to abstain, as above, every day rather than mak
a real fast two or three times a week. Not more than I
six hours of sleep, but not less than five. Depriving^
oneself- of too much sleep is bad for the nerves and in
terferes with one's spiritual exercises.
I
4.) Keep silence three hours each day; that is, abstain
from unnecessary talk.
I
I
I
143.
GENERAL AVM0NIT10US FOR PERFECTION
FIRST. Pl ace a l l yo u r co nf i de nce i n God and d i s t r u s t yo u r -
s e l f and yo u r own i de a s e n t i r e l y . Make a s t r o ng r e s o l u t i o n t o co n-
qu e r yo u r s e l f and o c c a s i o na l l y t o u s e vi o l e nce wi t h yo u r s e l f . St .
Te r e s a s a ys : "I f we do no t hi ng t o bl o ck Him, l e t u s ne ve r f e ar t h a t
God wi l l no t gi ve u s t he he l p s we ne e d t o be co me s a i n t s . " (48)
SECOND. Avo id t he l e a s t de l i b e r a t e f a u l t . The same s a i n t
s ays : "May God ke e p yo u f r o m d e l i b e r a t e s i n , no mat t e r how s mal l
. . . By me ans o f l i t t l e t hi ngs t he de vi l make s an o p e ning t hr o u gh
which bi gge r t hi ngs can e n t e r . " (49)
THIRD. Do no t gr i e ve o ve r t he f a u l t s yo u co mmit , bu t i m-
me di at e l y hu mbl e yo u r s e l f and r u n t o God wi t h a s ho r t act o f co n-
t r i t i o n and r e s o l ve ; t he n be a t p e ace . Al ways do t h i s , e ve n i f
yo u f a l l a hu ndr e d t i me s a day. Re gar ding t h i s , St . Te r e s a war ns
t h a t no o ne s ho u l d t e l l h i s t e mp t at i o ns t o i mp e r f e ct s o u l s - t h i s
wo u l d be har mf u l t o t he m bo t h.
FOURTH. Se p ar at e yo u r s e l f f r o m a l l yo u r r e l a t i v e s , p o s e s -
s i o n s , and p l e a s u r e s . St . Te r e s a s a y s : "If a p e r s o n do e s no t f l e e
wo r l dl y p l e a s u r e s , he wi l l be f o r e l o ng abando n t he way o f Go d. "
Avo id f a mi l i a r i t y wi t h p e r s o ns o f t he o p p o s i t e s e x, no mat t e r how
r e l i gi o u s - mi nde d t he y a r e . Of t e n t he de vi l s ne aks i n u nho l y af -
f e ct i o n f o r t he m by s t a r t i n g i t a l l o f f as s o me t hing s p i r i t u a l .
Above a l l , r e no u nce yo u r own j u dgme nt and yo u r own wi l l , e ve n i n
s p i r i t u a l t hi ngs s u ch as p r a y e r , co mmu nio n, and mo r t i f i c a t i o ns
when o be di e nce do e s no t al l o w t he s e . In a wo r d, dr i ve o u t o f yo u r
h e a r t what e ve r i s n o t God and what e ve r i s no t i n acco r d wi t h Go d' s
go o d p l e a s u r e .
FIFTH. Be l i g h t o f h e a r t whe ne ve r yo u f i nd yo u r s e l f t he
o bj e ct o f co nt e mp t , r i d i c u l e , o r a l ack o f e s t e e m. How b e a u t i -
f u l l y a p e r s o n p r ays whe n he wi l l i n g l y e mbr ace s co nt e mp t - e s -
p e c i a l l y i n co mmu nit y l i f e whe r e t h i s vi r t u e i s s o ne ce s s ar y.
C o ns e qu e nt l y, have a s p e c i a l l o ve f o r yo u r e ne mie s and p e r s e cu -
t o r s . Wait o n t he m, do t he m a f avo r , show t he m r e s p e ct - a t l e a s t
by s p e aki ng we l l o f t he m, and e s p e c i a l l y by p r ayi ng f o r t he m, as
t he s a i n t s we r e wo nt t o do .
SIXTH. Have a bu r ni ng de s i r e o f l o vi ng God and o f p l e a s i ng
Him. St . Te r e s a s a i d : "Ou r Lo r d l o ve s de s i r e s j u s t as i f t he y had
be e n p u t i nt o e x e c u t i o n . " Wit ho u t t h i s d e s i r e , a p e r s o n wi l l make
144.
no progress in the path of virtue, nor will God give it His most
special graces. St. Teresa also says: "Ordinarily God does not
give His special favors to anyone but him who has desired His love
for a long time." (50) To that desire should be joined the deter-
mination of doing everything you can to please God. The saint
said: "The devil is in dread of generous hearts...God demands noth-
ing of us but a strong determination, and He Himself will do the
rest. "Also have a great love for prayer. It is the furnace in
which love of God-is inflamed. Because they loved God to an ex-
traordinary degree, all the saints had a great love for prayer.
Furthermore, you should have a burning desire for heaven, for in
heaven souls love God with all their energy and this can never be
accomplished here on earth. For this reason, God wants us to have
a burning desire for this kingdom which Jesus Christ has won for
us with His Blood.
SEVENTH. Conform yourself perfectly to the divine will in
everything that is contrary to your own inclinations, and offer
yourself to God frequently each day. St. Teresa used to do this
fifty times each day. She said: "Progress does not mean getting
for oneself more enjoyment out of God, but rather fulfilling His
Will... True union means to unite our wills with the divine will."
(51)
EIGHTH. Obey your rules, superiors and spiritual director
with exactness. Venerable Vincent Carafa once said: "Obedience
is the queen of all the virtues for all the virtues are subject to
obedience." St. Teresa had this to say: "God asks nothing but
obedience from a soul that sets out to love Him." (52) Perfect
obedience consists in obeying immediately, faithfully, eagerly,
without passing judgment or asking reasons whenever the thing com-
manded is not certainly sinful, as St. Bernard, St. Francis de
Sales, St. Ignatius Loyola, and all the masters of the spiritual
life say. In doubtful matters, choose the thing which obedience
would presumably have commanded. When you cannot make such a pre-
sumption, choose what is more contrary to your own inclinations.
This is the vknce tOA-pium so often inculcated by St. Francis Xavier
and St. Ignatius. They used to say that a mortified person makes
more progress in fifteen minutes than an unmortified person makes
in several hours.
NINTH. Always be mindful of the Divine Presence. St. Teresa
says: "Every evil arises from the fact that we do not consider
God's presence." (53) The man who really loves will never forget
the object of his love. To keep the divine presence in mind, it is
M
145.
a good idea to have some special picture or sign, even in your own
room. You should cherish this presence very much by repeating of-
ten during the day acts of love of God and by asking for the gift
of divine love. For example: My God and My All. I love you with
all my heart. I give myself entirely to you. Do with me what You
will. I wish nothing but You and Your Will. Give me Your love
and I am rich enough. These acts should be made without any vi-
olence and without desiring any sensible consolation, but with a
kind of gentleness and with the intention of pleasing God alone.
St. Teresa said: "Never fear that God will not reward every single
raising of the eyes that calls Him to mind."
TENTH. Make an intention of pleasing God in every daily
action whether spiritual or corporal, by saying: "Lord I do this
only to please You." A good intention is called "spiritual al-
chemy" for it turns all actions, even the smallest, into gold.
ELEVENTH. Every year make a retreat for eight or ten days
by cutting yourself off from all conversation and distracting
business, as far as possible, in order to be free to converse with
God. Set aside some day each month to recollect yourself. Cele-
brate devoutly the novenas of Christmas, of the Holy Spirit, and
of the seven feasts of Mary, St. Joseph, your Guardian Angel, and
your patron saint. During these novenas, go to Communion daily;
make an hour of mental prayer, or at least a half hour more than
usual; recite some other vocal prayers, but not many. It is far
better to make a set number of acts of love or something like that.
TWELFTH. Build up a special devotion to St. Joseph, to your
Guardian Angel and your patron saint, and especially to St. Michael,
universal patron of all the faithful. But above all, cultivate a
most special devotion to the most Blessed Virgin Mary, whom the
Church calls "our life and our hope". It is morally impossible
for a person to make much progress in perfection without a special
and tender devotion to the most holy Mother of God.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Life, ch. 8.
Life, ch. 19.
Migne, PL 37/1324 and 45/1017.
Life, ch. 19.
146.
5. Life by Gallita, Maxim 31.
6. De Concordia Inter Laborem et Quietem, p. I, ch. 1, n. 1.
7. Bougaud, History of St. Chantal, Tom 1,- ch. 18; and
Directoire de choses spirituelles, art. 12.
8. loc. cit.
9. Life, ch. 11.
10. Way of Perfection, ch. 31.
11. Aeropagite now commonly held as Dyonisius (Gaude).
Cf., Migne, PL, 3/1002 and 1006.
12. Footnote in Gaude doubts that Teresa said this.
13. Foundations, ch. 10.
14. Advice for prayer, 22.
15. Letters, I, bk 2, tr 4, p 3, ch 6, n 5 & 6.
16. Interior Castle, M. 5, ch 1.
i
17. Interior Castle, M. 5, ch 4 and M. 6, ch 1.
!
18. John of the Cross, Ascent, ch. 24.
19. Interior Castle, M. 6, ch 9.
20. Interior Castle, M. 6, ch 9 and M. 4, ch 7.
21. Life, ch 10, ch 24, ch 30.
22. Found in a 1739 Venetian edition of her works.
23. Life by Bacci.
24. Life, ch. 35.
25. St. Bernard, Migne, PL 182/235.
26. Way of Perfection, ch 18 and Foundations, ch 10.
147.
27. Sess 14, de Poenit., ch 15.
28. Innocent XI, Cum ad aures Feb 12, 1679.
29. Footnote from Gaude' s edition of VhOXU>: "The Holy Doctor wrote
this in 1755, but he later changed his opinion in Istruzione e
Pratica, ch 15, n. 7 published in 1757: 'If a person would go
to Communion with actual attachment to some venial sin, he
would not in that commit a sin. ' He made the same change in
the 1759 edition of the Homo Apostolicus, though through an
oversight he failed to note the change in an appendix. "
30. Paragraph omitted; it refers to a decree which was doubtful
in the first place and has dropped out of use by Alphonsus '
time.
.
31. Pa r t 2, de Eu ch, n 59-60 and Tr e nt , s e s s 22, ch 6.
32. In p as s i ng we s ho u l d me nt io n what St . Al p ho ns u s u nde r s t o o d by
f r e qu e nt Co mmu nio n: "Dail y Communion I c a l l t ha t which i s r e -
ce i ve d e ve r y day, f r e qu e nt , s e ve r a l t i me s a we e k, bu t we e kl y
I by no me ans c a l l f r e qu e nt . " Gau de .
33. I nt r o du ct i o n t o t he De vo u t Li f e , p I I , ch 20.
34. In 4, d i s t 12, q 3, a 1.
35. Treatise on Eucharist, ch 2, and ch 8.
36. Ill, 280, a 10.
37. op. cit.
38. Sess 13, ch 2.
39. Part 2, ch 21.
40. Migne, PL 16/446; 39/1907; 16/452.
41. Ill, q 79, a 8.
42. Part 2, n. 51.
43. Ill, q 79, a 4.
148.
44. De Disciplina et perfectione monasticae...ch 19.
45. De profectu religioso, ch 77.
46. Way of Perfection, ch 34.
47. Sess 13, ch 8; Way of Perfection, ch 35.
48. Way of Perfection, ch 16.
49. Concetti sulla cantica, ch 2.
50. Life, ch 13.
51. Foundations, ch 10.
52. Life of Carafa by Gisolfi, ch 31; Foundations, ch 10.
53. Life, ch 36.
149.
CHAPTER TEN
A UW1 to Es t
ors

,
SUMMARY OF API/IC E FOR CONFESSORS
Out o f what has be e n s ai d, l e t u s draw t o ge t he r some o f t he
imp o r t ant t hings a co nf e s s o r has t o know in he ar ing co nf e s s io ns .
I , B e f o r e e ve r yt hi ng e l s e comes hi s du t y t o show t he gr e at e s t
kindne s s i n r e ce i vi ng s i nne r s . He s ho u l d e nco u r age them t o t r u s t i n
Go d's me r cy. On t he o t he r hand, ho we ve r , he s ho u l d no t , o u t of human
r e s p e ct , f ai l t o warn t he m s t e r nl y and t o p o i nt o u t t o them t he u n-
hap p y s t at e i nt o which t he y have f al l e n - al ways , of co u r s e , accom-
p anying t hi s wit h t he f i t means t he y can u s e t o r i d t he ms e l ve s o f
t he i r bad habi t . He s ho u l d be i nf l e xi bl e in de l aying abs o l u t io n
whe ne ve r t hi s i s cal l e d f o r .
150.
II. He should make it a practice to question the uninstructed
to see if they know the principal mysteries of the faith.
III. He should never fail to question the uninstruoted and
those of lax conscience about the sins they are more
a
pt to have
committed - if they do confess them on their own.
IV. He should be very circumspect when questioning about mat
ters of impurity - especially with youngsters so as not to give the
ideas that they do not already know. If the confessor himself expe-
riences temptations in regard to purity, he should raise his mind t
God by turning to some holy picture or statue; and before he enters
the confessional, he should always renew his right intention.
V. He should question fathers and mothers about the training
of their children - not only in general but in particular. He should
check to see if they correct their children as they should, if they
are conscientious in teaching them Christian doctrine, if they make
them avoid bad companions. As to girls, they should not allow them
to keep company with boys and much less with those whose company
would be suspect, namely, the married, religious, and clerics.
VI. If he suspects that some penitent has concealed some sin
out of shame, as happens with the uninstructed, with women and with
children, he should ask if they were scrupulous in the past and at
the same time encourage them to confess everything. Many souls are
in this way saved from sacrilege.
VII. Even when the number of penitents is great he should
not go any faster than necessary. In an attempt to hear more con-
fessions , he would neglect the integrity of confessions, or the
proper dispositions, or he would fail to advise the penitent prop-
erly.
VIII. When a person confesses a grave sin, and especially if
he has fallen into it many times, it is not enough to inquire just
about the species and number. He should also ask if the penitent
committed it often before, and especially if he committed the sin
with another person and where he committed it. This way he will
know whether there is a habit of sin or an occasion that must be
avoided. Many confessors fail on this point, and because of this
many souls are lost. By omitting such questions the confessor can-
not possibly give the penitent the means he needs to uproot the bau
habits and avoid the occasions.
151.
In r e gar d t o r e ci di ve s , remember t hat we s ai d t hat t he y can
ne ve r be abs o l ve d u nl e s s t he y have made impr ovement o r show some e x-
t r ao r di nar y s igns o f s o r r o w. And when t he r e i s a qu e s t i o n o f p r o x-
imat e o ccas io ns , t he co nf e s s o r s ho u l d act f ir ml y and wit ho u t human
r e s p e ct in p o s t p o ning t he abs o l u t i o n u nt i l t he p e ni t e nt removes t he
o ccas io n, when i t i s co nt i nu al . Even when t he o ccas io n i s ne ce s s ar y,
abs o l u t io n s ho u l d no t be give n u nt i l t he p e ni t e nt has at l e as t r e n-
de r e d t he o ccas io n r e mo t e by u s ing t he p r e s cr i be d me ans .
In p ar t i cu l ar , t he co nf e s s o r s ho u l d be u nyie l ding in de nying
abs o l u t io n t o e ngage d co u p l e s who s p e nd l o ng p e r i o ds of t ime t o ge t he r
al o ne . The same t r e at me nt s ho u l d be give n t o p ar e nt s who al l o w s u ch
a t hi ng. He s ho u l d no t be l i e ve them when t he y s ay t hat t he r e i s no
dange r , f o r t hat i s mo r al l y imp o s s ibl e as e xp e r ie nce p r o ve s .
IX. The co nf e s s o r s ho u l d deny abs o l u t io n al s o t o t ho s e who
want t o r e ce ive Holy Or de r s whil e t he y ar e s t i l l u nwo r t hy o f i t be -
cau s e o f a bad habi t . I t wo u l d be o t he r wis e i f t he y had acqu ir e d
t he vi r t u e s ne ce s s ar y f o r i t s r e ce p t i o n, as we p o int e d o u t .
X. He s ho u l d be ve r y car e f u l t hat he ne ve r o u t of human r e -
s p e ct s t and i n t he way o f some yo u ngs t e r who wis he s t o e nt e r r e l i -
gio u s l i f e . To do t hi s woul d be a mo r t al s i n, as St . Thomas t e ache s .
How many t ime s have co nf e s s o r s wit ho u t any s cr u p l e bl o cke d young
p e o p l e from f o l l o wing t he i r vo cat io ns t o a more p e r f e ct s t a t e , f o r
no o t he r r e as o n t han t o p l e as e t he chi l d' s r e l at i ve s - t e aching them
t hat chil dr e n must obey t he i r p ar e nt s ! The au t ho r s commonly t e ach,
al o ng wit h St . Thomas, t hat a p e r s o n i s co mp l e t e l y f r e e in cho o s ing
hi s s t at e in l i f e . (1) B e s i de s , one s ho u l d obey God Who i s cal l i ng
i n p r e f e r e nce t o hi s p ar e nt s . On t he o t he r hand, t he co nf e s s o r
s ho u l d r e cal l t hat he may no t abs o l ve a p e r s o n who want s t o r e ce i ve
Holy Or de r s wit ho u t a vo cat i o n.
XI. In he ar i ng t he co nf e s s io ns o f p r i e s t s , t he co nf e s s o r
s ho u l d act wit h r e s p e ct . Bu t he s ho u l d al s o be f ir m i n making t he
ne ce s s ar y co r r e ct i o ns and i n de nying abs o l u t i o n, whe ne ve r t hi s i s
ne ce s s ar y. In r e gar d t o a p r i e s t whose co ns cie nce i s no t o ve r l y
de l i cat e , he s ho u l d ne ve r f a i l t o qu e s t io n him abo u t t hr e e t hi ngs :
1.) If he f ai l e d t o ce l e br at e Masses f o r t he dead f o r
a month - when he has al r e ady r e ce ive d t he s t i p e nd
f o r t he m; o r f o r t wo mo nt hs , i f t he Mas s e s we r e
f o r t he l i vi ng. Fo r t hi s canno t be e xcu s e d from
mo r t al s i n.
152.
2.) If he says Mass too fast. If a priest spends less
than 15 minutes in saying Mass, even though it be
a votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin or a requiem
Mass, he cannot be excused from mortal sin. The
reason is this: to say Mass that quickly must in-
volve a notable lack of important rubrics or at
least an unbecoming performance of them. And these
are so necessary for the respect due to this Sac-
rifice.
3.) If he has failed his obligation of reciting the
divine office, especially if he holds a benefice.
In addition, the confessor should suggest to this priest
that he fit himself - according to his ability - to gain souls for
God, that he celebrate Mass with due preparation and thanksgiving,
that he practice mental prayer without which he will only with
difficulty be a good priest.
XII. In matters of restitution, he should ordinarily not
absolve the penitent until restitution has been made, when this is
possible.
Nevertheless he should remember that many are excused from
restitution because of prescription in good faith. (2)
XIII. If the penitent has received damages for which the
enemy is to be taken to court, do not absolve him, ordinarily
speaking, unless he has already forgiven the injury.
XIV. When he foresees that his advice will be of no avail,
and the penitent is in good faith, he should let things stand as
they are - especially when it is a case of the invalidity of an al-
ready contracted marriage. It is otherwise, however, when it is a
case concerning the obligation to denounce confessors who solicit
penitents to impurity - because all confessors are directly obliged
to impose this duty on any penitent who has been solicited.
XV. The confessor should see to it that all make an act of
contrition in the confessional, unless he can presume with certainty
that the penitent already made it. He should also put before them
the motives for attrition and contrition, as we suggested. He
should be careful to note whether or not the penitent has come with
the proper dispositions, for if he has not, the confessor must try
as best he can to dispose him for absolution.

*-
---< | !_
153.
XVI. The confessor should not absolve penitents who con-
fess only habitual venial sins, unless he knows that they are
really sorry and have a purpose of amendment at least with regard
to one of them, or unless they include a mortal sin of their past
life. Many are the invalid confessions (which are in themselves
sacrilegious) because of the carelessness of confessors in this
matter.
XVII. The confessor should give as penance only those things
which the penitent can easily do, as we have noted. However, he
should make sure that they are medicinal - for example, the fre-
quent reception of the sacraments, visits to the Blessed Sacrament
and the Blessed Virgin, recommending himself to God in the morning
and evening, reading some spiritual book, membership in some re-
ligious sodality, and the like.
XVIII. The confessor should suggest the practice of medita-
tion to devout souls who frequent the sacraments. He should demand
an account of it or at least ask if they have made it. This tiny
effort can sanctify many souls. He should not be stingy in allowing
frequent communion, as long as he knows or can prudently judge that
the penitent will derive fruit from it.
XIX. To scrupulous people he should suggest obedience in
everything, always inculcating the fact that by obeying they are
doing the right thing, while in disobeying they are exposing them-
selves- to the danger of damnation. He should always strongly de-
mand obedience and always speak with firmness. He will only con-
fuse them more if he is not sure of himself. He should give them
general principles on which to solve their doubts in whatever man-
ner will be more helpful to each one. For instance, for those who
always doubt about their past confessions, he should command them
to confess only sins which they know for certain were mortal and
were not yet confessed. In regard to this the confessor must be
absolutely unyielding; he should never listen to them if they do
not obey, for if the confessor gives in once in a while, the pen-
itent will never be cured. Some confessors do great harm to souls
by listening to them at such times. To those who fear that all
their actions are sinful, he should tell them to conquer their
scruples and act without restraint as long as they are not certain
that what they do is sinful.
XX. In knowing what opinion to choose, the confessor should
often follow the more benign opinion - as far as prudence allows -
when it is a matter of removing the penitent from the danger of
154.
formal sin. However, when the opinion renders the danger of formal
sin more proximate, then the confessor must definitely counsel the
stricter opinion. I say: he should counsel, for if an opinion is
probable and the penitent wants to follow it, the confessor cannot
deny absolution, because the penitent has a certain right to it
because of his confession of sin.
XXI. In hearing women's confessions and in talking to them
the confessor should be stern, as prudence suggests. He should
never allow them to kiss his hand, and in general he should avoid
any familiarity or anything else which might lead to an attachment.
How often have confessors lost their souls and those of their pen-
itents because of neglgence in this matter!
XXII. The confessor should be humble, and not over-confident
of his own ability. He should frequently ask God, through the merits
of Jesus Christ, to give him the light to help solve cases properly,
especially cases of doubt. "I pleaded and the spirit of wisdom came
to me." (Wis 7/7) The confessor who does not pray therefore will
only with difficulty proceed correctly. In doubts which are more
complicated and of greater import, he should consult those who are
more learned and have more experience.
This is especially important for the confessor who is not
well versed in the matters of the spiritual life and finds himself
directing some privileged soul whom God has blessed with supematura
graces. Some with hardly any experience in mystical lore feel ashame
to ask advice from others. Those who are really humble are not. They
not only ask for advice, but ask it from many as often as they need
it. In addition, they have no difficulty in advising such souls to
seek direction from confessors who are more learned or at least to
follow their judgment. The confessor, however, should never hear
the confessions of these devout persons on feast days; these days
should be left for those who are more in need, especially those who
live in the country.
API/ICE FOR PASTORS
It will be profitable here to mention briefly some of the
special obligations that pastors have in regard to the souls en-
trusted to them.
lit.
155.
iHsrmcTiOhi
The p a s t o r i s o bl i ge d t o i n s t r u c t t he m i n t he mys t e r i e s o f
t h e i r f a i t h and i n t he o t he r t hi ngs ne ce s s ar y f o r s a l v a t i o n . The s e
ar e :
1. ) The f o u r p r i n c i p a l mys t e r i e s ; name l y, t he e xi s t e nce o f
o ne God who i s a l l - p o we r f u l , a l l - wi s e , C r e at o r and Lo r d
o f a l l t h i ng s , f u l l o f Me r cy and mo r e l o vabl e t han any
o t he r go o d t h i n g ; t h a t He i s t he j u s t Re war de r o f t he
go o d and t he bad a l i k e ; t he mys t e r y o f t he Tr i n i t y ; and
t h a t o f t he I nc a r na t i o n and De at h o f J e s u s C hr i s t .
2. ) The ne ce s s ar y s acr ame nt s , name l y: B ap t i s m, Eu c ha r i s t ,
C o nf e s s i o n, and o t he r s a t l e a s t when t he y ar e t o be
r e ce i ve d.
3. ) The p o i nt s o f t he cr e e d, e s p e c i a l l y Mar y' s v i r g i n i t y ,
J e s u s C h r i s t ' s p o s i t i o n a t t he r i g h t hand o f t he Fa-
t h e r , t ha t i s , He i s wi t h t he Fat he r i n he ave n and e -
qu al t o Him i n g l o r y , t he r e s u r r e c t i o n o f t he bo dy f o r
t he l a s t j u dgme nt which J e s u s C hr i s t wi l l make , and t he
u ni t y o f t he Roman C hu r ch i n which al o ne i s s a l v a t i o n ,
and l a s t l y t he e t e r n i t y o f he ave n and h e l l . Eve r yo ne
o f t he f a i t h f u l i s bo u nd 6ub gAav-L t o know t he s e t r u t h s .
4.) The t e n commandment s and t he p r e ce p t s o f t he C hu r ch, t he
Ou r Fat he r , t he Hai l Mar y, and t he act s o f f a i t h , ho p e ,
l o ve and c o n t r i t i o n .
J u s t as t he f a i t h f u l s i n gr ave l y who ne gl e ct t o l e a r n and i n
some way u nde r s t and t he s e t r u t h s , s o t o o do e s t he p a s t o r s i n gr ave -
l y - acco r di ng t o t he common o p i ni o n - i f he ne gl e ct s t o t e ach t he m,
a t l e a s t as r e gar ds t h e i r s u bs t a nc e , t o h i s p a r i s hi o ne r s - be t he y
chi l dr e n o r adu l t s i gno r ant o f t he m. He mu s t do t h i s hi ms e l f , o r
t hr o u gh some cap abl e p e r s o n i f he i s l awf u l l y imp e de d, as Tr e nt
t e ache s .
C o ns e qu e nt l y, whe ne ve r t he p a s t o r s e e s p ar e nt s ne gl e c t i ng
t o s e nd t h e i r chi l dr e n t o cat e chi s m c l a s s e s , he i s bo u nd t o t ake
t he p r o p e r s t e p s wit h t he B i s ho p who - as Tr e nt agai n t e ache s -
can "u r ge " t he p ar e nt s e ve n wi t h e c c l e s i a s t i c a l ce ns u r e s . Pr u de nt
p a s t o r s wi l l have a l i s t o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n , s o t h a t t he y can che ck
t o s e e who i s mi s s i ng. In f a c t , C r o i x ho l ds t h a t i f t h e r e ar e i g -
no r ant p e o p l e who f a i l t o come t o C hu r ch be cau s e t he y have t o wor k
156.
or watch their homes, the pastor must go to them privately and in-
struct them if they are in grave spiritual necessity - no matter
what kind of inconvenience it is to him. However, if this task is
too difficult because there are so many people like this, the pas-
tor should try to examine and instruct them at least when they
come to make their Easter Duty or when they come looking for certi-
ficates for their confirmation or marriage.
It is also good for the pastor to inquire of teachers whether
or not they instruct the boys and girls in Christian doctrine, and
in the way of living a good life in the holy fear of God.
ADMINISTRATION 0 THE SACRAMENTS
The pastor is himself obliged to administer the sacraments
whenever his parishioners reasonably ask for them. If he has ap-
pointed a delegate, he should be conscientious in looking into his
life and knowledge. Otherwise he will have to render an account
to God of all the problems that might arise.
The pastor is also obliged to go to the assistance of the
dying, unless there is someone else already there. He must give
special help to the habituary in danger of death, for they are in
grave need of his assistance. In regard to Extreme Unction he
should follow what was said in the Roman Catechism: "They sin very
gravely who follow the custom of anointing the sick only when all
hope of recovery is gone and when life and the use of the senses
have begun to fail." (3)
He should also know whether his subjects fulfill their
Easter Duty. And he should be careful not to entrust to just
any cleric the duty of distributing Holy Communion.

He should check to see that young boys and teenagers who
show no signs of a vocation do not enter the seminary. He should
be diligent in instructing those who have entered the seminary re-
garding the ecclesiastical state. Without this instruction, they
will go on to receive Orders - whether they should or not - with
their bad habits - to the great scandal of their home town. And
surely there will be a serious account to render, if the pastor
gives letters of recommendation to ordinands whom he knows to be
unworthy, or whom he has not checked diligently enough to find
out their worthiness.
157.
CORRECTING SCANVAL
The pastor should know those who are living in mortal sin, so
that he may correct them. He should know the enmities and scandals,
especially between married couples, so that he may help them as much
as possible. St. Thomas says: "If a person has been entrusted with
the spiritual care of another, he is bound to seek him out in order
to correct his sinfulness." When the scandal is given by some im-
portant person (especially if it be a priest) and he cannot himself
remedy the situation, he should at least notify the bishop so that
he may take the proper steps to remedy things. The pastor may not
omit this out of human respect or for any fear whatsoever. The good
shepherd is bound to give up his life for his sheep.
The pastor should be careful not to allow engagements to last
too long before marriage, because engagement will put couples in the
danger of sin. (4)
If there are serious problems in a locale which the pastor
cannot cope with, he should try everything possible to have a mis-
sion. It will always be a good idea to invite priests from outside
into the parish for the benefit of timid souls, especially if a
Lenten preacher does not ordinarily come to the parish to hear con-
fessions. The wholesomeness of a pastor who neglects to have parish
missions is suspect.
The pastor finally must not only root out evil, but also pro-
mote good. Conscientious pastors never fail to urge their subjects
to frequent the sacraments, to join pious confraternities, to visit
the Blessed Sacrament and the Mother of God, to make novenas, to ac-
company the priest when he carries the Blessed Sacrament to the sick,
and most especially to make mental prayer which we will explain in a
page or two.
vary OF PREACHING
The pastor has the obligation of preaching on Sundays and
holy days. Moralists teach that pastors commit a grave sin if they
fail to preach for one continuous month or for what adds up to three
months in the course of a year - except however for the two months
of vacation allowed by Trent for a just cause and with the permis-
sion of the bishop. (5)
158.
Tr e nt de mande d t h a t p a s t o r s f e e d t h e i r f l o ck wi t h t he Word
o f God by p r e achi ng s e r mo ns adap t e d t o t h e i r u nde r s t a ndi ng, s o t h a t
t he p e o p l e can u nde r s t and what t he y p r e ach. (6) Fa i t h i s s p r e ad
and s af e gu ar de d by p r e achi ng (jycde6 ZX. aueLltlL) and co ns e qu e nt l y
s e r mo ns ar e o f l i t t l e u s e i f t he y ar e p r e ache d i n a s t y l e f o r e i gn
t o t he s t y l e i n which J e s u s C hr i s t and t he Ap o s t l e s p r e ache d, who
s p o ke "no t i n t he p e r s u as i ve wo r ds o f human wis do m, bu t i n co n-
vi nci ng di s p l ay o f t he S p i r i t ' s p o we r . " (I C o r . 2/4)
i
For this reason and justly did Venerable Master Avila used
to say that those who preached to reap vain glory were not minis-
ters but traitors to Jesus Christ. Father Gasper Sanchez used to
call them the worst sort of persecutors the Church of God has.
Preaching in this way, he said, they cause ruin to many, many
souls, who would have been saved if the preached like the apostles.
Useless words, elegant sounding phrases, superfluous phrases and
descriptions are the pests of sermons, St. Francis de Sales used to
say. (7) The sole purpose of the sermon is to move the wills of
the listeners toward good - not to entertain them. We know from ex-
perience that sermons with so many figures of speech and flowery
expressions do not stir souls to life, for God does not bless van-
ity. This applies to all who preach out of vanity, but especially
to those who have care of souls for Trent says: "The archpriests,
the pastors, and all who govern parish churches or have the care
of souls in any other way, should feed their flock, either them-
selves or through others who are capable - if they are legitimately
impeded - with the words of salvation at least on Sundays and holy
days. The pastors^ should do this according to their own capabili-
ties and those of their people." (8) Note the words "according to
the capabilities of their people", for by these words the council
shows its opposition to pastors who preach in a grand style above
the understanding of their people.
While we are here, I will point out some of the things that
merit attention when the pastor is choosing topics for his sermons.

As regards repentance, it is not enough to tell them to
avoid sins, but that they must avoid even the occasions of sin.
He should inveigh against men who spend alot of time at taverns,
showing them the many sins that are ordinarily a result of this
besides drunkenness, namely blasphemy, fights, scandal, obscenity,
quarreling with members of his family, loss of money which the
family needs, and so forth.
159.
He should often speak out against a vice which is common es-
pecially in the places of work, namely, unbecoming language. All the
more if this kind of thing is used around children or members of the
opposite sex. Think how many youngsters are perverted because of
this impure speech. On this point, he should admonish parents, teach-
ers , and employers to be diligent in correcting and punishing their
children and employees who use this kind of language.
He should often tell them how great a sacrilege is committed
by those who go to confession and communion, all the while keeping
some mortal sin hidden. In order to impress them with a dread of this
crime, he should often tell them terrifying examples of sacrileges
committed by those who kept back mortal sins out of shame.
He should very often explain the necessity of sorrow and
purpose of amendment as requisites for confession. Even regarding
venial sins, he should advise them not to come to receive absolu-
tion unless they are sincerely sorry for at least one of the venial
sins they confess, or unless they include as certain matter some
sin of their past life which they have already confessed and for
which they are sincerely sorry. This is necessary for validity. And
since some people do not quite realize what sorrow for sin means,
he should often show them that, in order to make a good confession,
the penitent (whether it is contrition or attrition) should have an
aversion for these sins, that is, he should hate his sins and de-
test them more than anything else.
He should admonish them to say some prayer (such as "Mary
help me" or "lord give me patience") in moments of anger.
He should try to make them hate superstitious and vain ob-
servances, which many (especially among Latins) use in an attempt
to cure sickness or to know the future.
He should instruct parents to correct their children, es-
pecially when they blaspheme or steal. He should tell them about
their obligations to watch and ask about those whom they associate
with. They should forbid their children to run around with bad
companions and with persons of the opposite sex. He should ad-
vise parents not to bring their children to bed with them. When
they are too small, there is danger of suffocation, when they are
older (that is, over six) there is danger of their taking scandal.
Boys and girls should never be allowed to sleep together.
ft
160.

He s ho u l d t e ach hi s p ar i s hi o ne r s t o overcome t e mp t at i o ns ,
e s p e ci al l y agai ns t chas t i t y, by cal l i ng on t he Holy Names o f J e s u s
and Mary. This i s t he be s t way o f f i ght i ng t e mp t at i o ns .
He s ho u l d t e l l them t o o , t hat i f anyone f al l s i nt o mo r t al
s i n, he s ho u l d make an act o f p e r f e ct co nt r i t i o n r i ght away and
r e s o l ve t o go t o co nf e s s io n as s o o n as p o s s i bl e . That way he wi l l
imme diat e l y r e gain t he s t at e o f gr ace . He s ho u l d t r y t o r i d them
of t he i de a - act u al l y a t r i ck o f t he de vi l - t hat God would j u s t
as r e adi l y f o r give two s i ns as o ne . I t can hap p e n t hat God wi l l
wait f o r them t o r e p e nt af t e r t he f i r s t s i n, bu t abandon them af -
t e r t he s e co nd.

I
The p as t o r s ho u l d t e ach t he C hr i s t i an a c t s , which e ve r yo ne
s ho u l d s ay in t he mo r ning, du r ing t he day and in t he e ve ning. To
show you what I mean, I wi l l give some e xamp l e s :
Act s t o be made in t he mo r ning. Make t he s ign of t he cr o s s .
Then s ay: 1.) Lord God, I ado r e You and t hank You f o r a l l t he gi f t s
You have give n me , e s p e ci al l y f o r p r o t e ct i ng me du r ing t he ni ght .
2. ) I l o ve You wit h a l l my he ar t , and I o f f e r You, in u nio n wit h
t he wor ds and Su f f e r ings of J e s u s and Mary, a l l my s u f f e r i ngs and
act i o ns wit h t he i nt e nt i o n of gaining a l l t he indu l ge nce s I can
f o r t he r e l i e f of t he s o u l s i n p u r gat o r y. 3. ) Today I int e nd t o
avo id a l l s i n and a l l o ccas io ns o f s i n, and I as k You, f o r t he l o ve
of J e s u s C hr i s t , t o give me t he gr ace of p e r s e ve r ance . I int e nd
e s p e ci al l y in t he mids t of di f f i cu l t y t o s u bmit t o Your wi l l al ways
r e p e at i ng: Your wi l l be do ne , Lo r d. My J e s u s , p l e as e p r o t e ct me t o -
day. Most Holy Mar y, t ake car e o f me. My Gu ar dian Angel and my p a-
t r o n s ai nt s give me yo u r he l p . Then he s ho u l d s ay an Our Fat he r , a
Hail Mar y, t he Ap o s t l e s ' C r e e d, and t hr e e Hail Mar y' s i n ho no r o f
Mar y's p u r i t y.
At t he be ginning of wo r k: Lord J e s u s , in u nio n wit h Your
p e r f e ct wo r k, I o f f e r You t hi s work which i s t o be done acco r ding
t o Your Wi l l . B e f o r e me al s and af t e r me al s , t he u s u al gr ace . When
t he cl o ck s t r i k e s : My J e s u s , I l o ve You, p l e as e do no t l e t me o f -
f e nd You. In moments o f t e mp t at i o n: J e s u s and Mary. When one f al l s
i nt o s i n: My God, I am s o r r y f o r having o f f e nde d You and I do no t
want t o do i t again. If i t was a gr ave s i n, co nf e s s io n s ho u l d f o l -
low as s o o n as p o s s i bl e .
In t he e ve ning, when go ing t o be d, he s ho u l d s ay "t hanks "
f o r t he bl e s s i ngs r e ce i ve d. Then he s ho u l d make an e xaminat io n of
co ns cie nce and f i nal l y r e ci t e t he C hr is t ian act s as give n abo ve .
161.
He should have mothers make their children recite these acts
every day. He should tell parents that they have an obligation to
see to it that their children receive the sacraments. If they do
not receive them often, they will easily lose the grace of God, and
this parents should check up on. Above all he should warn parents
that they sin if, without a just cause, they prevent their children
from getting married, or if they force them into marriage against
their will. Likewise, children themselves sin if they enter mar-
riage when their parents are rightly unwilling.
As we pointed out, pastors are bound not only to remove evil,
but also to further good. For this reason he should counsel his peo-
to make daily visits to the Blessed Sacrament and to Our Lady. And
he himself could make this visit with them in the evening. In doing
this he should choose a time convenient to the people, for this cus-
tom has been introduced in many places with great profit to the
faithful. He should mention that those who cannot come to church
should make the visit from their homes. More than anything else, he
should urge men to join the various confraternities. Finally, he
should encourage them to receive communion often, as long as they
are properly disposed and make a fitting thanksgiving afterwards. He
should teach them the acts of faith, love, self-offering and peti-
tion which they should use in their thanksgiving.
He should constantly try to instill into his people a deep
devotion to Our Lady. He should tell them how powerful and how
merciful this Divine Mother is in helping those devoted to her. He
should urge them to recite the rosary together at home every day,
to fast on Saturdays, and to make the novenas before the feast of
Our Lady, which he should announce from the pulpit when it is time.
The pastor would be worthy of our esteem who would give a
short sermon on the Blessed Virgin each Saturday - always relating
some example of devotion to her. Once a year a solemn novena should
be celebrated in honor of Our Lady with sermons and with Benedic-
tion of the Blessed Sacrament. For this purpose he can use, among
others, the book I wrote for this very thing, THE GLORIES OF MARY.
In it he will find material and examples in digest form. Blessed
is the pastor who makes his parishioners fervent devotees of our
Blessed Mother. With her help they will lead good lives, and he
will have won for himself a faithful and powerful advocate in the
moment of death.
More important than anything else, however, the pastor should
urge the faithful to ask God often for the grace of perseverance
162.
through the merits of Jesus Christ and Mary. He should preach again
and again that grace - especially the grace of perseverance - is not
granted unless it is asked for. Ask and you shall receive. (Jn 16/
24) He should point out Christ's promise that the Father will grant
everything we ask for in his name. "I tell you that if you make any
request of the Father, he will grant it to you in my name." (Jn 16/
23) He should forcefully preach the practice of mental prayer, and
he should try to make it with the people every day, or at least on
feast days. He should also teach them a method for mental prayer,
which they can use at home. To help the pastor as regards this last
point, I will now move on to consider the necessity and the method
of mental prayer.
A PRACTICAL UETHOV OF MEWTAL PRA/ER
It is undoubtedly due to neglect of consideration of the e-
ternal truths that the world is overrun with sin, and hell is filled!
with souls. "Desolate it lies before me, desolate all the land, be-
cause no one takes it to heart." (Jer 12/11) On the other hand, thei
Holy Spirit says that a man who often considers death, judgment and
eternity is free from sin. "In whatever you do, remember your last
days, and you will never sin." (Sir 7/36) One author makes the
statement that if all the damned were asked why they are in hell,
most of them would answer: we are here because we gave no thought
to hell. St. Vincent de Paul says that it would be miraculous if a
sinner made a mission or retreat and did not convert. For in mental|
prayer God is the one who speaks, and he certainly speaks better
than any preacher.
All the saints became saints because of mental prayer. We
know from experience that it is far from easy for a person who prac-|
tices mental prayer to fall into mortal sin. If they do happen to
fall at times, perseverance in prayer will win them the grace to re-
pent and to return to God. Mental prayer and sin cannot exist to-
gether. One who was very close to God used to say that many people
say the rosary and the office of the Blessed Virgin and do great
fasts and still continue to live in sin, but that is impossible for
a person who is faithful to mental prayer to live in the state of
sin. And if it is mental prayer that he holds on to, he will not
only abandon sin, but will even give up his attachment to creatures,,
and return to God. "In meditation a fire blazed forth." (Ps 38/4)
Mental prayer is the furnace in which the love of God is made to
blaze.
163.
As t o whe r e me nt al p r aye r s ho u l d be made , a chu r ch i s , o f
co u r s e , t he mo s t f i t t i n g p l a c e . B u t f o r t ho s e who canno t ge t t o
C hu r ch o r canno t s t a y t he r e f or any l e ngt h o f t i me , any p l ace i s
a l l r i g h t , whe t he r i t be i n t he home o r a t wo r k. Eve n t r a v e l and
p r aye r ar e not i nc o mp a t i bl e , f o r e ve n t he n a p e r s o n can r a i s e hi s
mind t o God. Many p e o p l e , who have no t ime o r p l ace t o s e t as i de
f o r p r a ye r , make t h e i r me nt al p r aye r whi l e t r a v e l i ng and wo r ki ng.
I f a p e r s o n i s wi l l i n g , he can f i nd God a t any t i me and i n any
p l ace .
As t o t he t ime f or me nt al p r a ye r , t he mo r ning ho u r s ar e t he
b e s t . Mo r ning p r aye r wi l l br i ng t he b l e s s i ng o f God down on a p e r -
s o n' s da i l y a c t i v i t y . Two p e r i o ds o f t he day ar e e s p e c i a l l y f i t t e d
t o p r aye r - mo r ning and e ve ni ng. Ho we ve r , i f t he r e i s no co nve ni e nt
t ime i n t he e ve ni ng, me nt al p r aye r s ho u l d a t l e a s t be made i n t he
mo r ning. Ve ne r abl e C har l e s C ar af a, f o u nde r o f t he Pio u s Wo r ke r s ,
u s e d t o s ay t h a t an a c t o f l o ve made f e r ve nt l y i n t he mo r ning a t
p r aye r i s e no u gh t o ke e p a p e r s o n f e r ve nt a l l day l o ng. (9)
As t o t he l e ngt h o f t i me t o be s p e nt i n p r a ye r , t he p as t o r
o r t he co nf e s s o r s ho u l d de ci de t h i s wi t h p r u de nce . I t i s c e r t a i n
t h a t i n o r de r t o r e ach a hi gh de gr e e o f p e r f e c t i o n, hal f an ho u r
i s no t e no u gh. B u t f o r be gi nne r s t h i s is _ e no u gh, and t he y s ho u l d
be u r ge d no t t o o mit t h i s p r aye r i n t ime o f de s o l a t i o n.
Now l e t u s p as s t o co ns i de r a p r a c t i c a l me t ho d of me nt al
p r aye r which t he p a s t o r can t e ach t he p e o p l e . Me nt al p r aye r co n-
s i s t s i n t hr e e p a r t s : p r e p a r a t i o n , me di t a t i o n, and co ncl u s i o n.
The p r e p a r a t i o n c o ns i s t s i n t hr e e act s which s ho u l d be made
wi t h t he mind: an a c t o f f a i t h i n t he Pr e s e nce of Go d, and act o f
hu mi l i t y, and a p r a ye r f o r Go d' s gu i dance . The s e p r aye r s might r u n
s o me t hing l i ke t h i s :
1. ) Act o f Fa i t h - My Go d, I be l i e ve t h a t I am i n Your
Pr e s e nce and f r o m t he de p t hs o f my no t hi ngne s s I ado r e
Your Maj e s t y.
2. ) Act o f Hu mi l i t y - Lo r d, be cau s e o f my s i ns I s ho u l d be
s u f f e r i ng t he p ai ns o f h e l l r i g h t no w. I am s o r r y f o r
havi ng o f f e nde d You. In Your Me r cy p l e as e f o r gi ve me .
3. ) Act o f Pe t i t i o n - Et e r nal Fat he r , for t he l o ve o f J e s u s
and Mar y, p l e a s e gi ve me Your l i g h t du r i ng t h i s p r a ye r ,
s o t h a t i t wi l l be p r o f i t a b l e f o r me .

164.
Fo l l o wi ng t he s e a c t s , a Hai l Mary s ho u l d be s a i d i n ho no r o f t he
Mo s t B l e s s e d Vi r gi n, as ki ng he r t o o bt ai n t he di vi ne he l p f o r u s ,
and t he n a GLOKLO. VOSUXA. i n ho no r o f St . J o s e p h, o u r Gu ar dian Ange l
and o u r p at r o n s a i n t . The s e act s s ho u l d be made wi t h a t t e n t i o n ,
bu t b r i e f l y , and t he n o ne s ho u l d go on t o t he me di t at i o n p r o p e r .
As t o me di t at i o n i t s e l f . I t i s a good i de a f o r t ho s e who
can r e ad t o make u s e o f a bo o k. B u t t he y s ho u l d s t o p r e adi ng as
s o o n as s o me t hing wo r t hy o f co ns i de r at i o n s t r i k e s t he m. St . Fr anci s
de Sal e s s ays t ha t we s ho u l d i mi t a t e t he be e s when i t comes t o t h i s ;
t he y wo r k o n a f l o we r u n t i l t he y have e xt r a c t e d a l l t he ho ne y - o nl y
t he n do t he y move on t o ano t he r . As f o r t ho s e who canno t r e a d, t he y
s ho u l d me di t at e o n t he l a s t t h i n g s , on t he Go o dne s s o f Go d, and e s -
p e c i a l l y o n t he Li f e and Pas s i o n o f J e s u s C h r i s t . Thi s , s ays St .
Fr a nc i s , s ho u l d be t he u s u al s u bj e c t o f o u r me di t a t i o ns . (10) What
an e x c e l l e nt bo o k i t i s f o r de vo u t s o u l s ! In i t , b e t t e r t han i n any
o t he r bo o k, we can l e ar n t he e v i l o f s i n and t he t e nde r ne s s o f Go d' s
l o ve f o r me n. A s a i nt o nce as ke d a cr u ci f i x i f he s ho u l d l e ar n how
t o r e ad, and t he c r u c i f i x ans we r e d him, "What go o d wi l l r e adi ng do
yo u ? What wo u l d yo u r e ad? I am yo u r bo o k, and t h a t i s e no u gh f o r
yo u . "
Ho we ve r , me nt al p r aye r i s no t j u s t me di t a t i o n. I t i nvo l ve s
be s i de s t h i s , act s o f a f f e c t i o ns , p r aye r s o f p e t i t i o n , and go o d
r e s o l u t i o n s . Af t e r a p e r s o n has me di t at e d on some e t e r n a l t r u t h ,
and a f t e r God has s p o ke n t o hi s h e a r t , i t i s o nl y na t u r a l t h a t o ne
s ho u l d t he n t a l k t o God from hi s h e a r t - by making a c t s o f a f f e c -
t i o n , f a i t h , t hanks gi vi ng, ado r at i o n, p r a i s e , h u mi l i t y , and abo ve
a l l o f l o ve and s o r r o w (which i s a c t u a l l y an a c t o f l o ve . )
I
Love i s a go l de n chai n t h a t t i e s t he s o u l t o Go d. An act
of l ov e i s a t r e as u r e which gi ve s u s p r o o f o f Go d' s f r i e nds hi p .
"Fo r t o men s he i s u nf a i l i ng t r e a s u r e ; t ho s e who gai n t h i s t r e a s u r e
win t he f r i e nds hi p o f Go d. " (Wis 7/14) "Tho s e who l o ve me I al s o
l o ve . " (Pr o v 8/17) "He t h a t l o ve s me wi l l , i n t u r n , be l o ve d by
my Fa t he r . " (J n 14/21) "Lo ve . . . wi ns f o r gi ve ne s s f o r many s i n s . "
(I Pet 4/8) Ve ne r abl e Si s t e r Mary o f t he C r u ci f i e d o nce s aw a hu ge
f l ame o f f i r e which i n s t a n t l y bu r ne d up a l l t he s t r aws t hr o wn i nt o
i t . She was give n t o u nde r s t and t h a t an act o f l o ve t ake s away and
de s t r o ys a l l t he f a u l t s o ne co mmit s in t he same way. This i s i n
l i ne wi t h what St . Thomas t e a c he s , name l y, t h a t any a c t o f l o ve me r -
i t s a de gr e e o f e t e r n a l gl o r y. "Eve r y act o f c ha r i t y me r i t s e t e r na l
l i f e . " (11)
He r e ar e e xamp l e s o f act s o f c ha r i t y. My Go d, I e s t e e m You
abo ve e ve r yt hi ng e l s e . I l o ve You wit h a l l my h e a r t . I wis h t ha t
165.
every man on earth loved You. It is also an act of charity to con-
form oneself to God's Will, for instance: Lord make me know what
You want of me, for I am ready to do it. Again, it is charity to
offer oneself to God without any reservations; for example: Here I
am, Lord. Dispose of me and of what is mine according to Your
Will. Acts of self-offering like this are treasured by God. This
is why St. Teresa made an offering of herself to God fifty times
every day. Still the most perfect of all is to say: I am happy
just because You are God, the Highest Good, lacking in absolutely
nothing, and so forth.
When a person realizes that he has been raised to super-
natural or infused recollection (as we explained in the last chap-
ter) , he should not try to make any more acts other than those to
which God draws him. Instead he should lovingly attend to God's
action within hira, for if he did anything else, he could be placing
an obstacle to divine grace.
St. Francis de Sales notes another important detail. If at
some time the Holy Spirit is drawing a person to some affection
which he can hardly get off his mind, he should set aside the con-
sideration part of mental prayer and merely make acts of this af-
fection. Consideration, remember, is only a stepping stone to get
the will started making affections. Therefore, once the end has
been reached, the means should be set aside. (12)
It is also of the greatest importance to make many acts of
petition during mental prayer; humble and confidently asking God
for His guidance, for forgiveness of sin, for perseverance, for a
good death, heaven, and above all for the gift of loving Him. St.
Francis de Sales used to say that among all the graces, love of
God is the one we should ask for with the greatest fervor. (13)
Once a person has love of God, he would say, he has every other
grace. Consequently, whenever a person finds himself in a state of
desolation where it is impossible to do anything else, it is enough
for him to repeat this prayer of David: "0 God, come to my aid. 0
Lord, hurry to help me." Venerable Paul Segneri said that he had
learned from experience that nothing was more profitable during
meditation than the practice of making petitions over and over in
the name of and through the merits of Jesus Christ. He it is who
made the beautiful promise: "I tell you truly, if you ask anything
from the Father in my Name, He will give it to you."
It is a good idea, at least toward the end of meditation, to
propose to do something - not just in general (such as to avoid all
166
-.
\
deliberate faults or to submit to God's Will), but we should get
down to particulars. For instance, to be careful to avoid a def-
inite fault which we commit frequently, to concentrate out atten-
tion on one virtue which we have many chances to practice, such as
bearing with a troublesome confrere or superior, or to be more con-
scientious regarding a particular rule, or to make a greater effort
to curb our desires for some particular thing. We should never
finish mental prayer without making some particular resolution.
Finally, the meditation will come to an end with three acts.
1.) We first thank God for the lights received during'prayer. 2.)
We resolve to follow the resolutions made during meditation. 3.)
We pray to God the Father, through Jesus and Mary, to help us to be
able to keep our promises. Lastly we should pray for the souls in
purgatory, for the prelates of the Church, for sinners and for all
our relatives, friends, and benefactors, by saying an Our Father
and a Hail Mary for them, for these are the most useful prayers
which Christ and the Church have given us.
Before one finishes his prayers, hov/ever, as St. Francis de
Sales points out, he should select a bouquet of flowers to perfume
his entire day; that is, he should pick out one or the other thought
which especially struck him during his meditation in order to think
of them during the day. He should next give attention as to putting
this into practice, for example, in calmly overcoming the annoyance
caused him by someone who is angry with him, or in mortifying him-
self in sight or hearing or speaking. It is especially important
that a person guard in silence the thought of these pious affections
which God has given him in prayer. Otherwise, if he immediately
goes out to his external activities and to useless talking, the fer-
vor of devotion which he acquired in prayer will grow cold and dis-
appear. (14)
Most of all, finally, the director should frequently warn his
penitent not to omit meditation, nor to shorten it, especially dur-
ing times of aridity. And a person, on the other hand, should never
be disturbed when he finds himself in a long state of aridity and
completely lacking in fervor. St. Francis de Sales used to say that
many courtiers go to honor their master and are content to do noth-
ing more than have him look at them. We come to meditation in order
to honor God and serve Him. If He wants to talk to us and grant us
favors, we should thank Him. If, on the contrary, He does not, it
should be enough for us to be in his presence, adoring Him and mak-
ing our needs known to Him. (15) Even if He does not talk to us, He
will at least accept our attention and our loyalty, and He will hear
our prayers because we trusted in Him.
167.
1. I I I I , g 104, a 5; and MT Lib VI , n. 803.
2. He r e St . Al p ho ns u s go e s i nt o a s ho r t t r e at me nt o f I t a l y ' s
e i ght e e nt h ce nt u r y p r e s c r i p t i o n l aws which ar e har dl y o f
u s e h e r e .
3. p . I I , ch 6, n. 9.
4. Another reference to the engagement situation which we have
noted previously - slightly edited.
5. Sess 23, de reform, ch 1.
6. Sess 5, de reform, ch 2.
7. John Avila, Spiritual Letters, p I, letter 4; De Sales,
Treatise on Preaching, ch 5, a 1 and a 8.
8. Sess 5, de reformatione, ch 2.
9. Life by Gisolfi, ch 32.
10. Treatise on love of God i, 6, ch 2 and Introduction to the
Devout Life II, ch 1 and 5.
11. II II, q 24, a 6 and I II, q 114, a 7.
12. Introduction to the Devout Life, II ch 8.
13. Treatise on the Love of God, I, II, ch 4, 8, 9, 13.
14. Introduction to the Devout Life II, ch 7 and 8.
15. Ibid., ch 9.

168.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Assistmuj In t o
n
'.
The r e i s no act of char i t y more p l e as i ng t o God and more p r o f -
i t abl e f o r t he s al vat i o n of s o u l s t han t hat of he l p ing t he dying t o
die a ho l y de at h. The co ndit io n in which e ach man di e s i s t he t hi ng
t hat de t e r mine s hi s e t e r nal de s t i ny. At de at h, t he de vi l s ar e wo r k-
ing f e ve r i s hl y at a t ime when t he s i ck man's r e s i s t ance grows we ak.
In o r de r t o show St . Phi l i p Ne r i how much He l o ve s t ho s e who p r e p ar e
t he dying f o r de at h, God many t ime s showed him ange l s s u r r o u nding
t he p r i e s t in t he s i ck room and s u gge s t ing words t o him.
169.
- This is not just the task of pastors who - because of their
office - have the care of souls. It is the duty of all priests.
Yet the Roman Ritual refers in particular to pastors and says that
caring for the sick is a special part of their work. (1) For this
reason, as soon as they learn that one of their parishioners is
sick, it tells them not to wait for the sick person to call for him,
but to go on his own to visit them. He should visit them not just
once, but often if he finds that the person, is also spiritually
sick. If he is legitimately kept from doing this himself, he is
obliged to provide another priest who is both a good and prudent
man. Some priests, the Ritual warns, do more harm than good when
fulfilling this duty - not only to the sick person but to themselves
and the family as well. (Note that the priest should be of assist-
ance to the family also.) The Ritual goes on to say, that if there
are not priests available, the pastor must see to it that some holy
and charitable layman goes to the service of the sick person to sug-
gest uplifting thoughts and prayers.
SUGGESTIONS FOR HELPING THE SICK
The priest should first find out from the doctor whether or
not the sickness is mortal, but he should do this secretly, because
there is a detestable practice among doctors of deceiving the sick
so as to save both them and their families from grief, as if in-
forming the sick of their obligation to confess (which they must do
when they realize the danger) were the same thing as telling them
they are going to die.
From the relatives, friends, and from the sick man himself,
the priest should carefully inquire about his state of soul, about
his dispositions, and about his sins. He should find out which pas-
sions he has given in to and especially if he is bound to make res-
titution of goods or of a reputation. He should check to see if he
bears a deep hatred for anyone, or if he has been carrying on some
illicit love affair - all this so that he may be able to apply the
suitable remedies. He should be careful not to remind the sick man
of the person he hates or of the person whom he illicitly loves un-
less there is some need compelling him to do this. In the case of
a sick person who has suffered some injury, once the confessor has
found out what he needs for absolving the sins, he should not probe
into who inflicted the injury or why and how it was inflicted. And
if the sick man begins to speak of these things, he should carefully
turn the conversation to something else. Similarly, if there is no
need for it, he should not even mention disputes, children, and other
irrelevant things.
1

.
'.

170.
Once he has found out that the man is dangerously sick, he
should not begin speaking about the confession right away. He
should treat him with kindness and ask about his sickness and his
pain and about how he is enduring them. Then the priest should
urge him to conform himself to God's Will and to join his suffering
to the suffering of Christ as His life ebbed away upon the Cross,
and to bear his pain patiently as a way of satisfying for sins.
Thus little by little, prudently, he can bring up the subject of
going to confession, by asking the time since his last confession.
He should tell the dying man to put all his trust in God who can,
if he wants to, restore his former health. But at the same time
he should gradually let the man know how dangerous his condition
is. He should get him to realize especially that he should not pin
his hopes completely on what the doctors and the family say; they
just might be trying to conceal the seriousness of his sickness
from him, so that he won't think into despondency. Tell him that
it is the mark of a wise man to plan ahead for the future. Urge
him, while his mind is capable, to make his confession which will
be not only good for his soul, but for the health of his body, if
that is expedient for his soul. Writers speak of sick men who get
right up out of bed in good health as soon as they had confessed
their sins, and one tells the story of a soldier who was not helped
a bit by medicine but got well immediately from confession.
Yet if a sick person wants to put confession off, and the
danger of death or of delirium is not imminent, the confessor can
go along with him. Still he should be careful that they decide
upon a time, perhaps in the evening or on the following day, for
hearing the confession. On the other hand, if the danger of death
is imminent, the confessor should warn him, as St. Augustine used
to do, that God has made no promises to wait for sinners; He will
spare them only if they repent. "He has not promised a tomorrow;
perhaps He will give it, perhaps He will not." (2) If it turns
out that the sick man is not won by these warnings, the confessor
should never desert him, but should keep trying to rouse him by
arguments, first working on his fear, then calling him to confi-
dence. He should also see to it that both private and public
prayers are offered to God for the man's salvation.
If the sickness grows worse, he should urge the man to make
some fitting disposition of his goods, for this is advisable for
the peace of the family. And he should urge it all the more if it
would also ease his conscience. However the priest should be care-
ful lest he himself be given a sizable gift. If the man has broth-
ers and sisters who are needy, he should instruct him on his grave
obligation of leaving his possessions to them, at least enough to
provide for their needs. This grave obligation, however, does not
171.
seem to hold for more remote relatives. If he wants to set some-
thing aside for the benfit of his soul, warn him not to impose this
burden on his heirs for experience teaches that almost none of these
pious legacies are fulfilled. Instead urge him to assign a sum of
money to be used for Masses or other pious works. The priest should
carefully avoid advising anything that would be prejudicial to oth-
ers, since it is not becoming for a minister of Christ to arouse
the hatred of others against himself.
When he suggests to them the Christian acts, he should always
use the vernacular. The Ritual warns the priest not to talk too
much or too quickly as some do, for that will weary and confuse the
sick man rather than help him. Father Recupito of the Society of
Jesus said that once he was near death and he could not understand
what was being said to him. All he could make out was an irritating
murmur. Consequently, lest we disturb the man, he advises us to
pause between the words.
Holy pictures of Christ Crucified and of the Blessed Mother
should be placed near the sick person, and if possible they should
be large enough and in such a position that he can see them and
pray to them.
Make it a point to remove dangerous objects from the sick
man's room, such as weapons, pictures which are even partially ob-
scene, and especially any person who might be an occasion of sin
for him. These should be removed not only from the room, but from
the house. When the sick man seems to be approaching his death
agony, the priest should have everyone leave the room, except for
one or two who may be allowed to remain when it is necessary. He
should not allow into the room those close relatives who might ex-
cite some passion.
REMEDIES FOR TEMPTATIONS
The best remedy for temptations is to repeat over and over
the Names of Jesus and Mary and to make the sign of the cross.
Still it will be useful here to add some remedies for special
temptations of the devil.
FIRST: Temptations against the Faith. Those who have led
an immoral life and have been too dependent on their own judgment
(especially learned men) are the ones who are especially afflicted
172.
with this terrible temptation. They should be warned that, when-
ever the devil suggests some doubt of faith or some subtlety they
should immediately with a firm conviction answer in this general
way: I believe whatever the Church believes for the Church believes
and teaches the truth. He should encourage the sick man to thank
God with all his heart for the fact that he has been a member of
the Church from childhood, and to tell Him that he wants to perse-
vere in his faith until the end of his life. The best way to get
rid of a temptation of this kind, however, is to distract his mind
with something else, and to make different kinds of acts, such as
contrition, hope, love for God, and so forth. Bellarmine speaks of
a professor who, when he was dying, decided to look into some arti-
cle of faith with the devil; he was tricked, gave into the tempta-
tion, and died.
If the temptation continues to bother the man, the priest
should show him very clearly the arguments for our Faith - that it
is holy and unspotted, that it was spread over the whole earth by
poor fishermen, that it is confirmed by so many miracles and that
so many thousands of martyrs have offered their lives for it. Show
him that these arguments prove the Church's truth, even though now
we have to look upon the truths it teaches "darkly as in a glass",
for if the mysteries of faith were evident to us, where would be
the merit of our faith? It is called faith precisely because what
it teaches is hidden and not self-evident. This is why Christ said:
"Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." (Jn 20/29)
SECOND: Temptations to Despair. This is the main temptation
which Hell uses against the sick man. For this reason, the priest
should never talk to these souls about God's justice, or about the
punishment of the damned. Neither should he exaggerate the sins
they have committed. Instead he should give them reasons for
trusting in God's Mercy - the Passion of Christ, God's promises to
us, and Mary's intercession.
The first motive for our hope is God's Mercy, since God is
called and really is the "merciful Father" of II Corinthians 1/3.
He runs to catch up even with those who have not been looking for
Him: "I was ready to respond to those who asked me not, to be found
by those who sought me not." (Is 65/1) He actually wants to save
us more than we want to be saved. With good reason does he complain
about those who run from him when he desires to receive them. As St.
Bernard says: "He complains that he is being deserted by those whom
He desires to welcome." (3) His whole Being is inclined to forgive-
ness. "Our Lord is generous in forgiving." (Is 55/7) He cries out
5
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t h a t he do e s no t want t he de at h o f t he s i nne r ; "I t ake no p l e a s u r e
i n t he de at h o f t he wicke d man, bu t r a t he r i n t he wicke d man' s co n-
ve r s i o n, t h a t he may l i v e . " (Eze ch 33/11) He s ays t h a t when a s i n -
ne r i s s o r r y f o r h i s s i n s , He p u t s as i de a l l t ho u ght o f t he m. "B u t
i f a wicke d man t u r ns away f r o m a l l t he s i ns he co mmit t e d, he s h a l l
s u r e l y l i v e , he s h a l l no t d i e . " (Eze ch 18/ 21, 22) Who can e ve r l o s e
co nf i de nce i n Go d' s Me r cy, o nce he has l e ar ne d t he s e t e s t i mo ni e s
from t he mo u t h o f God Hi ms e l f ? One s i ngl e act o f s o r r o w i s e no u gh
t o de s t r o y co u nt l e s s s i n s . The p u bl i can did no t hi ng mo r e t han b l u r t
o u t : "Be me r ci f u l t o me a s i nne r " and he was j u s t i f i e d . (Lk 13/13)
The Pr o di gal So n, as s o o n as he r e t u r ne d t o t he f e e t o f hi s f a t h e r ,
was we l co me . (Lk 15/20) When David s ai d. "I have s i nne d, " Nat han
ans we r e d, "The Lo r d has r e mo ve d yo u r s i n s . " ( I I Kings 12/13)
The s e co nd mo t ive f o r ho p e i s t he Pas s i o n o f J e s u s C h r i s t ,
Who t o l d u s t h a t He came down t o e ar t h f o r o nl y o ne r e as o n: t he s a l -
vat i o n o f s i n ne r s . " I have no t come t o c a l l t he j u s t , bu t s i n n e r s . "
(Mt 9/13) He t e l l s u s t h a t He wi l l dr i ve no o ne away from Him, " I f
anyo ne comes t o me , I wi l l c e r t a i nl y no t r e j e c t hi m. " (J n 6/ 37) And,
as Mat t he w s ays , He c a l l s Hims e l f t he good s he p he r d who go e s o u t
l o o ki ng f o r hi s s c a t t e r e d s he e p , and i f He f i nds o ne , He r e j o i c e s
and p i cks i t u p and c a r r i e s i t home o n His s ho u l de r s . And i t s e e ms
t h a t He l o ve s t h i s o ne wi t h g r e a t e r t e nde r ne s s t han t he r e s t , as
He di d wi t h St . Mary o f Egyp t , B l e s s e d Ange l a o f Fo l i gno , St . Mar -
gar e t o f C o r t o na and o t he r p e n i t e n t s . Fo r t h i s r e as o n, no o ne wi t h
an u p r i ght wi l l s ho u l d e ve r f e ar t h a t t he Lo r d wi l l condemn,, him,
f o r i t was j u s t t o s ave u s from co nde mnat io n t h a t o u r Lo r d di d no t
h e s i t a t e t o condemn Hims e l f t o t he de at h o f t he c r o s s .
The t h i r d mo t ive i s Go d' s p r o mi s e . Many t i me s do t he Go s -
p e l s t e l l u s how God p r o mi s e d His gr ace t o t ho s e who as k f o r i t :
"Ask and yo u s h a l l r e c e i v e . " (J n 16/24) "I t e l l yo u t h a t i f yo u
make any r e qu e s t f r o m my Fa t he r , he wi l l gr ant i t t o yo u i n my
name . " (J n 16/23) Thi s p r o mi s e ho l ds good no t o nl y f o r t he go o d,
bu t a l s o f o r t he s i n n e r s , "Al l who as k, r e c e i v e . " (Mt 7/8) Al l
o ne ne e ds t o do i s t o as k God f o r t he gr ace o f s al vat i o n i n o r de r
t o be s u r e o f r e ce i vi ng i t . "The Lo r d i s go o d t o t ho s e who s e e k
hi m. " (Lame nt at i o ns 3/25)
The f o u r t h mo t i ve f o r ho p e i s t he i nt e r c e s s i o n o f t he s a i n t s
and e s p e c i a l l y t h a t o f t he Mo t he r o f God. God want s u s , t o ge t he r
wi t h t he who l e C hu r ch, t o c al l he r o u r r e f u ge , o u r l i f e , o u r ho p e .
"Re f u ge o f s i nne r s p r ay f o r u s ; h a i l o u r l i f e , o u r ho p e ! " Thi s i s
why B l o s i u s c a l l s he r "The ho p e o f t he ho p e l e s s " and St . Ep hr e m,
"t he he l p o f t he abando ne d. " The Mo t he r o f God he r s e l f r e ve al e d t o
174.
St. Brigit that her care for and protection of those who are devoted
to her, when they are bothered by temptations and pray to her, is
just like the love of any mother - she sees her child pursued by en-
emies and wants more than anything else to protect him. When a sin-
ner comes running to her, she said, she does not weigh his merits,
but looks instead to the intention that brings him to her. God Him-
self told St. Catherine of Siena that He had given Mary this privi-
lege : any sinner who has recourse to her can never be conquered by
the devil. (4)
THIRD: Temptations to Pride. St. Bernard says that pride is
an arrow that "penetrates easily, but inflicts more than a light
wound," especially if the person has nothing bothering his conscience.
If a priest should ever notice a dying person who considered his sal-
vation a sure thing because he puts too much stock in his own works,
he should tell him that all we can claim as really our own are our
sins. All good things we have received from God. "What have you
that you have not received?" (I Cor 4/7) Since no one can be in-
fallibly certain of his eternal salvation or of being in the state
of grace, everyone should always be fearful and, as St. Paul says,
work out his salvation with fear and trembling. (Phil 2/12) (5)
s
FOURTH: Temptation to Impatience. If the sick man is impa-
tient with his suffering, he should be reminded of the great torments
that the martyrs suffered for the Name of Christ. While they were
still alive, they had their skin stripped from them, were burned, and
sometimes cut into pieces. Especially bring to his attention all the
things that Christ, Who was Innocence Itself, endured out of love for
us.
It might be a good idea to tell him that he cannot get rid of
his sickness, so he might as well accept it willingly for the sake
of God, and doing this he will find a certain amount of relief now,
and will have less to atone for in purgatory, and in heaven he will
receive a greater reward. "Your sadness shall be turned into joy."
Otherwise if he suffers it unwillingly, it will hurt him both now
and in the next life. He should be told how the sufferings at the
end of our life complete our eternal crown. For this reason, St.
Bonaventure said that to endure our sufferings patiently is better
than anything else we could do. In this he was merely following
what St. James said, "Let patience accomplish a perfect work." (Jm 1/4)
This is the way God treats his friends on earth, for the cross is a
very safe sign of predestination. St. Clare led a life of suffering
for 28 years. St. Lidwina was sick for 38 years without interruption.
One day Mary told St. Brigit when she was sick: "Do you know why your
175.
sickness will last so long? Because my Son and I love you so much."
St. Paul offers us consolation in bearing with hardship and trials
here on earth by saying "For our present light affliction is pro-
ducing for us an eternal weight of glory that is beyond all measure."
(II Cor 4/17) And in another place he says: "I count the sufferings
of the present time as not worthy to be compared with the glory to
come that will be revealed shining upon us." (Rom 8/18)
It is a good idea to urge a person like this to conform him-
self to God's Will not only in the matter of his suffering, but also
as regards any mistake that the doctor might make, or any negligence
of those caring for him. They should often be reminded to ask God
for patience.
FIFTH: For those who are unwilling to submit to death so
soon. Outline for these people how miserable this life really is -
its infirmities, its troubles, and its danger of sinning and of be-
ing damned. This is the reason that holy persons desire death so
longingly. St. Teresa cried out: "Oh, to think that at every mo-
ment of my life I could lose my God!" Because of this, every time
the clock chimed she was grateful that she had survived the dangers
of the past hour. The holy martyrs went happily to the instruments
of torture, since they held out to them the prospects of getting
away from all these dangers and of soon enjoying God. It is said
in the Apocalypse (14/13) , "Blessed are the dead who die in the
Lord. They are to have rest from their toils." In this valley of
tears we are but travellers; "here we have no lasting city," as
St. Paul said in Hebrews. (13/14) Every man - be he Pope or King -
must die.
Urge the sick man to thank God for not letting him die when
he was in the state of sin and for making it possible for him to
die strengthened by the Sacraments. Tell him that at the very least,
he should willingly undergo death, because it frees us from so many
light faults which we can never escape in this life.
Say to him: "It is best if you conform yourself to God's
Will, because He arranges everything for our good. Who knows
whether or not you would even save your soul, if you live longer?"
If the sick man should answer, "I want to live to make satisfac-
tion to God for my sins and to gain some merit before death - up
to now I have done nothing," the priest should in turn tell him:
"No penance is more acceptable to God than to accept your death
willingly as an atonement for sins and no act is more meritorious
than to accept death as God's Will for you."
i
176.
SIXTH; Te mp t at io n t o cl i ng t o o ne ' s r e l at i ve s and p o s s e s -
s i o ns . To t ho s e f o r whom de at h i s di s t u r bi ng be cau s e t he y cl i ng
t o o t i ght l y t o mat e r i al go o ds , t he co nf e s s o r s ho u l d r e mind t he m
t hat t he s e ar e no t t r u e goods be cau s e t he y ar e p as s ing and t he y
wi l l s o o n de cay. And e ve n i f t he y do n' t de cay, t he y wi l l s t i l l
di s t r e s s a p e r s o n more t han t he y wi l l co ns o l e him.
If , on t he o t he r hand, t he man i s t r o u bl e d be cau s e o f de e p
l o ve t hat he has f o r hi s wif e and chi l dr e n whom he mu s t now l e ave ,
t he p r i e s t s ho u l d s ay t o him e nco u r agingl y: "Ever ybody has t o di e .
They s hal l a l l f o l l o w you when t he i r t ime come s . So now t ake car e
of yo u r own s al vat i o n and yo u r own s o u l , and t he n you wi l l be abl e
t o p r ay f o r them in he ave n. And one day you wi l l be a l l hap p y t o -
ge t he r f o r a l l e t e r ni t y in he ave n. Right now what co u l d be more
wo nde r f u l t han t o go and l i ve wit h J e s u s and t he Queen o f Heaven
and a l l t he s ai nt s .
If he i s t r o u bl e d be cau s e he l e ave s hi s f amil y p o o r , t he
p r i e s t s ho u l d r e -as s u r e him t hi s way: "Li s t e n, i f you r e ach
he ave n, you wi l l be abl e t o do f ar more f o r them from t he r e t han
you co u l d do he r e on e ar t h. Never wo r r y abo u t t he m, f o r God, Who
f e e ds t he bi r ds , s hal l no t f ai l t o t ake car e of t he m. If you l o ve
them much, t hink how much more God l o ve s t he m.
SEVENTH: Te mp t at io n t o hat r e d and r e ve nge . If t he dying man
s ho u l d happe n t o hat e ano t he r be cau s e of an o f f e ns e done t o hi m. . . .
Fi r s t , t act f u l l y r emind him of Go d's commandment: Love yo u r
e ne mie s . (Ik 6/27) Then t e l l him t hat a p e r s o n who do e s no t f o r -
give canno t e xp e ct f o r give ne s s from God Who s ays : "Ou t s ide ar e do gs . "
(Apoc 22/15) Dogs ar e t he symbol of r e ve nge and ar e dr ive n away from
he ave n. On t he co nt r ar y, God p r o mis e s ce r t ai n p ar do n t o any s inne r ,
who f o r give s hi s o f f e nde r : "Fo r give and you s hal l be f o r gi ve n. "
(Ik 6/37) Thi r dl y, int r o du ce t he ide a t hat , i f hi s enemy has hu r t
him u nj u s t l y, he s ho u l d t hink how much more u nj u s t l y he hims e l f
has hu r t God. If he i s as king God t o f o r ge t hi s s i ns , s ho u l dn' t
he a l l t he more f o r ge t hi s ne i ghbo r ' s ? "J u s t as t he Lo r d has f o r -
give n yo u , s o you mu s t f o r gi ve . " (Col 3/13)
Fi nal l y, show him how much he wi l l p l e as e God i f he f o r give s
i nj u r i e s . Af t e r St . John Gu al be r t had s p ar e d hi s br o t he r ' s mu r -
de r e r , he went i nt o a Church and kne e l ing be f o r e a cr u ci f i x he saw
t he Redeemer be nd hi s he ad down t o war d him as i f t o t hank him f o r
f o r giving t he man. B e f o r e hi s de at h, St . James embr aced t he man
who had accu s e d him. St . St e p he n p r aye d f o r t ho s e who s t o ne d him.
(Act s 7/59) St . Lo u is , King of Fr ance , had as a gu e s t at hi s own
177.
table the man who had tried to kill him. But more than all these,
Christ Himself gave us the first example of this when from the cross
He prayed to the Father for those who were jeering at Him and perse-
cuting Him. (Lk 23/34)
MOTIVATIONS A W AFFECTIONS TO BE GIVEN THE WING
FIRST: Motives of Confidence. We mentioned this once before
when we were speaking of despair. To these we can add the following
quotations from the Bible. "Has anyone hoped in the Lord and been
disappointed?" (Sir 2/11) "He Himself is the propitiation for our
sins." (I Jn 2/2) Jesus Christ suffered death in order to obtain
forgiveness of sins for us. "He has delivered him for us all, how
can he fail to grant us all other blessings with him?" (Rom 8/32)
How shall God refuse to forgive us when He has sacrificed His own
Son for us?
Affections of Confidence. The Lord is my light and my sal-
vation, whom shall I fear? (Ps 26/1) In your hands I place my life
- you have redeemed me, Lord God of Truth. Therefore we beg - help
your servants whom you have redeemed with your Precious Blood. Good
Jesus, hide me within your wounds. In you, 0 Lord, have I hoped, I
shall never be disappointed. Your wounds are my merits. (St. Ber-
nard) My Jesus, you shall not refuse to pardon me for you have not
refused to give your life and blood for me. Passion of Jesus, you
are my hope. Merits of Jesus, you are my hope. Death of Jesus,
you are my hope. Mary my Mother, save me and have mercy on me.
Hail our Hope. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me a sinner. We
run to your protection, Holy Mother of God.
SECOND: Motives and Affections of Contrition. St. Augustine
maintains that we should keep on deploring our sins as long as we
live. -Do not enter into judgment with your servant. (Ps 142/2) My
Jesus and my judge, forgive me before you come to judge me. A con-
trite and humble heart you will not despise. My God, I wish I had
never offended you. My Lord, do not treat me as I deserve. Father,
I am not worthy to be called your son. I left you - I despised your
grace - I deliberately ran away from you. My God, I am sorry with
all my heart - for the love of your Son, forgive me. Cursed be the
sins that deprived me of God - I hate them, detest them, curse them.
My God, what evil have you done that I have so offended you. For the
sake of Jesus your Son, have mercy on me. Never again, Lord, as
long as I live shall I offend you. For the rest of my life I am de-
cermined to love you. To make satisfaction for all the times I have
;.
178.
insulted You, I offer You my death and the sufferings that I will
endure in dying. Lord, it is right for You to punish me, for I
have offended You so much; but I beg you, punish me in this life -
not in the next. Mary, obtain for me a sorrow for my sins, for-
giveness, and perseverance.
"
.
$
THIRD: Motives and Affections for Love. My God, You are in-
finitely good, I love You above all things. I love You more than
myself. I Love You with all my heart. My God, I am not worthy of
loving You, because I have offended You so much, but out of love
for Jesus make me worthy. Would to God that all men loved You.
Sweet Jesus, I want to suffer and die for You, since You have suf-
fered and died for me. Lord, punish me as You wish, but not by
preventing me from loving You. My God, save me, my salvation is
to love You. I long for paradise so that I may love You forever
and with all my strength. My God, do not send me to hell as I have
deserved; there I would have to hate You, but I do not want to hate
You; what have You done to me, my Lord, that I shall hate You so!
Make me love You, and do with me whatever You want. I want to suf-
fer whatever pleases You - I want to die if it pleases You. I sur-
render myself entirely to You, My Jesus - never let me separate my-
self from You again. My God, make me entirely Yours before I die.
When shall I be able to say: My God, I am no longer able to lose
You? 0 my God, make me want to love You as much as You deserve my
love. Mary, draw me completely to God. My Mother, I love You, I
want to get to heaven to love You forever.
FOURTH: Motives and Affections for Conformity. Anything of
value in our lives consists in the fact that we have conformed our-
selves to God's Will. Life is in His Will. (Ps 29/6) God wants
the things that are best for us. Jesus appeared to St. Gertrude
offering her life or death. She answered: Lord, I want whatever
You want. In the same way, St. Catherine of Siena, when Christ ap-
peared to her offering her a choice between a crown of jewels and
a crown of thorns, answered Him: I choose whatever is pleasing to
You.
If God calls me to the next life, am I content? I am content.
I shall always say: Lord, do with me whatever You want. Always Your
Will be done. I will only what You will. I want to suffer as much
as You want. I want to die when You want me to. In Your hands I
place my soul and my body, my life and my death. I shall bless the
Lord always - whether You console me, my God, or make me suffer. I
love You and I will always love You. My God, I join my death with
Jesus' death, and so united I offer it to You. 0 will of God, You
are my love. 0 good pleasure of my God, I give myself entirely to
You in sacrifice.
179.
FIFTH: Motives and Affections for a Desire of Heaven. Blosius
tells us that many revelations have made known the fact that those
who had only a weak desire for heaven suffer a special punishment in
purgatory, which the mystics call the punishment of languor. (6)
This present life is a prison of pain in which we cannot see God.
This is why David was right in crying out: "Lead me forth from pris-
on." (Ps 141/8) And St. Augustine used to say: "Lord, let me die
that I may see You." (7) St. Jerome used to call death his sister
and would say to her, "Open to me, my sister," for death will open
to us the doors of heaven. Similarly, St. Charles Borromeo once saw
a figure of death depicted with a scythe in its hand and he ordered
the painter to erase the scythe and paint in its place a golden key
to represent the key to heaven. It is a good idea for the priest,
then, to tell the dying over and over about the treasures of our
heavenly home - reminding them of what St. Paul said: "What no eye
has ever seen, what no ear has ever heard, what no human heart has
ever thought of, namely, the great blessings God holds ready for
those who love Him." (I Cor 2/9)
When shall I come and behold the face of God? (Ps 41/3) When
will it be, my God, that I shall look on Your limitless beauty and
love You face to face? In heaven I shall always love You - You shall
always love me. We shall love each other forever, my God, my love,
my all. My Jesus when shall I kiss the wounds You suffered for me?
Mary, when shall I come before the feet of the Mother who has loved
me and helped me so much? Turn then, 0 most gracious advocate, thine
eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the
blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
SIXTH; Affections that can be Suggested to a Sick Person When-
ever he Kisses a Crucifix. Sweet Jesus, do not look on what I have
done to You, but look rather at what You have done for me. Remember
that I am one of the sheep for whom You gave Your life. My Jesus, I
accept being consumed for You since You were totally consumed for me.
Lord, You have suffered far more for me than I am suffering for You.
You were innocent - I am guilty. I kiss the feet that have walked
so long to find me and to save this sheep that was lost. Most lovable
Redeemer, I embrace Your feet as Magdalen did - spare me as You spared
her. My God, forgive me for the love of Jesus Christ and let me die
united to You. Eternal Father, for me You handed over Your own Son -
I have handed myself over to You. My Jesus, I have been so ungrateful
to You - have mercy on me. So many times have I deserved hell - not
in the next life but in this life punish me. You have searched for me
when I ran from You; do not abandon me now that I come searching for
You. Gentle Jesus, do not let me be separated from You. Who shall
pg
.
.
I
I
separate me from the love of Jesus? Lord Jesus Christ, by the c_-
ter agony You suffered when Your soul left Your blessed body, have
mercy on my soul when it leaves my body. My Jesus, You died for
I
love of me - I want to die for love of You.
SEVENTH: Affections that can be Suggested to Priests and Be-
ligious. In peace and in the selfsame I will sleep and I will re
My God and my all. What happiness will be mine if I leave every-
thing to gain You, my greatest good. Into Your hands, Lord, 1
a
"_~
my life. Do not reject me from Your face. Sweet Jesus, never la-
me be separated from You. I will die of love for Your love since^
You died of love for my love - St. Francis used to say this 3
A contrite and humble heart You will never despise, my God
Lord, have I hoped, I shall not be disappointed forever. Oh,
I may love You, Lord, my strength. Lord, let me die that I
ma
Y *~~
You. What is there for me in the heavens and outside of You wha-
I want on earth? You are the God of my heart and my portion for-
ever. The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I
f e a r
_
am yours - save me. When shall I come and behold the face of
Only give me love for You together with Your grace and I an
enough. (St. Ignatius Loyola) My love is for me and I am
In You
that
ricn
I
1
1
d at the hour of our death. Hai-
for Hin.I
I shall sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. Holy Mary,
M o
^ f
of God, pray for us sinners, now an
our life, our sweetness, and our hope. Refuge of sinners, P
ra
Y
us. Mary, Mother of grace, Mother of Mercy, protect us from the |
enemy and receive us at the hour of death. Salvation of those
call on you! (St. Bonaventure)
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE LAST SACRAMENTS
I
I
I
CONFESSION
Previously in the book I mentioned that when the dah9
ez
death is pressing, or when Viaticum has been delayed and the c
fession would take a while, the patient is not obliged to c
n
each and every sin.
Besides this, I would like to point out the following-
I
thouc.
First, in danger of death any priest whatsoever, even **
he is not approved for hearing confessions, can absolve vol
licitly from all sins and censures, even if they are reserve
notorious, and even though there is an approved confessor pre-
saving the prescriptions of canons 884, and 2252. i
181.
This abs o l u t i o n e xt e nds e xcl u s i ve l y t o t he i n t e r n a l f o r u m.
The e xce p t i o ns me nt i o ne d abo ve a r e :
1. ) a b s o l u t i o n, i n dange r o f de at h, o f o ne ' s acco mp l ice
iyi pzccato tuApZ, e ve n t ho u gh i t i s v a l i d , i s no t
l i c i t o n t he p a r t o f t he co nf e s s o r o u t s i de t he cas e
o f n e c e s s i t y .
2. ) Tho s e who ar e abs o l ve d i n t he dange r o f de at h by a
p r i e s t , wi t ho u t f a c u l t i e s f o r i t , f r o m a ce ns u r e r e -
s e r ve d ab homine. ox 6p&ciaJU66Jjno mo do t o t he Ho l y
Se e , have t he o b l i g a t i o n , i f t he y r e co ve r , o f havi ng
r e co u r s e t o t he co mp e t e nt s u p e r i o r and o f acce p t i ng
hi s mandat e s , u nde r p ai n o f r e - i ncu r r e nce o f t he
same ce ns u r e . (8)
.COMMUNION
In o r de r t o be abl e t o r e c e i ve Vi at i cu m, t he s i ck p e r s o n ne e d
no t have p as s e d a l l ho p e o f r e c o ve r i ng; i t i s e no u gh i f t he r e be a
dange r o f de at h. I f t h e r e i s dange r o f vo mi t i ng, Vi at i cu m may no t
be gi ve n, al t ho u gh t he co nf e s s o r may e xp e r ime nt wi t h no n- co ns e cr at e d
ho s t s .
Viat icu m can be gi ve n e ve n p r o p e r l y t o chi l dr e n who have no t
r e ache d t he age o f r e as o n. I t can a l s o be give n t o t he i ns ane as
l o ng as i t i s c l e a r t h a t t he y have l i ve d we l l and have co nf e s s e d a
s ho r t t ime be f o r e , and as l o ng as t he r e i s no dange r o f i r r e ve r e nc e .
I t i s p r o babl y l i c i t t o e xp e r i me nt wi t h no n- co ns e cr at e d ho s t s i n
t h e i r cas e t o o .
A dyi ng p e r s o n who i s u nco ns ci o u s can be abs o l ve d, at l e a s t
co ndi t i o nal l y, be cau s e t h i s s e e ms al ways t o be t he s af e r cho i ce ,
p r o vi de d t h a t i t i s e vi de nt t h a t t he man had want e d abs o l u t i o n by
gi vi ng some s i gn o f r e p e nt a nc e , o r had as ke d f o r a co nf e s s o r . Thi s
ap p l i e s e ve n i n t he cas e whe r e t he dyi ng man has l o s t co ns ci o u s ne s s
in t he ve r y act o f s i nni ng . We ho l d t h i s on t he a u t ho r i t y o f St .
Au gu s t ine and f r o m r e a s o n: o n t he o ne hand a co ndi t i o nal admi ni s -
t r a t i o n r e mo ve s t he i r r e v e r e n c e t o t he s acr ame nt , and o n t he o t he r
hand, we al ways j u dge i n s u ch a cas e t h a t e ve r y man wi s he s t o t ake
car e o f hi s s a l v a t i o n , and do e s show some s e ns i bl e s i gn, e ve n t ho u gh
we do no t p e r ce i ve t he s i gn be cau s e o f hi s s i ckne s s . (9)
182.
IfSr. -..
!. B.HS .
To those who are sick on Good Friday, it is not only permit-
ted to administer Viaticum, but parish priests are even under obli-
gation to do this.
The common opinion holds that in the same sickness a priest
may give Viaticum often to a sick man who is not fasting - at least
if a period of six or seven days intervenes. Many allow a shorter
interval. Still, if a sick man has received communion in the morn-
ing out of devotion, he cannot be given Viaticum on the same day,
unless the danger of death arises from some violent new sickness,
such as an injury or poison.

If a s i ck p e r s o n has j u s t go ne t o co nf e s s io n and t he s i ckne s s
s u dde nl y ge t s wo r s e , t he p r i e s t s ho u l d car e f u l l y p r e p ar e him t hat he
may r e ce ive Viat icu m s o o n, and may do s o wit h a cl e ar u nde r s t anding
and wit h more abu ndant f r u i t . To do t h i s , t he p r i e s t s ho u l d ar o u s e
in him a de s i r e f o r Viat icu m s o t hat , once he has armed hims e l f a-
gai ns t t he power of t he de vi l , he may r e s i s t wit h gr e at e r e f f o r t
and gr ace and may u ni t e hims e l f wit h C hr is t t he Redeemer who want s
t o come t o v i s i t him and f l o o d him wit h gr ace s and br ing him qu ickl y
t o hi s he ave nl y home. Or i f i t i s good f o r hi s s o u l , C hr i s t may
even give him back hi s bo dil y he al t h. St . C yr i l of Al e xandr ia s ays
t hat t he Holy Eu char i s t al s o dr i ve s away s ickne s s and cu r e s t he
s i ck. And St . Gr e go r y Nazianze n s ays t hat hi s own f at he r r e ce ive d
communion once and r e co ve r e d imme diat e l y. (10)
The p r i e s t t he n s ho u l d t al k t o t he s ick p e r s o n s o me t hing l i ke
t h i s : "Even t ho u gh we have no t give n up yo u r he al t h as ho p e l e s s ,
s t i l l you ar e i n dange r . C o ns e qu e nt l y, i t woul d be a good i de a f o r
you t o r e ce i ve Viat icu m as soon as you can. C hr i s t may inde e d r e -
s t o r e yo u r he al t h, i f t hi s i s advant age o u s f o r yo u r s al vat i o n. On
t he o t he r hand, i f you s ho u l d di e , he wi l l be r e ady t o he l p you a-
gai ns t t he de vi l and t o accompany you i nt o he ave n. What do you s ay?
You do want t o r e ce i ve Viat icu m, do n' t you? Pr e p ar e yo u r s e l f t o r e -
ce ive yo u r Redeemer Who gave His l i f e f o r yo u . Say wit h al l yo u r
he ar t : Come J e s u s , come, My l o ve , my o nl y go o d. Come, I l o ng f o r
yo u . What i s t he r e f o r me in t he he ave ns o r what do I de s i r e upon
t he e ar t h - be s ide s You. The God o f my he ar t and my p o r t io n f o r -
ever.
f
i n
When the priest arrives with Viaticum, he should see to it
that the relatives are not present in the sick room, for they can
arouse old feelings - namely, the wife, sisters, and others. In
these moments he should add: "St. Philip Neri exclaimed when he saw
the Blessed Sacrament enter his sick room: Behold my love, behold
my love. You repeat the same thing: Behold my love. Behold, here
183.
is the Son of God Who came down from heaven t
mr
- ,
a man, and chose t o s u f f e r death on th I
s
o^ 1?'
b e C a m e
here t o vis it me in my own room. Be of goTd heaxt ' H e ^ V * ^
you your s ins . You are sorry for al l J !
h a s f o r
ive n
Lord your God with al l yo u r ^e axt i s n' t th T ^ w2f ^
l 0 V e
* *
I love you, my God, above everything e l s e and'be ' ? J *" " '
I am s o r r y t hat I have offended you For'l o^e ^ V o . -
0
you
ingl y; i t is Your de s ir e - i want t o dfe t h. t r * " * ^
Will
~
love You f o r e ve r . "
S t h a t X m a y s e e
^ou and
Then the p r ie s t may s ay "if
vn
i^,
ra T
for Him forgive ail those who have of f e nde l vou in"' "" " *
f
'
TC
pardon of everyone whom you have i . u t / L "
?
" ^ *
n d a s k
your at t e nt io n t o J e s u s /f o r He wa/ts v l ^ o "
e n d e d
-
N
"
t u

t e nt io n. Te l l Him with al l your ne ar t Lr d ^ V "

y

U r
" "
Even though you admit t hat you are unworthy of s u r ah!
W

r t
,
Y
- ~
ct ^Lo d
t U1
""**
t 0
^
M y

U
- ^ ^2n fe^n/ry
96
'
r and^wanT^o t h^Il s e s T y ^ " *< ~ - ^ - o r
help him
n
m4e
th
: S l ^ v ^ ^ ^ t T ^ L <? ^ "
t o come t o you and t o have you wSoome HL Th !? """a " ' "
a
"
t e d
is r e al l y the pledge of future g!or Tr ^ i J a is it h T " *
can you be af r aid' Reirnoo K
Q
,- ,
l t h y o u
'
h o w
di s c' This is ^hy X ^ J S ^ T S S Z e n t ^ t * ^ ^
My Lord, my l o ve , I embrace You. I St ar t You r T I' ^
H i m s
hope t o love You forever. I am sorry" Sat T h ^
U
'
M d X
ever time is l e f t me now on eartd^ T a T f i J l v T , " **
W h a t
"
i t in loving You." ' ^
f l r m l y d e t
^ n e d t o spend
"My J e s u s , wil l ingl y do I offer
m
n
f o
, .
Pleases You t o take i t . Your Will be done r K *
V 1 C t l m
'
i f l f c
trz 5 2 srra - S S r^S ? -
s han
e
no t ahandon you - t he r l f o r e TSd, wt ^ ^ J ^
EXTREME UNCTION
Due t o the f act t hat Extreme Unction is the l as t Sacrament,
St . Thomas cal l s i t the crown of the s p ir it u al l i f e . (11) By i t
man is made ready and is disposed to e nt e r his heavenly home. For
t iiis r eason, t his sacrament should be conferred while the sick man
w
"-V
184
is still mentally alert - so that it may be a greater benefit to
him. Although it cannot be conferred unless there is a grave dan-
ger of death (at least a probable danger) - still it should not be
put off until the very last moment. The Roman Catechism says that
priests sin gravely if the confer Extreme Unction when there is no
longer any hope of life and when the sick person has already lost
consciousness. (12)
The priest should try to convince the sick man that Extreme
Unction is not only good for his soul, but even for the health of
his body, as Trent says: Where it is beneficial for the soul, it
sometimes obtains health for the body. (13) However, this cure
will not take place when it is naturally speaking impossible to re-,
cover one's health. John Heroldus speaks of one dead man to whom
it was revealed that, if he had received Extreme Unction earlier,
he would have been cured of his sickness immediately, but because
it was postponed he had died and been condemned to the fire of pur-
gatory for a hundred years.
Extreme Unction takes away the remnants of sin and as a con-
sequence any hidden mortal sins, as St. Thomas teaches. (14) Con-
sequently, the patient should be told that, as the five senses are
being anointed, he should be sorry for the sins committed through
each of them and should - together with those in the room - answer
"Amen".
Extreme Unction gives special help with which to crush the
power and the temptations of the devil in one's last agony. For
this reason, it is very probable that a person commits a grave sin
in refusing to receive this sacrament.
As to administering this sacrament. It is only speculativel
probable that it is enough to administer the Sacrament with one dro
of oil, not spreading it over the parts. In practice, however, thi
cannot be done for it would not be a true anointing.
The anointing of the five senses, according to the more com-
mon opinion, is necessary for the sacrament. Therefore, only in
time of plague or in an imminent danger of death can a person use
just one anointing on one sense, preferably on the head. He should
do this with the abbreviated formula: ?2A JJ>am Aanctam unctLonW
InduZgtat tibl VonUnuA qcUdqiUd d2ZlquJj>L. Amen. (15) if the pa-
tient recovers, the anointing should be repeated on all five senses
with the prescribed prayers.
185.
I t i s no t ne ce s s ar y f o r t he v a l i d i t y o f t he s acr ame nt t o gi ve
a t wo - f o l d ano i nt i ng t o t he t wo - f o l d p a r t s . I t i s e no u gh f o r l i c e i t y
t o ano i nt o nl y o ne e ye , o ne hand, e t c . , when t he r e i s dange r o f i n -
f e ct i o n o r s o me t hing p r e ve nt i ng t he p e r s o n f r o m be i ng mo ve d. Ano i nt -
ing o f t he f e e t , acco r di ng t o t he common o p i ni o n, i s no t ne ce s s ar y
f o r t he s acr ame nt , bu t t he C hu r ch' s cu s t o m r e gar di ng t h i s s ho u l d be
r e ve r e d. Al s o , i t i s no t ne ce s s ar y f o r t he v a l i d i t y o f t he s a c r a -
me nt t o mai nt ai n t he r i g h t o r de r i n ano i nt i ng t he p a r t s . S t i l l o ne
co mmit s a gr ave s i n by no t o bs e r vi ng t h i s o r de r .
Ext r e me Unct io n can p r o p e r l y be gi ve n t o chi l dr e n who have
t he u s e o f r e as o n, e ve n i f t he y have no t ye t r e ce i ve d Communion.
When i n do u bt abo u t t he u s e o f r e as o n, t he Sacr ame nt can be admin-
i s t e r e d c o ndi t i o na l l y. Thi s ho we ve r canno t be do ne f o r t ho s e who
c e r t a i nl y do no t have t he u s e o f r e as o n.
Ext r e me Unct i o n can be gi ve n t o t he i ns ane and t o t he d e l i r -
i o u s , who have o nce had t he u s e o f r e as o n, have give n some s i gn o f
t h e i r p r o p e r d i s p o s i t i o n s , and have as ke d f o r i t - o r ve r y l i k e l y
wo u l d have as ke d - o r gi ve n some s i gn o f c o n t r i t i o n - as l o ng as
dange r o f i r r e ve r e nc e i s r e mo t e . I t can c e r t a i nl y be gi ve n i f t he y
have a l u ci d i n t e r v a l . I n do u bt as t o whe t he r t he p e r s o n e ve r had
t he u s e o f r e as o n, i t can be gi ve n c o ndi t i o na l l y . The same ho l ds
, f o r t ho s e who ar e dr u nk and i n dange r o f de at h, u nl e s s i t i s c l e a r
. t h a t t he y we r e i n mo r t al s i n when t he y l o s t co ns ci o u s ne s s . I t s ho u l d
be de ni e d abs o l u t e l y t o t ho s e who ar e i mp e ni t e nt , t o t ho s e who di e
j . i n e vi de nt s i n , and t o t he e xco mmu nicat e d as t he Roman Ri t u al war ns .
e
(16) I t can be gi ve n t o women i f t he y ar e i n dange r o f de at h f r o m
c h i l db i r t h .
In cas e o f n e c e s s i t y , t he p r e s c r i be d p r aye r s which ar e no t
p a r t o f t he f o r m can be o mi t t e d. The s e s h a l l be s ai d af t e r war ds i f
_ t he r e i s any t i me . I n s u ch a cas e t he s acr ame nt can be gi ve n wi t h-
v
o u t candl e s , and a l s o p r o babl y wi t ho u t s u r p l i c e and s t o l e .
s
;
f
Extreme Unction cannot be repeated in the same sickness un-
less the patient has probably recovered since the last anointing
and has now fallen into another critical condition, as Trent
teaches.
The priest should be careful in moving the sick person into
2
t
position for anointing. However, if he is careful in moving him
and the person happens to die, the priest does not incur an irreg-
.', ularity. An irregularity cannot be incurred except by a crime and
there is certainly no crime here when he is doing something incul-
pably and out of charity.
, -
9
186.'
Finally, pastors can licitly keep the holy oils in their
homes at night, whenever they foresee the probable danger of be-
ing called to give Extreme Unction and the oils not being handy.
SUGGESTIONS TOR THE AGONY ANV MOMENT OF PE A T H
I
I
I
I
I
When t he s ick man r e ache s hi s ago ny, t he p r i e s t s ho u l d he l p I
him as much as he can. He s ho u l d r e p e at e dl y s p r i nkl e t he man wit h I
ho l y wat e r , e s p e ci al l y i f he i s t r o u bl e d wit h di abo l i cal t e mp t at io ns
and s ay: "Ex-SuAgat VZLLi zt dlAAlpzntuA Intmlcl ZA.U6."
He s ho u l d s t r e ngt he n him wit h t he s ign o f t he cr o s s and bl e s s
him wit h t he words: "So.nzcU.cat tz Vzu6 PatOA qui tz cAzavll; bznz-M
dlcat tz &lllu6 qui tz Kzdzmit; bznzdlcat tz SplhlXiu Sanctum."
1
He s ho u l d give him a p i ct u r e t o ho l d and t o ki s s - a p i ct u r
of J e s u s and Mary.
He s ho u l d make s u r e t he p e r s o n gains a l l t he indu l ge nce s he I
can, and e s p e ci al l y s ho u l d he be s u r e t o imp ar t t o him t he bl e s s i ndj
at t he moment of de at h o f B e ne dict XIV wit h i t s p l e nar y indu l ge nce .
The p o p e gave t o bis ho p s and t o t ho s e t he y woul d de l e gat e , t he f ac- *
u l t y o f imp ar t ing a p l e nar y indu l ge nce t o t he s i ck who as k f o r i t , I
af t e r t he y have r e ce ive d Pe nance , Eu char i s t , and Ext r eme Unct io n -
o r , i f t he y ar e u nco ns cio u s , af t e r t he y have give n some s ign o f s o
row. However, i t i s no t t o be give n t o t he e xco mmu nicat e d, t o t he I
imp e nit e nt , o r t o t ho s e who die in e vide nt mo r t al s i n. (18)
Re p e at e dl y t he p r i e s t s ho u l d s u gge s t t ho u ght s of co mp u nct io
co nf o r mit y, hope i n C hr i s t ' s Pas s io n and in Mar y' s i nt e r ce s s i o n, an
de s i r e o f s e e ing God. The p r i e s t however s ho u l d be car e f u l t o p au
t o give t he man t ime t o t hink abo u t i t and t o r e s t .
He s ho u l d make s u r e t hat t he p e ni t e nt s ays t he names o f J e s
and Mary o ve r and o ve r ,
no t p r o no u nce t hem.
He s ho u l d s ay them in hi s he ar t i f he can
I
nc
1
I
)OCi
When he reaches his agony, the priest should have those ne;
by say the Litany of the Blessed Virgin for him. It is also a gooc
idea to have the bell tolled so that others will realize that some-
one is dying and pray for him; this can have a good effect even on I
those who are not sick. It should be mentioned that, in general,
when a person has lost consciousness, prayers do far more good than
words.
I
I
187.
When death draws near, the priest should recite the custom-
ary prayers that are found in the Ritual in a reverent tone and
kneeling beside the bed.
Even though it is allowed to touch the person's hands, feet,
etc., to see if they have grown cold or whether they have lost their
feeling-power, still he should be careful not to do it so often as
to disturb him. Nor should one try to move a person in agony, for
that can hasten death.
As long as the sick person is in sure possession of his
senses, it is a good idea, after disposing him, to give him absolu-
tion frequently, in order to be more sure about his being in the
state of grace, in case the previous confessions were invalid, or
at least to increase his store of grace and lessen the punishments
of purgatory. If he should happen to fall into mortal sin at this
time, be careful not to frighten him, but urge him to call on the
names Of Jesus and Mary. If he is tempted again, strengthen him
with all kindness, get him to make an act of contrition, and immed-
iately absolve him. Once he loses consciousness and shows no signs
of sorrow or desire for absolution, it would not be right to absolve
him many times within the same day, for even to absolve condition-
ally you need an urgent and weighty reason. Consequently the right
thing would be to let a notable space of time intervene. However,
in this the priest's procedure should depend on the man's conscience
as he knew it. If the man had the habit of bad thoughts, if he is
dying from an injury, if he has been involved in some deep hatred
or an illicit love affair, if his sickness has been extremely pain-
ful and he has not accepted it willingly - for any of these reasons
he could be absolved more often. It is all right to let only three
or four hours intervene. It can be done even more frequently if he
is about to die. It is a good idea to ask the sick person, while
he can understand you, to give some set sign, when he wants absolu-
tion or when the priest wants to give it. Such as to close his eyes
or open them, lift his hand, bend his head, and so forth.
Lastly, when it appears that he has died, the priest should
be careful not to give the signal of death immediately, nor close
his eyes or mouth immediately or cover his face with a piece of
cloth. For if he were not yet dead, this would hasten his death.
However, when it is evident that the soul has gone into eternity,
the priest should ask everyone to pray for him and kneeling he
should say the prayer "SuhvdYlLtz" which is found in the Ritual or
in the back of the breviary.
188,
:
.THE MOMENT OF VEATH
The priest should encourage the sick man to make affections
of faith, hope, love, sorrow for sin - as were previously given.
When he is just about to die, the priest should suggest the follow-
ing: "Into your hands, Lord, 1 commend my life. My Jesus, I give
you my soul which you have redeemed with your blood. (Note that
the priest's voice should be strong and he should not stop making
these acts.) Lord Jesus Christ, receive my soul. My God, help me,
let me come to love you forever. My Jesus, my love, I love you, I
am sorry for my sins. 0 never let me offend You. Mary help me -
pray to Jesus for me Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus and Mary I give
you my heart and my soul.
The priest should be able to recognize the signs of death so
that he will be prepared to help the dying person. There are three
main ones which always occur:
1.) weak and unsteady pulse,
2.) labored breathing, and
3.) sunken and glassy eyes, or more opened than usual, or
too shining.
Some proximate signs of death are: the nose growing more
pointed and becoming white at its tip, the nostrils puffing up like
little bags, trembling hands, bluish fingernails, face turning yel-
low, blue, or different, the breath giving off a bad odor, a rigid
body, a cold or sweating forehead, too much heat in the area of the
heart, coldness in the hands and feet.
Still more proximate signs of death are: intermittent or
faulty breathing, lack of pulse, drawing together of and grating
of the teeth, gasping for breath, a certain soft gurgling or sigh-
ing, abundance of tears, a rigidity of the mouth, eyes, and of the
whole body.
r
Some p e o p l e may di e wit h o nl y a few o f t he s e s igns and wit h
a good p u l s e and e ve n whil e s p e aking - e s p e ci al l y, t ho s e s u f f e r i ng
from dr o p s y, f e ve r , o r wound, as t hma, p l e u r i s y, vo mit ing of bl o o d,
qu ins y, and r he u mat is m.
Pe o p l e ar e cl o s e t o de at h from p l e u r i s y when t he y have di f -
f i cu l t y in br e at hi ng, be gin f i ght i ng f o r br e at h, and t he i r l i p s be -
come bl u e . Those wounded in t he he ad o f t e n die s u dde nl y. Tho s e wit h
I
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dr o p s y, when t h e i r p u l s e s t o p s and t he y have t o f i ght f o r b r e a t h
and foam at t he mo u t h. Tho s e who s u f f e r a f e ve r u s u al l y di e a t
t he be gi nni ng o f an a t t a c k , whi l e t he co nvu l s i o ns ar e v i o l e nt .
In some s i ckne s s t he p a t i e n t ' s br e at hi ng i s s o weak and
t h e i r h e a r t s o qu i e t t h a t t he y s e e m t o be de ad whe n t he y r e a l l y
ar e no t . The mo r e c e r t a i n s i gns o f de at h a r e : co l dne s s i n a l l
t he ar e as o f t he bo dy, e ve n ne ar t he h e a r t ; t he bo dy be co me s a
de ad we i ght ; t he n o s t r i l s f a i l t o r e s p o nd t o s ha r p , s t i mu l a t i ng
o do r s ; a mi r r o r he l d cl o s e t o t he mo u t h i s no t a l l t h a t cl o u de d,
and s i mi l a r t h i ng s .
Las t l y, s o me t ime s t he s i gns f a i l and t he p e r s o n di e s s u d-
de nl y wi t ho u t any o f t he m. The r e f o r e , as l o ng as t he p e r s o n i s
i n h i s ago ny, t he p r i e s t s ho u l d ne ve r l e ave him.
THE CHRISTIAN ACTS
One ve r y i mp o r t ant p r a c t i c e when a p e r s o n i s ne ar de at h -
o ne t o which ar e j o i ne d many i ndu l ge nce s - i s t o have him r e c i t e
t he C hr i s t i an act s o f Fa i t h , Ho p e , and C har i t y. (19)
Act o f Fa i t h. My Go d, i n f a l l i b l e t r u t h , be cau s e You have
r e ve al e d t o t he C hu r ch e ve r yt hi ng I am s u p p o s e d t o b e l i e v e , I b e -
l i e ve e ve r yt hi ng t h a t t he C hu r ch p r o p o s e s f o r me t o b e l i e v e . I
be l i e ve t h a t You ar e my Go d, t he C r e at o r o f a l l t h i ng s . I be l i e ve
t h a t yo u r e war d t he j u s t f o r a l l e t e r n i t y i n p a r a d i s e , and p u ni s h
s i nne r s i n h e l l . I b e l i e v e i n t he mys t e r y o f t he Mo s t Ho l y Tr i n i t y ,
t ha t i s , I be l i e ve t h a t yo u ar e t hr e e p e r s o ns , t he Fat he r , t he So n,
and t he Hol y Sp i r i t - b u t o nl y o ne God. I be l i e ve t h a t t he s e co nd
p e r s o n, t ha t i s , t he Son o f God, be came man i n t he womb o f Mary who
was al ways a Vi r gi n, and di e d f o r u s s i nne r s . The n He r o s e f r o m
t he de ad and now s i t s a t t he r i g h t hand o f t he Fa t he r . And f r o m
t he r e he s h a l l come t o j u dge t he l i v i ng and t he de ad. I b e l i e v e i n
t he s e ve n s acr ame nt s and e s p e c i a l l y i n B ap t i s m, Pe nance , Eu c h a r i s t ,
and Ext r e me Unct i o n. I be l i e ve t h a t a l l men mu s t r i s e agai n wi t h
t h e i r bo di e s . I b e l i e v e , f i n a l l y , a l l t h a t t he Ho l y Roman C at ho l i c
C hu r ch be l i e ve s - i n i t al o ne i s t he t r u e f a i t h .
Act of Ho p e . My Go d, t r u s t i ng i n yo u r p r o mi s e s , and be cau s e
yo u ar e f a i t h f u l , p o we r f u l , and me r c i f u l , I ho p e t hr o u gh t he me r i t s
o f J e s u s C hr i s t , f o r t he p ar do n o f my s i n s , f i na l p e r s e ve r ance , and
t he gl o r y o f p a r a di s e .
f
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190.
I
1
:.

I
m
!
Act of Love. My God, because You ar e inf init e l y good and
* * o l inf init e l o ve , I love You with al l my he ar t more than
W O r
! h a I r e p e nt with my whole he ar t of al l my s ins , and
ever yt hing e l s e , i p
o f f e n d e
d your inf init e goodness. I
I de t e s t them, because I have offended y
b e s e e c h
^ ^
firmly resolve with the help ^ ^
o f f e n d Y o u a g a i n
. ^ a
i^sr^^^-^^^^-
iife
-
d at my
de at h.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Rit u al , de vis it at io ne e t cur a infirmorum.
Ennar r at io in Ps . 101, Migne 37/1301.
Migne, 184/529.
St . B r igid, Re ve l at io ns I I , ch 23; St . Cat he r ine , Dialogue, ch
139.
About t hr e e s cr ip t u r e t e xt s have been omitted in t his chap t e r
t he new cr i t i cal e dit io n has them saying something dif f e r e nt
t han what St . Alphonsus used them f o r , e . g. , Eccl 9/1, Ezech
18/21,22.
I
1
--- Bi
191.
6. Conclave animae fidelium, p 2, ch 13, n 18.
7. Migne, PL, 32/870.
8. This section brought into line with present code;
taken from the Spanish (Moriones) edition.
9. St. Augustine, de conjugiis adulterinis, Migne, PL, 40/470;
two paragraphs omitted (with Spanish) as out-of-date.
10. St. Cyril, in Joan. Migne, PL, 73/586;
St. Gregory, Oratio 18, Migne PGL, 35/1018.
11. ST, III, q 84, a 1; I II, q 102, a 5.
12. p II, ch 6, n 9.
13. Sess 14, de Extreme Unctione, ch 2.
14. Supp. q 30, a 1.
15. Taken from t he Sp anis h - s l i ght l y adap t e d in ke e p ing wit h
p r e s e nt l e gi s l at i o n - c 947; Al p ho ns u s incl u de s "e t suam
p iis s imam mis e r ico r diam" in t he s ho r t form and Gaude no t e s
t hat t hi s was dr o p p e d in 1906.
16. de vi s i t at i o ne e t cu r a inf ir mo r u m, n 3.
17. Se s s 14, de e xt r e ma u nct i o ne , ch 3.
18. These no t e s on t he B l e s s ing were moved up from t he ve r y end
of t he bo o k. This chap t e r -e nding has be e n l i mi t e d t o t he
e s s e nt i al s - I have on my desk f o u r di f f e r e nt e di t i o ns of
t he ?KaxJJ> and e ach o f them e nds i t di f f e r e nt l y - some wit h
l o ng l i s t s of p r aye r s , some wit h t he new f o r mu l a f o r t he
B l e s s ing, one br i e f l y wit h no p r aye r s o r B l e s s ing f o r mu l a.
C o ns e qu e nt l y, I u s e d my e di t o r ' s p r i vi l e ge and dr o p p e d t he
p r aye r s .