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A GUIDE FOR
CONFESSION

BY

REV. HENRY FRANK, S.T.B.

St. Cloud, Minnesota

No. 146

Eleventh Edition 51,000

Copyright 1 94

1

PUBLISHED IN U.S.A.

March 15, 1945

BY

OUR SUNDAY VISITOR PRESS
HUNTINGTON, INDIANA



TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ..... 6

Prayer to the Holy Ghost

An Act of Faith, Hope and Love 6

Examination of Conscience ...... 6

The Ten Commandments of God 7

The Six Precepts of the Church 11

An Act of Contrition and a Firm Purpose

of Amendment 14

The Confiteor 14

Second List of Questions Resrardin?

The Ten Commandments of God 15

Psalm 24—^A Prayer for Grace, Mercy and
Protection Against Our Enemies 24

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary 26

Instruction .29

Conscience ,.37

A Person With a Scrupulous Conscience 38

Nihil Obstat:

C. THIEBAUT, V. G.

Imprimatur:

^ JOS. F. BUSCH
Bishop of St. Cloud

St. Cloud, May 1 8th, 1 94

1



INTRODUCTION

When preparing for confession, we

should implore the assistance of the Holy

Spirit that we may be able to know the

condition of our soul, sincerely repent

of all our sins, make the firm resolution

never wilfully to offend God again,

truthfully confess our wilful transgres-

sions, and willingly perform the penance

to satisfy God for the temporal punish-

ment still due to our sins.

if it nas been a long time since we

made our last valid confession, we should

ask the priest in the tribunal of mercy to

guide us in making a good confession.

He will never refuse to help us.

Our examination of conscience on the

day of our confession can easily be simp-

lified if we ask ourselves every evening

before retiring, whether we have offend-

ed God during the day in thought, desire,

word, action, or omission. A daily re-
view of the state of our soul makes it

possible to remember more readily the

number of sins committed, and it helps

us to ascertain more definitely the causes

of our evil habits, and the means we

should employ to eradicate them.

When we examine our conscience, we

should be neither too hasty, nor too su-

perficial; we should not permit ourselves



to be controlled by self-love; and we

should always avoid excessive anxiety and

carelessness. If we are candid in the

examination, we need never be worried

about the confession we make. Even

if it should happen that we did not

recollect some grievous sin, it is con-

sidered as included in the confession we

make, and it is remitted with the sins

confessed. In our next confession we

need only include this particular sin,

without repeating the last confession in

its entirety.

The questions listed under each of the

Ten Commandments, and each of the Six

Precepts of the Church refer to the

minimum requirements demanded by God

of us, if we wish to attain Heaven.



PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST
(To be profitably recited previous to the examination

of conscience)

Come Holy Ghost, Spirit of Love and

Dispenser of all graces; help me to re-

ceive the Sacrament of Penance worthily

;

help me to make a careful examination of

conscience that I may know all my sins;

touch my heart that I may hate and de-

test my sins and make a firm resolution

to avoid them; assist me to make a sin-

cere, entire and truthful confession of

them to the priest. Thy representative,

and thus obtain forgiveness and Thy

grace and love. All this I ask of Thy

goodness and mercy through the merits

of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer and Savior.
Amen.

AN ACT OF FAITH

0 my God ! I firmly believe that Thou
art one God in three Divine Persons, the

Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; I

believe that the Divine Son became man,

and died for our sins, and that He will

come to Judge the living and the dead.

I believe these and all the truths which

the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because

Thou hast revealed them, who canst

neither deceive nor be deceived.

AN ACT OF HOPE
0 my God! relying on Thy infinite

goodness and promises, I hope to obtain

pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace,



6 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

and life everlasting, through the merits

of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer*

AN ACT OF LOVE
0 my God! I love Thee above all

things, with my whole heart and soul,
because Thou art all good and worthy of

all love. I love my neighbor as myself
for the love of Thee. I forgive all who

have injured me, and ask pardon of all

whom I have injured.

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
NOTE

—

The first list of questions is a

guide to penitents who frequently re-

ceive the Sacraments.

Did I make a good confession the last

time?

Did I forget a grievous sin in the last

confession ?

Did I purposely conceal a mortal sin in

any of my former confessions and never
mentioned this?

Did I perform the penance imposed

upon me by my confessor the last time?

Did I make the requested restitution?

Have I avoided the proximate occasion

of mortal sin?

If I have committed any grievous sins

during the time since I made my last

good confession, I must now recall them

to mind.

If, at this time, I have only venial sins

to confess, I might include a mortal sin

of one of my former confessions.



THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD

First Commandment

Have I wilfully doubted things reveal-

ed by God?

Have I refused to be resigned to God's

holy Will?

Have I performed my prayers or other
religious exercises in a hurried, careless

and distracted manner?

Have I conducted myself irreverently

in the presence of God in the Blessed

Sacrament?

Have I been ashamed of my religion
through human respect?

Have I consulted the Ouija-board or

fortune-tellers ?

Have I taken part in non-Catholic sei

vices ?

Second Commandment

Have I used God's Name irreverently?

Have I asked God to send sickness,

financial losses or death to my neighbor?

Have I criticized God's mercy or jus-

tice?

Have I spoken in a disrespectful man-

ner of those consecrated to God, of sac-

red places or articles of devotion?

Have I used profane language?

Third Commandment

Have I, through my fault, missed Holy



8 A GUIDB FOR CONFESSION

Mass on Sundays or Holydays of obliga-

tion?

Did I, through my fault, enter the
Church after the Gospel of the Mass

on these days?

Have I performed unnecessary ser-

vile work on these days, and how long?

Fourth Commandment

Have I been disrespectful to my par-
ents?

Have I disobeyed them?

Have I shamefully abandoned my par-
ents in their old age, sickness or pov-

erty?

Have I refused to obey the order of my
lawful superiors?

Have I taught my children their pray-
ers?

Have I guarded them against evil-

minded companions?

Have I supervised their reading and

amusements ?

Fifth Commandment

Have I neglected my health, or en-

dangered my life?

Am I guilty of eating, or of drinking
intoxicating liquors, immoderately?

Have I destroyed human life at its

very origin?

Have I wilfully entertained thoughts of



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION 9

jealousy, aversion, resentment or con-

tempt for others?

Have I provoked others to anger?

Have I been discontented and wished

myself dead ?

Have I yielded to impatience, or irrita-

bility in word or deed?

Sixth Commandment

Have I been true to my marriage part-

ner?

Am I guilty of sinful dancing?

If I am single, have I committed im-

pure acts with others or with myself?

Have I sinfully caressed a person to

whom I am not married?

Am I guilty of impure speech or looks?

Seventh Commandment

Have I stolen money?

Have I purchased anything for which

I could never pay?

Have I borrowed money and made no

effort to repay?

Have I cheated by giving false weight,

damaged goods, short measure, or inade-

quate labor for money agreed upon and

received?

Have I, through my extravagance or
waste, rendered myself unable to satisfy

my creditors?



10 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

Eighth Commandment

Have I told lies which caused injury to

my neighbor?

Have I told a falsehood to spare myself

some embarrassment?

Have I judged, or suspected others

rashly?

Have I wilfully entertained unkind

thoughts about my fellow-beings?

Have I made uncharitable remarks

about them?

Have I, without necessity or reason,

revealed a secret defect in my neighbor’s
character?

Ninth Commandment

Did I wilfully entertain impure

thoughts ?

Did I give full consent to impure de-

sires ?

Tenth Commandment

Have I desired to acquire my neigh-
bor’s property unjustly?

Have I schemed to enrich myself un-

justly?

Have I dismissed all thought of ever

repaying what I owe?

Have I given more thought to my

profits than to the welfare of my immor-

tal soul?



THE SIX PRECEPTS OF THE
CHURCH

The Six Precepts of the Church, like

the Ten Commandments of God, are not

mere counsels; they bind in conscience,

so that those who deliberately violate

them are guilty of sin. The gravity of

the sin depends upon the gravity of the

matter involved in the transgression.

However, it must be remembered that

whereas the Ten Commandments of God

bind all human beings; the Six Precepts

of the Church bind those only, who are.

baptized, for it is only by the reception

of Baptism that a person enters the

Church and becomes subject to its juris-,

diction. The following are the Six Pre-

cepts of the Church:

First Precept:

To Hear Mass on Sundays and Holy-

days of Obligation.

Have I missed Holy Mass on any Sun-

day or Holyday of obligation?

Do I know: that, in case of necessity,

one can substantially satisfy the Precept

of attending Holy Mass on Sundays and

Holydays of obligation by hearing por-

tions of two Masses—^though not simul-
taneously—^which together make up a
complete Mass ? This means that it is

permissible to assist at one Mass up to



12 A GUn>B FOR CONFESSION
•

the Sanctus and at another Mass from

the Sanctus to the end. However, it

must be noted as an exception, that this

rule does not apply if the Consecration is

in one Mass and the Communion in an-

other.

Second Precept:

To Fast and Abstain on the Days Ap-

pointed.

If I had to fast, did I violate this Pre-

cept slightly or in a grave matter?

If my children had to observe this
Precept, did I make it possible for them

to observe the law of fast or abstinence?

If I needed the necessary dispensation

from keeping the Diocesan Lenten Regu-

lations, did I obtain it?

Third Precept:

To go to Confession at least once a

year.

Do I realize that the worthy reception

of the Sacrament of Penance at least

once a year binds me under the penalty

of mortal sin?

Do I appreciate the privilege of re-

ceiving the Sacrament of Penance in

order to regain supernatural life, if I

grievously offended God?

Do I realize that without supernatural

life, that is, sanctifying grace, I cannot

gain eternal salvation?



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION 18

Fourth Precept:

To receive Holy Communion during

the Easter season.

Do I know that I must receive Holy

Communion within the prescribed time,

namely, from the First Sunday of Lent

to Trinity Sunday inclusive?

Do I realize that even though a person

received Holy Communion immediately

before, or after the Easter Season he

would not fulfill this Precept?

Do I know that the deliberate omis-

sion of one’s Easter duty is a mortal sin?

Have I admonished my children, or

subjects of their obligation to receive

Holy Communion during the prescribed

time, if this warning were found neces-

sary?

Fifth Precept:

To contribute to the support of the

Church.

Have I neglected to contribute my
just share of financial help towards my
parish Church?

Have I given false reasons for my ap-
parent inability to give financial help to

my parish Church?

Sixth Precept:

To observe the Church's laws concerning

Marriage,

Am I aware of the penalty of excom-



14 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

munication which Catholics incur who

refuse to be married in the presence of

their parish priest, or priest delegated,

and two witnesses?

Have I warned my children against the
spiritual dangers of mixed marriages?

AN ACT OF CONTRITION AND A
FIRM PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT

0 my God! I am heartily sorry for
having offended Thee, and I detest all

my sins, because I dread the loss of

heaven and the pains of hell, but most of

all because they offend Thee, my God,
who art all good and deserving of all my

love. I firmly resolve, with the help of

Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do
penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

THE CONFITEOR

I confess to Almighty God, to blessed

Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the

Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist,

to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and

to all the Saints, that I have sinned ex-

ceedingly in thought, word, and deed,

through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault. There-

fore I beseech the blessed Mary ever

Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel,

blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apost-

les Peter and Paul, and all the saints, to

pray to the Lord our God for me.



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION 15

NOTE—Penitents who rarely confess,
who are not well instructed, and who

are advised to make a general confes-

sion would do well to ask themselves

the following questions:

First Commandment:

I Am the Lord Thy God—Thou shalt
not have strange gods before Me

{Exod, 20, 2-3)

Have I denied, or doubted the existence

of a Supreme Being?

Have I refused to believe all that God

has revealed?

Have I been over-confident, or unreas-

onably hopeful in obtaining God’s for-

giveness of my sins?

Have I believed that God has abandon-

ed me, or excluded me from His saving

grace ?

Have I complained against the Provi-

dence of God?

Have I deliberately sought to remain

ignorant of the doctrines that I must be-

lieve, the laws that I must obey, and the

sacraments that I must receive in order

to gain eternal salvation?

Have I read anything which caused me
to belittle morality, or scoff at virtue?

Have I in my possession books or
magazines which are on the 'Tndex” of

forbidden books?



16 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

Have I recommended forbidden books

to others?

Have I entertained a flippant attitude

towards religion?

Have I spoken in derision of the

Church or her clergy?

Have I recognized the spiritual dan-

gers of secret societies forbidden by the

Church, and yet became a member of

some forbidden lodge?

Have I neglected to inform myself of

the spiritual dangers of Soviet Commun-

ism?

Second Commandment:

Thou shalt not take the Name of the

Lord Thy God in vain (Exod, 20, 7)

Have I used God's Name in anger or

in a joke or in exclamations?

Have I pronounced the Name of Jesus
irreverently?

Have I called upon God to curse my
neighbor or his children or his posses-

sions?

Have I asked God to witness as true
what, in fact, was a lie?

Did I swear to something as being true,

which was only uncertain?

Did I take a vow to do something with-
out any intention of ever keeping the.
promise made to God?



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION IT

Third Commandment

:

Remember that thou keep holy the

Sabbath day—Thou shalt do no work
on it (Exod. 20, 8-10)

Have I deliberately neglected to attend

Holy Mass on Sundays or Holydays of

obligation ?

Have I been wilfully late at Holy Mass

on these days?

Why do I omit to go to Holy Mass on
these days?

Have I neglected to take my children,
who have attained the use of reason, or

my subjects to Holy Mass on these days?
Have I, ^without necessity, performed

lengthy servile work on these days?

Fourth Commandment:

Honor thy Father and thy Mother, that

thou mayest be longlived upon the land

(Exod. 20, 12)

Have I been disrespectful to my par-
ents?

Have I ridiculed them, or incited them

to anger and sadness?

Have I refused to assist my parents
in their spiritual or material necessities?

Have I been disrespectful to my su-
periors, lay or ecclesiastical?

Have I criticized the just orders of my
superiors?

If I am bound by the Vow of Obedience



18 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

have I been wilfully disobedient in small

or grave matters ?

Have I urged my children or subjects
to be faithful in receiving the Sacra-

ments ?

Have I provided for the religious in-

struction of my children?

Have I failed to encourage them to em-

brace that state of life to which they

appear to be called by God?

Have I purposely overlooked the sinful

tendencies of my children, or even per-
mitted them to live in the proximate

occasion of grievous sin?

Have I avoided everything that was

considered harmful to the physical, men-

tal or spiritual welfare of my children
or subjects?

Have I kept in mind the danger that

could easily have come to the unborn

child?

Fifth Commandment:

Thou shalt not kill (Exod. 20, 13)

Have I committed an act that was de-

liberately intended to lead to my death?

Have I wilfully killed an innocent

human being?

Have I avoided the danger of becom-

ing a drug fiend?

If I am a drug fiend, am I determined

to break away from this bad habit?

Have I been intoxicated?



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION 19

Have I wilfully injured my own health?

Have I desired to take revenge ?

Have I caused enmity amongst others?

Have I been envious? (Envy: fourth

Capital sin).

Have I failed to control my violent tem-

per?

Have I borne hatred?

Have I been unjustly angry? (Anger:

sixth Capital sin.)

Have I permitted myself, or requested

to be sterilized in order to escape con-

ception ?

Have I obstructed, or destroyed the life

of an unborn child?

Have I procured, or only attempted to

procure, permitted, or advised the expul-

sion of the human fetus, without con-

sulting a Priest.

Do I realize that ‘‘all who effectively

procure (direct) abortion, the mother

included, incur the penalty of excom-

munication?” (Canon 2350, n. 1).

Am I guilty of having procured a mis-
carriage?

Have I requested, assisted, or advised

a medical doctor to destroy the genera-

tive powers of any innocent without first

consulting a Priest.

Have I promoted, or prescribed the use

of Euthanasia, that is, the use of a cer-

tain drug which causes a painless death,

known as “mercy-killing”?



20 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

Sixth Commandment

:

Thou shall not commit adultery (Exod.

20
,
14).

Am I guilty of marital infidelity?
Have I abused matrimonial privileges

by contraceptive practices?

Have I encouraged, advised, instructed

married people to limit their offspring by

a deliberate use of certain practices to

prevent children to be born?

Have I sold contraceptives?

Am I engaged in a place where I am
asked to sell contraceptives?

Have I, in my place of business, con-
traceptives for sale?

If I am single, have I committed acts

of impurity with married, unmarried or

related persons? (Lust: third Capital

sin).

Have I committed an impure act with

myself?

Have I influenced persons, through my
bold, and daring behavior, to commit sins

of impurity?

Is my dress suggestive, giving rise to
impure thoughts, desires or acts?

Have I indulged in suggestive or lewd

speech?

Have I listened with pleasure to im-

modest jokes, songs or stories?

Have I read obscene books, magazines,

or gazed at immodest pictures?



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION 21

Have I indulged in dangerous curiosity

in sex matters?

Have I frequented places which were

considered a proximate occasion of sins of

impurity?

Have I protected my children or sub-
jects against the danger of contracting

habits of the sin of impurity?

Have I neglected my sacred duty of
imparting necessary instruction on sex

knowledge to my children who were en-
titled to have this information?

Seventh Commandment

:

Thou shalt not steal (Exod. 20, 15).

Have I been dishonest and to what

extent?

Have I induced others to cheat in

business dealings?

Have I protected a thief?

Have I helped a thief by giving him

instruments ?

Have I purchased articles which I

knew were stolen?

Have I contracted debts which I never

intended to pay?

Have I refused to pay rent?

Have I plunged myself or others reck-

lessly into debt?

Have I deprived my family of the
necessities of life, through my reckless
gambling or betting?

Have I eluded my creditors by false or



22 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

fictitious excuses to pay my honest debts?
Have I acted miserly towards those

who are poor, through no fault of their

own?

Have I refused to restore what right-

fully belongs to others?

Have I neglected my obligation to re-
pair the loss of property caused by me?

Am I willing to make the necessary
restitution of money, or of property

wrongfully acquired?

Eighth Commandment:

Thou shall not bear false witness

against thy neighbor {Exod. 20, 16).

Have I deliberately told a lie to de-

ceive somebody?

Have I besmirched the reputation of

my neighbor, by making known his true

but secret faults?

Have 1 revealed a secret which could

not be made known without causing grave

injustice to somebody?

Have I read others’ letters and thereby

violated their right to certain secrets?

Am I willing to make the necessary
restitution for violating the reputation

of another?

Have I gladly listened to detractors

and approved of what they said?

Have I made use of a certain kind of

mental reservation, which no one, how-

ever intelligent, could possibly under-



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION 23

stand, in order to deceive somebody in a

grave matter?

Ninth Commandment:

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's

wife (Exod. 20, 17).

If I am married, have I deliberately

entertained thoughts, or desires of com-

mitting acts of impurity with either mar-

ried, unmarried or related persons?

If I am single, have I taken wilful

pleasure in thoughts of impurity?

If I am single, have I entertained de-

liberate desires to commit impure acts

with others ?

If I am bound by the Vow of Chastity,

have I wilfully harbored impure thoughts

or desires?

Tenth Commandment:

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's

house {Exod, 20, 17).

Have I begrudged others what they

possess?

Have I wilfully entertained thoughts,

or desires of stealing, defrauding, or

damaging my neighbor’s property? (Cov-
etousness—second Capital sin).
Have I planned a fictitious excuse of

my obligation to make restitution, if
demanded of me?

If I am bound by the Vow of Poverty,
have I sought to interpret this Vow to
satisfy my selfishness?



PSALM 24

{A prayer for grace, mercy, and protec-

tion against our enemies)

To thee, 0 Lord, have I lifted up my
soul.

In thee, 0 my God, I put my trust; let
me not be ashamed.

Neither let my enemies laugh at me:
for none of them that wait on thee

shall be confounded.

Let all them be confounded that act un-

just things without cause.

Show, 0 Lord, thy ways to me, and

teach me thy paths.

Direct me in thy truth, and teach me;

for thou art God my Savior ; and on thee
have I waited all the day long.

Remember, 0 Lord, thy bowels of com-

passion
;
and thy mercies that are from

the beginning of the world.

The sins of my youth and my ignorances
do not remember.

According to thy mercy remember thou

me : for thy goodness sake, 0 Lord.

The Lord is sweet and righteous : there-

fore he will give a law to sinners in the

way.

He will guide the mild in judgment:

he will teach the meek his ways.

All the ways of the Lord are mercy and

truth, to them that seek after his coven-

ant and his testimonies.

For thy name's sake, 0 Lord, thou wilt



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION 25

pardon my sin : for it is great.

Who is the man that feareth the Lord?

He hath appointed him a law in the way

he hath chosen.

His soul shall dwell in good things:

and his seed shall inherit the land.

The Lord is a firmament to them that

fear him: and his covenant shall be

made manifest to them.

My eyes are ever towards the Lord:
for he shall pluck my feet out of the
snare.

Look thou upon me, and have mercy on

me; for I am alone and poor.

,
The troubles of my heart are multi-
plied : deliver me from my necessities.

See my abjection and my labor; and for-
give me all my sins.

Consider my enemies for they are
multiplied, and have hated me with
an unjust hatred.

Keep thou my soul, and deliver me: I
shall not be ashamed, for I have hoped

in thee.

The innocent and the upright have ad-

hered to me: because I have waited

on thee.

Deliver Israel, 0 God, from all his tribu-
lations.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now and.

ever shall be, world without end. Amen.



LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
MARY

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven,

have mercy on us.

God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,

have mercy on us.

God, the Holy Ghost,

have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God,

have mercy on us.
^

Holy Mary, 1

Holy Mother of God,

Holy Virgin of Virgins,

Mother of Christ,

Mother of Divine grace,

Mother most pure.

Mother most chaste.

Mother inviolate,

Mother undefiled.

Mother most amiable.

Mother most admirable,

Mother of good counsel.

Mother of our Creator,

Mother of our Saviour,

Virgin most prudent,

Virgin most venerable,

Virgin most renowned.

Virgin most powerful.

Pray

for

m.



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION
<

Virgin most merciful,

Virgin most faithful,

Mirror of Justice,

Seat of wisdom.

Cause of our joy,

Spiritual vessel.

Vessel of honor,

Singular vessel of devotion.

Mystical rose.

Tower of David,

Tower of Ivory,

House of gold.

Ark of the covenant.

Gate of Heaven,

Morning star.

Health of the sick.

Refuge of sinners.

Comforter of the afflicted.

Help of Christians,

Queen of Angels,

Queen of Patriarchs,

Queen of Prophets,

Queen of Apostles,

Queen of Martyrs,

Queen of Confessors,

Queen of Virgins,

Queen of all Saints,

Queen conceived without original sin.

Queen of the most holy Rosary,

Queen of peace.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins

of the world,

spare us, 0 Lord.

Pray

for

us.



28 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins
of the world,

graciously hear us, 0 Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins
of the world,

have mercy on us, 0 Lord.

V. Pray for us, 0 holy Mother of God,

R. That we may be made worthy of the

promises of Christ.

Let us Pray

Grant, 0 Lord God, we beseech Thee,

that we Thy servants may rejoice in con-

tinual health of mind and body; and

through the glorious intercession of the

Blessed Mary ever Virgin be freed from

present sorrow and enjoy eternal glad-

ness, through Christ our Lord. Amen.



INSTRUCTION

We, who are accustomed to regard war

and persecution, famine and pestilence,

poverty and sickness, suffering and death,

as great afflictions, forget that these

calamities of life may be blessings in dis-

guise, which the all-merciful God gives

us in order to bring us nearer to Him.

The only real evil in this world is Sin.

Grievous sin is, without doubt, the

greatest evil that this world has ever

known. By it we defy God and turn our

backs on Him, to do our own will rather

than His. Like a thief, it robs the soul

of its supernatural life, without which

Heaven cannot be attained, and it de-

prives the soul of all the merit of former

good works.

Merit is that quality of our work for

which we shall be rewarded in eternity.

Besides the loss of sanctifying grace,

grievous sin results in punishment both

temporal and eternal. Mortal sin is to

the soul what decay is to the body. As

a destructive cancer ruins in our earthly

frame all that it has of life and beauty,

so mortal sin robs the soul of all that

makes it fair and precious in the Eyes of

God.

Venial sin cannot completely cut us off

from God as mortal sin does, yet it can

and does hinder our progress towards

Him. Every deliberate sin, no matter



30 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

how small, is rebellion to Almighty God.

Insults are measured by the dignity of

the person insulted. We must realize
that even a slight offense given to an

infinite God is a very serious matter.

Venial sin sickens the spiritual life of

our soul. Just as sickness usually pre-

cedes death, so venial sins, as a rule,

precede mortal sins.

Because sin is man’s deliberate viola-

tion of the laws of God and of His

Church, He only can forgive sin and He

alone does. He might have willed to

forgive all sins directly without any sac-

ramental tribunal of grace, but He did

not. On the contrary. He instituted the

Sacrament of Penance, in which sins are

forgiven, whenever the words of absolu-

tion are spoken by a priest over a sin-

cerely disposed penitent. Christ insti-

tuted the Sacrament of Penance when He

said to His Apostles, and to their succes-

sors through all the centuries : ‘‘Receive

the Holy Spirit: Whose sins you shall

forgive, they are forgiven them
;
and

whose sins you shall retain, they are

retained.” (John 20, 22-23).

If the sinner, who grievously offended

God after Baptism, can have recourse to

this tribunal of grace, he must do so in

order to gain Heaven. If, however, he

cannot reach a priest to whom he may

confess his grievous sins, he may



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION 81

obtain the grace of reconciliation if

he be heartily sorry for having offended

God, Who is infinitely good in Himself,

and worthy of all love. In this emer-

gency, the truly repentant linner

must combine the willingness to go to

confession whenever possible. No sin

is too great for God to forgive.

Of this He has assured us when

He said in the words of Isaias the

prophet: ‘Hf your sins be as scarlet,

they shall be made as white as snow:

and if they be red as crimson, they shall

be white as wool.’" (Is. 1, 18).

• God could punish the sinner, who has

offended Him grievously, in order to put

an end to his sinful life; that might be

man’s conduct toward an offending

brother. God treats the sinner different-

ly; He endures his rebellion and strives

to withdraw him from the error of his

ways. God said by the mouth of the

prophet Ezechiel: ‘‘As I live—I desire
not the death of the wicked, but that the

wicked turn from his way, and live.’’

(Ezch. 33, 11).

To receive the Sacrament of Penance

validly, the penitent must examine his

conscience, be sorry for having offended

God, make a firm resolution to avoid sin

and what leads to sin, confess his sins to

a priest, and accept the penance imposed

upon him by his confessor.



32 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

Before beginning to examine his con-

science, the penitent must remember that

a superficial review of the state of his

soul, since his last good confession, can-

not atone for his sins. He knows that

the person engaged in a law-suit will

review it many times in order that no

important item may escape his notice,

that he will count as nothing, the days

and even weeks spent in examining those

parts of the civil law which he needs to

present a successful case. If the peni-

tent is wise and prudent in purely world-

ly matters, he will also search into the

depths of his soul, and recall to mind the

number of times that he has grievously

offended God, since he received forgive-

ness of his sins, the last time. It may

perhaps be difficult for him to know the

gravity, the number, the attendant cir-

cumstances of all his mortal sins, but

what is difficult for him is easy for the

Holy Ghost, the Father of Lights. The

penitent therefore will invoke the aid of

the Holy Spirit that He may help him

to know the true condition of his consci-

ence.

Although God in His mercy forgives

the sins submitted in the Sacrament of

Penance, He cannot do otherwise than

hate and detest sin. This must be the

attitude of God toward sin. A convincing
proof of His detestation of mortal sin



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION 88

is the terrible punishment meted out to

the rebellious Angels. Another evidence

of God's hatred of mortal sin we see in

the consequences of the punishment that

Adam and Eve had to suffer, after their

disobedience to God's holy Will. They

were expelled from Paradise and were

doomed to sickness and death. ^One more

proof of sin's great malice is the fact that

God alone could make fitting reparation

for the sin of Adam and Eve. God, on

account of His holiness and justice, can-

not do otherwise than hate and punish

sin.

God only can forgive a sinner, who

like Himself hates and detests sin, and

who is grieved for having offended his

greatest Benefactor. Contrition is an

indispensable condition for a valid confes-

sion. Without sorrow no sin can be for-

given. No forgiveness without contri-

tion
;
is a rule which admits of no excep-

tion.

There are two kinds of Contrition:

perfect and imperfect. ‘‘Perfect contri-

tion is that which fills us with sorrow

and hatred for sin, because sin offends

God, Who is infinitely good in Himself,
and worthy of love." “Imperfect contri-

tion or attrition is that by which we hate

what offends God, because by it we lose

heaven and deserve hell.



34 A GUIDE FOB CONFESSION

It is not absolutely necessary to have

perfect contrition when a sinner ap-

proaches the Tribunal of Penance; im-

perfect contrition or attrition is suffi-

cient to make a worthy confession. It is

very desirable to elicit acts of perfect

contrition frequently. An act of perfect

contrition* is the surest means of obtain-

ing the remission of unforgiven sins,

which in an emergency cannot be con-

fessed to a priest. It is the best substi-

tute for the Sacrament of Extreme Unc-

tion, in case one cannot be anointed in

the hour of death.

The sorrow required for the forgive-

ness of sins must be accompanied by a

readiness to avoid future mortal sins and

its occasions, that is, the persons, places,

or things, which from their own nature

or from man’s weakness, have been or

may be the occasion of sins. A person
who wishes to get rid of evil habits, but

refuses to make use of the necessary

means, is like an invalid who wants to

regain health, but will not accept the

medicines prescribed. The penitent’s

purpose of amendment must be serious

and firm.

The practice of going to confession

frequently has a wholesome influence on

man’s life. Bad habits are overcome by

it; the danger of sin diminished, and a

real incentive is given to lead a life of



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION 85

virtue. The cause of sin is due to man’s

weakness
;
frequent confession turns this

weakness into strength.

Every penitent knows from experience

that the confession of his grievous sins

together with their circumstances, may

seem hard, and yet, if he is contrite of

heart, he will declare them without con-

cealing or palliating anything. He will

obey the Church, teaching that ‘Ve must

enumerate all the mortal sins of which

we are conscious, accurately and humbly,

with the number of times we have com-

mitted them, besides all that is necessary

to make known the nature of the sin.”

As soon as sacramental absolution has

been imparted, the guilt of every sin

confessed, the eternal punishment, which

was incurred, if mortal sins were com-

mitted, and also part of the temporal

penalty are remitted. Christ gave St.

Peter and his successors the power tO'

forgive the guilt of every sin and the

eternal punishment when He said

:

‘‘Whose sins you shall forgive, they are

forgiven them” (John 20, 23).

To satify God for the temporal punish-

ment still due to sins confessed, the

priest imposes a certain penance upon the

penitent. Since the penance given is

trifling in proportion to his sins, the

penitent should undertake voluntary mor-

tifications to supply what is yet wanting



36 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

in the satisfaction, which God requires.

Apart from the Sacrament of Penance,

the Church has been empowered to remit

temporal punishment due to sin, after its

guilt has been forgiven, by means of

Indulgences. In granting an Indulgence

to the living, the Church offers satisfac-

tion to God from her treasury of merit,

so that such an Indulgence is a real

juridical absolution from temporal pun-

ishment. Indulgences for the souls in

Purgatory are gained by way of inter-

cession, that is, the Church offers satis-

faction from her treasury of merit and

asks God to apply this satisfaction to the

souls lingering in Purgatory.

A Plenary Indulgence is the remission
of the whole debt of temporal punish-

ment. A partial Indulgence remits so
much of the temporal punishment as

would be remitted in performing the

penances of the early ages of Christian-

ity, which were generally quite lengthy,

often taking months and years to per-

form them.

To gain an Indulgence it is necessary

to be in the state of sanctifying

grace. Besides complying with this most

essential condition, the person wishing

to gain an indulgence must faithfully

carry out the other prescribed conditions.



CONSCIENCE

Conscience is a ‘'judgment of the in-

tellect, dictating what is to be done as

morally right, or what is to be avoided

as morally wrong,’’ in the particular cir-

cumstances, in which one is placed.

“Conscience is said to be certain when

it dictates something as right or as

wrong, without experiencing any reason-

able fear of the opposite being true.

“Conscience is doubtful when it is un-

decided which of two contradictory views

is true. A fundamental la^y of theology
decrees that a person is never allowed to

act with a doubtful conscience. This

means that one who seriously doubts the

lawfulness of some action, and neverthe-

less performs it, commits sin. The same

is true of one who doubts whether it is

permissible to omit some action, and yet

omits it. One who is in such a state of

doubt and wishes to perform (or to omit,

as the case may be) the action in ques-

tion should first obtain certainty of con-

science. When strict certainty cannot be
obtained, it is sufiScient to have moral

certainty in the broad sense, namely:

that which is based on arguments of

probability.

“Conscience is erroneous, when it

judges what is really wrong as right, or

vice versa. When a person in good faith
judges erroneously, that he is obliged to

perform or to omit a certain act, then



88 A OUIDB FOR CONFESSION

he commits sin if he fails to perform or

omit it, as the case may be. For the

light of his own reason constitutes for

every individual the ultimate subjective

norm of his conduct; and God’s rewards

or punishments are meted out to every

one, according as he has obeyed or dis-

obeyed the voice of his own conscience.”

(The New Catholic Dictionary—pp. 248-
249).

IF IN DOUBT, CONSULT A PRIEST

A scrupulous conscience is always
erroneous. It is a dictate of the judg-

ment based on scruples.

A scruple is defined as “an unfounded
apprehension and consequent fear and

anxiety that sin is committed where

there is no sin at all, or that a sin com-

mitted was greater than, in fact, it was.”

'Scrupulous penitents must accept the

advice ot a wise and prudent confessor,

if they wish to receive the help they de-

sire and need. The following rules of

conduct for the scrupulous have been

suggested by experienced spiritual direct-

ors :

1. The scrupulous person should con-

vince himself that he is really scrupulous

and that scruples do not necessarily lead

to sanctity; that, therefore, he will make

up his mind to attend to the health of

both body and soul.



A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION 89

2. He should seek the guidance of one

good confessor and not of many confes-

sors. He should render obedience to his

spiritual director.

3. He should be humble and resigned

to God's will, looking upon Him as kind,

generous and merciful, and he should

frequently make acts of confidence and

love.

4. He should be brief in examining

his conscience and in stating his difficult-

ies.

5. He should never give way to scrap-

les on the plea that for once in a while it

is better to have peace of mind than to

continue resistance. The enemy grows

stronger by every victory gained over the

scrupulous.

6. He must boldly follow the advice

given him, convinced that by so doing

he cannot be committing sin.

7. After gaining a victory now and

then, he should learn to rely upon his

own judgment without frequent recourse

to his confessor.

8. He should be thoroughly convinced

that doubtful sin is not certain sin, and

that he need not confess doubts but only

certainties.

9. He should act as other good people.

What is right for them is right for him.

Therefore, he should not pry into his



40 A GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

motives curiously and persistently, but

do what he is doing with speed and vigor.

10. When he is in doubt concerning

his consent to evil thoughts, he may take

it for granted that there was no consent.

When in doubt about the quality of past

confessions, he may assume that they

were good. When in doubt about suffici-

ent sorrow in confession, he may be

assured that the very act of going to

confession is, in his case, a sufficient act

of sorrow. When in apprehension about

final perseverance, he should say : ‘‘I will

leave that to God. He will see to it. In

Thee, 0 Lord, have I hoped. I shall not

be confounded for ever. I can do all

things in Him Who strengtheneth me.”
‘The scrupulous person may well

take any one of the proposed remedies

without trying to use several. But if

he should think that not even any one of

them suits his case, he would be giving

but one more manifestation of the ex-

ceedingly variable character of his con-

science. Rather, he should persuade him-

self that all these rules, derived from the

experience of confessors during many

centuries, exactly suit his case, and he

should proceed to act upon some of them

without delay.” (Moral and Pastoral

Theology—^Vol. I, pp. 76, 77. H. Davis,
SJ.)