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For true sorrow, then, it is required, that the sinner shall cease to do evil; and in whatever day the wicked man shall desert iniquity, iniquity will not be his min. He must bewail his past offences like a young woman' girded with sackcloth, lamenting the husband of her youth. He must not only take away the evil of his devices from before the eyes of the Lord, and cease to do perversely, but he must learn to do well, and if he have grievously transgressed, he must be converted to the Lord with all his heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning; and if by bad example he have given occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme, or scandaliz ed one of the little ones that believe in him, he should make multiplied exertions, and more bitterly lament. His motive should be to unite with his Saviour in making re-* paration to that God whom he had offended; consider-> ing how goed, how amiable, and how perfect that Almigh ty Being is, and regretting that he should have had the misfortune of offending him. This is perfect Contrition, which is founded upon true Charity, and will always en“ sure the remission of sin. But if man cannot bring himself to this perfection of motive, let him approach as near it as he can; and if he be sorry from the motives of Attrition, he will obtain pardon in the Sacrament of Pe

nance.

Besides sorrow for sin, it is indispensably necessary that whosoever has injured his neighbour, either in his charac ter or property should be disposed to make the necessa ry reparation as soon as it can possibly be made- Hence all those who have it in their power to restore either what they have withheld or stolen, or fraudulently got possessed of, and who, though they do not positively determine not to replace the injured person in his right, yet unneces sarily defer doing it, even to their own great inconveuience, are beyond doubt unfit for this Sacrament, and all who have injured their neighbour's character, and defer to repair it, are equally unfit.

Besides those general dispositions, persons desirous to profit of the Sacrament, should dispose themselves parti cularly to avoid the special faults of which they are ge→ nerally guilty, because unless a particular determination

be

be entered into, the general intention will not sufficiently operate upon the person in the moment of templation to the particular fault. And upon this principle, as well as from the necessity of making a good Confession, nothing is more necessary than to make a good examination of Conscience.

In this great point numbers of persons grossly err. They persuade themselves that they at once see all their failings as soon as they confusedly place before their minds a general statement of their principal sins and this, because they will not take the trouble of quietly examining. It is not the object of this essay to enter upon the subject of the mode of examination it is only mentioned as one of the dispositions for worthily receiving the Sacrament, and as a necessary preliminary to the Con-fession...

How few are there, alas who in approaching to Perance, prepare themselves as they ought and conse quently, how few are there who derive from it the adyantages which it is calentated to bestow? Hurry, confusion, and sloth, generally precede it, in place of recollection, method, and attention It is true, that Faith is found, bat Presumption is often substituted for Hope, and but the appearance of Charity or the love of God, is discovered, whilst often the mock. Penitent endeavours to impose upon himself, by attempting to force even upon his own conscience a belief, that he is in friendship with all persons, whilst enmity reigns in his heart Let him reflect upon the instruction of the Redeemer, that if he was even going to offer his gift at the altar, and should recollect that his brother and he were at variance, he should first and be reconciled to his brother, before he could offe true homage to his God.--Faith, Hope, Charity, Justice. Contrition, Examination, and Confidence, are necessary for worthily receiving the sacrament of Penance. inner must know the principles of his Religion, and be determined to reduce them to practice.

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The Doctrinal Chapter of the Holy and Ecumenical Council of Trent upon Contrition.

Contrition, which holds the first place amongst the aforesaid acts of the penitent, is a grief of mind and detes tation of Sin which has been committed, with a determination of not sinning for the future. This motion of' Contrition was at all times necessary for obtaining pardon... of Sins ; & in a person who has transgressed after Baptism it thus prepares for the remission of sins, if it he un ted to confidence in the divine mercy, and a desire of doing all other things which are required for property receiving this Sacrament (of Pennnee.) The Holy Council therefore declares that this Contrition not only includes à desertion of sin, and an intention of leading a new life and® a commencement thereof, but also a détestation of that which has been led; according to that of the Prophet,*< Cast away from you all your iniquities in which gou prevaricated and make to yourselves a new heart, and a new spirit. And truly whosoever will reflect upon those eries of the Saints, Against thee only have I sinned,* and have done evil in thy sight. ‡ I have taboused in my groaning, I will wash my bed every night (with my fears.) §I will recount to thee all my years in the bit=' terness of my soul, and others of the same description,® must easily perceive that they must have flowed from a vehement hatred of sin, and an overwhelming détestation of past life.

(The Council) moreover teaches, that although it sometimes happens that this Contrition is made perfect by Charity, and reconciles man to God before he actually receives this Sacrament (of Penance), nevertheless this réconciliation is not to be attributed to coutrition it self without the desire of the Sacrament, which desire is included in it; and it declares, that the imperfect Contrition which is called Attrition, because it is generally con ceived from the consideration of the filthiness of sin,or from the dread of Hell and torments, if it exclude the desire of sinning, and possess the hope of pardon, does not cause a man to be a Hypocrite and more a sinner; but is even a gift of God, and an impulse of the Holy Ghost, not as yet,

*Dzekiel 28. +Psalm 50. + Psalm 6.

Isaias 18.

yet indeed dwelling in him, but moving him; by whom assisted, the penitent prepares the way of justice. And although it cannot bring the sinner to justification of itself without the Sacrament of Penance, nevertheless it disposes him to obtain the grace of God in the Sacrament of Penance. For by this fear the Ninivites usefully aroused, did penance upon the terrific preaching of Jonas, and did obtain mercy from God. Wherefore some persons falsely calumniate Catholic writers by saying, that they have taught that the Sacrament of Penance did confer grace, without any good disposition of the person who received it, which the Church of GOD has never taught, nor supposed; and they also fals-ly teach that Contrition is extorted and obtained by compulsion, and not free and voluntary.

FROM THE LETTRES EDIFIANTES. Letter from the Missionary, concluded from page 17. We made little stay at Damascus, after our arrival: the same authority which had called us in, sent us immediately to a village, where some Christian families had for a length of time been desirous of a Mission, and had of ten besought it. In this place are the sources of the famous. streams of Damascus, amongst which there is one particularly which pours out such a quantity of water, that you would suppose it a great river flowing out of the cavity of the rock from which it rises.

The inhabitants of this village are mostly Turks, but much more humane, and less inimical to Christians than the Turks of Damascus. We have experienced the difference. We paid a visit to the head of this little town, who was considered a principal man of the country, and one of those best skilled in their law. He received us in the kindest manner, and politely told us that he respected persons of our description; and that one of the most pressing injunctions of his Prophet was, that we should treated with kindness; that, for his part, he would protect us, and we were at liberty to go where we chose throughout

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