Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-05-16

lcOnlessionai, Wnich may De truly call
ed the throne Of the Catholic ecclesias
tic, for. armed with the s, II assume i
authority Of God. in whose stead he
otiiciaies on earth to the supplianl
slaves prosirated before him, he deals
from thence the terrible analhema OF
the church, to the dsobedient and re-
fraclory. dispenses his ''sbsoIution" to
the faithful and submissive and pre-
scribes the "pepancc" to be observed
as an expiation for sia. Seated in th.
confessional, he is empowered in virtue
of his arrogated position. to proppund
queries which, from the lips Of Others.
would be deemed fragrant insults
KneelIng there. the Young maiden an
swers questions calcuialed to eradl-
cate every feeling Of modesty--wo-
mans highest charm--and lays bare
before the inquisitiye search Of hef
spiritual director" every incipienl
sensation, every impulse Of her hu
manity. How easy. then. for AN evil
disposed ccnfessor. stealthily to iniuse
into the innocent and trusting heart,
whose portal opens to his call, the
germs Jf new thoughts. whose growth.
cherished by his daily care. will soon
Oil II with nm impure and diseased veg
citation Of feeling and desires. Ifany
i,strust show itself. any reluctance BE-
manifested 10 answer these artfuIly dis.
posed inquiries. tie objector is soon
Iuie,ed by the assurance that II is the
duty Of her confessor. for her souI's
sake-lhat he is the authorized medi
um Of communication between her and
heasen-lhat he occupies the place oI
The Almighty In reference to her spir-
itual wants and requirements, and
must be so regarded IL she wishes to
avoid "purgatorial fires," and secure
future felicity. l. il matter for won
der. then. that those drought up"
within the pale Of the Catholic Church
whose every thought and feeling from
childhood TO maturity has been watch
ed and directed by their spiritual
guide" should yield themselves en-
lirely to his control. and even see no
danger in their submissiveness. or evil
intentions in his assumed power and
sanctity?
IL the confessional can be the source
Of perilous and demoralizing influence
On the youthful mind. and n potent
agent TO suhserve wicked aspirations
in the world without" it will easily
be conceived, that in religious com.
muu;iy. whose members are secluded
from public observation, and cntrust-
ed. bodily and spiritually. tothe charge
Of priests. its sway must be more con.
trolling, its powers infinitely greater
Shut up and deprived Of Intercourse
or communion with parents. relatives.
aud friends, and requiring by the law
of human instinct. sympathy and di
rrcion. the inmates Of these ins,itu
lions implicitly submit to the guidance
of their director" and regard his in
juuclions and admonitions as "oracles
div,ae" To him they report in every
Iriaing difficulty, in every petty trou.
Bile, and accustomed to view him as
wise arbiter and infalIible monitor, no
limit. at least, is placed to their conf
ience and obedience. until they be.
come pitIsble or willing victims to their
black robed and black hearted be-
travers.
My recollections of my noviciate al
St. Josepl,'s will always be associated
with contempt and abhorrence Of those
men. who use their advantages and
position for the basest purposes. and
with tbanKfulness for my escape from
such iasidious snares. 1t was con.
temptation of the peril to which l was
exposed, that FIRST suggested the idea
of escape at AL hazards. from the in.
stiluiion. | could have borne toll, pri-
vation. and bodily i'll treatment as the
consequences Of my own rashness and
impeiuosity Of feeling. but the future
wore too dark and terrible an aspect
for me to resign myself with quietness
20 risk its evil IL was not mere sus-
picion. vague conjecture or false inter-
probation OF signs. looks. incidents. or
language. that induced my determine
lion. Although the conversation and
action Of individual members Of the
community, the secret mysteries Of the
con nlessional. and other circumstances
which have not related because ]
cannot speak with sufficient knowledge
of their import were ample evidence,
TO my own judgment. OF the alarming
position occupied, yet, as II may be
contended by those Interested IN con
cealing the truth. that my mental Wis
ION was distorted. and my prejudices
too strong to admit of a calm, dispas-
sionnte. rational deduction from what
saw and heard. feel most reluct-
antly compelled, forseeing these oh
iections, to state an incident concern
isg which there can be no misconcep-
lion or false judgment.
A priest who had been engaged in
exercising his pastoral functions at St.
Joseph's was about to leave the insli
tuition, and. as is customary. the sis
ters were required to enter the room
where he was stationed and ask n
blessing at his hands. previous to his
departure. When my turn came. ]
went in, with downcast eyes and clasp
ed hands as enjoined, and knelt to re-
ceiye the expected benedic,ion. But
instead OF the pressure Of his hand up
an my head, | felt the impression OF n
kiss upon my forehead. Startled and
confused by sslutaIion SO unexpect.
ed and inappropriate. L staggered to
my feet. and calculated. almost uncon'
-ciously. the words. 20 Fatherp' But
before could recover my composure.
,eizing my wrist with his left hand and
rnclrcling my waist with his right arm.