The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1869-05-30
THE MORNING MAY 80 1862

olics agree that Christ pardoned sins on condi-
tion that the sinner was sincerely sorry for his
sins and firmly determined to commit sin no
All sas9 as sns
by Christ. The question arises: How does
Christ pardon aims now when He is not upon
the es.th There are swS tss Cs hs he fEG E
left this earth, Withdrew with all His divine
power, and that in Heaven He pardons now, in
lmpile:, s1s. s what is contrary to nssurs, BE-
cause q man to be pardoned by Christ must see
Him In His present state, and must be sure of
and secondly, it ebliterates and eliminates ali
positive outward forms Of Christianity, and
reduces Christianity so . purely spiritual reii-
second answer TO this question is the Catholic
answer, the subject of this evening. 1t is that
Christ, before leaving this earth, impaired to
mans redemption, in order that in exercising
this power they might continue the work
which He begun. This ia an answer which is
His apostles, /" Go and preach to all nations
baptizing them in the name of the Father, of
the Son and of the, Holy Ghost whose sins ye
also promised to remain with His disciples
upon the earth, for He said, Lo, am with
you always" And there are other passages
His Church. working through His priesthood,
imparting gifts and graces by the sacramento
of the Church as truly and really as ne was
=
harmony with His life and incarnation, and
with the whole plan of mans redemption. Ac-
lcording to the natural law, aud according 20
the revealed law, God has always required, a
confession of sin. In the first PLACE it was to
Himself, as in the case Of Adam and Eve aad
under the revealed law, when He ceased to ap-
pear to men upon earth, He required this con-
fession to be made to the priest the proper
sacrifice to be offered, and through the prayers
of the priesthood the sins of the jewish people
xexe forgiven them. The Law Of confession
has mi been abbreviated.
same now. The sacrifices were abregated and
did Christ 81 We us any substitute for them
Did He, the Protestant theory supposes,
keep this power to, Himself when He left this
earth to go up to Heaven, and there in person
give absolution to sinners upon earth, not al
lowing His priests to offer up sacrifices, for de
would communicate to them now not the SYM
Dol but the realityf Christ said in speaking
to Peter, Thou art Peter (signifying rock,)
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it. will give unto thee the keys of the King
dom of Heaveh, and whatsoever you shall loose
and whatsoever. you shall bind on earth
1 will also bind it in Heaven" This
means the power to pardon sins, which was
communicated to st. Peter. AS sure Christ
possessed the power did He give it to his disci-
pies. This Interpretation has been given to
the Scriptures from the beginning of Christian
have. Sin, after baptism, was to be remitted
by hearty sorrow and sincere confession, and
the absOlution of the priest. 1t Is not only so
of the Catholic Church, bnt has also been be-
lieved by Others that the power to forgive sins
has been retained. Instance may be made of
the Presbyterian confession of faith made at
Philadelphia in 1877, and the Protestant Epis-
copal prayer book, where it speaks of the ordi-
nation of the priest, and Of the mathis and eve
ming song. Some may say that Christ gave
the power to His disciples, but that it did not
continue beyond their lives. If it be true that
that power ceased, on the same principle of
reasoning, the other powers of teaching bap-
ccaoniine MGaaa Also cease, and you would
these powers were given without limitation,
and the Church received them from the apos-
ties, and they have been continued in the
Church until to-day. The lecturer further
urged that the priests were ambassadors of re-
conciliation of God, receiving from Him power
to forgive sins; comparing a man confessing to
God directly and alone, and attempting to OBJ
tain absolution, to q man put from a railroad
train for refusing to pay his fare to tho eonduc
tor, appointed an agent for the purpose, and
insisting upon going direct to the President of
the road TO pay it He concluded by . refer
ence to some of the objections made to the rite
of Sacramental Confession in the Church, their
groundlessness, and it's true value and applca-
ton as u saving and sanctifying ordinance.
There is to be no more quail shooting in