Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-06-05

2 Cor. v. Is. In the words of this
verse, the Apostle declares, that
whereas, God through the merits of
Jesus Christ, reconciled the world to |
himself, he was pleasd to appoint the
Apostles and their successors in office,
to be the ministers of this reconcll1a-
ton. Hence it follows that if the Pas
tors of Gods Church be the ministers
of our reconciliation with God, If the
word of reconciliation, the power of
pronouncing sentence OF absolutlon
upon us, be placed in them, it is by
their ministry and through the confes-
sion of sins to them, we ordinarily OBJ
tain this reconciliation. And as the
early Christians went to the Apostles,
s.confessing their sins" SO we do now
to their legitimate successors; and are
exhorted thereunto by st. John, "Con-
TESS your SINS" "For if we say, we
have no sin, we deceive ourselves.
eff we confess our sins, God is faith
full to forgive our sins" The cond1-
ton is confession, and to whom =? 70
those whom Christ sent with his
powers to the end of the world, and to
whom he said: "Whose sins ye shall
forgive, they are forgiven them" For
the Apostle could not think any one SO
silly as to refuse to say in secret to
God, that he was a sinner, We hear
it repeatedly said auricular or private
confession was not heard of in the first
and second centuries. Suppose 1T to
be so. Do those who say SO, tell us
the reason why private confession Is
not SO much as mentioned. The reason
great deal more of public confession
and made to the Apostles. For the
sinner was obliged to manifest his
crimes in the presence of the whole
church and undergo q severe penance
in consequence of them. And those who
are such sticklers for antiquity on this
head and dislike auricular confession
should surely take antiquity to its ex-
tent and if they reject ours, why not
adopt the other practice of public con-
fession of sins, as consistent with the
usages of the ancient Church. But IL
word, what is the fact. It is this
Confession of sins to Gods ministers
is of Divine precept,. yet, whether this
Confession be public or private. is al
together matter of church discipline.
See Cardinal Wiseman's lectures. Tie
practice of confession of sins to Gods
ministers for absolutiOn is of an apOS-
tolic age, as we also see from the Apos
tolic Penitentiary with its canons: And
a practice not only of public, but of
private confession to tn successors OF
the apostles holding 'the word of re-
| Cancellation - as is evident from the
| " Lateran Council in the year 1913 !,
! from the Greek Schismatics practicing
! the same, 1854 from the Council Ca
ballonensis, laying down rules for con-
! fession in the year S13; from the prac-
! tice of st. Eligius and others, in the
year 659, Fleury's history 1.37-l.3S;
| from ST. Basil, the Great o. ientai Doc
tor of the year 329; Gin the confession
! of sins, che writes" the same method
must be observed as in laying open the
| infrmaties Of the body. For as these
are not rashly communicated to every
| one. but to those only who understand
by what method they may be cured, so
the confession of sins must be made to
such persons as have the power to APP
ply remedy,-recessa,ily orr sins
, must be confessed to those to whom has
! heen committed the desperation OF
the mysteries of God" In reg Brew.
p SIG from the letter of st. Leo in
the year 439 to the Bishops of Cam
pania There shall be no declaration
of al kinds of sins given in writing
and publicly read for it is enough
that the guilt of the conscience be
made known to the priest by private
confession ;" Ep. cxxxvi p 719; from
the historian Paulinus of Milan in his
life of ST. Ambrose, who tells Ms the de
wont manner inwhich the saint heard pri-
vate confessions; from st. Chryroston,
Oriental Doctor, year 4O7. ''to the
priests is given a power which God
would net give, either to angels or
archangels; in SO mucn that what the
priests do below, God ratifies above:
aud the Master confirms the sentence
OF the servants on priesthood,
3. 3; and SO on with all the fathers OF
the Church, the reading of whose
Apostolic writings must lead the earn
est enquirer to That Cath2li2 Faith and
its practices which on their perusal a
Manning. Newman, an Oakley
lnd Faber have embraced III
England. Resides, all monuments
of antiquity clearly show that the con-
! fession CT sins to GODS minister in
public or private, has been universally
received and practiced through the
Christian Church III all countries and
in all ages, nor is it possible to assign
any other beginning to it than that of
Christianity itself. Though confession
o. sips in private be an ancient and
general Indulgence Of the Church, yet
the public confession stiil e.ists, and
is required by the Catholic Church,
and is made before the congregation
for the reparation of some very scan
dalous sin. The millions of devout
Catholic families in every country are
| witnesses to the hoii4ess Of the Divine
Institution of Confession Of Sins; and
an illustfinlis example of whole
nation practicing frequent confession
and under the counsel of their clergy
is the Irish people whose purity
of morals is known 10 the whole
world. God only knows how many
eyiiC which the laws of man could
never rectiiy have been remedied-
! Rowmany calupani repaired, how many
resolutions Of money have been made
by the means of this Sacrament of
Confession. All Catholics know and
feel that true sorrow and purpose of
amendment must accompany confess
sion of sins and if we nave wronged
our neighbor in name or goods, we
must Ersi make ell possible PREPARATION.
| Otherwise We shall be lii-e those whom
Our Lord on Earth would not, and the
Apostles could not cure, because they
| did not approach with suitable dispo-
sitions of faith, &c. In conclusion let
Christian forbearance aud sentiments
! Ct charity actuate you i'll word and ac-
| tiol. and remember that you are the
children 81 that Ancient Catholic
I Church, whose life or earth, is to suf-
fer contradiction and to walk i, the
way Of the cross Of Him who founded
Her.
Blessed are We, when men shall re-
vile you and say all msnner Of evil
| things against you, untruly for my
namesake, rejoice and be glad; for your
reward is great Heaye4."
4 letter from the Rt. Rey. James
Gibbons, D. D.. vas read and where
in he expressed his determination to
take up the offensive charge and an
eyer it formally.
SUNDAY READING.
The Former Days Better than
These.