The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-14
THE CONFESSIONAL
Tao Subjoot OF q Worry Practical
Diecourao Luat Night
BY REV. FATHER s S. MATTINGLY,
OF Martins Ferry, mt St, JoscphS Ca
ticdrni "A large Congregation
Profits by Ono OF tho Discusses In
tho spcola, Lonton Sorlcs Delivered
On "Wednesday Evenings There

Tho cathedral was again crowded ut
tho special Innten services last night.
Tho largo congregation hoard ono OF tho
moat practical aormons that has evcr
boon preached within tho cathedral
walls. Tho speaker wa, Row. Fathers S.
s. Mattingly, OF Martins Ferry, who i,
we'll known In Wheeling.
'lu the beginning OF this series OF
aormonu," said he. you heard dia.
course on death. Last Wednesday pen.
nnce was proposed to your meditation.
You have listened 10 sermon on tho
Sacred Passion Now you nro prepared
for something practical. bring you to
tho sacrament Of pcnancc."
10 then guvo description Of q iamil.
lar conversation, which no took part In,
with business man, who, on summing
| up his accounts, found thom 0hort. lilo
described good business mans con-
tempt for one who makes littlo Of ANAL
matters, and his love for ono who 10 OK.
net in lit,lo things. Thence he showed
how tho results Of q successful buaincss
man nrc OF only temporal importance;
but wo havo business mans action
that Is eternal. In this branch, tho
loast act, no matter how Insignificant,
has MI ctornal effect.
lIe again returned 10 tho business
man, and showed that ho Is successful
who keeps a careful eye on his books.
and ho affirmed thnt one who keeps an
account OF his actions will mako suc.
cess In his eternal welfare. We must
from time to time examine ourselves in
relation to our spiritual works, as tho
prudent business man will watch his
ledger.
Tho conscience OF anyone who exam.
ines himscli daily will become tender.
any action that has not tho stamp OF
charity on it will bother him, and he
will correct his laults easily.
Hero no gave practical directions for
those who 10 10 confession at different
periods, every week and every month,
how long they should spend in immodi.
ate examination OF conscience. Then
no Gavo the mode that should DO
observed in the confession OF ones sins.
Tho roverond father then wont into
tho subject OF what constitutes tho NAL
leo OF sin, for tho benefit OF those who
doubt il this or that Is right or wrong.
He showed how much tho good or evil
OF any act depends on the good or evil
intention.
Then he explained the relation OF
peuitent in the Sacrament OF Penance
and his duties, and how examination Of
conscience Is necessary to prepare ono
for this duty. He warned his hearers
against common evil-that is, false
conscience. We arc so apt to DO par
tial Judges on our own case. Human
nature IL 80 inclined to excuse itself
eyou in its worse crimes. and much
moro so in small iailiugs. This is a
great obstacle to q charitable rs well rs
a high spiritual life. We excuse this
and that unkind act, wo give reason
for not doing this or that charitable act,
aud tho reason may be d slim prctext.
He showed how good, honest confess
sions advance Us in high spiritual lie.
make US moro sincere Christians and
our lie moro practical.
Ho deprecated the lives OF those who
give bad example by iuslncere confos.
sions, whose lives arc not Affected by
tho sacrament. because their comics.
sions are not sincere and therefore at.
feet not their lives.
He then in eloquent forms pictured
the contemplate life OF those who never
examine their lives in the lich. OF God.
tho useless lilo they live, which will be
m eternal failure. How icnoble and
unworthy such lilo on tho part Of any
intellectual being with tho ins.incts OF
! nobility imprinted on him by the ON.
nipotent God.
Tho congregation united with great
JUNCTION in singing the hymns. The
services closed with tho benediction OF
| the blessed sacrament.