The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-18
DISCUSSES
 FAMILIAR THEME
Confession aSExplained by Rev.
 Father kerrigan
QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED
Father Kerriean Points Out Some of Erroneous Ideas That Are Held
 With Regard to Catholic
 Doctrine of Confession.

 The Rev. Father Kerrigan occupied the pulpit at St. Paurs church at the last mass yesterday. delivered the following discourse:
 Last Sunday we gave the principal grounds upon which the church bases her doctrine of confession. These grounds were that Jesus Christ by the words ad- dressed to His apostles after the resur- rection, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven them and whose sins you shall retain are retained" gave to them the power of forgiving and retaining or not forgiving sin; that from the very nature of the case this power was to descend to their successors in office and to them alone, unto the end of the world; that the bishops and priests of the Catholic church as those successors, alone possess that power today; that, fnally the two- fold power of forgiving and retaining sins, that is of judging the penitent. log ieally implies a manifestation to the priest of the penitents soul, which 1 is nothing or less tnail cohies9iOh
 "We went through the records of tradi- ton and showed that confession had been practiced since apostolic times. We ap- pealed to reason to show that to impose, suddenly or gradually, upon men and to 1 perpetuate up to the present practice so humiliating to the penitent and so wear ing to the priest. by merely human means were absurd.
 Erroneous Ideas.
 And yet, clear and convincing as these arguments are, a just consideration of them by our separated brethren is very often hindered by the mass of erroneous ideas concerning this doctrine with which they are hedged about. Therefore, we think it well to consider the more inn portant of these today.
 | T. That confession was introduced by the priest to extort money from the peo- pie, by pardoning certain sins for cer- tain amounts, is beneath consideration. There was time when many of our separated brethren believed this to be a fact. That even the ordinarily intelligent among them believe this no longer, we feel convinced. Now there Is no reason why the penitent should not make the priest a money offering for his trouble Tn hearing confession, just as offerings are made for baptisms and marriages, but to avoid scandal the church forbids even this under severest penalties. She will have no money transaction of any kind between priest and penitent, for fear the uniformed might misconstrue the action.
 As to Humiliation.
 2 Again, our separated brethren look with borrow on the practice of man or woman confessing all their sins-their very thoughts and most hidden desires to a fellow mortal. They say that this is too hard for flesh and blood. 1t is hard; 1t is humiliating. indeed, but not nearly so hard as they imagine. How agreeably surprised many convert to the church is after his or her first ex- perience in the confessional. But grant ing this aspect of it, does this destroy It's divine institution? Such an objection re- solves itself in this sophistical reasoning Whatever is hard for human nature can not have Christ for it's author. But con fession is all of this; therefore. confes- sion was never instituted by Jesus Christ. This assumes too much and should like wise include Christ's advice to deny our selves. to take up our cross daily to be persecuted for justice sake, to love our enemies.
 In Case of Physician.
 "Why should the humiliation and hard- ship of confession seem unnatural when we consider the enormity of sin-that it is the greatest evil before God and man? When our bodies arc sick-our bodies that will return to dustin order to res cover our health do we not submit our selves to the physician? Do we not de- clare in detail matters of most delicate nature? It is hard but our life depends upon it. So does our eternal life depend upon our confession.
 ''The Catholic does not kneel and confess to man as man only. He looks on the priest as the ambassador of Christ; one acting in the person of Christ. In the words of St. Paul: We are therefore ana bassadors for Christ: God as it were ex- horting by us. For Christ we peseech you be ye reconci1ed to God
 Moreover, the penitent is his own ac- cuser If the priest feels satisfied with his declaration of sins he need not ask a single question. Again, the penitent merely states the nature of the sin, the number of times committed and any cir- cumstance that might add to it's malice. All unnecessary detail should be avoided. The penitent can state his symptoms and the priest can question him, even con- cerning most delicate matters in a man. ner not to shock the most refined sens- bilities.
 ''3 Another objection is that the prac- tice of confession is an encouragement to sin and to the sinner. That the sinner, knowing he can be easily shr.ved, is more liable to sin with impunity. Those who state this objection do not know the con d1tion that must accompany the confess sion in order to secure pardon These are contrtion and satisfaction. Contrition IS heart sorrow for sin for having offended God, with firm resolution of shining no more. The penitent does not go to eonfes- sion merely to wipe out the old score in order to run up new one. His contrition must be in the heart and no on the lips alone; it must include every mortal sin; 1t must come from Gods grace; it must be the greatest sorrow that he can possibly nave. It must also include a firm pur- pose of amendment-a will to avoid in fu- fure all sins and occasions of sins The sinner, too, must promise, as far as he is able. satisfaction Any injury to his neighbors property or character must be made good. If any of these conditions be lacking the penttent is refused absolution. Does confession then encourage to sin any more than private confession to God alone?
 As to Catholics. But how is it that Catholics who con fess frequently sin and sin again? We an- swer; Do not those who confess to God