Evening journal., 1909-12-16
EXPLAINS THE
CONFESSIONAL
Father Elliott Discusses the
Subject at Length at the
Cathedral

vented confession in tho Christian
church: Popel King? Priest? All must
confess. Pleasant things can be slipped in
unawares. perhaps; but nothing like the
duty of confession; so gross an innova-
tion would not have been allowed. Con-
fession was practiced I'm tho church in
every age. Thus we read (Acts xii .l9)
They came confessng sins TO one an
other Indeed, even the inhdel historian
Gibbon-says: 1T cannot be denied that
confession was one OF the principal doe
trines Of the Christians Of the first four
centuries
"Thenight Of the Resurrection (St John:
XXX, our Lord suddenly stood in the midst
Of Ills Apostles and said: Peace he unto
you And having said this JIG breathed
on them and said: Receive. ye the Holy
Ghost; whose sins you shall forgive, they
are forgiven them; whose sins you shall
retain, they are retained. The sun at noon
day is not clearer than these words: the
ministry of Christs church Is to repre-
sent Him in pardoning sin. lie means to
give us the peace which the heavenly
Father impaired TO Him as the gift OF
eternal love. His peace and. His Fathers
peace is the forgiveness Of sin.
"Protestants admit the divine institution
Of this sacrament; for example, The Pres
hyterian church. in the Westminster Con-
fession of Faith says: TO church officers
the keys Of the kingdom of heaven arc
committed by virture whereof they have
power respectively to retain and remit
SINS to shut the kingdom against the im-
penitent, both by the word and censures,
and to open Il TO pemtent sinners by the
ministry Of the gospel and by absolution
from censures as occasion requires
1.-THE Protestant Episcopal Book OF
Comon Prayer eXhorts sick persons to
confess to the minister, who is given au-
thority TO impart absolution.
1T is most reasonable to look to our
Saviour's religion for some approved and
stated method for assisting sinners in
acquiring sorrow, i'm laying the founda-
tions of a new life, and finally OF impart-
ing to them the assurance Of the divine
pardon. The external ministry of Christ's
Religion must have been endowed with
this holiest prerogative of friendship. The
New Testament confirms reason: it
shows that the pardon of sin is to be
settled by means of an external min
istry, which ST. Paul terms the min
istry of reconciliation. All of Christ's
words and all of His acts have some
reference to sin and its pardon, for
His Office and name is Saviourl There
fore. He says to Peter and afterwards
TO the twelve: Whatsoever you shall
bind on earth it shall be bound in
heaven; whatsoever you shall loose on
earth it shall be loosed in heaven He
refers to their dealing with sin and
sinners. When He said to Peter, I
will give thee the keys Of the King
dom of Heaven He meant the keys
that would unlock the gate that shuts
men up in the hell of sin. To this day
the power of the keys means the power
of pardoning sinners.
Power of pardon includes a right
to know what is to be pardoned. How
could it be used intelligently other
wise? How can the Christian min
lister know whether the sinner is
worthy of pardon or must be refused
it. unless he (the minister knows
what sins the penitent has been guilty
Of? Consider how many things bear
a part in making sorrow true or false
(and sorrow must ever be the essen
tial thingD ignorance, worldliness,
pride. feebleness Of character. frivol-
ity, false shame. even hypocisy, self
deceit. excitement, human respect,
salVish fear. How can these be con-
sidered unless one knows the peni-
tents sins? Suppose you had heard
Christ saying to His Apostles, Whose
sins you shall forgive they are for
given them: whose sins you shall re-
| tain, they are retained;' and afterward
/ had asked an Apostle to impart par
| don to you: would you have been sur
prised If he had said My son, what is
/ IL YOU want me to pardonT one can
not be an intermediary of pardon
without knowing what is to be par
doncd. especially when ones chief Of
flee is to decide on the validity of sor-
row.
confession answers a need in human
nature Sinners need admonition,
comfort warning, announcement while
striving TO reform. all of which sup
poses a knowledge Of what grade and
number of sins they have committed.
An intelligent. efficacious and comfort
/ ing exercise of this ministry nocessi-
tates confession. For a thorough
going process Of self-discovery all must
admit the Catholic process Is most
= eficient-the practical side Of contri-
tion and amendment is well cared
/ for.
Special psychological reasons; Every
strong feeling demands expression. The
! soul which cannot tell its grief is
doubly grieved; he who cannot express
! his joy is but half rejoiced. Hence, /
hardly know of one denomination Of
] Christians but has some sort of mani
| festation of conscience. confession Of
! sin to the church members or TO tho
ministry, as a preparation for mem
/ bership. Sin is the universal evil Of
our race; strictly speaking, sin is the
only evil i'm the world. And who can
say that some time or other he has
not offended God previously, mortally?
/ This thought, when We fully realize it,,
robs MS of our peace of mind. embit-
ters every day. How shall / be rid
of this poisonous sting of remorse and
self hatred. this horrible dread OF the
| futureo Whatever answer is made,
that answer is associated with the
word confession
Dragon flies can catch insects when
flying at the rate Of 40 or 50 miles an