The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-08-10

age commit a mortal sin? 2. 1T per-
son happens to confess sin in the
wrong way and thought he might say
it differently just before entering the
confessional, is the confession bad
provided he did not know the great
ness of the sin and was not aware that
he must say it in different manner.
If, in after life, he finds out, through
sermons, that this sin should have
been confessed in the latter manner
and worries very much what should he
do? 8. If a person accidentally hap
pens to say something in low voice
in confession and doubt arises as to
whether the confessor heard it, would
the confession be bad in as much as it
was the persons sincere intention to
say it so he could be heard? Would it
be bad if worry arises before he leaves
the confessional, or not until after
wards? a. Would it be wrong for
Catholic to take basket to Protest
ant social or to buy one there?
/. Children are said to be capable
of committing sin as soon as they
come to the use of reason, that is,
when they are able to distinguish be-
tween right and wrong, which is gen.
orally about the age of seven years.
There is, however, considerable varia-
lions from this general rule in par
ticular cases. Some children are more
precocious than others, and are able to
distinguish right from wrong before at
tanning their seventh year. In others
the use of reason is not attained until
later. Climatic conditions also influ.
ence this development. Hence, each
case has to be studied individually be-
fore it can be stated with any degree
of definiteness that the child is capa-
BILE of committing sin. In the absence
of any evidence to the contrary it is
presumed that a child of seven has
reached the use of reason and there
fore can commit sin. If he has not yet
reached the age of seven it may be
taken for granted that he is incapable
of committing sin unless it can be
shown that he is more mature than
children usually are prior to their
seventh year. 2. If the penitent con-
fessed the sin just as it was and with
out wilfully concealing anything that
would enable the priest to arrive at an
understanding in regard to the extent
of his guilt he has no reason to worry
about it. If we except cases where
ignorance is the result of sinful care
lessness, no one is said to be guilty
of sin to the gravity of which he does
not advert. A necessary condition for
mourning the guilt of any sin, whether
mortal or venial, is a knowledge of the
fact that the act performed was evil.
When a person knowingly and wilfully
violates Gods law he is guilty of sin
and responsible for it. If he confesses
the sin as it is, in all sincerity and
sorrow, he has done his duty. If he
learns later, either through reading or
a sermon or in any other way, that
the sin was more grievous than he
thought when he committed the act, it
does not affect the state of his con-
science at the moment when he in
Cured the guilt There is not need
to worry about the matter If it will
quiet his conscience he may bring the
matter up in confession and follow the
advice of his confessor. 8. In the con-
fessional the priest is on the alert and
if he does not hear or understand
what the penitent is saying he will let
him know. Provided the penitent
speaks distinctly, quite a low tone of
voice sufices for purposes of con-
fession. If you had no intention of
trying to deceive the priest by speak
ing in low tone to conceal some of
your sins you need not worry, but may
take it for granted that the priest
heard and understood what you said
4. AS long as it is purely social
affair and there is no question of TAX
ing part in a religious service Cath
Ollie may participate.
If person leads a good life and
commits a grievous sin just before
death he cannot be saved; and If he
leads a bad life and repents before
death his sins are forgiven. We are
taught that God knows everything and
hence He knows from the beginning
whether each person 10 going to be
saved or not. What difference, there
fore, does it make whether one leads
a good or bad life? Will things not
be the same in the end?
As it stands the first statement is in
correct. A person may commit a
grievous sin just before death and
afterwards repent of it and be saved.
But if he dies unrepentant he is con-
demned. 1t is true that God knows an
things: with Him there is no past or
future: all things are present to His
sight. He knows who will be saved