Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-26

Tie Confessional" subject that
he declared is the stumbling DOCK
to many, was discussed to some length
last evening by Rev. Father Felix A.
Byrne at st. Patrick's church. The
reverend speaker declared that the
confession Of sins was not only very
natural ordinance but that it was a
divine institution He quoted almost
entirely from the bible used by non
Catholics to support his point. The
lecture was the last given here by
Father Byrne. He left this morning
for Williamsburg. where he Will assist
Rev. Father John Glenn in forty hours
devotion the remainder Of the week.
Rev. Father William ]. Clifford will de.
liver the remaining lectures scheduled
for this week.
The services last evening opened
with the recitation OF the htany OF the
blessed virgin, followed by answers to
questions by Father Clifford Benedlc-
ton with Rev. Father J. w, Bulger as
celebrant, closed the services.
10 Natural Ordinance.
At the outset of his lecture. Father
Byrne quoted the ninth chapter OF the
GOSPEL of ST. Matthew wherein Jesus
cures the man of palsy and thus for
gives his sin. The question OF the
confessional" said the priest, lis a
very serious one. 1t is one OF the
teachings that the Catholic church has
that others do not have. As I said be-
fore we have all the good things OF all
other faiths, and many more. The con.
fessional is a stumbling block to those
who have not been brought up In the
church, but 1t Is a very natural ord1-
nance. It Is 4 divine ordinance. II
Is as old as Christianity and 1t is
great aid to society"
At this period, the priest related
story OF a woman In Wisconsin who
had gone to the home Of the priest to
tell him that she believed In all the
teachings OF the Catholic church. but
could not bring herself to making
During the conversation,
the woman told the priest that she had
been a very bad woman, and really
made an open confession.
at is just an apology" continued the
speaker. "The priest is the third
party who takes the apology for God.
It is a good deal like going to the sur
geon's table for an operation. You
first dread it, but after 1t is over, you
feel all the better for having gone. 1t
"a a very natural ordinance, and /
want TO prove 1t to you like this. If
you offended any individual an apology
is due from you if you are a gentleman
Or a lady. Should the offense be
against a king or queen or even the
president Of the United States, OF
course that exalted official would not
welcome you into his throne room or
his elegant apartments to confess your
sin or apologize No, he would dele
gate third party to take your apology.
Just so has God delegated his priests
TO take your apology for sins against
him. We all confess to one another.
It is easy to open your heart to your
,onfessor. It is a natural and rea-
sonable thing to apologize to our fel-
owmen and is it not duty to apollo
,ize to God whom We offend? He has
given to US a third party TO receive our
apology. He did receive the confess
sion Of Adam and Eva and of Cain,
out today he does not receive. God
almighay came to Adam and Eve and
hey in the utmost humility confessed
o having eaten the forbidden fruit.
Cain swore to lie. and God knew he
vas making a bad confession. He
led ind there is no record that shows
If Gains redemption.'
Necessary to Confess.
The book of Numbers. the twelfth
chapter and the twelfth verse was
hen cited by the speaker to further
his it Is shown that Aaron made q
confession of his sin and of his sisters
and asked Moses to intercede for
hem. Marian. the sister was shut out
If the camp for seven days for her
sin.
The second book Of Samuel was re-
erred to as showing that David con-
essed his sin to Nathan.
1.-THE divine savior showed that he
lad the power to forgive sim contin-
led the missioner, when he raised the
nan sick Of palsy. To demonstrate
hat the son Of Gcd had the power to
orgive sin, and to prove 1t he worked /
miracle, and il God was so powerful
Is to do this, can he not also hand
Town the power to man on earth?''
The charge CT God to the apostles
when he gave the keys to them and
,ade them 20 and teach all nations,
vas referred to by the speaker. who
said: God gave to Peter and the
.postles the keys of the city, which
means the key to everything. He