The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-04-10
A BAPTIST ON CONFESSION.
written Specially for The Catholic
BulIetin.)


Confession of sin seems to be
natural to man and is certainly neces-
sary for the cultivation of the highest
virtues. Catholics know this well, be-
cause of the sacrament of Penance in
which they are trained, from the early
use of their reasoning powers to con-
fess their sins to the priest with sor-
row for past transgressions and firm
resolution to avoid future sin. To
one thus trained the practice of con-
fession seems natural and reasonable,
the common sense thing to do when
one has committed any grave fault.
SO deeply does this attitude become
fixed in the Catholic mind and con-
science that without sacramento con-
fession the average Catholic would
feel as if he were deprived of the
most important guide of his spiritual
Life. He would still have the sermons
and instructions upon which to rely;
he would still have his catechism, the
scriptures, his prayerbook and the ad.
vice of his priest as friend but all
these could not supply the place OF
confession. They would remain COM
paratively impersonal to him accus-
toned to follow with reverent docil-
ity, the sacred personal condolences
which follow the humble declaration
of his Utmost failings and sins to Gods
minister in the tribunal of Penance.
To many Protestant the term
confession" is distasteful because of
its close association with the Church
he has been taught to hate. Too
often he has heard that confession
is one of the many means used by the
tyranny of Catholicism to keep the
individual Catholic in dishonorable
and slayish subsection. But despite
this training the sincere and earnest
Protestant frequently gives testimony
to the need of the human soul for
confession and pays tribute to the wis.
dom of the Holy Ghost in the guild
ance of the Catholic Church wherein
the confession of sin is not only pro-
vided for. but required.
Such were some of the thoughts
suggested by a sermon on "The Two
fold Confession" by the pastor of a
Baptist Church in this State some
time ago. He spoke of the peace and
ljoy following the confession of ones
sin with all the fresh enthusiasm OF
discovery. Indeed the careless Cath.
Ollie who approaches the sacred
Tribunal only once a year, and that
half unwillingly, might easily learn
to value more highly this unspeakable
blessing, which the Church offers to
her children. from a persual of Mr.
MacKinneys sermon. A few extracts
from it will not be out of place.
| He said in part: Recent religious
History in lands where great awaken
Iings have been, are characterized by
1.-TWO remarkable things, the sorrowful
Iconfession of sin and the equally joy
Iful confession of the Saviour. This
would lead the thoughtful mind tc
hold this as worthy of careful investi
cation. Let us then study this sub
Eject.
First the Confession of sin. This
NATURALLY divides itself into three
parts: confession to self, confession
to God, confession to people. The man
who knows himself, will acknowledge
that he is sinful.
Then we ought to confess to God
/ He that epvereth his sins shall not
prosper. bit he who confesseth. and
| forsaketh they shall have mercy
David is The great confessor of sin
Read the S1st Psalm of his comics
Ision. This Psalm is read at every ex
Iecution in Canada. Daniel, that good
imam and great, was great confessor
of sin. we must confess our sins II
I've would be forgiven. 1 John 1:9 is
the comfoA of thousands. If we
Iconfess our sins. He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins Have
lyou confessed your sins to God?
Have you then forgiven?
i Next we ought to confess to PEG.
Eple. If thou bring thy gift to the al
Itar and there rememberest that thy
brother h4st aught against thee,
leave there thy gift and go thy way:
first be recSnciled to thy brother, and
then come and offer thy gift This
lis very NECESSARY to your happiness
Many 90 onlyear after year guilty and
miserable because they win not seek
Ireconciliatih with those alienated
from them " some misunderstanding
s. fSinety-nine nuarrels out of every one
hundred begin with a misunderstood
/ ing. It could all be cleared up in a
friendly tain and mutual explanation.
snndsrstak dings should be removed
by c0nfessioh.
/ Dishonest deeds ought to be con