The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-05-27
SALUTARY INFLUENCE OF
CONFESSION.

| AAOOub II1C uSC VI LOIil 1SSl1'
writes DIR. Walsh in America,
whole new field Of ideas comes
to young folk with the develop
ment of sex. 1t is sometimes pre-
sumed that children of this age
have sense enough to derive profit
from warnings. Personally ! find
it very hard to understand how
any one can have such all impress
sion. Sexual suggestion makes a
powerful appeal to a side of hui
man nature that is very difficult
to control. The cultivation Of the
contrary virtues and the strength
Of will developed by self-denial
and modification help toward this
control; but warnings, especially
if frequently repeated, not only
will defeat their own purpose, but
prove positively harmful. The
more emphatic the warnings, the
stronger is the suggestion that
self restraint in such matters can
scarcely be expected of the young.
The attitude;of mind, thus formed,
is likely to be that which was ex-
pressed i'll the words Of a girl,
who replied, when asked what a
temptation was, StIt is something
you yield to-" Unfortunately,
sexual suggestion todays flows in
upon the children from many
sources. The newspapers revel i'll
stories, the magazines that
circulate most freely among young
folk are full of Sex-taIes, most of
them written with the deliberate
purpose of attracting the young
by this very means The theater
has become a sink of sex-sugges-
ton. / would plead that at least
the older people whom the child
loves and respects shall not also
lend themselves to this horrible
campaign.
What then is to be done to
guard children against sins Of the
flesh? I have heard a good many
people say that it is only i'll recent
years that the world has awak-
ened to this danger and proceeded
to take measures against it. |
have heard even Catholics remark
that they were surprised that the
Church does not do more to pro-
tect children. But the fact is, that
in this, as i'll every other moral
problem, the Church took the mat
ter in hand long ago, and has pro-
vided the very best possible means
for the instruction and the protec-
ton of youth. Any Catholic who
consttlts his own experience, real
ICES the salutary influence Of con-
fession. LIE parents will only be
sure that their children have a
good confessor and 60 to confess
sion regularly, they will provide
their children with the best pos
sible safeguard. Confession is the
most wonderful psychological in
strument ever fashioned. In
France, where education is being
secularized, they are suggesting
that teachers take the part of di-
rectors Of conscience IN this mat
ter and secure the confidence of
pupils. It lis easy to understand
what a joke that might be for
some teachers. But in sacra-
mental confession, individual in
struction and warnings, i'll keep
ing with already acquired knowl-
edge, are given under the most
impressive circumstances by one
who is thoroughly respected and
is known to have the soul $ best
interests at heart. Confession
gives the help that is needed, just
at the moment when it is .neces-
sary, and religious motives make
contrary suggestions strong
enough to be Of real help, but no
mere reasoning or human motives
will afford adequate protection
against the flood Of unfortunate
suggestion that deluges modern
life.
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