How to Take and Make Confessions.

[thesmellypocket 1859]

A Guide to Confession for Laymen, Religious and Priests

Written for the Judite Monks by Father Humbert, O.S.J.

 

Father Humbert, O.S.J. was a monk, priest and cardinal who spent up to 18 hours a day in the Confessional, on at least one occasion falling asleep there, clearly showing his great devotion to the Sacrament: he would literally beg people from the bottom of his heart to come - on his knees - and even rebuked proud princes in the harshest of terms, all but dragging them to the Confessional. He wrote this guide for the Judite Monks, who would have confessed their sins weekly.

 

‘Note that I use the word ‘Confessor’, not ‘priest’ - for priests must also go to Confession! And indeed have greater reason to.’

 

 

Examination of Conscience

 

I: Be not afraid. Thou hast sinned, but it is not the end. Take heart, for even Horen sinned. God’s mercy endureth forever, and there is no offence too great for His forgiveness - no wound beyond the great Physician’s skill. What unfathomable goodness! What brilliant light! What a depth of justice! Therefore fear not, and be ashamed of thy sin, but not of thy repentance. Go to Confession at least once a year - and let no man say ‘I confess my sins before God, having no need of a priest.’ Wouldst thou mock at God? He hath instituted this Sacrament as the means of forgiveness, and if thou hast any sense, thou wilt drink this bottomless cup of mercy. For I hath observed that we have only a limited time on this earth, but an eternity in the Skies. Prepare accordingly. 

 

II: Before going to Confession, it is imperative that thou thoroughly examine thyself in the light of God. Therefore, firstly, go to the Altar or to the household shrine and humble thyself profoundly before God. Implore the aid of all the Saints, that the courage of the martyrs, the purity of the virgins and the dedication of the holy priests might be thy ally in the great outpouring of mercy which thou art about to receive. Ask Saint Julia to take dominion over thy heart, in order that thou mightest be in the same disposition as her.  It is useful to do this examination every night, and just before confessing. Examine thyself according to the virtues and the sins:

 

III:Substantial Sins, or Those Crying out to Heaven for Vengeance:

 

Rape, sodomy, adultery, incest, spilling seed, racial interbreeding; fornication. Murder, attacking the innocent and defenceless; defrauding labourers of their wages. Theft - unless the penitent is impoverished, in which case it is no longer reckoned substansial. False witness, especially in court. Apostasy.

 

IV: Sins Against the Seven Virtues:

 

Humility: Have I been prideful or vain? Have I been smug or superior? Have I refused to forgive? Have I not respected or obeyed my father/husband/officer/mother, or some other in authority over me, insofar as he does not cause me to sin?

 

Liberality: Have I refused to help those in need? Have I been covetous, greedy or stingy? How? 

 

Chastity: Have I dressed or acted immodestly, in a way that could tempt others? Have I deliberately tempted myself sexually? Have I offended against purity and chastity? Have I been unfaithful to my spouse?

 

Meekness: Have I been cruel, angry, or peevish? How?

 

Temperance: Have I over-drunk or over-eaten? Am I a drunkard or a glutton? Have I put temporal desires before God? Have I failed to keep penitential fasts?

 

Brotherly Love: Have I been envious, hateful, or held grudges? How?

 

Diligence: Have I been slothful and lazy; have I neglected my duties of work, family and prayer? How?

 

V: Against Faith

 

Have I taught or accepted error or Heresy? Have I indulged in superstitious practices, such as palm reading? Have I used the name of God or an holy person irreverently, in cursing or swearing? Have I failed to go to Confession at least once a year? Have I lied in Confession, deliberately omitting sins? Have I failed to perform the proscribed penance? 

 

 

Basic Guidelines for Confessors

 

I)Charity. Do not view each Confession as a chore, but see in each man a potential Saint. For the greatest proof of God’s glory is the raising of the most dreadful sinner to the glory of sanctity. Therefore, be ever-mindful, for the soul thou must most tenderly care for may become a great Saint, and thou shalt have to answer for thy negligence to the Great Judge. 

 

II)Do not be judgemental. Each man has his fault. Even if thou art revolted by what thou hearest, remain silent and stoic as he unfolds his sins. Speak in a reassuring voice of the evil of sin, but most of all the greatness of God’s mercy. Thou shalt catch more flies with honey than with vinegar - so it is with the salvation of souls!

 

III)Remain mostly silent until giving advice. Simply nod curtly and reassuringly for them to continue - for he is confessing to God through thee. 

 

IV)The Seal is inviolate. A priest must resolve to die before he gives up that which is revealed in the secrecy of Confession. If he is not willing to, he should never have become a priest. If he already is, he had better pray for the grace of courage! 

 

V)When giving advice, be totally frank.

 

Confessing Sins

 

Confessor: In the name of the Father, and of Horen, and of all the Exalted. 

 

Penitent: Bless me (OR pray for me), Father, for I have sinned...It has been (x) days since my last Confession. These are my sins...

 

 

Advice

 

This can be short or long. I hath spent hours with the same penitent, for truly, truly I write, that one repentant sinner causes more joy in the heavenly court among the Angels and Saints, than all the earthly palaces in the world! For God can save the sinners we are, but not the Saints we pretend to be. 

 

The advice should focus on how to combat the specific sins the penitent hast committed. They should be filled with the light of Scriptural and spiritual quotation, and totally tender and kind in tone; although we may out of kindness rebuke a brother who repeatedly falls into the same sin. 

 

Penance

 

Traditionally, a penance is a short set of small prayers. But the state of our times requires often more creative approaches, and these special penances are the most effective in draining out sin. Do not be afraid, Confessor, to be extreme, and demand whatsoever is needed to tackle the problems at the root. Useful penances include:

 

i)’Adopt a patron Saint.’ So many are without, that they deprive themselves of superabundant graces! The stories of the Saints are the true exposition of Scripture and a great way to connect with the faithful.

 

ii)’Adopt a prayer rule.’ If thou art not praying regularly, thou art going into battle against armoured knights armed with nothing but a twig. But armed with God’s help, there can be no number of knights that can hope to even dent thee. Therefore, pray throughout the day. 

 

iii)’Humiliate thyself.’ If the penitent struggles with pride, make him humble himself: make him shave half of his beard off, or make a woman shave her head, make people wear beggar’s clothing, etc. 

 

iv)’Whatever it takes.’ If it takes demanding a radical lifestyle change to make someone give up sin, then prescribe it. If thou art a penitent, listen to the priest and resolve to do the penance, even if it completely changes thy life. A doctor of the body prescribes medicine. The Confessor, the doctor of the heart, prescribes his own form of medicine - penance. 

 

Question: What if the penance prescribed is sinful? Then the absolution is invalid. Find another Confessor. 
 

Absolution

 

Confessor: Dost thou resolve to do this penance here proscribed, rebuking all past sins and vowing never to sin again?

 

Penitent: I do. O God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. May I never offend Thee any more. O may I love Thee without ceasing, and make it my resolve to do in all things Thy most holy will.

 

Confessor: God, the Father of mercy, hath, through the authority of the Prophets, instituted a sacred priesthood for the administration of the Sacraments and for the remission of sins. In union with the Exalted, Saints and Angels in the Skies, and all the faithful departed, and on the authority of said priesthood, I do absolve thee from thy sins in the name of the Father, and of Horen, and of all the Exalted. Thy sins are all forgiven: go in peace!

 

Penitent: Thanks be to God!