§ 3. On Innocence of Life.

Do thou diligently avoid all iniquity, and listen attentively to the Apostle St. Paul, who, with great weight of words and seriousness, saith: “Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God (1 Cor. vi. 9, 10). And again he saith: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest,—which are, fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, envies, murders, drunkenness, revelliugs, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things, shall not obtain the kingdom of God ” (Gal. v. 19, 20, 21). Thus far the words of St. Paul. Those who do such things shall be utterly condemned, unless they are reconciled to God by true penance and amendment of life (St. Matth. iii. 8). In the tremendous judgment, when the threshing-floor of the Lord shall be thoroughly cleansed, and the chaff shall be separated from the wheat, Christ will say to them in His wrath: “Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire” (St. Matth. xxv. 41). Be thou ever mindful of these words.

In order that thou mayest obtain purity of conscience, and be interiorly enlightened, recall to mind how thou hast offended God and neglected thy own soul,—in words, deeds, desires, or thoughts,—by want 110of mortification, and impurity of affections, and by all those things which thou hast unrighteously or inordinately admitted, and which are at variance with holy charity, and repugnant to the most gracious will of God. Examine thyself, and discuss as much as thou canst remember: and, being displeased with thyself, cry out in thy heart with the publican, saying: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner” (St. Luke xviii. 13). I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned; have mercy on me. So great is the number, and so multiplied the variety of my faults, that they are perfectly known only to thee, O my God. Forgive me, who am so miserable. Wash the face of my soul from all its stains, and adorn it with Thy grace, giving me good will. In this manner search and judge thyself; thus lament before thy Heavenly Father, to whom it be longs always to have mercy and to spare. Grieve purely for the glory of God, and let thy iniquities displease thee chiefly because thou knowest that they are displeasing to God, and contrary to His honour and good pleasure. Consider rather the offence thou hast committed against God, than the punishment thou hast deserved.

Afterwards do thou humbly, completely, sincerely, simply, openly, and in few words, confess these thy sins before a fitting priest who, holding the place, of God, has authority to absolve thee. If thou wishest to confess all the grave faults and offences which thou rememberest to have committed from thy child hood; when thou hast done this once it is enough and sufficeth to the eternal truth of God; although 111some pious persons may be found who do it more than once. It is most expedient that since thou dost daily offend and contract stains, thou shouldst also frequently purify thyself before the priest.

But thou must reject superfluous and foolish scruples; for they shut out interior light, and disfigure by fear, anxiety, and self-love, the conscience which ought to be adorned with faith, hope, and charity. If any remorse remains after a confession well made, it must be borne with patience and humble resignation, and such a confession must not be lightly repeated on account of it.

Therefore, be thou not anxious nor disturbed, if by chance thou hast not mentioned all thy venial sins in confession; for it is enough that these should be declared in general, since it is only mortal sins, and those of which we are doubtful whether they are mortal, that we are bound by precept and necessity to confess expressly and distinctly before the priest. But before God we ought seriously to confess these venial sins, which may be effaced in many ways; for instance—by contrition, by saying the Lord’s prayer, by any burden borne for God’s sake, by the use of holy water, by genuflexions, by beating the breast, &c., if these things are done piously and religiously. Yet it is of benefit to the so;1, and pleasing to God, that a man should confess and declare to the priest even his lighter offences; but let him, as we have said, reject ground less scruples.

When thou dost repent of having sinned, and dost grieve that thou hast ever offended God, and intend 112henceforward to serve Him and to love Him, and hast rightly confessed thy sins, then truly shouldst thou be of good courage and peaceful of heart. Fulfil, therefore, diligently that which is enjoined thee by the priest, and put faith in the power of confession and in the divine promise. Believe in the Lord, who saith to priests lawfully hearing confessions: “What soever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed also in heaven ” (St. Matth. xviii. 18).