"Bring in here the poor, and the crippled and the blind, and the lame." St. Luke, 14:21.
A Catholic missionary in China answered a knock at the door one evening. It was Joseph, one of his catechists or religion teachers. Joseph had a piece of paper with a long list of sins, their kind and their number.
"What is this?" Father asked.
"That's a list of my wife's sins. She doesn't know much about religion, and is afraid she might make a bad confession, so I examine her conscience for her. I write down everyone of her sins. Then she can remember them when she goes to confession.
The priest was edified as well as amused, but he wanted to know how the husband was so sure that the list was correct. The helpful husband explained: "I examine her conscience with her. She cannot tell a lie, because I already know many of her faults. And if I should actually catch her in a lie, I make her kneel in her room before a picture of our Lord."
When Father asked whether she always did as her husband directed, the latter declared: "I should say she does, Father; she would not dare to be disobedient."
I am inclined to think we would all get a much better picture of our sinful state if we too had somebody else to examine our conscience for us. Others see faults which we cannot see. Wouldn't it be wonderful if wives and husbands would examine each other's conscience? To think of your sins is your personal problem and task. Today we would like to help you with it.
Thinking of your sins is the first step in the sacrament of confession. The best way of examining your conscience is to go through all Ten Commandments of God, the six principal precepts of the Church, the seven capital sins, and see just how you have offended God in regard to each. This is the best and most thorough method. Another way is to examine yourself on those commandments which you know you generally violate. Still, another method is to think back to your last good confession and immediately your serious sins will stand out in memory.
Whatever way you use, be sure to determine the kind of sin you committed and the number of times. It is not enough to say: "Father, I was bad." That might mean you were unkind or impatient or dishonest or impure. Neither is it enough to say: "I was impure." Was it in thought or word or action? Was it alone or with somebody else? Of course, you are not to mention any names or places or anything that might betray another. But the confessor must know the kind of sin.
He must also know the number of times, at least about how often you have committed each kind of sin. You must confess the kind and number of all mortal sins.
Certain circumstances will change the nature and seriousness of a sin. Simply to confess, for example: "I stole," is not enough. Give the priest some idea of the amount stolen and the person from whom it was taken. There are mortal and venial sins of theft, you know.
Let me repeat: You must tell all your mortal sins, their kind and their number. To omit a mortal sin through careless examination of conscience would make yours a bad confession. If you are not sure whether the sin was mortal or venial, confess it as a doubtful sin. If you have no mortal sins, then mention some serious sin of your past life, or at least one of your more serious venial sins. We will speak of this more fully in the near future.
One class of sin too often overlooked are those of our particular state in life. It is related of the Emperor Charles V of Spain that he once made his confession to a pious and penetrating priest. When His Majesty had completed his confession, the priest reminded him: "Your Majesty has confessed the sins of Charles; now let me hear the sins of the Emperor." As Emperor he had certain responsibilities, the neglecting of which was matter for confession.
Husbands and wives, sons and daughters, employers and employees, superiors and inferiors, professional men like doctors, lawyers and teachers have duties which they must fulfill. That is one of the main reasons religious, priests, bishops and even the Pope go to confession. They have great responsibilities. To neglect them is sinful.
Let me offer some helps in examining your conscience. First, beg the Holy Spirit to help you make a good confession, to help you remember your sins. Second, use a prayerbook or catechism with a list of possible sins. Third, give your examination time and thought, the time and thought you would give to an important business deal. Don't worry about it, but don't be careless either.
The best help in thinking of your sins at the time of confession is the practice of examining your conscience every day. In your night prayers look over the previous twenty-four hours and recall how seriously and how often you have offended God. Tell Him you are sorry.
Still another aid is frequent confession. Put off receiving this sacrament, and you make it more difficult each day you delay. Monthly confession should be the minimum for a practical Catholic.
Much as we smile at the story of the Chinese man who wrote down the sins of his wife, it was an effective way for her to remember them, and a big help when it came time to confess them. Do that for yourself. No, don't write down your sins, but be conscientious.
Yes, the great supper is the banquet of the Lord, who invites the spiritually poor, the spiritually crippled, and the spiritually lame to take part. Whoever commits mortal sin is poor and crippled and blind spiritually. The Divine Physician will cure you in His sacrament of mercy through the hands of His priest. Then you can confidently and lovingly approach the table of the Lord. Amen.
____________________
Adapted from Talks on the Sacraments
by Fr. Arthur Tonne,OFM (© 1947)
No comments:
Post a Comment