Part 111, Chapter II (2)

7. Further Considerations

All that has been said surely can inflame the heart of a priest, but I would repeat that, from all the duties of the priest, I would single out the hearing of confessions as the most useful and important. Nothing else even approaches it in its power for good and fruitful results.

Surely a good preacher can win souls, but so can a good confessor. Preaching is the soul of the priestly work, while confession is its heart. Preachers begin the work of salvation. confessors bring it to completion; preachers make known the will of heaven, confessors have it practised; preachers are doctors giving general principles, teaching the faithful to love and serve God, confessors are physicians imparting individual direction and treatment. Preachers pronounce what remedies will be effectual. confessors apply them. Preachers are the trumpets of God, confessors are the soldiers destroying sin; preachers direct the artillery of eternity from a distance and not always accurately., while confessors battle at close quarters.

Preachers are God's watchdogs, who drive away the ravening wolf;

confessors are His guardians who rescue souls about to be devoured. Preachers exhort, confessors reconcile; preachers are ambassadors of God, speaking in His name, confessors are like little gods, clothed with His power and doing God's work in men's souls. Preachers describe the terrors of His judgments, confessors apply those judgments; preachers are angels announcing the ire of the Creator, confessors are other Noalis saving men in the ark of penance.

Each preacher is an Aaron commissioned to address the Pharoahs of earth and soften their hearts with virtue; each confessor is a new Moses guiding the children of God to the Promised Land through the Red Sea of Christ's Blood.

The preacher is a faithful servant of Abraham, that is, of the heavenly Father, seeking another spouse for the only Son of God; the confessor is a wise Egeus of King Assuerus, adorning other Esthers, that is, immortal souls, with the ornament of divine grace to make them pleasing to the King of heaven and earth.

The preacher is a Saul mustering an army to battle against the Philistines, that is, the devils; the confessor is a David killing Goliath, that is, sin, with the sword of. prayer when he gives absolution to the sinner.

The preacher is a prophet crying to those who enter the temple of the Lord: Audite verbum Domini; haec dicit Dominus; declaring to men the promises of the divine bounty and the threats of divine justice; predicting eternal reward for the good and an eternal punishment for the wicked. The confessor is a Levite slaying the victims of the sacrifice, that is, sinful souls; making them die to sin; washing them in the Precious Blood of the Lamb; placing them in the sacred hands of Jesus Christ. the Sovereign Priest, that He may offer them in sacrifice to His Heavenly Father.

The preacher is a forerunner of the Son of God, preparing the ways of the Lord; the confessor is a disciple cleansing, adorning, and making ready the upper rooms of men's hearts for the coming of Christ i n Holy Communion.

Finally, the preacher announces the mysteries and sufferings of the Saviour, while the confessor applies them and their fruits to souls.

The preacher denounces Satan publicly without fear; the confessor drives the devil from men's hearts, delivering them from tyranny and placing them in the bosom of the Father.

From these considerations learn the excellence and importance of this great function of your priestly life. Know, too, how useful and necessary it is and how pleasing to Him who loves souls so much. Your zeal for its careful discharge should be all-consuming. If the angels know the meaning of jealousy, they would envy the priest who is privileged to share a ministry so pleasing to God, and so efficacious for the souls for whom the Saviour shed His Blood.

If, then, you have a spark of love for God, be assiduous in carefully discharging this part of your sacerdotal office. Cherish it and consider yourself honored to have been chosen by God for this divine work. Be zealous in discharging your work in the confessional; seek to acquire the ultimate of those qualities which will fit you to be an excellent confessor. 147-