Course 2, Chapter 39: Of union with our Lord, the new Adam, by Communion. — Penance

1. What is the sacrament of penance?

Penance is a sacrament instituted by our Lorct Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins committed aftei baptism. There is no sin, how great soever, that may not be forgiven by the sacrament of penance, are well received.

2. What is the matter of the sacrament of penance?

The matter of the sacrament of penance is contrition, confession, and satisfaction; but in order to repent of our sins we must know them, and therefore examine our consciences.

3. In what does the examen of conscience consist?

The examen of conscience consists in diligently trying to find" out what sins we have committed since our last good confession.

4. What are the qualities of the examen of conscience?

The examen of conscience should be: 1st, exact, that is, we must examine ourselves on all the sins of thought, word, action, and omission which we may

have committed; 2d, impartial, that is, we must examine ourselves without favor, as we would examine a stranger.

5. What are the means to make a good examen of conscience?

The means to make a good examen of conscience are prayer, a lively faith, recollection, and the habit of self-examination every evening.

6. What is contrition?

Contrition is a sorrow of soul and detestation of the sins which we have committed, with the firm purpose of never committing them again. There are two kinds of contrition; perfect contrition and imperfect contrition — which latter is called attrition.

7. What is perfect contrition?

Perfect contrition is sorrow for having offended God, because he is infinitely good and because sin displeases him. Perfect contrition, joined with the resolve to have recourse to the sacrament of penance as soon as it is in our power, is sufficient to remit sins.

8. What is imperfect contrition?

Imperfect contrition is sorrow for having offended God, because sin merits hell, deprives us of heaven, and is so odious in itself; it implies a commencement of the love of God, and in order to remit sin it must be joined to the sacrament of penance.

9. What are the qualities of contrition?

Contrition must be interior, sovereign, supernatural, universal; interior, that is, it must be in the heart and not merely upon the lips or in the imagination; sovereign, mortal sin should displease us more than all other evils, because it deprives us of God, the greatest of all goods; supernatural, it must be produced in us by the "race of the Holy Ghost, and founded upon motivcs of faith; universal, it must extend to all mortal sins without exception.

10. What is firm purpose?

Firm purpose is a determined, efficacious resolu-

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tion never to offend God again; it must have the same qualities as contrition.

11. What is confession?

Confession is the accusation of our sins to an authorized priest, for the purpose of obtaining absolution.

12. What are the qualities of confession?

Confession must be: 1st, simple, that is, we must say clearly whatever is necessary, that our confessor may know the state of our consciences; 2d, humble, because it is an accusation against ourselves; 3d, pure, that is, we must confess with the intention of becoming better; 4th, sincere, we must confess our sins, such as they are, without diminution, disguise, or concealment; 5th, entire, we must confess all the mortal sins we remember, after due examination, as also the circumstances which change the nature of the sin.