Course 2, Chapter 40: Of union with our Lord, the new Adam, by Communion. — Penance continued

1. What do you remark on these words of our Lord: Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whose sins you shall for give they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain they are retained?

I remark on these words that a two-fold power is given to the apostles and their successors: the power to forgive sins and the power to retain them. But they cannot forgive nor retain them if they do not know them, and they cannot know them unless the penitent confess them.

2. What follows from this?

It follows from this that confession is absolutely necessary and its institution. divine.

3. Is confession the only means established by Jesu» Christ for the remission of sins?

Confession is the only means established by Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; for, 1st, our Lord does not point out any other; 2d, the Church knows of no other; 3d, if there were any other, the power to forgive and retain sins confided to the apostles, would be vain and useless.

4. How so?

No one would confess; every one would choose in preference the easiest means of obtaining pardon for his sins.

5. Has confession always been practised from the time of the apostles down to the present time V

Yes, confession has always been practised from the time of the apostles down to the present time. In the first ages of the Church there were even two kinds of confession; auricular or private confession, and public confession. The first is the sacramental confession established by our Lord; whereas public confession was established by the church.

6. Were both equally necessary?

Both were not equally necessary. Sacramental confession has always been necessary; but this was not the case with public confession, which was not in use more than five or six centuries.

7. Will you show that auricular confession dates back to the apostles?

It has been impiously asserted that confession does not date further back than the thirteenth century. But this is an error; we have witnesses for confession from the thirteenth century up to the apostles. For the twelfth, we have St. Bernard; for the eleventh, St. Peter Damian; for the tenth, Reginon, Abbot of the diocess of Trtjves; for the ninth^ the council of Paris; for the eighth, St. Boniface, Archbishop of Mayence; for the seventh, St. Gregory the Great; for the sixth, St. Leo; for the fifth, St. Augustin; for the fourth, St. Chrysostom; for the third, St. Basil; for tin1 second, Origen: for the firnt, St. Clement, disciple 19*

222 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

of St. Peter; and among the apostles, we have St. John, St. James and St. Luke; and finally, our Lord Jesus Christ, who has said: And I will give, to tlee the key of the kingdom of heaven; and wluittoerer ihou shall bind upon earth it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shatt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.*

8. What is the third part of the sacrament of penance?

The third part of the sacrament of penance is satisfaction. After the remission of the eternal punish ment, there ordinarily remains a temporal punishment to be undergone, and penance is a part of it.

9. What is the form of the sacrament of penance?

The form of the sacrament of penance are the words of the absolution. In order that the absolution may be valid, it must be given by a priest, approved by a lawful bishop.

10. Who are the ministers of the sacrament of penance?

The ministers of the sacrament of penance are bishops and priests.

11. Who has instituted the sacrament of penance?

Our Lord instituted the sacrament of penance when, breathing upon his apostles, he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost, ivhose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, and whose sins you shall retain they are retained.