THE AURICULAR CONFESSION.

In every Catholic church there is a curtained recess called the confessional-box. Here the penitent meets the priest, the former kneeling, the latter seated. The priest questions, and the penitent recites all the secret thoughts, desires, words and acts, vile or vicious, since last they met. It is called "auricular," because it is made into the auris, or ear, of the priest.

ITS ORIGIN.

It was unknown during the primitive days of Christianity. It is one of the many abominations introduced during mediæval times. It is a fact, which learned Romanists do not deny, that auricular confession became a doctrine and practice of the Church at the Council of Lateran, in the year 1215. Pope Innocent III., of Inquisition fame, is the founder.

Thus, you see, it is a modern invention. Roman Catholics do not generally know this, nor would they be allowed to know it. Its continuance depends upon keeping the people ignorant in regard to its origin. It took Satan more than twelve hundred years to introduce it. It is one of the

many abominations that was introduced during a corrupt age.

THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH UPON THIS

SUBJECT.

In the Catechism for Beginners" the question is asked, "What is the sacrament of penance ?" The answer given is, "Penance is a sacrament in which the sins committed after baptism are forgiven."

The next question of importance is as follows: "How do you know that the priest has the power of absolving from the sins after baptism?"

"A. Because Jesus Christ granted that power to the priests of His Church when he said, 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whose sins ye forgive, they are forgiven them; whose sins ye retain, they are retained."

Note the bold assertion, "Jesus Christ granted this power to the priests of His Church." How is the child, or an ignorant adult, or one educated in a Catholic school, to know how much the Scriptures are here perverted and how much there is of false statement ?

In Deharbe's Catechism, page 150, the question is asked: "What is the sacrament of penance?

"A. It is a sacrament in which the priest, as God's representative, forgives sins when the sinner is heartily sorry for them, sincerely confesses them, and is willing to do penance for them.

"Q. Does the priest really forgive the sins, or does he only declare them forgiven?

"A. The priest really and truly forgives sins. through the power given him by Christ,"

On page 151 the question is asked: "Can all sins. be forgiven in the sacrament of penance?

"A. Yes; all sins committed after baptism can be forgiven, if we confess them with the right disposition of repentance."

The following questions are asked:

"Q. What is confession?

"A. Confession is the sorrowful accusation of our sins to a priest, in order that we may obtain absolution from him.

"Q. What qualities are necessary for confession ?

"A. Confession must be (1) complete (2) sincere, and (3) clear.

"Q. When is confession complete ?

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A. Confession is complete when we confess at least all the mortal sins that we remember, as well as number and circumstances.

"Q. What must we do if we cannot recall their number?

"A. We must tell the number as nearly as we can, and declare about how often in a day, week, or month we have committed the sin.

"Q. What circumstances must we confess ?

"A. Every circumstance (1) that might make a mortal sin of a venial one; or (2) that might change a mortal sin into one of a different kind; for example, a theft into a sacrilege."

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The Council of Trent declared, Whosoever shall deny that three acts are required in the penitent for the entire and perfect remission of sins, constituting the matter of sacrament of penance, viz.: Contrition, confession and satisfaction, which are called the parts of penance: let him be accursed. Whoever shall say that the mode of secretly confessing to a priest alone, which the Catholic Church has always observed from the beginning and still observes, is foreign

to the institution and command of Christ, and is a human invention: let him be accursed. Whoever shall say that the confession of a penitent is not requisite in order that the priest may absolve him: let him be accursed. . . Whoever shall say that priests who are living in mortal sin do not possess the power of binding and loosing: let him be accursed."

We have made quotations from the Catechism and the Council of Trent concerning penance, that you may fully understand the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church upon this subject.

A FORM OF CONFESSION.

"I confess to God the Father Almighty, to his only begotten Son Jesus Christ, and to God the Holy Ghost, before the whole company of heaven, and to you, my Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, by my fault, my own fault, my most grievous fault." Then follow the sins detailed. "For these sins, etc., I most humbly ask pardon of God, and of you, my ghostly Father, penance, counsel and absolution."

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Having heard the confession, and the necessary questions and examination being finished, the priest, according to Dens' Theology, will say, 'May Almighty God have mercy upon thee, and having remitted thy sins lead thee through to eternal life.' Then raising his hands toward the penitent, let him say: 'May the Almighty and Merciful Lord give to thee the indulgence, absolution, and remission of thy sins. Amen. May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve thee, and I by His authority.

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loose thee from every bond of excommunication and interdict in so far as I am able and thou hast need."" Then follows the sacramental absolution: 'I absolve thee from thy sins in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen." I quote from Dens' Theology, a work prepared for Rome's seminaries and students of theology.

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HOW OFTEN THE CONFESSION MAY BE MADE. According to a decree of a Lateran Council, Every one of the faithful of both sexes, after he or she shall reach the years of discretion, must faithfully confess all of his or her sins alone at least once a year to the proper priest." This decree the Council of Trent confirmed, and it is commonly recited among the five common precepts of the Church. Peter Dens says: "Penance may be repeated till seventy times seven, that is, as often as the sinner sins and repents." It is pretty generally known that there are many Roman Catholics who go to the confessional many times every year. Women go more frequently than men. There are Catholic men who never go to confession. But they are, if possible, still greater slaves to Rome. They expect to have the priest to forgive them on their death-beds, and if they give him plenty of money he will say masses for them; consequently many neglect the confession and absolution till death.

THE CONFESSOR MUST QUESTION THE PENITENT. Mr. Dens says: "If the priest observes that the penitent is silent from shame or fear it is proper to