The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"""""THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE. 395obligation of declaring our sins to a priest, to whom,in the New Law, is committed "thedispensation ofthe mysteries of God."St. Ambrose, of Milan, writes : The poisonissin the ; remedy, the accusation of one s crime : thepoison is iniquity confession is the remedy of the;relapse. And, therefore, it is truly a remedy againstpoison, if thou declare thine iniquities, that thoumayest be justified.Art thou ashamed ? This shamewill avail thee little at the !judgment-seat of God."The following passage clearly shows that the greatLight of the Church of Milan is speaking of confession to priests: There are some/ continues St.Ambrose, who ask for penance, that they may atonce be restored to communion. These do not somuch desire to be loosed as to bind the priest for;they do not unburden their conscience, but theyburden his, who is commanded not to give holythings unto dogs, that not is, easily to admit impuresouls to the holy communion." 2Paulinus, the secretary of St. Ambrose, in his lifeof that great Bishop, relates that he used to weepover the penitents whose confessions he heard.St. Augustine writes Our merciful God wills us:to confess in this world that we may not be conLet no onefounded in the other." s And again:say to himself, I do penance to God in private,I doit before God. Is it then in vain that Christ hathsaid, Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be1See Faith of Catholics, Vol. III., p. 74 and seq.2Apud Wiseman, Doctrines of the Church.8Horn, am