The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE. 411"future, dispense altogether with the services of theclergy, without any detriment to their own salvation? St. Augustine, who lived 1,400 years ago,will answer the objectionfor me : Let no one,"remarks this illustrious Doctor, say to himself, I loPenance to God in private 1 ;I do it before God. Isit then in vain that Christ has said Whatsoever yeshall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven ? Isit in vain that the keys have been given to theChurch?" The question for us is not what Godis able to do, but what He has willed to do. Godmight have adopted other means for the justificationof the sinner, as he might have created a worlddifferent from the present one. But it is our business to take our Father at His word, and to haverecourse with gratitudeto the system He has actually established for our justification. Now, we areassured by His infallible word, that it is by havingrecourse to His consecrated ministers that our sinswill be forgiven us. 1It is related in the Book of Kings that Naaman,the Syrian, was afflicted with a grievous leprosy,which baffled the skill of the physicians of hiscountry. He had, in his household, a Jewishmaid-servant. She spoke to her master of thegreat prophet Eliseus, who lived in her nativecountry, to whom the Lord had given the powerof performing miracles. She besought her masterto consult the prophet.Naaman accordingly set1John xx.