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 absolution by  the  priest. Three conditions — contrition, confession,  and  satisfaction — are  necessary  on the  part  of  the  penitent  for  its  valid  and  fruitful  reception. The natural  process  of  reconciliation  was raised by  the  law  to  a  higher  grade,  and  finds  its ultimate perfection  in  the  Gospel. Christ's choice  of  a little  child  as  the  model  of  spiritual  perfection  has  a broad  and  deep  significance. When as  boys  we  had the misfortune  to  offend  our  earthly  father  by  some childish prank,  it  was  usually  through  the  medium of a  mother's  love  that  we  sought  and  obtained  forgiveness. But the  father's  pardon  was  not  accorded nor the  happy  relations  of  favor  and  love  reestablished without  certain  necessary  preliminaries. We humbly approached  our  offended  parent  and  openly acknowledged our  fault,  but  that  was  not  enough. We expressed  our  sorrow,  nor  did  that  suffice. We promised to  guard  against  the  recurrence  of  such misdeeds; but  still  there  was  something  wanting. It was  only  when  we  had  done  all  that,  and  had offered besides  to  make  good  by  some  personal  sacrifice the  damage  done,  that  the  smile  of  love  returned to his  countenance  and  his  fond  arms  opened. By a similar  process  are  His  wayward  children  restored  to the  grace  of  their  heavenly  Father. The sorrow  necessary in  the  Sacrament  of  Penance  is  clearly  not that perfect  contrition  which  of  itself  effects  justification, for  otherwise  the  sacrament  would  be  a superfluous  institution. It is  rather  attrition,  or  a sorrow  for  sin  inspired  by  some  less  exalted  motive than the  pure  love  of  God. Still we  must  never  lose