Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/144

 a superficial or  outward  compliance  with  this  duty, accompanied, perhaps,  with  insincerity,  gross  negligence, or  a fixed  adherence  to  mortal  sin,  and therefore destitute  of  real  sorrow,  change  of  heart, and a firm  purpose  of  amendment. The enormity of sin  is  the  same  at  this  day  as  it  ever  was,  it  is  as unchangeable  as  God  himself; because  it  is  essentially a rebellion against  him,  a breach  of  his  law,  an  insult offered to  the  Eternal  Majesty;  and  consequently not more  remissible  at  present  in  the  Sacrament  of Penance,  than  at  the  earliest  periods  of  Christianity, when the  severest  discipline  prevailed,  and  the  fervour of primitive  penitents  was  so  ardent. Hence, that this merciful  institution  may  never  be  frustrated  of its  end,  and  in  order  that  the  sinner  may  always obtain by  it  the  pardon  of  his  offences,  we  must strictly fulfil  these  five  following  conditions:

I. An  examination  of  conscience,  that  we  may know our  sins.

II. A heartfelt sorrow  for  having  committed  them.

III. A firm resolution  never  to  commit  them  again.

IV. An humble  confession  of  them  to  a Priest empowered to  absolve  us.

V. A desire  or  intention  of  performing  our penance.

When you  make  a good  confession,  God  grants you the  pardon  of  the  sins  you  have  fallen  into; and he grants  you  also  strength  to  avoid  sin,  and  to serve  him  better  for  the  time  to  come. But should you make  a bad  confession,  you  are  guilty  of  a great crime, and  you  become  much  worse  than  you  were before in  the  sight  of  God. As often,  therefore,  as you  go  to  confession,  go  with  an  earnest  wish  of making  a truly  good  confession.

You must  also  hear  in  mind  that  we  can  neither