To the Benevolent Reader

That pastoral discipline is by no means to be neglected in seminaries, His Holiness Pope Pius XI commended in his letter concerning seminaries and the studies of clerics, 1 Aug. 1922. For since, by the prescription of law, it is necessary that "there also be lectures concerning pastoral theology, with practical exercises added, especially concerning the method of handing on the Catechism to children and others, of hearing confessions, of visiting the sick, of assisting the dying" (Can. 1365, § 3), the Supreme Pontiff wills that the moderator of studies "indeed assign very much to this discipline, whereby, to be sure, the salvation of souls is most directly sought. Nor indeed shall he teach only how holy divine things must be handled; but besides, how they must be applied to men with ever greater fruit. In this he will have a most diligent regard for the times. For the course of events has brought many things into the morals of the Christian people, unheard of in the times of our fathers: things which today the priest must know thoroughly, that he may find new remedies for new evils in the power of Jesus Christ, and may bring the salutary force of Religion into all the veins of human society."

Complying with this desire, we have already published two practical little works intended for pastors of souls and confessors, concerning all questions of Chastity and Lust, and of Embryology; but now we select matter most properly pastoral, as looking immediately to the internal government of consciences: concerning penitents of diverse conditions to be directed in various ways.

Concerning these matters, if you seek something new, friendly reader, perhaps you will go away empty. But the things which you will be able to find scattered among authors of better note, we have diligently collected for the use of confessors. Yet we have always endeavored to submit all things to our own judgment, to reduce them, as much as we can, to principles, to propose them methodically, and to bring them into a better order. This, in a matter eminently practical, we think has been done not without usefulness: all the more because professors of seminaries, for lack of opportunity of time, are sometimes compelled to run through these things more briefly, or even to omit them entirely. But have we completed the matter with a happy outcome? May God grant it! Yet, because of our insufficiency, we scarcely dare to trust.

This attempt of ours we benignly entrust to the Blessed Virgin, mediatrix of all graces, and to St. Raymond of Pennafort, of the Order of Preachers, distinguished minister of the sacrament of Penance.

The Author