Section I. The Confessor as Spiritual Father

The confessor should remember how our Lord used to act toward sinners during his mortal life; with what charity, forbearance, and patience he dealt with them, and he should strive to imitate his divine model. Like him he should be interested in the souls of men, not in their social position, age, or sex. Whoever they may be, he should receive all sympathetically and kindly. This does not mean that he should treat all precisely in the same way. Just because of his interest in his penitents and of his sympathy for them, he will treat them as their various needs demand; not expecting the same degree of virtue in all, nor attempting to raise all to the same height of sanctity. He should try to discover what God designs for each soul and be content to second the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.

In dealing with pious penitents, especially of the other sex, he should be brief and austere, otherwise he will lose much time with little or no fruit, and expose himself to no little danger. With these penitents, especially, he should treat of nothing in the confessional except whet concerns their consciences, and that in a fatherly way, but briefly. Even if he recognizes his penitents, it will be better as a rule not to show that he knows them for what they are outside the confessional. He will thus be able to deal with them for the good of their souls with more freedom and detachment.