Parergon: How the Confessor Ought to Conduct Himself

414. - In cases of chastity and of the opposed lust, although the confessor cannot state false things, he must nevertheless act so prudently that, insofar as he can, he may avert from penitents the danger of falling; especially since it is often most difficult to pronounce with certainty concerning light or grave sin, concerning full or merely imperfect imputability; and rash condemnation has not rarely led a soul to despair, improvident hesitation to scarcely curable anxiety, and inconsiderate excuse to fatal audacity. Wherefore, let him quiet the fearful with firm responses, but at the same time efficaciously induce penitents, especially clerics and younger persons, to follow safer things, according to that saying ¹: "In this matter of the sixth precept, it is necessary, insofar as it is possible, to employ every severity."

¹ St. Alphonsus, Homo apostolicus, treatise 9, no. 34.

But paternal severity, which restrains rash actions, by no means excludes benevolence toward persons.

Nevertheless, that he may provide for his own security and perfection, let the confessor diligently attend that his affability remain supernatural, and that he seek himself in no matter.

Let him also show himself courteous and benign in such a way that he gives occasion to no sensual affection in others.

Let him not be ignorant that religious paranoia can lie hidden beneath a veil of intense piety, which is rooted in a morbid but exceedingly vehement concupiscence. Nor are there lacking persons for whom, in order to experience pleasure, it is sufficient to speak with another concerning sexual matters. Therefore, persons of this kind, especially unmarried women, can seek base satisfactions in the very tribunal of penance.

"Wherefore, the confessor must act with the greatest caution and vigilant prudence with persons of this kind, all the more because the religious-erotic fanaticism of women, especially unmarried women, sends deep roots into the feminine heart, which are afterward removed with sufficient difficulty. Unless the greatest vigilance, caution, and prudence are employed, the reputation of the priest can suffer the greatest detriment. When these women present themselves, they are to be sent quickly to a physician ²."

² Antonelli, vol. 2, nos. 222, 223. Cf. also Gemelli, Non moechaberis, pp. 43, 44, 55.

He will counsel spouses a tenor of life by which they may live, each content with the other, and grow in mutual love and esteem. Yet he should not neglect to lead them toward more perfect counsels.

But he will especially exhort others to these things:

That they flee whatever things are strange and unusual in these matters.

That, if there is a grave cause for seeing, reading, or treating something which can move the sense, they preserve a simple, not anxious, manner of acting.

That, except for a just cause, they involve themselves as little as possible in these matters and firmly repel specious pretexts.

That, even in a necessary action, they endeavor to avoid less pure affections and movements of the flesh.

That they value sincerity and strength of soul most highly and acquire them for themselves.

That they be mindful of human dignity and of the love with which Christ has espoused to himself the soul of the faithful.

That they assiduously foster higher studies.

That they taste most frequently the heavenly food of the Eucharist, with the devotion that is fitting.

That, also by tender devotion toward the most pure Virgin, they foster in themselves not only horror of sin but an apostolic love of chastity, of which St. Paul handed down an eminent example.

In this manner he will inculcate a delicate and pleasing purity; and he will form Christians concerning whom Athenagoras already said in the second century: "Since we have the hope of eternal life, we despise the pleasures of this life" ³.

³ Legatio pro christianis, no. 32 (M.P.G. 6, 966).