The Church and the Penitent

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 21, 31 May 1923, Page 45

The Church and the Penitent

Most significant and thought-compelling” is what the editor of the American Chvrch Monthly, an Anglican maga' /me terms the following “parable” from Andre Maurois’s J.cs Silences <ly Colonel Bramble: “O’Grady,'you are an Irishman, tell me why the Catholic chaplains have more prestige than ours ” “Padre ” said the doctor, “listen to a parable; it is your turn. A gentleman had killed a man. He was not suspected, but remorse caused him to wander abroad. One day, as he passed an Anglican church, it seemed to him that'he must share his burdensome secret, and he asked the vicar to hear Ins confession. The vicar was a well-educated man, a former student of Eton and Oxford. Enchanted at the rare opportunity, he cried eagerly: ‘ Certainly, open your heart you can speak to me as a father.’ The other began- ‘I have committed murder.’ The vicar jumped up. You tell me that! Wretched murderer! I am not sure that it is not my duty to take you to the nearest police station. • t , n .v rate, it is my duty as a gentleman not to keep you I ~,l,ulte more ~mler my roof!’ The man went his wav Some kilometres further he saw a Catholic church. A last hope caused him to enter, and he knelt behind some old women who were waiting near a confessional. When his turn came he saw in the shadow a priest praying, head on hands. My father,’ said he. ‘I am not a Catholic, but f would hke to confess to you.’ ‘ I am listening, my son.’ rather 1 have committed murder.’ He waited for the ''Met Ihe priest said gently: ‘How often, my son?”’ The Doctor’s little parable shows as well a s could an 10111 learned exposition the Church’s attitude toward the sinner. Her high mission is to hallow her children and lead them to Heaven by changing sinners into penitents So her confessors, though they have, of course, been trained always to act in the sacred tribunal like skilful physicians, prudent counsellors, and just judges, fully realise that they must be. above all else, kind and patient fathers. I icy have learned from the example of the Good Shepherd Himself that every lawful means should be used to keen the sinner from going away unrepentant and unabsolved. herefore, the confessor never seems to lie surprised or scandalised at anything he hears, and with a hundred holy artifices encourages faltering penitents to cleanse their bosoms thoroughly from the perilous stuff that is ruining their soul’s health. Encompassed with infirmity himself" he can feel for those who have been vanquished for a time 111 the never-ending battle they must wage with Satan, the world and - the flesh. So ho bends down, tenderly helms his penitents to rise, pours into their wounds oil and wine, and starts them forward again, heartened and rejoicing, on their way to heaven.