152 



THE MEANS OF GRACE 



development is the decisive factor in regard to 

 this obligation. Of course, the precept of an- 

 nual confession binds only those who have com- 

 mitted a mortal sin. Those who are guilty of 

 venial sins only are not strictly obliged to go to 

 confession at all. 5 Because of the danger of self- 

 deception, however, and particularly on account 

 of the respect due to the law of Easter Commun- 

 ion, every Catholic is advised to go to confession 

 at least once a year, even though he be not con- 

 scious of mortal sin. 



The obligation imposed by the precept of 

 annual confession is not ad finiendam, but ad ur- 

 gendam obligationem. Hence if a man surely 

 foresees that he will not be able to comply with his 

 duty later in the year, he is bound to do it now. 



Sacramental confession, to be valid, must be made to 

 the appointed priest in person, not by letter, telephone 



fideliter confiteatur. . . ." (Denzin- 

 ger-Bannwart, n. 437). — Cat. Rom., 

 P. II, c. s, qu. 38: ". . . perspici- 

 tur, neminem confessionis lege ad- 

 strictum esse ante earn aetatem, quel 

 rationis usum habere potest. Neque 

 tamen ea aetas eerie aliquo annorum 

 numero deftnita est, sed Mud uni- 

 verse statuendum videtur: ab eo 

 tempore confessionem puero indic- 

 tarn esse, quum inter bonum et ma- 

 lum discernendi vim habet, in cius- 

 que mentem dolus cadere potest. 

 Nam quum ad id vitae tempus quis- 

 que pervenerit, in quo de salute 

 aeterna deliberandum est, turn pri- 

 mum sacerdoti peccata confiteri de- 

 bet; quum aliter salutem sperare 



ttemini liceat, qui scelerum conscien- 

 tia premitur." (Ed. Ratisb. 4a, p. 

 228). 



5 Cfr. St. Alphonsus, Theol. Mor., 

 1. VI, n. 667: "Quaeritur an ad 

 satisfaciendum praecepto annuae 

 confessionis, qui non habet morta- 

 lia, teneatur confiteri venialia. 

 Prima sententia affirmat. Secunda 

 sententia tamen communis et verior 

 negat. Ratio, quia Ecclesia prae- 

 cipiendo confessionem annuam tan- 

 turn Mam confessionem praecipit, 

 quae est debita ex Christi institu- 

 tione. Christus autem nullam aliam 

 prnncipit confessionem nisi morta- 

 Hum." — Supra, p. 138. 



