PENANCE 155 



in his invalid confession, unless the confessor 

 has at least a dim recollection of them. 



£) That the number of mortal sins committed 

 be given as accurately as possible. If the exact 

 number cannot be ascertained, it is sufficient to 

 give an approximate estimate, declaring, for in- 

 stance, how many times the sin has been commit- 

 ted each day, week, or month. 



y) That the circumstances be mentioned which 

 change the species of a sin or add a new species 

 (circumstantiae speciem mut antes vel addentes), 

 and especially those by which a venial sin becomes 

 grievous (e. g., scandal). Circumstances that 

 merely increase the guilt of a sin within the same 

 species {circumstantiae notabiliter aggravantes) 

 as a rule need not be confessed, though it is ad- 

 visable to do so. They must be expressly men- 

 tioned if they entail a censure or reservation, or 

 if the confessor inquires about them with a view 

 to ascertaining the disposition of the penitent or 

 deciding whether restitution has to be made. 9 



Circumstances which might change an objectively 

 grievous sin (i. e., one that is grievous merely from its 

 object) into a venial sin should also be mentioned. 

 This is not necessary for the integrity of the Sacrament, 

 but advisable because it may enable the confessor to form 

 a better idea of the penitent's state of mind. 



9 Cfr. Prop. Damnat. sub Innoc. alicuius consuetudinem." (Denzin- 

 XL, prop. 58: "Non tenemur con- ger-Bannwart, n. 1208). 

 fessario interroganti fateri peccati 



