160 THE MEANS OF GRACE 



and to form a correct opinion of the state of his 

 soul. The nature of the Sacrament requires that 

 the avowal of sins be made simply, clearly, hum- 

 bly, and contritely, for it is essentially an act of 

 self-accusation, by which the penitent expects to 

 obtain forgiveness and grace through the power 

 of the keys confided by Christ to His Church. 19 

 Needless to add, it requires courage and mortifica- 

 tion to make a complete, sincere, and clear confes- 

 sion. 20 



Regarding the form of sacramental confession, the 

 Catechism of the Council of Trent says : "We must take 

 care that our confession be plain, simple, and undisguised, 

 not clothed in that artificial language which some employ, 

 who seem rather to give an outline of their manner of 

 life than to confess their sins ; for our confession should 

 be such as to disclose ourselves to the priest as we 

 know ourselves to be, representing as certain that which 

 is certain, and as doubtful that which is doubtful. This 

 good quality our confession obviously lacks if our sins 



19 Cat. Rom., P. II, c. 5, qu. 38: audent suum negare peccatum, dedi- 

 "Accusatorio animo [peccata] ita gnantur rogare indulgentiam, quain 

 enumeranda sunt, ut ea ctiam in no- petebat, qui nullis legibus tenebatur 

 bis vindicare cupiamus." humanis. Quod peccavit, conditionis 



20 St. Ambrose, Apol. Proph. est, quod supplicavit, correctionis. 

 David, I, c. 4, n. 15: "Peccavit Culpam itaque incidisse naturae est, 

 David, quod solent reges, sed poeni- diluisse virtutis." (Migtie, P. L., 

 tcntiam gcssit, flevit, ingemuit, quod XIV, 857). — Idem, ibid., II, c. 3, 

 non solent reges. Confessus est n. 7: "Peccavit David, quod solent 

 culpam, obsecravit indulgentiam, reges, sed poenitentiam gessit et 

 humi stratus dcploravit aerumnam, fievit, quod non solent reges. Ro- 

 ieiunavit, oravit, confessionis suae gavit veniam non arrogans potesta- 

 testimonium in perpetua saecula vul- tis, sed infirmitatis suae conscius; 

 gato dolore transmisit. Quod eru- prostratus in terram cilicio se 

 bescunt facere privati, rex non eru- opcruit, oblitus imperii et tnemor 

 buit confiteri. Qui tenentur legibus, culpae." (P. L., XIV, 890). 



