PENANCE 161 



are not enumerated or if topics are introduced that are 

 foreign to the matter of confession. They who, in 

 explaining things, observe prudence and modesty, are also 

 very much to be commended, for a superfluity of words is 

 to be avoided, but whatever is necessary to make known 

 the nature and quality of every sin, is to be explained 

 briefly and modestly." 21 



One who is morally certain that he has made an un- 

 worthy confession, must confess the same sins again. 



The term general confession has two meanings : ( I ) a 

 declaration of guilt in general terms, as contained, e. g., 

 in the Confiteor; (2) a confession in which the penitent 

 repeats all or some of his former confessions. 



A general confession in the last-mentioned sense may 

 extend over one's whole life or some particular period 

 thereof. 



A general confession becomes necessary when former 

 confessions were sacrilegious, either through want of sin- 

 cerity, sorrow, resolution, or integrity, or through grave 

 negligence in the examination of conscience, etc. A gen- 

 eral confession is useful, though not necessary, at the 

 beginning of each new epoch in life, e. g., in preparing 

 for first Communion or on entering a new state of life, 

 in a dangerous illness, at the time of a jubilee or mission. 

 Scrupulants should be dissuaded from making frequent 

 general confessions, as this practice is apt to aggravate 

 rather than improve their condition. 22 



Readings. — St. Thomas, Summa Theol., 3a, Suppl., qu. 6-10. — 

 J. P. Gury, Compendium Theologiae Moralis, Vol. II, n. 348- 

 401. — P. Schanz, Die Lehre von den hi. Sakramenten, pp. 498 

 sqq., 564 sqq. — Chr. Pesch, S.J., Praelectiones Dogmaticae, Vol. 



21 Cat. Rom., P. II, C. 5, qu. 43 Haringer, Anleitung zur Verwaltung 

 (ed. 4a Ratisb., p. 230). des hi. Bussakramentes, pp. 210 sqq. 



22 Cfr. Gury, II, n. 393-401; M. 



