PENANCE 163 



gated unless there is a well-founded doubt as to 

 the integrity of his avowal or the absence of some 

 element that is essential for the valid and worthy 

 reception of the Sacrament. 



When it becomes necessary to ask questions, 

 these will in the nature of the case deal with one 

 of the following subjects : the number and specific 

 character of one or more of the mortal sins con- 

 fessed; necessary circumstances; causes and oc- 

 casions; sinful habits; relapses, or the duty of 

 restitution. Occasionally it may also be neces- 

 sary to question the penitent in regard to his pro- 

 fession or occupation, his state of life, the time 

 or validity of his last confession, etc. 2 



To perform his duty effectively, the confessor, in ques- 

 tioning a penitent, should proceed with caution, 3 pru- 

 dence, 4 and discretion, especially in matters pertaining to 

 the sixth and ninth commandments. 5 Besides the ques- 

 tions he is in duty bound to ask, others may suggest them- 

 selves, and here especially great prudence is necessary. 



2 Gury (Comp. Theol. Mor., II, non tenetur interrogate poeniten- 

 n. 463) : "Confessarius non tenetur tern nisi cum ordinaria sollicitudine. 

 interrogare poenitentes, qui, licet Ratio est, poenitens ipse non tenetur 

 rudes, videntur suMcienter instructi summa, sed tantum mediocri, id est, 

 pro sua conditione et diligentes in ordinaria diligentia se examinare. 

 conixtendo peccata cum circumstan- Nequit autem esse gravior obligatio 

 tiis iuxta statum et capacitatem confessarii, quam poenitentis, quum 

 suam. A fortiori necesse non est confessarius non teneatur examinare 

 ordinarie examinare eos, qui saepe poenitentem nisi secundario seu 

 confitentur et raro peccant graviter, ipsius defectu." 



ut sunt personae devotae, religiosi, 4 Cone. Lat. IV., c. 21; Rit. Rom., 



ecclesiastici, nisi videatur ab eis tit. 3, c. 1, n. 15. 



omitti aliquid necessario explican- 6 Cfr. Linsenmann, Lehrbuch der 



dum." Moraltheologie, p. 219. 



3 Op. cit., n. 462: "Confessarius 



