The exercise of a christian life. Written in Italian by the Reuerend Father Gaspar Loarte D. of Diuinitie, of the Societie of Iesus. And newly translated into Englishe. by I.S.

OF CONFESSION. howe and when we ought to make it.

¶ Cap. 12. (Book 12)

TWO things there be, wher∣with the soule is chieflye fos∣tred, and wherewith, as with * 1.1 two winges, it soareth vp to heauen; that is to say, prayer, and the recea∣uing of the blessed Sacrament. Ha∣uing therfore alreadie spoken suffici∣ently of the first, it remameth I now say some-what of the seconde. And because to receaue rightly this bles∣sed Sacrament, Confission is alwaies presupposed to go before, I shal firste of al entreate therof, being a very so∣withal;

ueraine saulue for our soules, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 necessary to susteine our 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 withal; wherof albeit I haue spoken some-what before in the first Chap∣ter; yet sith that speech tended chief∣lye, to teache the maner of making a general confession to suche, as purpo∣sed presently to beginne a ne we life; it behoueth I nowe declare, howe, and when, suche as doo proceede on forwarde in the true feare of God, and in his diuine seruice, ought to confesse them-selues; wherein this I say first, that as-wel for the making of a general, as a particuler confessio, both in thone and thother, it shal helpe thee greatly, to choose out such a Confessour as I then spake of; one that is wise, learned, and of godly life; as also wel beat and practised in spi∣ritual waies; who both in this and eche other cause may guide and teach thee what thou oughtest to doo: And therfore no doubt but it beho∣ueth

thee to vse great diligence in * 1.2 〈◊〉〈◊〉 searching for suche a one; for if we vse with so great care to enquire after the moste learned and sufficient phisition to cure our bodily griefes, howe much the rather ought we to doo the same, for the sicknes and in∣firmities of our soules? Why doo we not digest & ponder wel, what truth him-selfe did a 1.3 testifie vnto vs; that If the blinde doo leade the blind, bothfal down intc the diche; the truth wherof because diuers haue litle regarded & rought of; haue therfore proued to their cost, what harme and hinderance they haue susteined in being so blind and recklesse in this behalfe; whereby both they, and eche other maye wel wot, what care and diligence ought to be emploied for the finding out of so sufficient a person, as the weight of this affaire importeth. And ha∣uing once founde out suche a one, make accompt to haue hitt of no

smal treasure, thy soule nowe hauing * 1.4 one, by whose good means and helpe al her spiritual infirmities shal-be healed; al her doubtes dissolued; al her feares asswaged and comforted; and by whom she may in her weak∣nes and indeuotion be inflamed; in her wearines eased and encouraged; holpen in al her temptations; and di∣rected in the sundry daungers, which in this life doo dasel and fright vs; and finally by his conduct be caried the right waye to eternal blisse and happines; like as the children of Is∣rael wer let into the land of promise, for hauing had so good a guide, as was their Captaine Iosue.

Hauing therefore in this wise founde out such a ghostly father and good guide; impart to him thy whole life, thine intentes and exercises, as al∣so eche other thing, whereof he shal desire to be informed; & see that by

counsaile thou gouerne the whole course of thy spiritual life.

How-be-it, because a man shal ve∣rye hardly at al times haue suche a ghostly father at hande, as maye in euery poynt serue his turne, and satis∣fie this office; I shal therefore briefly geue thee certaine notes, wherby, for this poynt, thou maiest knowe howe to guide and direct thy selfe, in mat∣ters of Confession.

And firste concerning the time thereof, I say vnto thee, that euerye good Christiā ought to prepare him * 1.5 selfe to confession once euery weeke; according as both S. Austin, and the other holy doctours exhort vs; yea, suche, as in temporal affaires be lesse * 1.6 busied, and in spiritual causes better practised, may doo it ofter, especially being wel battened and exercised in that kinde of prayer, I haue alreadye entreated of Such though as are more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and lesse able to performe that

kind of prayer, may euery fifteene or twentie dayes confesse them; but in no wise would I, that any man, haue he neuer so muche adoo, should faile once euery moneth to doo the same.

Minding therfore to confesse thee thus ofte, let thy preparation thereto be in maner folowing.

Firste, the same day that thou pur∣posest * 1.7 to confesse on, see thou gather thy selfe a litle before, and craue of God the light of his grace, to knowe thy sinnes and faultes, without the which neyther can they be knowen nor wel confessed; Afterwardes exa∣mine thy conscience, vnbethinking thee what thou haste done since the time of thy former consession. And for the better doing hereof, thou mai est runne ouer the commaunde∣mentes, and the deadly sinnes; espe∣cially suche, as thou art wont moste commonly to fal into. How be-it, for those that doo more ofte and or∣dinarilye

frequent confession, it maye suffice to discourse vpon their thou∣ghtes, wordes, and omissions or ne∣gligences, examining in eche one of these pointes, wherin they may seme to haue offended. And such particu∣ler thinges as thou remembrest to haue transgressed in, since thy former confessions, those shalt thou chiefely note and confesse thee of, be they ve∣nial, or mortal, sinnes: for al-be-it we are not bound to confesse our venial sins, yet is it both more secure, & pro∣fitable so to doo; those specially, that be moste notorious, and of greatest importance. And forsomuch as some doo verye fondly forbeare to receaue, and confesse them-selues, for lacke of his helpe, whom they haue earst cho∣sen for their ghostlye guide and go∣uernour; I deeme it therefore requi∣site * 1.8 to aduertise thee herein; that in suche wise would I haue thee obedi∣ent and affected to this thy Confes∣sour

thou haste made choise of (of whom I haue already spoken) that when thou shouldest haplye want oportunitie to make thy confession to him; thou faile not then to confesse thee to an-other. And let not this sensual and vndiscrete affection, which some (but chiefelye women) are wont to carye toward their Con∣fessours, bereue thee of that libertie, which is expedient for thee in this case to haue; (wanting commoditie of confessing to thy accustomed and wonted Father) yea, rather set thy minde of the grace which is graun∣ted by meanes of this holye Sacra∣ment, being al one, then of the priest which geueth thee this Sacrament, whereof be manye. And in doing thus, both thy soule shal-be better prouided for, and thou remaine more secure, not to fal into suche inconue∣niences, as others haue incurred, by

too indiscretly addicted them-selues to these their chosen Confessours.

This being thus presupposed, thou maiest discuise thy conscience in ma∣ner folowing. Concerning thoughts; If thou haste had any dishonest, vn∣cleane, * 1.9 vaine, and vnprofitable thou∣ghtes, and therein spent the time; or any rashe judgementes or suspitions; or lewd affections and desires. Tou∣ching wordes; of blasphemous spee∣ches, othes, lyes, murmuringes, detrac∣tions; * 1.10 contentious, proude, ireful, and idle wordes. For deedes; looke if thou * 1.11 haste done any outwarde worke of sinne, which is against any of the cō∣maundements. About omissions; here * 1.12 maiest thou accuse thy selfe of ha∣uing lefte vndone some such workes, as thou oughtest to haue done; as, not to haue heard Masse, prayed, and re∣ceaued the holye Sacrament; with such other like good workes; or at least to haue done them faintlye, and

with smal deuotion. And if at some time it happen so, that thou foundest not thy conscience giltie of any par∣ticuler crime, whereot thou mightest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 accuse thee, then maiest thou confesse thee of certaine general pointes, wherin moste commonly at, (be they neuer so spiritual) do faile; as not to haue loued God so intierly, as thou oughtest; of vnthankfulnes for his diuine benefites; of smal charitie towardes thy neighbours; of to great loue thou bearest to worldly things, and to thy selfe, wherby thou seekest thine owne profite more carefullye then neede requineth; of an ouer wee∣ning of thy selfe, wherby thou repu∣test thee to be better then others, and desirest to be respected and reue∣renced of them; of to curious a desire to knowe many matters that profite not, nor apperteine vnto thee; yea, sometimes do greatly harme and hin∣der thee; of not hauing made due re∣sistance

against such tentations as as∣sault thee; not to haue sied and shun∣ned the occasions of offending; nor to haue had such diligent watche and warde ouer thy outward and inward senses as behoued; of vnprofitable speeches and thoughtes; of euil em∣ploying the time, wherin thou migh∣test haue done great good; of hauing bene negligent in many such workes as thou wert bound to doo; and in those workes thou doest, not to haue that puritie and right intention thou art bound to haue; sithens thou doest them not purely for Gods sake alone; but for some other vain respects; and so in euery thing to haue bene moste imperfect; not answering nor obey∣ing to suche diuine inspirations, as thou feelest in thee; nor being con∣stant in such purposes as thou haste already enterprised. In these and such like other defectes (examining thy selfe wel) thou shalt finde thy want

& imperfectiō, wherof, or at least som part, it is very commendable to con∣fesse thee at such time, as thou haste not fallen into any greater giltes. But in any waves howsoeuer, it is meete thou accuse thee of these and suche like defaultes at least once in a mo∣neth; not belecuing them for al that to be mortal sinnes, but rather vemal, and imperfections. This doo I adde, because there be some of timorous conscience through the often frequē∣ting of confession, that are manye times troubled with diuers scruples; which annoye and hinder greatlye their proceeding in spiritual life and exercise; who (the best remedie they * 1.13 can vse) in this case, is, not to credite that their timorous conscience shal tel them; ne ween any thing to be a mortal or deadly sinne, which is not against the cōmaundements of God, or of the Church our holye mother.

And to take away, & rid them quite of the toile and perplexitie, which these scruples are wont to bring thē in, the soundest counsaile for such to folowe, is, to let them selues be gouer∣ned by their discrete Confessours; and to obey thē in al thinges; al-be-it that which they commaunde them, shal seeme flat contrary to that their own consciences telleth them; aud this waies, no doubt, but they shal receaue a great deale more helpe and consola∣tion; and by breaking and mastering their own 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this maner, be farre sooner healed; then in doing that, which their owne timerous, blind, & erroneous consciēces mai suggest thē.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Two wings, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the soule 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to heauen.
• * 1.2

  The care we ought to haue in chosing a skilful Con fessour.
• a 1.3

  Mat. 15. b.
• * 1.4

  How great a treasure a good ghostly fa∣ther is.
• * 1.5

  When we ought to confesse.
• * 1.6

  S. Austine.
• * 1.7

  Howe we aught to confesse, & examine our con∣sciences.
• * 1.8

  A notable aduertise∣ment.
• * 1.9

  Thoughtes.
• * 1.10

  Wordes.
• * 1.11

  Deedes.
• * 1.12

  Omissions.
• * 1.13

  A 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me ane to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 super∣fluous re∣morse.