The spiritual guide which disintangles the soul, and brings it by the inward way, to the getting of perfect contemplation, and the rich treasure of internal peace. / Written by Dr. Michael de Molinos, priest : with a short treatise concerning daily communion, by the same author. Translated from the Italian copy, printed at Venice, 1685.

CHAP. VI. Instructions and Counsels to Confessors, and Spiritual Directors.

28. THe highest and most profitable Mini∣stry, is that of a Confessor, and spiritu∣al Director; and irreparable are the damages, if it be not well performed.

29. It would be prudently done, to chuse a Patron for so great a Ministery; and that should be the Saint to whom one has greatest Devoti∣on.

30. The chief and most secure Document is, to endeavour the internal and continual Retire∣ment; and so he'll walk well in all the exer∣cises and employments of his own State and Cal∣ling, particularly in that of the Confession-seat; for when the Soul inwardly Recollected, sallies out to be employed in those external and neces∣sary Exercises, it is God who Illuminates and Works in them.

31. In the Conduct of Souls that are Inter∣nal,

Documents are not to be given to them, but with mildness and prudence: The Obstacles which hinder the Influences of God, are only to be taken out of their way; however, it may be need∣ful to arm them with that holy Counsel of, Se∣cretum meum mihi.

32. Many Souls think, that all Confessors are capable of internal Matters; but besides, that that is a mastake, it is found by experience to be a great prejudice to communicate them to those who are not so: Because, though God hath pla∣ced them in the inward Way, yet they'll not know these matters, nor advise them to Souls, for want of experience; so that they'll hinder the Progress to Contemplation, enjoyning them to Meditate by force, though they cannot; and by that means, they stun and ruin instead of help∣ing them in their Flight: for God will have them to advance to Contemplation, and they draw them to Meditation, because they know no other way.

33. If a Confessor would reap Fruit, he is not to look out for any Soul that he may Guide it; it concerns them to come of themselves, and all are not to be admitted, especially if they be Women, because they are not wont to come with sufficient disposition: Not to make ones self a Master, nor be willing to appear so, is an excel∣lent means of doing good.

34. The Confessor is to make use of the name of Daughter, as little as he can; because it is most dangerous, God being so Jealous, and the Epithet so Amorous.

35. The Employments which a Confessor ac∣cepts of, out of his Confession-seat, ought to be but few; because God will not have him to be an Agent in Business; and if it were possible, he should not be seen, but in his Confession∣chair.

36. A Godfather, or Executor to a Man's last Will and Testament, he ought not, so much as once, to be, all his life long, because it brings many disturbances to the Soul, all of 'um con∣trary to the Perfection of so high a Mini∣stry.

37. The Confessor or spiritual Director never ought to Visit his spiritual Daughters, not so much as in case of Sickness, unless he should in∣deed be then sent for, on the part of her that is ill.

38. If the Confessor procures an inward and outward Recollection, his words will be (though he knows it not) like Coals kindled, set∣ting their Souls afire.

39. In the Confessionary, his Reproofs must be ordinarily gentle and sweet, although in the Pulpit they are severe and rigorous; because in this he ought to be raging as a Lyon, and in that, he ought to put on the meekness of a Lamb: O how powerful is sweet Reproof for Penitents! In the Confessionary they are already moved; but in the Pulpit their blindness and hardness, makes it necessary to frighten 'um: yet these ought to be perswaded and reproved rigorously, who come indisposed, and would have Absolu∣tion by force.

40. When all that is possible, is done for the benefit of Souls, the Fruit of it is not to be lookt after; because the Devil doth subtilly make that seem his own, which is God's; and assaults with self-Conceit and vain Complacency, the ca∣pital Enemies of Annihilation; which the Con∣fessor always ought to bring about for such a spiritual Dying.

41. Although he often see that Souls are not advantaged, and that those which are edified, loose the Spirit; let him not be disquieted at this, but possess himself in peace, like the Guar∣dian Angels; then let him take courage inward∣ly, with the sence of his own Sincerity; because sometimes God suffers such a thing, among other ends, to humble him.

42. The Confessor ought to avoid himself, and perswade the Souls under his Conduct also to avoid all sort of outwardness, because it is much abhorred by the Lord.

43. Although he ought not to order Souls to be Communicated, nor take any Communion from 'em, whether for Tryal or Mortification, (since there are infinite ways of Trying 'em and Mortifying 'em, without so great a prejudice) yet he ought not to be niggardly with those Souls which are moved by a true Desire, because Jesus Christ indured not to be shut up.

44. Experience shews us that 'tis a difficult thing to fulfil a Penance, when it is great and immoderate: 'tis always best to have it of some profitable and moderate matter.

45. If the spiritual Father shews, with any

singularity, a greater Affection to a Daughter, and such as gives very great disturbance to o∣thers of her Sex: here he must use privacy and prudence, and must not speak to any with par∣ticularity; because the Devil loves to make strife with the Guide of Souls, and makes use of those very words to disturb others.

46. The continual and principal Exercise of Souls, purely Mistical, must be in the interior Man, producing with privacy, the destruction of Self-love, and the incouraging of 'em to the induring of inward Mortifications; by which the Lord Cleanses, Annihilates, and Perfects them.

47. The Desire of Revelations, uses to be a great hindrance to the interiour Soul, especially 10 Women; and there is not an ordinary Dream, but they will Christen it with the name of a Vision. 'Tis necessary to shew abhorrence to all these hindrances.

48. Although Silence be a difficult thing to Women, in the things which the Director orders 'em, yet must he procure it: since it is not good that the things inspired into him from the Lord, should become the Mark for Censures to shoot at.