19. In the first place We
remind them that they are guilty of serious sin if, while sitting in the holy
tribunal of Penance, they hear their penitents carelessly without advising or
questioning them, but immediately pronouncing the form of absolution when the
penitent has completed the list of sins. Such a procedure is, of course, far
different from that of a skillful doctor who pours oil and wine on the wound.
Yet every minister of the sacrament of Penance does a doctor's work. So they
should examine carefully not only the circumstances of the sins but also the
character and disposition of the one who has committed the sins; then the
minister can prescribe the appropriate remedies to enable him to obtain the
salvation of his soul. "But the priest should be discerning and prudent,
so that as an experienced doctor does, he likewise may pour oil and wine on
the wounds of the afflicted person by carefully investigating the
circumstances both of the sinner and of the sin. Thus he may discover the
proper advice to offer and the proper remedy to apply by taking different
measures for the cure of the sick man". These are the words of Our
famous predecessor Innocent III at the General Council of the Lateran,
chapter Omnis utriusque sexus, de Poenitentiis et remissionibus. The
Roman Ritual approved by Paul V, likewise Our predecessor, in an Apostolic
Constitution, agrees with this doctrine, where it states under the heading de
Sacramento Poenitentiae: "If the penitent does not mention the
number, kind, and circumstances of sins, the priest should prudently question
him". But if the confessor knows that the penitent has not confessed
certain sins, whether from forgetfulness or ignorance, the confessor must
circumspectly and prudently remind him of his omissions since otherwise the
confession would lack completeness. He must warn and correct him that by
proper preparation, he may obtain the fruit of the sacrament of
Penance".This is the opinion of St. Bernardine of Siena, who answers in
the affirmative the question whether the confessor is obliged to investigate
and examine the conscience of the sinner carefully. He says that "this
is to be done not only regarding omissions through carelessness or shame but
also regarding his ignorant silence, because sinners do not know the things
of God. So, if the confessor hears anything from the penitent or knows of
anything through a probable conjecture, he should remind him of it.
Otherwise, it may be feared that the penitent is crassly ignorant, which
according to William does not excuse him. Perhaps though he does not know
that such an act is a sin, for according to Isidore the ignorant man sins
every day and does not know it" (tome 2, serm. 27, art. 2, chap. 3, p.
167).
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