Untitled - Saints' Books

286 Material for Instructions. IPART n.
unless there is a presumption in favor of the contrary,
still when a habit has been contracted, and when, with
out any improvement, several relapses have taken place
after absolution, there is
strong reason to suspect that
the sorrow and purpose of amendment of the penitent
are not sincere. Hence, such a penitent should not be
absolved until he shows by a change of conduct for
some time, and
"by practising the means prescribed, that
he has the dispositions necessary for the sacrament.
Remember that this holds not only for those who re
lapse into mortal sin, but also for those who relapse into
venial sins, which many penitents confess through cus
tom, but without sorrow and a purpose of amendment.
If they wish to receive absolution, the confessor should
make them give certain matter for the sacrament, by
the confession of a more grievous sin of their past life,
for which they are truly penitent, and which they are
firmly resolved to avoid for the future.
Hence, to absolve relapsing sinners, it is
necessary for
the confessor to try for some time the sincerity of their
repentance; or at least to see some extraordinary signs
of sorrow, which exclude the conditions of the con
demned propositions, and give a well-founded hope of
their amendment. These signs are, according to the
theologians:
1. Great compunction, manifested by tears or by
words, proceeding not from the mouth but from the
heart. From expressions of this kind we sometimes
get more certainty of a penitent s fitness for absolution
than even from tears;
2. A considerable diminution in the number of sins,
though the penitent was exposed to the same occasions
and temptations;
3. Greater caution against relapses, by avoiding the
occasions, and by practising the means prescribed;
great struggle made before consenting to sin;
or a