POINT II.
Secondly, I am to consider what an excellent work the act of confession is, to induce us the more to exercise and frequent it; pondering how Christ our Lord instituted this sacrament in His Church, that the faithful might take occasion by their own sins to exercise excellent acts of virtues, with which they might not only repair the losses they received by them, but also might gain new advantages.
1. The acts are principally seven.
i. The first is of faith, believing firmly that the pardoning of sins, which is proper to Almighty God alone, has been communicated to priests, [1] putting in their hands the keys of heaven, with which they shall open the gates of it, that from thence may descend the heavenly gifts and graces that justify sinners; and that sinners may enter into it to enjoy the kingdom which is promised to the just.
ii. The second act is of hope, above all human hope; for the confession of our own crime, which in the tribunals of the world is a means to condemn the guilty, in this tribunal of heaven is a means to absolve him.
iii. The third act is of charity, to which it pertains to be greatly sorry for having offended the infinite goodness of Almighty God, and lost His grace and friendship, desiring to repair it by loving and serving Him with all our hearts.
iv. The fourth is of heroic humility, by which we humble ourselves, not only before Almighty God but before men; discovering unto His ministers the secret things that are to humble us, and to cause in us great shame and confusion, embracing this contempt for the love of Almighty God, and delighting that others should hold us in that opinion that we hold ourselves in.
v. The fifth is of excellent obedience in a matter, as has
- ↑ Matt, xviii. 18.
