ch we could once more be freed from sin if we had the misfortune to
fall into it after Baptism--it is the Sacrament of Penance. It is called
the plank in a shipwreck. When sailors are shipwrecked and thrown
helplessly into the ocean, their only hope is some floating plank that
may bear them to the shore. So when we fall after Baptism we are thrown
into the great ocean of sin, where we must perish if we do not rest upon
the Sacrament of Penance, which will bring us once more in safety to the
friendship of God. How very thankful the poor shipwrecked sailors would
be to anyone who would offer them a plank while they are in danger! Do
you think they would refuse to use it? In like manner how thankful we
should be for the Sacrament of Penance, and how anxious we should be to
use it when we arc in danger of losing our souls!

The Sacrament of Penance shows the very great kindness of Our Lord. He
might have said: I saved them once, and I will not trouble Myself more
about them; if they want to sin again, let them perish. But no, He
forgives us and saves us as often as we sincerely call on Him for help,
being truly sorry for our sins. He left this power also to His Apostles,
saying to them: As often as any poor sinner shall come to you and show
that he is truly sorry for his sins, and has the determination not to
commit them again, and confesses them to you, I give you the power to
pardon his sins in the Sacrament of Penance. The forgiveness of your
sins is the chief though not the only blessing you receive in the
reception of this Sacrament, through which you derive so many and great
advantages from the exhortation, instruction, or advice of your
confessor.

Is it not a great benefit to have a friend to whom you can go with the
trials of your mind and soul, your troubles, temptations, sins, and
secrets? You have that friend--the priest in the confessional. He is
willing to help you, for he consecrated his life to God to help men to
save their souls. He is able to help you, for he understands your
difficulties, sins, and temptations, and the means of overcoming them.
He has made these things the study of his life, and derives still
greater knowledge of them from hearing the sad complaints of so many
relating their secret sorrows or afflictions, and begging his advice.

Then you are sure that whatever you tell him in the confessional will
never be made known to others, even if the priest has to die to conceal
it. You might tel