fallen into disorder; that
those things which they want the confidence to tell you, are little in
comparison of what you have heard from others on the same subject. Impute
some part of their offence to the corruption of nature, to the violence
of the temptation, and to the unhappiness they had to be engaged in such
occasions and pressing circumstances, where their fall was almost
unavoidable. In fine, I must advertise you, that to remove from such
persons that unseasonable shame-facedness which keeps them silent; from
such persons, I say, whom the devil has made as bashful after a crime as
they were impudent before it, it may be necessary sometimes to discover
to them, in general, the frailties of our own past lives. For what can a
true and fervent charity refuse, for the safety of those souls who have
been redeemed with the blood of Jesus Christ! But to understand when this
is proper to be done, how far to proceed, and with what precautions, is
what the interior spirit, and your experience, must teach you, in those
particular conjunctures.

"You will ordinarily meet with some Christians who believe not the truth
of the holy sacrament of the altar, either by not frequenting it, or by
their conversation with Pagans, Mahometans, and Heretics, or by the
scandal which is given them by some Christians, and principally (which I
speak with shame and sorrow) by such priests whose life is not more holy
than that of the people. For beholding some of them approaching the altar
without any preparation, assisting at it without modesty and reverence,
they imagine that Jesus Christ is not, as we say he is, in the sacrifice
of the mass; for if he were there present, he would never suffer such
impure hands to touch him. Make it your business, that those misbelieving
Christians should propose to you all their doubts, and discover to you
all their imaginations, which being known, then prove to them the real
presence of Jesus Christ, by all those reasons which are capable of
establishing it; and shew them, that the surest means for them to come
out of their errors, and leave their vices, is often to approach that
sacrament, with suitable preparations to it.

"Though your penitents may be well prepared for confession, think not,
when they shall declare their sins, that your business is done. You must
dive into the bottom of their conscience, and, by examination, draw out
of them what themselves know not. Ask then of them, by what ways, and