05-28-2026, 06:39 AM
Mgr. Louis de Ségur: Short Answers to Common Objections Against Religion - 1908
FORTY-FIRST OBJECTION. WHAT IS THE USE OF CONFESSION?
Answer. In the first place, it is evident that there is some good in it, since it is a divine institution, and God does nothing without a motive.
But you ask further what is the use of confession? Go to confession, and you will see what the use of it is.
You will see it is of use in order to become good, from bad that we were before; you will see it is of use in correcting our vices and causing us to advance rapidly in the practice of the most heroic virtues.
What is the use of confession? Ask that poor child whom shameful habits once degraded, while their brand was already stamped on his countenance . . . See him now completely changed in physical appearance as in moral condition. What has he done, then? He has been to confession, he goes to confession . . . formerly he went not.
What is the use of confession? Ask that workman, formerly so dissolute, and with such a passion for the grog-shop; now so chaste, so sober, so well-conducted, so industrious, become in a short time a model for all his comrades! His wife and children find that confession is of some use.
What is the use of confession? Ask that poor woman, overwhelmed with misery, burdened with several children, ill-used by her husband . . . She has often wished, the hapless creature, to go and end her sorrows in the river . . . The thought of God and of her children has arrested her. She approaches the confessional . . . I know not what were the words said to her, but see her returning to her home, with a peaceful heart, and cheerful countenance. She bears her sorrows more patiently; endures her husband's harsh treatment in silence . . . He is surprised at the change at first, then he admires it, then he loves it, then he imitates it. Reckon up: one suicide less; a mother preserved to her six or seven children; a well-conducted household and one virtuous family more in the world.
After this poor woman, it is perhaps a servant that we see, who, during many years, continued to make his small private profits somewhat boldly, at his master's expense. Remorseful feelings take possession of his mind; he seeks the priest . . . If the master takes heed to his affairs, he will see his expenses diminished, without his house being less well kept up . . . And one day he receives a banknote worth four or five hundred francs from an unknown quarter.*
Reckon up: a thief less in the world, perhaps the shameful stigma of the galleys averted from a respectable family; an honest servant more.
What is the use of confession? Ask the poor inhabitants of any district. The wealthy proprietor of the surrounding lands left them to suffer want and poverty; spending all his fortune on himself . . . Some little time since he went to confession, and still goes . . . and see him become the father of his unfortunate tenants; he even anticipates their necessities. They, poor creatures, find that confession is of some use!
Confession is the shield of perseverance and virtue. It is the bark, rough and harsh to the touch, I own; but the protecting bark which preserves intact that wonderful fruit which is called conscience.
Confession gives back and preserves that peace of mind without which there is no happiness.
It prevents innumerable crimes and misfortunes.
It raises up the poor sinner, whose weakness has separated him from God! It, above all, consoles the dying man about to appear before his God and his Judge!*
What a change would be visible in France if all were to go to confession, with all sincerity and seriousness, as they ought!
The laws and the police would be much less frequently called on for interference. In this single law of the Church, "you must confess all your sins, at least once a year," there would be power enough to regenerate the country, and arrest those revolutions which so frequently have disturbed its peace.
Judge the tree, then, by its fruits.
It is the same with confession as with religion itself; its only enemies are ignorance, prejudice, and the passions.†
FORTY-FIRST OBJECTION. WHAT IS THE USE OF CONFESSION?
Answer. In the first place, it is evident that there is some good in it, since it is a divine institution, and God does nothing without a motive.
But you ask further what is the use of confession? Go to confession, and you will see what the use of it is.
You will see it is of use in order to become good, from bad that we were before; you will see it is of use in correcting our vices and causing us to advance rapidly in the practice of the most heroic virtues.
What is the use of confession? Ask that poor child whom shameful habits once degraded, while their brand was already stamped on his countenance . . . See him now completely changed in physical appearance as in moral condition. What has he done, then? He has been to confession, he goes to confession . . . formerly he went not.
What is the use of confession? Ask that workman, formerly so dissolute, and with such a passion for the grog-shop; now so chaste, so sober, so well-conducted, so industrious, become in a short time a model for all his comrades! His wife and children find that confession is of some use.
What is the use of confession? Ask that poor woman, overwhelmed with misery, burdened with several children, ill-used by her husband . . . She has often wished, the hapless creature, to go and end her sorrows in the river . . . The thought of God and of her children has arrested her. She approaches the confessional . . . I know not what were the words said to her, but see her returning to her home, with a peaceful heart, and cheerful countenance. She bears her sorrows more patiently; endures her husband's harsh treatment in silence . . . He is surprised at the change at first, then he admires it, then he loves it, then he imitates it. Reckon up: one suicide less; a mother preserved to her six or seven children; a well-conducted household and one virtuous family more in the world.
After this poor woman, it is perhaps a servant that we see, who, during many years, continued to make his small private profits somewhat boldly, at his master's expense. Remorseful feelings take possession of his mind; he seeks the priest . . . If the master takes heed to his affairs, he will see his expenses diminished, without his house being less well kept up . . . And one day he receives a banknote worth four or five hundred francs from an unknown quarter.*
Reckon up: a thief less in the world, perhaps the shameful stigma of the galleys averted from a respectable family; an honest servant more.
What is the use of confession? Ask the poor inhabitants of any district. The wealthy proprietor of the surrounding lands left them to suffer want and poverty; spending all his fortune on himself . . . Some little time since he went to confession, and still goes . . . and see him become the father of his unfortunate tenants; he even anticipates their necessities. They, poor creatures, find that confession is of some use!
Confession is the shield of perseverance and virtue. It is the bark, rough and harsh to the touch, I own; but the protecting bark which preserves intact that wonderful fruit which is called conscience.
Confession gives back and preserves that peace of mind without which there is no happiness.
It prevents innumerable crimes and misfortunes.
It raises up the poor sinner, whose weakness has separated him from God! It, above all, consoles the dying man about to appear before his God and his Judge!*
What a change would be visible in France if all were to go to confession, with all sincerity and seriousness, as they ought!
The laws and the police would be much less frequently called on for interference. In this single law of the Church, "you must confess all your sins, at least once a year," there would be power enough to regenerate the country, and arrest those revolutions which so frequently have disturbed its peace.
Judge the tree, then, by its fruits.
It is the same with confession as with religion itself; its only enemies are ignorance, prejudice, and the passions.†
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre