05-29-2026, 07:41 AM
Mgr. Louis de Ségur: Short Answers to Common Objections Against Religion - 1908
FORTY-SECOND OBJECTION. I DO NOT NEED TO GO TO CONFESSION. I HAVE NOTHING TO REPROACH MYSELF WITH; I HAVE NEITHER KILLED NOR ROBBED ANY ONE, NOR HAVE I INJURED ANY ONE. I SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.
Answer. And is this the result of your examination of conscience? My good friend, one of two things, then, must be true: either you are an exception to all men, or else you do not see clearly into your own conscience.
And shall I say it to you frankly? I am sure you are a man like the rest of men, and that the second supposition alone is the true one.
You have nothing to reproach yourself with? Let us examine a little. It would be singular enough, were I to see more clearly into your conscience than you do yourself.
1. Let us first consider how you stand with regard to God. You will acknowledge, of course, that you owe Him something. He is not your Creator, your Master, your Father, your last end, for nothing.
Do you adore Him? Do you pray to Him daily? Do you give Him thanks for His benefits bestowed on you?
Do you implore His pardon for your transgression of His law? Do you obey that law?
Does the thought of Him who should be your first and chief occupation, enter at all into your daily life? The poor idolatrous savages honor their false gods. And you, who know the true and living God, do not you live as if He did not exist?
Here, then, is one point which you had not well examined, when you just now said that you had nothing to reproach yourself with, and that you would be puzzled to know what to say to the ghostly father.
2. And your duties toward others; are you always faithful to them? Look into your conscience an instant; here again how much is wanting?
Fraternal, sincere, and efficacious charity; devotion to others; mercy toward the poor; indulgence for the failings of your neighbors; respect for their good name; forgiveness of injuries; mutual assistance; good example; duties as a citizen; family duties — the duties of a good son, good father, of a good husband; of a good master and good servant; of a good and faithful friend; of a conscientious workman, or a just and humane employer, etc.; the list is a long one. Do you fulfil them all?
Here then, too, you have excellent matter for your next confession.
3. In your duties toward yourself, I think I can guarantee, that if you neglect the practice of religion, there will be still more matter for confession. Let us see:
You have an immortal soul; what care do you take of it? You live almost as if you had none.
When you perform some benevolent action, what are the motives which animate you? You know that the intention makes the action, as says the proverb. A bad intention renders the best seeming actions bad. Is it a motive of duty which inspires your actions? Is it the desire of accomplishing the will of God, of doing what is pleasing in His sight, or is it not rather personal interest, ostentation, the desire of being held in esteem and consideration by the world? . . .
How do you stand with regard to sobriety, to temperance?
How do you stand, above all, as regards purity? . . . Were your son to conduct himself in your presence as you conduct yourself in the presence of God who sees all things, would you not banish him from your house as a disgrace to you? . . . Did any other man speak to your wife, or sister, or daughter, as you have so often done to other women and to young girls, what would you think of him? would you not consider him to be highly culpable?
This scrutiny of your conscience might be pushed much further even; the mine is not exhausted, I assure you.
Enough has been here said, however, to convince you, if you wish to be convinced, that, notwithstanding your perfect innocence, you have done enough to make an excellent, long, and serious confession. You have on the one hand the sins; I have just pointed out to you the greatest; on the other, I doubt not, you have the good-will. You know some good priest, probably, who will be enchanted to see you, and to pardon you, in the name of God.
Go, then, and seek him, and with a willing mind.
It is only the first step that is hard to take; the difficulty, the shame, is soon over; the joy, the peace of mind abides.
"But I have not been for so long a time!" The greater reason have you for going, you stand in more need of it.
"But I should have so much to say." So much the better; the big fish are the best. Confessors like great sinners better than little ones, from the moment that they repent.
"But I can never recollect all." What signifies! Tell what you do recollect; repent of all, and God, who requires only the will to confess all, will pardon all. Repentance is the great thing in confession.
Take my advice, and go to confession. You will see that you will be happy, and quite enchanted, when you shall have got through with it.
True happiness on earth is in peace of mind, the fruit of a good conscience.
FORTY-SECOND OBJECTION. I DO NOT NEED TO GO TO CONFESSION. I HAVE NOTHING TO REPROACH MYSELF WITH; I HAVE NEITHER KILLED NOR ROBBED ANY ONE, NOR HAVE I INJURED ANY ONE. I SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.
Answer. And is this the result of your examination of conscience? My good friend, one of two things, then, must be true: either you are an exception to all men, or else you do not see clearly into your own conscience.
And shall I say it to you frankly? I am sure you are a man like the rest of men, and that the second supposition alone is the true one.
You have nothing to reproach yourself with? Let us examine a little. It would be singular enough, were I to see more clearly into your conscience than you do yourself.
1. Let us first consider how you stand with regard to God. You will acknowledge, of course, that you owe Him something. He is not your Creator, your Master, your Father, your last end, for nothing.
Do you adore Him? Do you pray to Him daily? Do you give Him thanks for His benefits bestowed on you?
Do you implore His pardon for your transgression of His law? Do you obey that law?
Does the thought of Him who should be your first and chief occupation, enter at all into your daily life? The poor idolatrous savages honor their false gods. And you, who know the true and living God, do not you live as if He did not exist?
Here, then, is one point which you had not well examined, when you just now said that you had nothing to reproach yourself with, and that you would be puzzled to know what to say to the ghostly father.
2. And your duties toward others; are you always faithful to them? Look into your conscience an instant; here again how much is wanting?
Fraternal, sincere, and efficacious charity; devotion to others; mercy toward the poor; indulgence for the failings of your neighbors; respect for their good name; forgiveness of injuries; mutual assistance; good example; duties as a citizen; family duties — the duties of a good son, good father, of a good husband; of a good master and good servant; of a good and faithful friend; of a conscientious workman, or a just and humane employer, etc.; the list is a long one. Do you fulfil them all?
Here then, too, you have excellent matter for your next confession.
3. In your duties toward yourself, I think I can guarantee, that if you neglect the practice of religion, there will be still more matter for confession. Let us see:
You have an immortal soul; what care do you take of it? You live almost as if you had none.
When you perform some benevolent action, what are the motives which animate you? You know that the intention makes the action, as says the proverb. A bad intention renders the best seeming actions bad. Is it a motive of duty which inspires your actions? Is it the desire of accomplishing the will of God, of doing what is pleasing in His sight, or is it not rather personal interest, ostentation, the desire of being held in esteem and consideration by the world? . . .
How do you stand with regard to sobriety, to temperance?
How do you stand, above all, as regards purity? . . . Were your son to conduct himself in your presence as you conduct yourself in the presence of God who sees all things, would you not banish him from your house as a disgrace to you? . . . Did any other man speak to your wife, or sister, or daughter, as you have so often done to other women and to young girls, what would you think of him? would you not consider him to be highly culpable?
This scrutiny of your conscience might be pushed much further even; the mine is not exhausted, I assure you.
Enough has been here said, however, to convince you, if you wish to be convinced, that, notwithstanding your perfect innocence, you have done enough to make an excellent, long, and serious confession. You have on the one hand the sins; I have just pointed out to you the greatest; on the other, I doubt not, you have the good-will. You know some good priest, probably, who will be enchanted to see you, and to pardon you, in the name of God.
Go, then, and seek him, and with a willing mind.
It is only the first step that is hard to take; the difficulty, the shame, is soon over; the joy, the peace of mind abides.
"But I have not been for so long a time!" The greater reason have you for going, you stand in more need of it.
"But I should have so much to say." So much the better; the big fish are the best. Confessors like great sinners better than little ones, from the moment that they repent.
"But I can never recollect all." What signifies! Tell what you do recollect; repent of all, and God, who requires only the will to confess all, will pardon all. Repentance is the great thing in confession.
Take my advice, and go to confession. You will see that you will be happy, and quite enchanted, when you shall have got through with it.
True happiness on earth is in peace of mind, the fruit of a good conscience.
"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