The Priest, The Woman and The Confessional | Page 7

Her tears and her sobs, mingled with
the so frank declaration of the most humiliating actions, had made upon
me such a profound impression that I was, for some time, unable to
speak. It had come to my mind also that I might be mistaken about her
identity, and that perhaps she was not the young lady that I had
imagined. I could, then, easily grant her first request, which was to do
nothing by which I could know her. The second part of her prayer was
more embarrassing; for the theologians are very positive in ordering the
confessors to question their penitents, particularly those of the female
sex, in many circumstances.
I encouraged her, in the best way I could, to persevere in her good
resolutions by invoking the blessed Virgin Mary and St. Philomène,

who was then the Sainte à la mode, just as Marie Alacoque is to-day,
among the blind slaves of Rome. I told her that I would pray and think
over the subject of her second request; and I asked her to come back, in
a week, for my answer.
The very same day, I went to my own confessor, the Rev. Mr.
Baillargeon, then curate of Quebec, and afterwards Archbishop of
Canada. I told him the singular and unusual request she had made that I
should never put to her any of those questions suggested by the
theologians, to insure the integrity of the confession. I did not conceal
from him that I was much inclined to grant her that favour; for I
repeated what I had already several times told him, that I was
supremely disgusted with the infamous and polluting questions which
the theologians forced us to put to our female penitents. I told him,
frankly, that several young and old priests had already come to confess
to me; and that, with the exception of two, they had all told me that
they could not put those questions and hear the answers they elicited
without falling into the most damnable sins.
My confessor seemed to be much perplexed about what he could
answer. He asked me to come the next day, that he might review his
theological books in the interval. The next day, I took down in writing
his answer, which I find in my old manuscripts; and I give it here in all
its sad crudity:--
"Such cases of the destruction of female virtue by the questions of the
confessors is an unavoidable evil. It can not be helped; for such
questions are absolutely necessary in the greatest part of the cases with
which we have to deal. Men generally confess their sins with so much
sincerity that there is seldom any need for questioning them, except
when they are very ignorant. But St Liguori, as well as our personal
observation, tells us that the greatest part of girls and women, through a
false and criminal shame, very seldom confess the sins they commit
against purity. It requires the utmost charity in the confessors to prevent
those unfortunate slaves of their secret passions from making
sacrilegious confessions and communions. With the greatest prudence
and zeal, he must question them on those matters; beginning with the

smallest sins, and going, little by little, as much as possible, by
imperceptible degrees, to the most criminal actions. As it seems evident
that the penitent referred to in your questions of yesterday is unwilling
to make a full and detailed confession of all her iniquities, you cannot
promise to absolve her without assuring yourself, by wise and prudent
questions, that she has confessed everything.
"You must not be discouraged when, through the confessional or any
other way, you learn the fall of priests into the common frailties of
human nature with their penitents. Our Saviour knew very well that the
occasions and the temptations we have to encounter, in the confessions
of girls and women, are so numerous, and sometimes so irrepressible,
that many would fall. But He has given them the Holy Virgin Mary,
who constantly asks and obtains their pardon; He has given them the
sacrament of penance, where they can receive their pardon as often as
they ask for it. The vow of perfect chastity is a great honour and
privilege; but we cannot conceal from ourselves that it puts on our
shoulders a burden which many cannot carry for ever. St Liguori says
that we must not rebuke the penitent priest who falls only once a month;
and some other trustworthy theologians are still more charitable."
This answer was far from satisfying me. It seemed to me composed of
soft-soap principles. I went back with a heavy heart and an anxious
mind; and God knows that I made many fervent prayers that this girl
should never come again to give me her