\"Iknowthatalready，father，\"saidI。\"Wehavepublisheditsooften，\"
continuedhe，\"thatatlength，itseems，everybodyknowsofit。Butdoyouknowwhatistobedonewhennoequivocalwordscanbegot？\"\"No，father。\"
\"Ithoughtasmuch，saidtheJesuit；\"thisissomethingnew，sir：Imeanthedoctrineofmentalreservations。’Amanmayswear，’asSanchezsaysinthesameplace，’thatheneverdidsuchathing（thoughheactuallydidit），meaningwithinhimselfthathedidnotdosoonacertainday，orbeforehewasborn，orunderstandinganyothersuchcircumstance，whilethewordswhichheemployshavenosuchsenseaswoulddiscoverhismeaning。
Andthisisveryconvenientinmanycases，andquiteinnocent，whennecessaryorconducivetoone’shealth，honour，oradvantage。’\"\"Indeed，father！
isthatnotalie，andperjurytoboot？\"\"No，\"saidthefather；\"SanchezandFiliutiusprovethatitisnot；for，saysthelatter，’itistheintentionthatdeterminesthequalityoftheaction。’Andhesuggestsastillsurermethodforavoidingfalsehood，whichisthis：Aftersayingaloud，’IswearthatIhavenotdonethat，’toadd，inalowvoice，’to—day’；oraftersayingaloud，’Iswear，’tointerposeinawhisper，’thatIsay，’andthencontinuealoud，’thatIhavedonethat。’This，youperceive，istellingthetruth。\"\"Igrantit，\"saidI；\"itmightpossibly，however，befoundtobetellingthetruthinalowkey，andfalsehoodinaloudone；besides，Ishouldbeafraidthatmanypeoplemightnothavesufficientpresenceofmindtoavailthemselvesofthesemethods。\"\"Ourdoctors，\"repliedtheJesuit，\"havetaught，inthesamepassage，forthebenefitofsuchasmightnotbeexpertintheuseofthesereservations，thatnomoreisrequiredofthem，toavoidlying，thansimplytosaythat’theyhavenotdone’whattheyhavedone，provided’theyhave，ingeneral，theintentionofgivingtotheirlanguagethesensewhichanablemanwouldgivetoit。’Becandid，now，andconfessifyouhavenotoftenfeltyourselfembarrassed，inconsequenceofnotknowingthis？\"\"Sometimes，\"saidI。\"Andwillyounotalsoacknowledge，\"
continuedhe，\"thatitwouldoftenproveveryconvenienttobeabsolvedinconsciencefromkeepingcertainengagementsonemayhavemade？\"\"Themostconvenientthingintheworld！\"Ireplied。\"Listen，then，tothegeneralrulelaiddownbyEscobar：’Promisesarenotbinding，whenthepersoninmakingthemhadnointentiontobindhimself。Now，itseldomhappensthatanyhavesuchanintention，unlesswhentheyconfirmtheirpromisesbyanoathorcontract；sothatwhenonesimplysays，\"Iwilldoit，\"hemeansthathewilldoitifhedoesnotchangehismind；forhedoesnotwish，bysayingthat，todeprivehimselfofhisliberty。’Hegivesotherrulesinthesamestrain，whichyoumayconsultforyourself，andtellsus，inconclusion，’thatallthisistakenfromMolinaandourotherauthors，andisthereforesettledbeyondalldoubt。’\"\"Mydearfather，\"Iobserved，\"Ihadnoideathatthedirectionoftheintentionpossessedthepowerofrenderingpromisesnullandvoid。\"\"Youmustperceive，\"returnedhe，\"whatfacilitythisaffordsforprosecutingthebusinessoflife。Butwhathasgivenusthemosttroublehasbeentoregulatethecommercebetweenthesexes；ourfathersbeingmorecharyinthematterofchastity。Notbutthattheyhavediscussedquestionsofaverycuriousandveryindulgentcharacter，particularlyinreferencetomarriedandbetrothedpersons。\"
AtthisstageoftheconversationIwasmadeacquaintedwiththemostextraordinaryquestionsyoucanwellimagine。Hegavemeenoughofthemtofillmanyletters；but，asyoushowmycommunicationstoallsortsofpersons，andasIdonotchoosetobethevehicleofsuchreadingtothosewhowouldmakeitthesubjectofdiversion，Imustdeclineevengivingthequotations。
TheonlythingtowhichIcanventuretoallude，outofallthebookswhichheshowedme，andtheseinFrench，too，isapassagewhichyouwillfindinFatherBauny’sSummary，p。165，relatingtocertainlittlefamiliarities，which，providedtheintentioniswelldirected，heexplains\"aspassingforgallant\"；andyouwillbesurprisedtofind，onp。148aprincipleofmorals，astothepowerwhichdaughtershavetodisposeoftheirpersonswithouttheleaveoftheirrelatives，couchedintheseterms：\"Whenthatisdonewiththeconsentofthedaughter，althoughthefathermayhavereasontocomplain，itdoesnotfollowthatshe，orthepersontowhomshehassacrificedherhonour，hasdonehimanywrong，orviolatedtherulesofjusticeinregardtohim；forthedaughterhaspossessionofherhonour，aswellasofherbody，andcandowhatshepleaseswiththem，batingdeathormutilationofhermembers。\"Judge，fromthatspecimen，oftherest。Itbringstomyrecollectionapassagefromaheathenpoet，amuchbettercasuist，itwouldappear，thanthesereverenddoctors；forhesays，\"thatthepersonofadaughterdoesnotbelongwhollytoherself，butpartlytoherfatherandpartlytohermother，withoutwhomshecannotdisposeofit，eveninmarriage。\"AndIammuchmistakenifthereisasinglejudgeinthelandwhowouldnotlaydownaslawtheveryreverseofthismaximofFatherBauny。ThisisallIdaretellyouofthispartofourconversation，whichlastedsolongthatIwasobligedtobeseechthemonktochangethesubject。Hedidsoandproceededtoentertainmewiththeirregulationsaboutfemaleattire。\"Weshallnotspeak，\"hesaid，\"ofthosewhoareactuatedbyimpureintentions；but，astoothers，Escobarremarksthat’ifthewomanadornherselfwithoutanyevilintention，butmerelytogratifyanaturalinclinationtovanity—obnaturalemfastusinclinationem—thisisonlyavenialsin，orrathernosinatall。’AndFatherBaunymaintains，that’eventhoughthewomanknowsthebadeffectwhichhercareinadorningherpersonmayhaveuponthevirtueofthosewhomaybeholdher，alldeckedoutinrichandpreciousattire，shewouldnotsininsodressing。’And，amongothers，hecitesourFatherSanchezasbeingofthesamemind。\"\"But，father，whatdoyourauthorssaytothosepassagesofScripturewhichsostronglydenounceeverythingofthatsort？\"
\"Lessiushaswellmetthatobjection，\"saidthemonk，\"byobserving，’thatthesepassagesofScripturehavetheforceofpreceptsonlyinregardtothewomenofthatperiod，whowereexpectedtoexhibit，bytheirmodestdemeanour，anexampleofedificationtothePagans。’\"\"Andwheredidhefindthat，father\"？\"Itdoesnotmatterwherehefoundit，\"repliedhe；
\"itisenoughtoknowthatthesentimentsofthesegreatmenarealwaysprobableofthemselves。Itdeservestobenoticed，however，thatFatherLeMoinehasqualifiedthisgeneralpermission；forhewillonnoaccountallowittobeextendedtotheoldladies。’Youth，’heobserves，’isnaturallyentitledtoadornitself，norcantheuseofornamentbecondemnedatanagewhichistheflowerandverdureoflife。Butthereitshouldbeallowedtoremain：itwouldbestrangelyoutofseasontoseekforrosesonthesnow。Thestarsalonehavearighttobealwaysdancing，fortheyhavethegiftofperpetualyouth。Thewisestcourseinthismatter，therefore，foroldwomen，wouldbetoconsultgoodsenseandagoodmirror，toyieldtodecencyandnecessity，andtoretireatthefirstapproachoftheshadesofnight。’\"\"Amostjudiciousadvice，\"Iobserved。\"But，\"continuedthemonk，\"justtoshowyouhowcarefulourfathersareabouteverythingyoucanthinkof，Imaymentionthat，aftergrantingtheladiespermissiontogamble，andforeseeingthat，inmanycases，thislicensewouldbeoflittleavailunlesstheyhadsomethingtogamblewith，theyhaveestablishedanothermaximintheirfavour，whichwillbefoundinEscobar’schapteronlarceny，no。13：’Awife，’sayshe，’maygamble，andforthispurposemaypilfermoneyfromherhusband。’\"\"Well，father，thatiscapital！\"Therearemanyothergoodthingsbesidesthat，\"saidthefather；\"butwemustwaivethemandsayalittleaboutthosemoreimportantmaxims，whichfacilitatethepracticeofholythings—themannerofattendingmass，forexample。
Onthissubject，ourgreatdivines，GaspardHurtadoandConinck，havetaught’thatitisquitesufficienttobepresentatmassinbody，thoughwemaybeabsentinspirit，providedwemaintainanoutwardlyrespectfuldeportment。’
Vasquezgoesastepfurther，maintaining’thatonefulfilsthepreceptofhearingmass，eventhoughoneshouldgowithnosuchintentionatall。’
AllthisisrepeatedlylaiddownbyEscobar，who，inonepassage，illustratesthepointbytheexampleofthosewhoaredraggedtomassbyforce，andwhoputonafixedresolutionnottolistentoit。\"\"Truly，sir，\"saidI，\"hadanyotherpersontoldmethat，Iwouldnothavebelievedit。\"\"Ingoodsooth，\"hereplied，\"itrequiresallthesupportwhichtheauthorityofthesegreatnamescanlendit；andsodoesthefollowingmaximbythesameEscobar，’thatevenawickedintention，suchasthatofoglingthewomen，joinedtothatofhearingmassrightly，doesnothinderamanfromfulfillingtheservice。’Butanotherveryconvenientdevice，suggestedbyourlearnedbrotherTurrian，isthat’onemayhearthehalfofamassfromonepriest，andtheotherhalffromanother；andthatitmakesnodifferencethoughheshouldhearfirsttheconclusionoftheone，andthenthecommencementoftheother。’Imightalsomentionthatithasbeendecidedbyseveralofourdoctorstobelawful’tohearthetwohalvesofamassatthesametime，fromthelipsoftwodifferentpriests，oneofwhomiscommencingthemass，whiletheotherisattheelevation；itbeingquitepossibletoattendtobothpartiesatonce，andtwohalvesofamassmakingawhole—duaemedietatesunammissamconstituunt。’’Fromallwhich，’saysEscobar，’Iconclude，thatyoumayhearmassinaveryshortperiodoftime；if，forexample，youshouldhappentohearfourmassesgoingonatthesametime，soarrangedthatwhenthefirstisatthecommencement，thesecondisatthegospel，thethirdattheconsecration，andthelastatthecommunion。’\"\"Certainly，father，accordingtothatplan，onemayhearmassanydayatNotreDameinatwinkling。\"\"Well，\"repliedhe，\"thatjustshowshowadmirablywehavesucceededinfacilitatingthehearingofmass。ButIamanxiousnowtoshowyouhowwehavesoftenedtheuseofthesacraments，andparticularlythatofpenance。Itisherethatthebenignityofourfathersshinesinitstruestsplendour；andyouwillbereallyastonishedtofindthatdevotion，athingwhichtheworldissomuchafraidof，shouldhavebeentreatedbyourdoctorswithsuchconsummateskillthat，tousethewordsofFatherLeMoine，inhisDevotionMadeEasy，demolishingthebugbearwhichthedevilhadplacedatitsthreshold，theyhaverenderediteasierthanviceandmoreagreeablethanpleasure；sothat，infact，simplytoliveisincomparablymoreirksomethantolivewell。Isthatnotamarvellouschange，now？\"\"Indeed，father，Icannothelptellingyouabitofmymind：Iamsadlyafraidthatyouhaveovershotthemark，andthatthisindulgenceofyourswillshockmorepeoplethanitwillattract。Themass，forexample，isathingsograndandsoholythat，intheeyesofagreatmany，itwouldbeenoughtoblastthecreditofyourdoctorsforevertoshowthemhowyouhavespokenofit。\"\"Withacertainclass，\"repliedthemonk，\"Iallowthatmaybethecase；butdoyounotknowthatweaccommodateourselvestoallsortsofpersons？
YouseemtohavelostallrecollectionofwhatIhaverepeatedlytoldyouonthispoint。Thefirsttimeyouareatleisure，therefore，Iproposethatwemakethisthethemeofourconversation，deferringtillthenthelenitiveswehaveintroducedintotheconfessional。Ipromisetomakeyouunderstanditsowellthatyouwillneverforgetit。\"Withthesewordsweparted，sothatournextconversation，Ipresume，willturnonthepolicyoftheSociety。Iam，&；c。P。S。Sincewritingtheabove，IhaveseenParadiseOpenedbyaHundredDevotionsEasilyPractised，byFatherBarry；
andalsotheMarkofPredestination，byFatherBinet；bothofthempieceswellworththeseeing。LETTERXParis，August2，1656SIR，IhavenotcomeyettothepolicyoftheSociety，butshallfirstintroduceyoutooneofitsleadingprinciples。
Irefertothepalliativeswhichtheyhaveappliedtoconfession，andwhichareunquestionablythebestofalltheschemestheyhavefallenuponto\"attractallandrepelnone。\"Itisabsolutelynecessarytoknowsomethingofthisbeforegoinganyfurther；and，accordingly，themonkjudgeditexpedienttogivemesomeinstructionsonthepoint，nearlyasfollows：
\"FromwhatIhavealreadystated，\"heobserved，\"youmayjudgeofthesuccesswithwhichourdoctorshavelabouredtodiscover，intheirwisdom，thatagreatmanythings，formerlyregardedasforbidden，areinnocentandallowable；
butastherearesomesinsforwhichonecanfindnoexcuse，andforwhichthereisnoremedybutconfession，itbecamenecessarytoalleviate，bythemethodsIamnowgoingtomention，thedifficultiesattendingthatpractice。Thus，havingshownyou，inourpreviousconversations，howwerelievepeoplefromtroublesomescruplesofconsciencebyshowingthemthatwhattheybelievedtobesinfulwasindeedquiteinnocent，Iproceednowtoillustrateourconvenientplanforexpiatingwhatisreallysinful，whichiseffectedbymakingconfessionaseasyaprocessasitwasformerlyapainfulone。\"\"Andhowdoyoumanagethat，father？\"\"Why，\"saidhe，\"itisbythoseadmirablesubtletieswhicharepeculiartoourCompany，andhavebeenstyledbyourfathersinFlanders，inTheImageoftheFirstCentury，’thepiousfinesse，theholyartificeofdevotion—piametreligiosamcalliditatem，etpietatissolertiam。’Bytheaidoftheseinventions，astheyremarkinthesameplace，’crimesmaybeexpiatednowadaysalacrius—
withmorezealandalacritythantheywerecommittedinformerdays，andagreatmanypeoplemaybewashedfromtheirstainsalmostascleverlyastheycontractedthem—plurimivixcitiusmaculascontrahuntquameluunt。’\"
\"Pray，then，father，doteachmesomeofthesemostsalutarylessonsoffinesse。\"\"Wehaveagoodnumberofthem，answeredthemonk；\"forthereareagreatmanyirksomethingsaboutconfession，andforeachofthesewehavedevisedapalliative。Thechiefdifficultiesconnectedwiththisordinancearetheshameofconfessingcertainsins，thetroubleofspecifyingthecircumstancesofothers，thepenanceexactedforthem，theresolutionagainstrelapsingintothem，theavoidanceoftheproximateoccasionsofsins，andtheregretforhavingcommittedthem。Ihopetoconvinceyouto—daythatitisnowpossibletogetoverallthiswithhardlyanytroubleatall；suchisthecarewehavetakentoallaythebitternessandnauseousnessofthisverynecessarymedicine。For，tobeginwiththedifficultyofconfessingcertainsins，youareawareitisofimportanceoftentokeepinthegoodgracesofone’sconfessor；now，mustitnotbeextremelyconvenienttobepermitted，asyouarebyourdoctors，particularlyEscobarandSuarez，’tohavetwoconfessors，oneforthemortalsinsandanotherforthevenial，inordertomaintainafaircharacterwithyourordinaryconfessor—utibonamfamamapudordinariumtueatur—providedyoudonottakeoccasionfromthencetoindulgeinmortalsin？’Thisisfollowedbyanotheringeniouscontrivanceforconfessingasin，eventotheordinaryconfessor，withouthisperceivingthatitwascommittedsincethelastconfession，whichis，’tomakeageneralconfession，andhuddlethislastsininalumpamongtherestwhichweconfess。’AndIamsureyouwillownthatthefollowingdecisionofFatherBaunygoesfartoalleviatetheshamewhichonemustfeelinconfessinghisrelapses，namely，’that，exceptincertaincases，whichrarelyoccur，theconfessorisnotentitledtoaskhispenitentifthesinofwhichheaccuseshimselfisanhabitualone，noristhelatterobligedtoanswersuchaquestion；becausetheconfessorhasnorighttosubjecthispenitenttotheshameofdisclosinghisfrequentrelapses。’\"
\"Indeed，father！Imightaswellsaythataphysicianhasnorighttoaskhispatientifitislongsincehehadthefever。Donotsinsassumequiteadifferentaspectaccordingtocircumstances？andshoulditnotbetheobjectofagenuinepenitenttodiscoverthewholestateofhisconsciencetohisconfessor，withthesamesincerityandopen—heartednessasifhewerespeakingtoJesusChristhimself，whoseplacethepriestoccupies？
Ifso，howfarishefromrealizingsuchadispositionwho，byconcealingthefrequencyofhisrelapses，concealstheaggravationsofhisoffence！\"
Isawthatthispuzzledtheworthymonk，forheattemptedtoeluderatherthanresolvethedifficultybyturningmyattentiontoanotheroftheirrules，whichonlygoestoestablishafreshabuse，insteadofjustifyingintheleastthedecisionofFatherBauny；adecisionwhich，inmyopinion，isoneofthemostperniciousoftheirmaxims，andcalculatedtoencourageprofligatementocontinueintheirevilhabits。\"Igrantyou，\"repliedthefather，\"thathabitaggravatesthemalignityofasin，butitdoesnotalteritsnature；andthatisthereasonwhywedonotinsistonpeopleconfessingit，accordingtotherulelaiddownbyourfathers，andquotedbyEscobar，’thatoneisonlyobligedtoconfessthecircumstancesthatalterthespeciesofthesin，andnotthosethataggravateit。’Proceedingonthisrule，FatherGranadossays，’thatifonehaseatenfleshinLent，allheneedstodoistoconfessthathehasbrokenthefast，withoutspecifyingwhetheritwasbyeatingflesh，orbytakingtwofishmeals。’And，accordingtoReginald，’asorcererwhohasemployedthediabolicalartisnotobligedtorevealthatcircumstance；itisenoughtosaythathehasdealtinmagic，withoutexpressingwhetheritwasbypalmistryorbyapactionwiththedevil。’Fagundez，again，hasdecidedthat’rapeisnotacircumstancewhichoneisboundtoreveal，ifthewomangiveherconsent。’AllthisisquotedbyEscobar，withmanyotherverycuriousdecisionsastothesecircumstances，whichyoumayconsultatyourleisure。\"\"These’artificesofdevotion’
arevastlyconvenientintheirway，\"Iobserved。\"Andyet，\"saidthefather，\"notwithstandingallthat，theywouldgofornothing，sir，unlesswehadproceededtomollifypenance，which，morethananythingelse，deterspeoplefromconfession。Now，however，themostsqueamishhavenothingtodreadfromit，afterwhatwehaveadvancedinourthesesoftheCollegeofClermont，whereweholdthat，iftheconfessorimposesasuitablepenance，andthepenitentbeunwillingtosubmithimselftoit，thelattermaygohome，’waivingboththepenanceandtheabsolution。’Or，asEscobarsays，ingivingthePracticeofourSociety，’ifthepenitentdeclarehiswillingnesstohavehispenanceremittedtothenextworld，andtosufferinpurgatoryallthepainsduetohim，theconfessormay，forthehonourofthesacrament，imposeaverylightpenanceonhim，particularlyifhehasreasontobelievethatthispenitentwouldobjecttoaheavierone。’\"\"Ireallythink，\"saidI，\"that，ifthatisthecase，weoughtnolongertocallconfessionthesacramentofpenance。\"\"Youarewrong，\"hereplied；\"forwealwaysadministersomethinginthewayofpenance，fortheform’ssake。\"\"But，father，doyousupposethatamanisworthyofreceivingabsolutionwhenhewillsubmittonothingpainfultoexpiatehisoffences？And，inthesecircumstances，oughtyounottoretainratherthanremittheirsins？Areyounotawareoftheextentofyourministry，andthatyouhavethepowerofbindingandloosing？Doyouimaginethatyouareatlibertytogiveabsolutionindifferentlytoallwhoaskit，andwithoutascertainingbeforehandifJesusChristloosesinheaventhosewhomyoulooseonearth？\"\"What！\"criedthefather，\"doyousupposethatwedonotknowthat’theconfessor（asoneremarks）oughttositinjudgementonthedispositionofhispenitent，bothbecauseheisboundnottodispensethesacramentstotheunworthy，JesusChristhavingenjoinedhimtobeafaithfulstewardandnotgivethatwhichisholyuntodogs；andbecauseheisajudge，anditisthedutyofajudgetogiverighteousjudgement，byloosingtheworthyandbindingtheunworthy，andheoughtnottoabsolvethosewhomJesusChristcondemns。’\"Whosewordsarethese，father？\"\"TheyarethewordsofourfatherFiliutius，\"hereplied。\"Youastonishme，\"saidI；\"ItookthemtobeaquotationfromoneofthefathersoftheChurch。Atallevents，sir，thatpassageoughttomakeanimpressionontheconfessors，andrenderthemverycircumspectinthedispensationofthissacrament，toascertainwhethertheregretoftheirpenitentsissufficient，andwhethertheirpromisesoffutureamendmentareworthyofcredit。\"\"Thatisnotsuchadifficultmatter，\"repliedthefather；\"Filiutiushadmoresensethantoleaveconfessorsinthatdilemma，andaccordinglyhesuggestsaneasywayofgettingoutofit，inthewordsimmediatelyfollowing：’Theconfessormayeasilysethismindatrestastothedispositionofhispenitent；
for，ifhefailtogivesufficientevidenceofsorrow，theconfessorhasonlytoaskhimifhedoesnotdetestthesininhisheart，and，ifheanswersthathedoes，heisboundtobelieveit。Thesamethingmaybesaidofresolutionsastothefuture，unlessthecaseinvolvesanobligationtorestitution，ortoavoidsomeproximateoccasionofsin。’\"\"Astothatpassage，father，IcaneasilybelievethatitisFiliutius’own。\"\"Youaremistakenthough，\"saidthefather，\"forhehasextractedit，wordforword，fromSuarez。\"\"But，father，thatlastpassagefromFiliutiusoverturnswhathehadlaiddownintheformer。Forconfessorscannolongerbesaidtositasjudgesonthedispositionoftheirpenitents，iftheyareboundtotakeitsimplyupontheirword，intheabsenceofallsatisfyingsignsofcontrition。Aretheprofessionsmadeonsuchoccasionssoinfallible，thatnoothersignisneeded？Iquestionmuchifexperiencehastaughtyourfathersthatallwhomakefairpromisesareremarkableforkeepingthem；Iammistakeniftheyhavenotoftenfoundthereverse。\"\"Nomatter，\"