Book Snippets

The holiness of those who have no sins to confess

3 min • Digitized on June 12, 2024

#Example #Wisdom

From The Means of Grace, page 207
By Rev. Herman Rolfus

For Persons who have Nothing to Confess.

There was once a distinguished lady who went often to confession, and consequently was very much at her ease, as if she had no sin on her soul.

St. Margaret of Cortona, who used to pray most fervently for this lady, received from the Lord a commission to communicate the following suggestions to her confessor, that he might place them before his penitent, and thus guide her to a heartfelt and penitential confession.

The suggestions were:

• that prior to her marriage she had been frivolous and not altogether modest;
• that at the time of her marriage she adorned herself extravagantly, taking little or no pleasure in the things of God;
• that during her married life many things took place that were unbecoming her state of life, and this even on festivals of the Church;
• that in a certain lawsuit with one of her acquaintances, she would have gladly brought about an unfair decision;
• that when she went out she wished to appear more beautiful than other women;
• that she pretended to be friendly to the members of her household, while she found fault with them behind their backs;
• that she loved no one but her husband and her sons, and these to an excess;
• that she never had a true solid contrition for all her sins, and even in the holiest season performed her devotions tepidly;
• that her fasts were devoid of meritorious intention;
• that she was too fond of good food and gave luxurious and ostentatious banquets;
• that she was not freehanded in her almsgiving, and looked for worldly reward for what she did give;
• that she arrayed herself in costly attire, and had no concern for those who had to toil in nakedness and cold;
• that she was imperative and overbearing towards her household;
• that she spoke ill of others behind their back, disparaging their good qualities, and censuring their every motion, and rejoicing at their discomfiture;
• that, instead of regretting the evil ways of others, she found satisfaction in retailing them among neighbors;
• that she was agreeable and flattering to persons whom she afterward ridiculed in their absence;
• that she was covetous and greedy for good things;
• that in church she did not fix her heart on God, but permitted her thoughts to dwell on earthly things;
• that she censured the service and sermon;
• that she did not serve God with pure motives;
• that she took pleasure in looking at herself in the glass, and envied the good appearance of other women;
• that she exaggerated her own slight trials, and belittled the heavy afflictions of others, and had no compassion for them;
• that she was proud and shunned the simple and lowly.