"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，"