Note 953 — Chapter II · THE TREATMENT OF PENITENTS IN DIFFERENT EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Here we will only insert the Notanda from the Instr. pract. P. III. art. II. § 1, n. 131, by Aertnys: (1) Animadvertat confessarius, quod docuit experientia, nempe nullum cœlibem, qui ad provectam ætatem usque in habitu hujus vitii vixerit, ad frugem redire posse nisi extraordinaria Dei gratia præveniatur; principiis ergo obstet, ne malum per multas invaleat moras et sero medicina paretur. (2) Interdum inveniuntur juvenes utriusque sexus, qui habitu pollutionis antehac irretiti, valde cupiunt hac miseria soluti esse, sed vehementer tentantur, et, quamvis resistant et orent, pollutio nihilominus sæpe evenit. Idem aliquando contingit ob corporis complexionem nervosam aut sanguinosam, quæ vehementes tentationes causat. Qui doceantur pollutionem omnino involuntariam non esse peccatum. Nevertheless, the confessor must be careful, and not readily believe that the penitent had sufficiently resisted, but duly investigate if this has been the case. (3) Others resist at the beginning, but lose courage if the temptation does not cease, wrongly imagining that resistance is in vain. Such must be encouraged to further resistance; si tamen pollutio sequitur sua sponte, involuntaria censenda est utpote præter voluntatem secuta, and, therefore, there is no sin. (4) Alii demum timoratæ conscientiæ, sed nervosæ complexionis, in lecto vehementes commotiones carnis identidem patiuntur; si positivam resistentiam opponere pergant, obdormiscere nequeunt, et, si tandem sopiantur, pollutio in somno evenit. These should be admonished to pray for divine help, to make a firm act of disapproval, and then, with a quiet conscience, to assume a passive attitude, in accordance with the teaching of St. Alphonsus, Lib. V. de peccato, n. 9.