Note 1008 — Chapter II · THE TREATMENT OF PENITENTS IN DIFFERENT EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Richard F. (Richard Frederick) Clarke translation
He should not be repelled if the penitent—as is peculiar to many men, generally less from malice than from awkwardness or embarrassment—shows a rough, sullen, insolent disposition; if his expressions are blunt, short, and ill chosen; indeed, the priest should be impressed favorably by the fact that men generally confess their sins with a certain honest fearlessness. Cf. Synod vic. Sutchuensis, 1803; Coll. Lac. Tom. VI. p. 608; and Conc. Aqu. 1850, Tit. VII. c. 5. Coll. Lac. Tom. IV. p. 992: Alacri animo et in multa patientia suscipiat pœnitentes, præsertim viros, qui ad sacrum tribunal summo studio omnique charitatis industria alliciendi sunt. Conc. Baltim. 1866, Tit. V. c. 5 (Coll. Lac. Tom. III. p. 40).