Advice to Confessors

Translated by Joseph M. Baraniewicz, OSFS

Introduction by St.Francis de Sales: The office which you exercise is of great excellence, since You have been installed in it by God with such great authority to judge souls that the sentences which you pronounce correctly on earth are ratified in heaven. Your lips are channels through which flows peace from Heaven to earth on men of good will; your voices are the trumpets of the great Jesus, which overthrow the walls of iniquity — the mystical Jerico.

It is the epitome of honor for men to be elevated to this dignity to which even the angels are not called. F or to which of the angelic orders was it ever said, “ Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven.” ? But these words were spoken to the Apostles, and through the Apostles to all those who were to receive the same authority by legitimate succession. Since you hold this admirable office, you must bring to it, day and night, all your care, and I, on my part, a great deal of my attention.

Some time ago I drew up a series of observations on this matter, and these I believe proper to aid you in the exercise of tills office. From these observations I have drawn this brief Memo which 1 send on to you. I believe that it will be most useful to you.