absolution by the priest. Three conditions — contrition, confession, and satisfaction — are necessary on the part of the penitent for its valid and fruitful reception. The natural process of reconciliation was raised by the law to a higher grade, and finds its ultimate perfection in the Gospel. Christ's choice of a little child as the model of spiritual perfection has a broad and deep significance. When as boys we had the misfortune to offend our earthly father by some childish prank, it was usually through the medium of a mother's love that we sought and obtained forgiveness. But the father's pardon was not accorded nor the happy relations of favor and love reestablished without certain necessary preliminaries. We humbly approached our offended parent and openly acknowledged our fault, but that was not enough. We expressed our sorrow, nor did that suffice. We promised to guard against the recurrence of such misdeeds; but still there was something wanting. It was only when we had done all that, and had offered besides to make good by some personal sacrifice the damage done, that the smile of love returned to his countenance and his fond arms opened. By a similar process are His wayward children restored to the grace of their heavenly Father. The sorrow necessary in the Sacrament of Penance is clearly not that perfect contrition which of itself effects justification, for otherwise the sacrament would be a superfluous institution. It is rather attrition, or a sorrow for sin inspired by some less exalted motive than the pure love of God. Still we must never lose
