Wellbred persons are most exact in observing the rules of politeness. When they are in the company of others they are always careful to act according to the customs approved by society. Catholics too have certain rules of politeness which they are expected to observe in the performance of religious functions. However, there is a great difference between these rules and those adopted by people of the world. For the sole object of the courtesies of the world is to please human beings, while the purpose of the acts of politeness we practice in performing our religious duties is to please God. Whenever we take part in any function of the Church whether it be assistance at Mass, or the reception of the sacraments, or participation in a procession or a special devotion we should remember that we are in the presence of the King of kings, to do homage to Him; and this thought should inspire us to be most observant of all the rules of deportment that the particular function imposes on us.
There is no occasion better suited for testing our Catholic courtesy than the reception of the sacrament of Penance. Sad to say, there are some Catholics who show a great lack of respect and seriousness in the reception of this sublime sacrament. They walk into church, gazing around as if it were a theater. Instead of a reverent genuflection, they make a slight inclination and slouch into a pew. A minute or two suffices for preparation; then they approach the confessional, perhaps forcing their way ahead of others who had the first right. They make their confession in a careless, slipshod way, rendering if necessary for the priest to put a number of questions regarding the nature and number of their sins. The act of contrition is hastily mumbled; when they leave the confessional they say their penance as fast as possible and hasten from the church. Strange to say, many of these persons are most careful in obeying the rules of politeness when they are at some social function in a parlor or diningroom; but in the house of God they are illmannered and disrespectful.
The wellmannered Catholic shows from the moment he enters the church that he realizes he is in the presence of Our Divine Saviour. His genuflection is performed properly, the knee touching the floor. His preparation for confession is careful and exact, without being scrupulous. He makes a fervent act of contrition. and waits his turn to enter the confessional. He confesses his sins exactly and sincerely but without unnecessary details. The confessor has no difficulty with his confession; he gives him some advice, which is attentively received, and imparts absolution while the penitent humbly and fervently repeats his act of contrition. On leaving the confessional he not only recites his penance but also spends some time in thanking God for having received the pardon of his sins and in begging strength to avoid sin in future. Such a Catholic is conscious that in approaching the confessional he is really kneeling before Our Lord Himself to hear from His lips the words: "Thy sins are forgiven."
It may happen that after confession a person will forget what penance he has received, In that event he should return to the confessor and ask him to repeat it, if he can do so without much inconvenience. If, however, he would have to wait a considerable length of time or suffer some other grave inconvenience before he could again get to the confessor, he can consider himself free from the penance, though it would be advisable for him to say some prayers in satisfaction for his debt of temporal punishment.