# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_August 1862_S244
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

244 Excerpts as Contributions to Pastoral Casuistry.

father confessor, and this man disclosed to him that he wished to marry the
Juliana he had gotten with child, and so bring her back into honor again, it
is not fitting that he should report this deed to the authorities for due
punishment, but rather he may properly leave it to divine judgment. For it
is indeed said, according to the apostolic word: Whoremongers and
adulterers God will judge, Heb. 12:4, if they do not repent. But
Sulpitius has shown many tokens of a heartfelt repentance.

As to the third question:

If Theodosius does not himself perform the publication of banns for the two
betrothed, he need make no matter of conscience over it should Juliana be
published as a virgin by another preacher who has no knowledge whatsoever
of the matter, since such publications, proclamationes, happen every day
(tota die), especially as it is also said here: de occultis (concerning hidden
things — which Theodosius, by virtue of the sigillum confessionarii, that is,
the seal of confession, is not empowered to disclose) non iudicat ecclesia,
vel ejus minister (the Church does not judge, nor does its minister).*)

To answer the fourth question:

Theodosius does best, to satisfy his own conscience, if, should he be called
upon to marry these people, he assigns his vices (his place), sub quocunque
tandem praetextu hoc fiat (under whatever pretext this may finally be done),
to another of his reverend colleagues, and gladly and willingly leaves to him
the small accidens (incidental fee) he might expect from it.

As to the fifth and last question:

Should this marriage go forward, Theodosius may very well, since Juliana
would then no doubt also become his penitent through this marriage, take
her in hand privately before confession on account of this grave sin
committed and confessed to him by Sulpitius, and give her the admonition
due in this case, and also earnestly exhort her that she should indeed
acknowledge this case before God in penitent humility, confess and repent
of it, and thereafter lead her life henceforth in this new state of marriage
in such chastity that her present father confessor, instead of sorrowful
sighs, might rejoice over her active and genuine repentance and give thanks
to God for it. In this way Theodosius would, so far as can be done in this
case, save his own conscience, and, it is hoped, also touch the hearts of the
two persons concerned, Sulpitius and Juliana, so that they might the more
heartily acknowledge their guilt before God — the grave sin of the adultery
committed having been urgently set before them — and that at the very least
none of the feared inconveniences and offenses would follow from it within
his congregation.

Now may the Lord fulfill him in this and in all other matters of his
office, with the spirit of wisdom and counsel, to recognize in all things
what is his divine will, and then to carry it out

*) Concerning hidden things the Church does not judge, nor its ministers.