Theological Foundations new file

130 Theological Foundations the Church’s work in the area of moral formation, and Father George pays special attention to this sacrament. This, in his opinion, is an excep- tionally important and, at the same time, delicate sphere. “While listening to confessions, priests should remember that what- ever they whisper into the ears of their penitents may later be broadcast and revealed to the whole world. Confessors must shun the desire to attract penitents to themselves rather than to God. Charity and true mercy should reign in the hearts of confessors and take precedence over all other feelings. Their greatest desire should be to bring men as close as possible to God. Confessors should strive to give penitents not only absolution but also spiritual guidance.” 48 Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz was convinced that it is possible to make an effective contribution to the greater good of the Church by administering and directing parishes with great zeal. It seemed to him that even though the religious often administered parishes before, they may not have appreciated their role in the life of the Church. And yet, the body of the Church consists of parish communities which like little cells make up the tissues of the body. Therefore, parishes may become a source of spiritual rebirth. If the religious have heretofore worked out- side parishes, leaving them to the diocesan priests, it would be possible now to join them in the work of pastoring the parishes and try to govern them in an exemplary way. The parish church along with its parochial rectory could form a religious house occupied by two or three priests and as many religious brothers, thus creating together a true center of spiritual life. The priests would exercise their sacerdotal ministry, while the brothers would support them working as organists, sacristans, cate- chists or performing various other tasks. 49 Blessed George admits that he experienced some concern as to whether the work in parishes could be successfully reconciled with the discipline and duties of religious life. He was not certain whether the Sacred Congregation for the Affairs of the Religious would not be against it. Later he was able to rid himself of these doubts, for the Holy Father not only approved of but even praised this kind of work per-