XV. Let the confessors be attentive in visiting the sick, especially those who are in danger, and that they may decently exclude other ecclesiastics, and members of other orders, let the superiors take care that at any time when the confessor is obliged to leave the sick, others may succeed, and may encourage the sick man in good purposes; the horror of hell, &c. or at least of purgatory, in the meantime is prudently to be held forth, and it is to be shown, that as water extinguishes fire, so alms extinguishes sin; and that alms can never be better bestowed than for the nourishment and support of such persons as by their calling profess a desire for the salvation of their neighbors; and so too will the sick be benefited themselves, and make satisfaction for their own sins; for charity covers a multitude of sins. Charity can also be described as that wedding garment, without which no one can be admitted to the heavenly feast. Finally, let those things be produced from scripture and the holy fathers, which may be judged most efficacious to influence him, respect being had to the capacity of the sick person.
XVI. Let women complaining of the vices and unkindness of their husbands be instructed secretly to withdraw a sum of money and to offer it to God, for the expiation of the sins of their husbands and for obtaining forgiveness for them.
CAP. X.
De disciplinæ hujus rigore privato in societate.
I. Dimittendus erit quilibet vel cujusvis conditionis vel ætatis, alio colore quæsito, tamquam hostis societatis, qui devotas nostras vel alios amicos alienaverit à templo nostro vel frequentatione nostrorum, aut eleemosynas ad alia templa, vel religiosos diverterit, vel alicui opulento, aut bene societati congruo illam dissuaserit; tum etiam qui circa tempus, quo de bonis propriis disponendum erat, affectum erga consanguineos potius, quam erga societatem, ostenderint; hoc enim magnum immortificati animi signum est, et convenit professos esse plane mortificatos: item qui eleemosynas à pœnitentibus aut aliis amicis societatis ablatas ad consanguineos suos pauperes diverterint. Ut autem de causa dimissionis suæ postea non conquerantur, non dimittantur statim, sed prohibeantur primo, ab audiendis confessionibus, mortificentur et vexentur exercitiis vilissimorum officiorum, cogantur ad ea in dies præstanda à quibus aversionem maximam habere cognoscuntur, removeantur ab altioribus studiis ac honorificis muniis, urgeantur capitulis ac reprehensionibus publicis, arceantur à recreationibus, et conversatione externorum, subtrahantur in vestibus, aliisque utensilibus, ea quæ omnino necessaria non sunt, donec ad murmurationem, et impatientiam inducantur, et tunc tamquam nimis immortificati, et aliis malo exemplo perniciosi dimittantur; et si ratio dimissionis parentibus aut prælatis ecclesiæ danda sit, dicantur non habuisse spiritum societatis.
II. Dimittendi insuper erunt qui scrupulum fecerint in acquirendis societati bonis, dicanturque esse nimium proprio judicio addicti; quod si apud provinciales rationem facti sui reddere voluerint, non audiantur, sed urgeantur ad regulam quæ omnes obligat ad cæcam obedientiam præstandam.
III. Reflectendum erit ab initio et à teneris, quinam maxime in affectu erga societatem proficiant, qui autem affectum erga alios ordines, aut pauperes, aut parentes tenere deprehenduntur, cum sint futuri inutiles, modo supra dicto, paulatim ad dimissionem disponantur.
CHAP. X.
Of the secret strictness of this discipline in the society.