ell are called convents or
monasteries, and the societies in which they live are called religious
orders, communities or congregations.

Q. 823. Are there any religious communities of priests?
A. There are many religious communities of priests, who, besides living
according to the general laws of the Church, as all priests do, follow
certain rules laid down for their community. Such priests are called the
regular clergy, because living by rules to distinguish them from the
secular clergy who live in their parishes under no special rule. The
chief work of the regular clergy is to teach in colleges and give
missions and retreats.

Q. 824. Why are there so many different religious communities?
A. There are many different religious communities (1) because all
religious are not fitted for the same work, and (2) because they desire
to imitate Our Lord's life on earth as perfectly as possible; and when
each community takes one of Christ's works and seeks to become perfect
in it, the union of all their works continues as perfectly as we can the
works He began upon earth.

LESSON TWENTIETH.
ON THE MANNER OF MAKING A GOOD CONFESSION.

Q. 825. {224} What should we do on entering the confessional?
A. On entering the confessional we should kneel, make the sign of the
Cross, and say to the priest, "Bless me, father"; then add, "I confess
to Almighty God and to you, father, that I have sinned."

Q. 826. {225} Which are the first things we should tell the priest in
Confession?
A. The first things we should tell the priest in Confession are the time
of our last Confession, and whether we said the penance and went to Holy
Communion.

Q. 827. Should we tell anything else in connection with our last
confession?
A. In connection with our last confession we should tell also what
restrictions--if any--were placed upon us with regard to our occasions
of sin, and what obligations with regard to the payment of debts,
restitution, injuries done to others and the like, we were commanded to
fulfill.

Q. 828. {226} After telling the time of our last Confession and
Communion what should we do?
A. After telling the time of our last Confession and Communion we should
confess all the mortal sins we have since committed, and all the venial
sins we may wish to mention.

Q. 829. What is a general confession?
A. A general confession is the telling of the sins of our whole life or
a great part of it. It is made in the same manner as an or