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Penance and Confession

Sin named aloud, and the word of absolution spoken over it

Penance and confession is the practice of repentance, confessing sin, and receiving absolution for sin committed after baptism, with roots in the Shepherd of Hermas, Tertullian, and John 20:23. The traditions differ on its form: Catholic and Orthodox communities hold it a sacrament with confession to a priest, while Protestants generally retain repentance and confession but not auricular confession to a priest.

How it traveled

  1. James
    Jerusalem · 62
    applies
  2. On Modesty.
    — · 220
    explains
  3. On Repentance.
    — · 220
    explains
  4. The Canonical Epistle, with the Commentaries of Theodore Balsamon and John Zonaras.
    — · 220
    applies
  5. Anonymous Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian.
    — · 220
    applies
  6. The Epistles of Cyprian.
    Carthage · 258
    explains
  7. The First Ecumenical Council: The First Council of Nice
    Nicaea · 325
    explains
  8. The Church History of Eusebius
    Caesarea · 339
    explains
  9. The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods
    — · 360
    explains
  10. The Letters
    Caesarea (Cappadocia) · 379
    applies
  11. The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril
    Jerusalem · 386
    explains
  12. Concerning Repentance
    Milan · 397
    explains
  13. Homilies on First Corinthians
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  14. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  15. Homilies on Second Corinthians
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  16. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  17. An Exhortation to Theodore After His Fall
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
    explains
  18. Jerome and Gennadius. Lives of Illustrious Men
    Bethlehem · 420
    explains
  19. The Letters of St. Jerome
    Bethlehem · 420
    explains
  20. A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  21. Expositions on the Book of Psalms
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  22. Letters of St. Augustin
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  23. Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  24. The Enchiridion
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  25. On the Creed
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  26. The Conferences of John Cassian. Part III. Containing Conferences XVIII.-XXIV
    Marseille · 435
    explains
  27. The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 439
    applies
  28. The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 450
    explains
  29. The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great
    Rome · 461
    explains
  30. The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great
    Rome · 604
    explains

Key passages(20)

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 84 - OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE (TEN ARTICLES) — part 1↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 84 - OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE (TEN ARTICLES) — part 3↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 84 - OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE (TEN ARTICLES) — part 5↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 86 - OF THE EFFECT OF PENANCE, AS REGARDS THE PARDON OF MORTAL SIN (SIX ARTICLES) — part 3↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 87 - OF THE REMISSION OF VENIAL SIN (FOUR ARTICLES) — part 1↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 89 - OF THE RECOVERY OF VIRTUE BY MEANS OF PENANCE (SIX ARTICLES) — part 2↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 90 - OF THE PARTS OF PENANCE, IN GENERAL (FOUR ARTICLES) — part 2↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) — Question. 68 - OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE BAPTISM (TWELVE ARTICLES) — part 5↗explains

Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas

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An Invitation to Holy Communion — The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend↗applies

An Invitation to Holy Communion · Thomas à Kempis

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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church — CHAPTER 19. - OF THE FIVE SACRAMENTS, FALSELY SO CALLED. THEIR SPURIOUSNESS PROVED, AND THEIR TRUE CHARACTER EXPLAINED. — part 7↗challenges

Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin

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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It — CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION. — part 1↗challenges

Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin

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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It — CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION. — part 10↗challenges

Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin

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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It — CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION. — part 11↗challenges

Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin

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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It — CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION. — part 15↗challenges

Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin

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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It — CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION. — part 3↗challenges

Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin

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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It — CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION. — part 4↗challenges

Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin

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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It — CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION. — part 5↗redefines

Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin

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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It — CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION. — part 6↗explains

Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin

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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It — CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION. — part 7↗challenges

Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin

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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It — CHAPTER 4. - PENITENCE, AS EXPLAINED IN THE SOPHISTICAL JARGON OF THE SCHOOLMEN, WIDELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PURITY REQUIRED BY THE GOSPEL. OF CONFESSION AND SATISFACTION. — part 8↗challenges

Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin

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Very high