Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church uses the term penance in several related contexts, including as a moral virtue, a sacrament, and as acts of satisfaction. Penance is an action done in reparation for sin, with the intention of restoring one's relationship with God and the community. The Sacrament of Penance, also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession, is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, in which the faithful are absolved from sins committed after baptism and reconciled with the Christian community. Over the centuries, the sacrament of penance has been a setting for spiritual direction, enabling Christians to deepen their relationship with God and attend to the action of the Spirit in their lives.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Actions to repair the damage left by sin |
| Purpose | To restore our relationship with God and our neighbour |
| Penance as a moral virtue | A duty and a gift in Catholicism |
| Penance as a sacrament | One of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church |
| Penance as acts of satisfaction | Reparation to divine justice |
| Penance as specific acts of satisfaction | Assigned by the confessor in the context of the sacrament |
| Penance as temporal atonement | Formal (e.g. fasting) or informal (e.g. being kind to someone) |
| Historical development | Elaborate system of penance in "Penitentials" and conciliar decrees |
| 11th-12th century theory | Satisfying divine justice and paying the penalty for "temporal punishment due to sin" |
| 13th-century theory | Treasury of merits, granting indulgences for good works |
| 16th-century reforms | Indulgences could not be sold, retained private approach to Sacrament of Reconciliation |
| Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) | Revision of rite and formulas to express nature and effect of sacrament |
| COVID-19 pandemic | Sacrament of Reconciliation may be obtained without sacramental absolution |
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What You'll Learn
The evolution of Catholic penance
In early Christianity, bishops played a crucial role in declaring that God had forgiven an individual's sins, provided there was a genuine sense of repentance. This belief is reflected in the writings of Dionysius of Corinth (d. circa A.D. 170), who emphasised the Church's power of pardon. The "Didache", a text from the close of the first century or early second century, also commands individual confession within the congregation.
By the time of Cyril of Alexandria (d. 447) and St. John Chrysostom (d. 407), the authority of priests in forgiving sins and administering baptism was firmly established. This power of priests was further reinforced by St. Athanasius (d. 373), who likened the enlightenment through baptism to the forgiveness achieved through penance and confession.
From the 11th to the 12th centuries, a legalistic theory of penance emerged, emphasising the satisfaction of divine justice and paying the penalty for "temporal punishment due to sin". This led to the concept of indulgences, where individuals could earn forgiveness through good works or, controversially, by purchasing them. In response to this practice, Martin Luther initiated a significant protest.
During the mid-16th century, the bishops at the Council of Trent reaffirmed the private nature of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and prohibited the sale of indulgences. This period also witnessed the retention of the sacrament by some Protestant Reformers, albeit stripped of certain Canonical elements.
The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) emphasised the need to revise the formulas for the sacrament of penance, aiming to better express its nature and effects. Pope Paul VI, in "The Constitution on Penance", highlighted the connection between external acts and internal conversion, prayer, and charitable works.
Today, the Catholic Church continues to emphasise the importance of individual confession and absolution, as opposed to collective absolution. The sacrament of penance remains a vital aspect of spiritual direction, enabling Christians to deepen their relationship with God and attend to the Spirit's work in their lives.
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The Sacrament of Penance
The history of the Sacrament of Penance can be traced back to early Christianity, where bishops declared that God had forgiven sins when there was true repentance, and the penitent was welcomed back into the community. The "Didache", written around the close of the first century or early second century, already commanded individual confession within the congregation. Dionysius of Corinth, who died around AD 170, taught that Christ had left His Church with the power to pardon any sin, no matter how great.
By the 11th and 12th centuries, a legalistic theory of penance had emerged, which was followed by a theory of a "treasury of merits" in the 13th century. This led to the granting of indulgences for good works, which later became conditional on approved acts of charity or almsgiving. In response to this, Martin Luther protested, and during the mid-16th century, the bishops at the Council of Trent reaffirmed the private nature of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, decreeing that indulgences could not be sold.
The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) emphasised the intimate relationship between external acts and internal conversion, prayer, and works of charity in the Sacrament of Penance. The Catholic Church teaches that individual and integral confession and absolution are the only ordinary means of reconciliation with God and the Church for those conscious of mortal sins committed after baptism. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Apostolic Penitentiary clarified that when it is impossible to receive sacramental absolution, forgiveness for sins may still be obtained through perfect contrition and the intention to make a sacramental confession as soon as possible.
Overall, the Sacrament of Penance is a crucial aspect of Catholic theology and practice, providing a means for the faithful to seek forgiveness, reconcile with God and the Church, and restore their relationship with God and their neighbours.
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Penance as a moral virtue
The Catholic Church uses the term "penance" in several separate but related contexts, including as a moral virtue. In the Catholic faith, penance is an action done in reparation for sin, with the intention of restoring our relationship with God and our neighbour. This is achieved by undergoing punishment to repair the order of justice.
Penance is considered a gift in Catholicism, as it is believed that no person can do penance worthy of God's consideration without God first giving the grace to do so. It is a duty, but also a means of deepening one's relationship with God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that penance is a moral virtue that disposes the sinner to hatred of their sin as an offence against God and to a firm purpose of amendment and satisfaction. The principal act in the exercise of this virtue is the detestation of one's own sins.
The New Testament endorses the idea of fasting as a form of penance, as seen in the books of Matthew and Mark. In the Catholic tradition, penances can be formal, such as setting a day of fasting, or informal, such as going out of one's way to be kind to someone. The practice of penance is not about paying off the eternal debt of one's sins, as Christ has already done that. Instead, it is about restoring one's relationship with God and the community.
The Sacrament of Penance, or Confession, is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, in which the faithful are absolved from sins committed after baptism and reconciled with the Christian community. During this sacrament, a priest will prescribe a penance to make amends, such as set prayers or a certain number of prostrations.
Throughout history, there have been different interpretations and practices of penance within the Catholic Church, with some calling for reform and development. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) emphasised the intimate relationship between external acts and internal conversion, prayer, and works of charity in the sacrament of penance.
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The role of priests in penance
The Sacrament of Penance, also called the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession, is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It involves the faithful confessing their mortal sins and being absolved from sins committed after baptism, thereby restoring their relationship with God and the Christian community.
The role of priests in the Sacrament of Penance is significant and well-defined. According to the Catholic Church's dogma and practices, only ordained priests can grant absolution to those who confess their sins. The priest's role is not merely to listen to the confession but also to prescribe a penance, or act of reparation, to make amends for the confessed sins. These penances are typically tailored to the individual and may include specific prayers, mental exercises, or acts of service to others.
In the past, deacons could also hear confessions, but they could not grant sacramental absolution. Their role was limited to absoling the penitent from punishment, and they were required to refer the confession to a bishop or priest for sacramental absolution.
The power of priests to forgive sins and grant absolution has been emphasized by several Church Fathers, including Cyril of Alexandria, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Athanasius. They believed that the priest's power to forgive sins was a divine gift that could lead to the salvation of souls.
In modern times, the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) emphasized the need to revise the rite and formulas of the Sacrament of Penance to better express its nature and effect. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Apostolic Penitentiary clarified that even if a person could not receive sacramental absolution due to extraordinary circumstances, they could still obtain forgiveness for their sins by demonstrating perfect contrition and the intention to make a sacramental confession as soon as possible.
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Penance in the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted religious practices and worship for many denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church. The Church's strong dependence on physical communal worship and sacraments has been affected by lockdown and social distancing measures. In response, the Apostolic Penitentiary issued a note on clarifications regarding the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the pandemic. It stated that, in cases where an individual cannot receive sacramental absolution, forgiveness for sins may still be obtained through perfect contrition and the intention to make a sacramental confession when possible.
The pandemic has also impacted the observation of the Christian penitential season of Lent, which is traditionally marked by abstinence from meat on Fridays, especially for Roman Catholics. During the pandemic, some Catholic bishops lifted this requirement. Additionally, liturgies during Holy Week, such as those on Palm Sunday, Spy Wednesday, and Good Friday, were cancelled by many mainstream Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church.
The pandemic has highlighted the conflict between epidemiological regulations and faith values and practices. For instance, the need for social distancing and the cancellation of gatherings have deprived many Catholics of indispensable sacraments like Penance and the Eucharist, leading to emotional distress and a sense of loss. This has also resulted in tensions within religious communities, with some perceiving changes to rituals as unacceptable degradation of their religious piety.
During the pandemic, the Catholic Church has had to navigate the balance between spiritual care and public health considerations. While the Church has historically been at the frontline during pandemics, providing spiritual help and supporting lockdowns, the current situation has required adapting worship and liturgies to ensure the safety of its congregation. This includes the use of live-streaming and virtual services, although some practices, such as absolution, cannot be performed virtually and must be done in person.
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Frequently asked questions
Penance is an action done in reparation for sin, with the intention of restoring one's relationship with God and their neighbour.
The Sacrament of Penance (also called the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession) is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. During this sacrament, the faithful are absolved from sins committed after baptism and reconciled with the Christian community.
When a Catholic goes to Confession, they come with contrition and confess their sins. They then receive absolution from a priest, who acts on behalf of God. The priest then assigns a penance, which may include set prayers or a certain number of prostrations.
The Sacrament of Penance has undergone reform and development over the centuries. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a legalistic theory emerged, followed by a theory of a treasury of merits in the 13th century. Indulgences were granted for various good works and later "sold", leading to protest by Martin Luther. In the mid-16th century, the bishops at the Council of Trent retained the private approach to the sacrament and decreed that indulgences could not be sold. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) also led to revisions in the rite and formulas for the sacrament.
