Article 5 — On Penance

The fourth sacrament is penance. The matter, as it were, of this sacrament is the acts of the penitent, which are called the three parts of penance. The first part is a heart-felt contrition, by which one is sorry for the sins one has committed, and determines not to sin again. The second part is confession, which consists in this that the sinner confesses all the sins of which he is mindful to the priest; and all of them at one time to one priest, not dividing them to a number of priests. The third part is satisfaction, which is enjoined according to the judgment of the priest; and consists especially in fasting and prayer and almsgiving.

The form of this sacrament is the words of absolution which the priest speaks when he says: I absolve you. The minister of this sacrament is the priest having authority to absolve, which is either ordinary or by commission of his superior. The effect of this sacrament is absolution from sin.

Concerning this sacrament is the error of the Novati, who say that any one who has sinned after having been baptized cannot receive pardon through the sacrament of penance. Against this are the words: be mindful therefore from where you have fallen; and do penance, and do the first works (Rev 2:5).