Question 84 — The Sacrament of Penance

We must now consider the sacrament of penance. We shall consider (1) Penance itself; (2) Its effect; (3) Its Parts; (4) The recipients of this sacrament; (5) The power of the ministers, which pertains to the keys; (6) The solemnization of this sacrament.

The first of these considerations will be twofold: (1) Penance as a sacrament; (2) Penance as a virtue.

Under the first head there are ten points of inquiry:

(1) Whether penance is a sacrament?

• (2) Of its proper matter;
• (3) Of its form;
• (4) Whether imposition of hands is necessary for this sacrament?
• (5) Whether this sacrament is necessary for salvation?
• (6) Of its relation to the other sacraments;
• (7) Of its institution;
• (8) Of its duration;
• (9) Of its continuance;
• (10) Whether it can be repeated?