Part III, Section I, Chapter V — Penance

355. What is Penance?

Penance, or Confession, is the sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ to forgive the sins committed after Baptism.

356. When was the sacrament of Penance instituted by Jesus Christ?

The sacrament of Penance was instituted by Jesus Christ when He said to the Apostles, and in them to their successors: "Receive the Holy Spirit: whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained" (John XX. 22-23).

357. Who is the minister of Penance?

The minister of Penance is the priest approved by the Bishop.

358. How many and what things are required to make a good confession?

To make a good confession five things are required: 1. the examination of conscience; 2. sorrow for sins; 3. the resolution to commit them no more; 4. the confession; 5. satisfaction or penance.

359. How is the examination of conscience made?

The examination of conscience is made by recalling to mind the sins committed in thoughts, words, deeds, and omissions, against the commandments of God, the precepts of the Church, and the obligations of one's state in life, beginning from the last well-made confession.

360. In the examination must we seek out the number of our sins?

In the examination we must diligently seek out also the number of our mortal sins.

361. What is sorrow?

Sorrow, or repentance, is that displeasure with and hatred of the sins committed which makes us resolve not to sin again.

362. How many kinds of sorrow are there?

Sorrow is of two kinds: perfect, or contrition; and imperfect, or attrition.

363. What is perfect sorrow, or contrition?

Perfect sorrow, or contrition, is the displeasure for the sins committed because they are an offense against God our Father, infinitely good and lovable, and the cause of the Passion and Death of Our Redeemer Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

364. Why is contrition perfect sorrow?

Contrition is perfect sorrow because it springs from a perfect motive — the filial love of God, or charity — and because it obtains for us at once the forgiveness of sins, although the obligation of confessing them remains.

365. What is imperfect sorrow, or attrition?

Imperfect sorrow, or attrition, is the displeasure for the sins committed, out of fear of eternal and temporal punishments, or also because of the ugliness of sin.

366. Why is attrition imperfect sorrow?

Attrition is imperfect sorrow because it springs from less perfect motives — those proper to servants rather than to children — and because it does not obtain for us the forgiveness of sins except through the sacrament.

367. Is it necessary to have sorrow for all the sins committed?

It is necessary to have sorrow for all the mortal sins committed, without exception; and it is fitting to have sorrow also for the venial ones.

368. Why is it necessary to have sorrow for all mortal sins?

It is necessary to have sorrow for all mortal sins because by any one of them we have gravely offended God, lost His grace, and merited to remain separated from Him forever.

369. What is the resolution?

The resolution is the firm will never again to commit sins and to flee their occasions.

370. What is the occasion of sin?

The occasion of sin is whatever puts us in danger of sinning, whether a person or a thing.

371. Are we bound to flee the occasions of sins?

We are bound to flee the occasions of sins, because we are bound to flee sin: whoever does not flee them ends by falling, since "he who loves danger will perish in it" (Ecclus. III. 27).

372. What is confession?

Confession is the accusation of one's sins made to the priest confessor, in order to receive absolution.

373. Of what sins are we bound to confess?

We are bound to confess all mortal sins not yet confessed, or confessed badly; but it is profitable to confess venial sins also.

374. How must we accuse our mortal sins?

We must accuse our mortal sins fully, without letting ourselves be overcome by a false shame to keep any silent, declaring their kind, their number, and also the circumstances that would add a new grave malice.

375. What must one do who does not remember the precise number of his mortal sins?

One who does not remember the precise number of his mortal sins must indicate the number that seems to him closest to the truth.

376. Why must we not let ourselves be overcome by shame to keep silent some mortal sin?

We must not let ourselves be overcome by shame to keep silent some mortal sin, because we confess to Jesus Christ in the person of the confessor, and the confessor cannot reveal any sin, even at the cost of his life; and because, otherwise, not obtaining forgiveness, we shall be put to shame before all at the universal judgment.

377. Would one who through shame or some other motive kept silent a mortal sin make a good confession?

One who through shame or any other unjust motive kept silent a mortal sin would not make a good confession, but would commit a sacrilege.

378. What must one do who knows he has not confessed well?

One who knows he has not confessed well must repeat the badly made confessions and accuse himself of the sacrileges committed.

379. Has one made a good confession who without fault left out or forgot a mortal sin?

One who without fault left out or forgot a mortal sin has made a good confession; but the obligation remains for him to accuse himself of it afterward.

§ 4. Absolution — Satisfaction — Indulgences

380. What is absolution?

Absolution is the sentence by which the priest, in the name of Jesus Christ, forgives the penitent's sins, saying: "I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

381. When sins are forgiven by absolution, is also every punishment merited forgiven?

When sins are forgiven by absolution, the eternal punishment merited by mortal sin is forgiven; but unless one has the most perfect contrition, there ordinarily remains, to be paid in this life or in the next, a temporal punishment.

382. What is satisfaction, or sacramental penance?

Satisfaction, or sacramental penance, is the good work imposed by the confessor as a chastisement and correction of the sinner, and to pay off the temporal punishment merited by sinning.

383. When is it fitting to perform sacramental penance?

It is fitting to perform sacramental penance as soon as possible, if the confessor has not assigned a specific time for it.

384. Does sacramental penance suffice to free us from all the temporal punishment merited by sin?

Sacramental penance does not, ordinarily, suffice to free us from all the temporal punishment merited by sin; and therefore it is fitting to make up for it by other works of penance and piety, and by indulgences.

385. What are the works of penance and of piety?

The works of penance and of piety are: fasting, mortifications, the acts of spiritual and corporal mercy, prayers, and the devout use of those blessed things and those sacred ceremonies which are called sacramentals, such as holy water and the various blessings.

385 a. The seven corporal works of mercy: 1. To feed the hungry; 2. To give drink to the thirsty; 3. To clothe the naked; 4. To shelter the homeless; 5. To visit the sick; 6. To visit the imprisoned; 7. To bury the dead.

385 b. The seven spiritual works of mercy: 1. To counsel the doubtful; 2. To instruct the ignorant; 3. To admonish sinners; 4. To comfort the afflicted; 5. To forgive offences; 6. To bear wrongs patiently; 7. To pray for the living and the dead.

386. What is an indulgence?

An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment due for sins, which the Church grants under certain conditions to one who is in grace, by applying to him the superabundant merits and satisfactions of Jesus Christ, of Our Lady, and of the Saints, which constitute the treasury of the Church.

387. How many kinds of indulgence are there?

Indulgence is of two kinds: plenary and partial.

388. What is the plenary indulgence?

The plenary indulgence is the one that remits all the temporal punishment due for sins.

389. What is the partial indulgence?

The partial indulgence is the one that remits only a part of the temporal punishment due for sins.

390. What is meant by an indulgence of "forty" or "a hundred days," of "seven years," and the like?

By an indulgence of forty or a hundred days, of seven years, and the like, is meant the remission of as much temporal punishment as would have been paid off by forty days, a hundred days, or seven years of the penance anciently established by the Church.

391. What is required to gain indulgences?

To gain indulgences it is required to be in the state of grace and to perform well the prescribed works.