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Period: 100 to 200
Early Church
The Early Church divided sins into Lesser Sins and Greater Sins
Lesser sins could be forgiven through Prayer
Greater Sins required Reconciliation
However, it could only be recieved once in your life -
Period: 200 to 300
Early Church Continued
Reconciliation involved the entire community
Penitents would confess their sins to the entire community
They were ordered to make sacrifices to the Roman Gods
if they did, they could only be redeemed on their deathbed -
325
Council of Nicea
Forgiveness of sins fell under the Bishops authority
a penitent is someone who "fell without compulsion" -
Period: 400 to 500
Fifth Century
Augustine defined three types of reconciliation
1. Remission of all previous sin through Batism
2. daily remission through prayer
3. foral one-time repentance of Public Penance -
Period: 400 to 500
fifth century
most towns had a monk or friar
the townspeople would befriend them and support them with food, goods etc
the people would visit the monk and talk to them about their sins
this was the beginning of "confession -
Aug 17, 650
Council of Chalons-sur-Saone
Approved the Celtic Monastic practice and tried to establish Episcol control over it
fewer Christians practiced penance because it was Too severe -
Period: Aug 17, 1000 to Aug 17, 1200
tenth, eleventh centuries
more and more people were performing confession
since the clergy was ill-formed, the Church released booka on what a "sin" was
Sins were either Venial or Mortal
Venial was a small sin which cold be forgiven
Mortal was life-threatening and involved murder etc -
Aug 17, 1215
Fourth Lateran Council
At least once a year, all people should confess their sins to a priest
Sanctions were imposed for breaking the secrecy of confession
Repeated absolution was deemed neccessary for proper christian life -
Aug 17, 1439
Council of Florence
This defiend what the sacrament of Penance
The words "I absolve you" were the most important words
Priest has the authority to forgive sins -
Aug 17, 1551
Council of Trent
Two kinds of contrition
1. Perfect ( sorrow of the soul)
2. Imperfect ( arises from consideration of the consequences i.e hell)
All mortal sins had to be specifically told and identified individually -
Period: to
The Twentieth Century
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Period: to
The Confession Box
the confession box was small and dark
confession was anonymous
there was a sliding screen which could be kept closed
the area was soundproof and it was completely private -
Second Vatican Councl
released a document "Lumen Gentium"
penitents are reconciled with the church which they "wounded" with their sins
a renewed sense was made between God and the Community -
Ordo Paenitentiae (Order of Penance)
Written by Pope Paul VI
Introduced the name "Sacrament of Reconciliation"
Three rites for celebrating the sacrament
1. Individual penitents
2. many penitents absolved individually
3. many penitents making a group confession -
Third Council of Toledo
treid to maintain the old system of reconciliation
rejected the Celtic approach