Penance/Reconciliation

By BostonO
  • 250

    Everyone can be forgiven for their sins

    250 C.E. Onwards About 250 C.E. the church resolved that every sin was forgivable as long as the person repented. Canonical Penance was introduced, whereby the person had to publicly confess the sin, enrol in an Order of Penitents, followed by a period doing penance (wearing sackcloth and ashes) and readmission to the Eucharist by the Bishop (usually on Holy Thursday).
  • 250

    Penance is official

    The process of Canonical Penance could only happen once; no more chances after that! The process was necessary for only three types of sin: giving up the faith, committing murder and breaking the marriage vow. Excommunication could be reversed only through the Canonical Penance.
  • 250

    Early Church 1

    In the early church, Baptism was a once-and-for-all conversion to God. Less serious offences were forgiven through fasting, prayer and good works. If somebody committed a more serious offence (murder, adultery) they would be excommunicated (exclusion of a Catholic from the life of the church).
  • 250

    Early Church 2

    Baptism was the means through which a former sinner was forgiven. After Baptism no absolution (forgiveness of the church community) was given for serious sin. Hope of forgiveness of serious sin rested with the judgement of God.
  • Period: 250 to

    Reconciliation

  • 300

    Irish monks start to believe in Penance

    During this period, the Irish Monks came up with an alternative to the Canonical Penance. It was known as Private Penance. Monks confessed their faults to the Abbot who would then give them spiritual guidance. It was a private act and repeatable. However, the penances were very strict and lasted for a long time. The practice spread to Europe by the 7th century. Penitential Books listed sins and the corresponding penalty for each.
  • Jan 1, 700

    Penance can now be given multiple times in a lifetime

    Penance could be given many times in a lifetime. Questions arose about whether penance should be public or private. The focus was strongly on healing the person’s relationship with God and with their community.
  • Jan 1, 1000

    Penance starts to become more popular

    During this period the Irish Penance (Private Penance) became popular but for a time both forms (public and private) were used. However the detailed confession of one’s sins and the performance of complex, often severe, penances led to the general disuse of reconciliation. Penance was simply postponed until one’s deathbed! Theologians in the Middle Ages began comparing penance to a “heavenly courtroom” using terms like crime, judgement, sentence and punishment.
  • Oct 22, 1000

    More rules have been brought apon reconciliation

    There was a shift in emphasis from repentance and conversion to absolution. In the 13th century, Penance was listed as the fourth of seven sacraments. The Council of Trent declared that penance take the form of confession to a priest with absolution. In 1614, it became mandatory to have a screened partition between priest and penitent. Priests faced excommunication if they disclosed anything told to them in Confession.

  • Penance is accepted by the General Public

    Three Rites of Reconciliation were promulgated: First Rite for individuals wishing to confess sins privately. Second Rite for a group of people for a communal celebration, but with private confession Third Rite for communal celebration and general confession.

  • Pope Pius X approves penance

    Pope Pius X promoted frequent reception of Communion and this led to frequent reception of Penance. Sin was seen in a legalistic way – simply the violation of laws and commandments. Vatican II called for a revision of the rites of the sacrament. Sin was seen more in terms as broken relationships. Vatican II reintroduced the themes of journey and conversion. Three Rites of Reconciliation were promulgated in 1973.