PENANCE 139 



confession, and absolution are of its very es- 

 sence. 12 



The Catechism of Trent says : "In the general opinion 

 of the pious, whatever of holiness, piety, and religion has 

 been preserved in the Church in our times, through the 

 boundless beneficence of God, is to be ascribed in a great 

 measure to confession." 13 The same authority describes 

 Penance as " this citadel, so to speak, of Christian virtue," 

 and adds that, though sins are cancelled by perfect con- 

 trition, few can reach a sufficient degree of contrition, 

 and consequently it was "necessary that the Lord, in His 

 infinite mercy, should provide by some easier means for 

 the common salvation of men; and this He did, in His 

 admirable wisdom, when He gave to the Church the keys 

 of the Kingdom of Heaven." 14 



Readings. — St. Thomas, Summa Theologica, 3a, qu. 84-90. — 

 P. Schanz, Die Lehre von den hi. Sakramenten, pp. 535 sqq. — 

 Chr. Pesch, S.J., Praelectiones Dogmaticae, Vol. VIII, 2nd ed., 

 pp. 4 sqq. — Pohle-Preuss, The Sacraments, Vol. Ill, Penance, 

 pp. 130 sqq. — F. X. Zenner, Instructio Practica Confessarii, 

 Vienna 1857. — F. Lorinser, Die Lehre von der V erwaltung des 

 hi. Bussakramentes, 2nd ed., Breslau 1883. — J. Reuter, S.J., Neo- 

 confessarius Practice Instructus, 4th ed. by J. Miillendorf, Ratis- 

 bon 1906. — A. Tappehorn, Anleitung sur V erwaltung des Bussa- 

 kramentes, 5th ed., Diilmen 1908. — D. Palmieri, Tractatus de 

 Poenitentia, Rome 1879. 



12 Cone. Trident., Sess. XIV, De J. A. Moehler, Symbolism (tr. Rob- 



Poenit., c. 2 and 3, can. 4 (Den- ertson), 5th ed., London 1906, pp. 



zinger-Bannwart, n. 89s sqq., 914). 223 sqq. — Noldin, Summa Theol. 



— Cat. Rom., P. II, c. 5, qu. 20. — Mor., Vol. Ill, pp. 349 sqq. 



Error. M. Lutheri damnat. a Leone 13 Cat. Rom., P. II, c. 5, qu. 36 



X., prop, s (Denzinger-Bannwart, (al. 32); A. Kirchberger, Der glau- 



n. 745). — Pohle-Preuss, The Sacra- bige Protestant und die Beichte, 



ments, Vol. Ill, pp. 132 sqq. — B. Innsbruck 1906. 



Pascal, Pensees, P. I, a. 5, n. 8 14 Cat. Rom., ibid. 

 (Vol. I, Paris 1812, pp. 194 sqq.). — 



