History of Confession

[Penitant]

I have heard my campus minister say on several occasions that there was a point in time where the Church only allowed reconciliation once in the life of an individual and it was only in the event of murder, rape, or publicly known adultery.

Can anyone verify or contradict this?
Does anyone have any resources to this effect?

As always, thanks in advance
-Penitant

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Hi: What you want to do is check out the Encyclopedia at New Advent.

What I think you heard reference was to the fact that, around 200 A.D. or so, a then Catholic named Tertulian (he later became a heretic) preached on the concept of sin and forgiveness–and HE was the one who said that forgiveness could only occur once and with severe sin.

This was NOT–repeat NOT–“Church” teaching; it was the teaching of one man and his group–a man who did indeed have great gifts and who, like Lucifer, who was ALSO an angel of great gifts, 'went wrong."

But you can verify this whole thing with a google search–when you get to the encyclopedia, go to “penance, sacrament of penance.”

 

[Todd_Easton]

Hi: What you want to do is check out the Encyclopedia at New Advent.

Here’s a link to the article on “The Sacrament of Confession” in the the online 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia.

William A. Jurgens’ book, The Faith of the Early Fathers, Volume I, references the following on the topic that forgiveness could be offered only once to Christians who fell into serious sin but repented thereof:
Hermas (Visions 2, 2, 5; Mandates 4, 1, 8; Mandates 4, 3, 6).
Tertullian (Repentance 7, 10; Repentance 9, 1).
Origen (Homilies on Leviticus 15, 2).

“In regard to grave crimes a place for repentance is conceded only once. Those, however, which are common, and into which we frequently fall, always admit repentance, and are forgiven without cease.” (Origen, Homilies on Leviticus 15, 2)

 

[PhilipCal]

I don’t intend to pass myself off as an expert on the history of Penance. I can say though, that what I know of the history is pretty fascinating. At one time in the history of the Church, penance was both public and prolonged. Over the years, the sacrament has evolved (thankfully) to the form we know today.