confessor
Booth's listening priest
A confessor is a priest who hears confessions and grants absolution in the Catholic tradition: She spoke to her confessor about her doubts.
The term also applies to anyone who confesses or to whom confessions are made.
Historically, a confessor was someone who suffered for their faith without being martyred—distinguished from martyrs who died for it.
One who performs sacraments
- pastorChristian congregation leader
- ministerReligious leader or serve
- chaplainInstitutional clergy member
- clericOrdained religious leader
reverend · vicar · rector · parson · preacher · bishop · monsignor · canon
Formal clearing of guilt
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
redemption · clemency · reconciliation · penance · remission · exoneration · compassion · indulgence
Canonized holy person
- witnessOne who attests
- suffererOne who endures hardship
- martyrVictim for beliefs
- faithfulConsistently loyal and true
persecuted · testimony · devotion · steadfast · unwavering · piety · holiness · sanctity
One who attends aurally
- confidanteTrusted female friend
- advisorOne who gives guidance
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- guideLeader or instruction book
therapist · counselor · mediator · support · trustee · psychologist · consultant · facilitator
Violator of moral law
- repentantFeeling sorrow for misdeeds
- contriteFeeling guilt over misdeeds
- admissionEntry or confession
- disclosureAct of revealing information
priest
One who performs sacraments
- pastorChristian congregation leader
- ministerReligious leader or serve
- chaplainInstitutional clergy member
cleric · reverend · vicar · rector · parson · preacher · bishop · monsignor · canon · deacon
absolution
Formal clearing of guilt
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
grace · redemption · clemency · reconciliation · penance · remission · exoneration · compassion · indulgence · reprieve
saint
Canonized holy person
faithful · persecuted · testimony · devotion · steadfast · unwavering · piety · holiness · sanctity · veneration
listener
One who attends aurally
- confidanteTrusted female friend
- advisorOne who gives guidance
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
guide · therapist · counselor · mediator · support · trustee · psychologist · consultant · facilitator · coach
sinner
Violator of moral law
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- royal courtking, queen, prince, princess, crown
- archetypeshero, villain, trickster, mentor, mother
- Catholic Clergypope, pontiff, cardinal, bishop, monsignor
- Catholic rolesabbess, abbot, friar, monsignor, seminarian
- church rolesbishop, deacons, priest, pastor, lay readers
confessorpenitent
One showing remorse
sinner · supplicant · congregant · absolver · layperson
confessordenier
One who contradicts
concealer · dissembler · liar · impenitent · stonewaller
- confession of faithDoctrinal belief statement
- I confessAcknowledge one's wrongdoing
- deathbed confessionDisclosure made while dying
- confession boothEnclosed space for admitting sins
- false confessionUntrue guilt statement
- forced confessionStatement extracted under pressure
confess, confession, confessed, confessing, confesses, confessional, confessors, unconfessed, self-confessed