confessors
Listeners to sins
Confessors are priests authorized to hear confessions and grant absolution in the Catholic tradition.
The term also applies to anyone who hears another's confession or admission of wrongdoing.
Historically, a confessor was someone who suffered for professing their faith but was not martyred—distinguished from martyrs by surviving their persecution.
One who performs sacraments
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- penitentOne showing remorse
seal · forgiveness · contrition · remission · indulgence · dispensation · pardon · exoneration
Remorseful state over misdeeds
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
- guiltMoral self-reproach
compunction · self-accusation · expiation · sorrow · amendment · conversion · restitution · reparation
Victim for beliefs
- saintCanonized holy person
- witnessOne who attests
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- pietySincere religious devotion
holiness · sanctity · persecution · testimony · fidelity · steadfastness · veneration · canonization
Entry or confession
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- avowalOpen declaration of belief
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- unburdeningRelieving oneself of weight
declaration · testimony · honesty · sincerity · candor · transparency · truthtelling · witness
Expert guidance offered
- advisorOne who gives guidance
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- listenerOne who attends aurally
- confidantTrusted keeper of secrets
discernment · direction · wisdom · support · consultation · accompaniment · formation · pastoral
priest
One who performs sacraments
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
penitent · seal · forgiveness · contrition · remission · indulgence · dispensation · pardon · exoneration · mercy
contrition
Remorseful state over misdeeds
guilt · compunction · self-accusation · expiation · sorrow · amendment · conversion · restitution · reparation
martyr
Victim for beliefs
piety · holiness · sanctity · persecution · testimony · fidelity · steadfastness · veneration · canonization · hagiography
admission
Entry or confession
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- avowalOpen declaration of belief
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
unburdening · declaration · testimony · honesty · sincerity · candor · transparency · truthtelling · witness · attestation
counsel
Expert guidance offered
confidant · discernment · direction · wisdom · support · consultation · accompaniment · formation · pastoral · guidance
- Catholic ChurchVatican, papacy, cardinals, popes, papal
- CatholicismVatican, cardinals, pope, Holy Communion, popes
- believersbeliever, believers, adherent, devotee, theist
- Christian Saintshagiographies, Catholic martyrs, mystics, hermits, holy women
- clergypriest, bishop, pope, nun, monk
- martyrdommartyrs, martyr, Christian martyrs, Catholic martyrs, Stephen
confessorsdeniers
Those who reject claims
concealers · dissemblers · liars · stonewalls · obfuscators
- father confessorPriest who hears confessions
- Edward the ConfessorDevout eleventh-century English ruler