penitentials
Medieval confession guides
Penitentials are texts—typically medieval church documents—prescribing penances for various sins.
A priest hearing confession would consult a penitential to determine appropriate punishment: so many days of fasting for theft, so many for adultery.
The term also applies more broadly to anything relating to penance or penitence: penitentials prayers, penitential seasons like Lent.
Formal clearing of guilt
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- reparationCompensation for injury done
- expiationRedress for offense
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
amends · reconciliation · forgiveness · pardon · satisfaction · compensation · rectification · indemnity
Admission of wrongdoing
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- flagellationBeating with a whip
pilgrimage · sackcloth · ashes · hairshirt · vigils · prostrations · almsgiving · self-denial
Guilt for wrongdoing
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- compunctionUneasiness from guilt
regret · self-reproach · lamentation · humility · brokenness · sinner · supplicant · contrite
absolution
Formal clearing of guilt
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- reparationCompensation for injury done
- expiationRedress for offense
restitution · amends · reconciliation · forgiveness · pardon · satisfaction · compensation · rectification · indemnity · restoration
confession
Admission of wrongdoing
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
flagellation · pilgrimage · sackcloth · ashes · hairshirt · vigils · prostrations · almsgiving · self-denial · celibacy
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
compunction · regret · self-reproach · lamentation · humility · brokenness · sinner · supplicant · contrite · tearful
canons
Established authoritative standards
confessors · bishops · clergy · priests · medieval · Irish · Anglo-Saxon · Frankish · Theodore · decrees
penitentialscriminal statutes
Laws defining punishable offenses
royal decrees · common law · Roman law · constitutions · commercial law
penitentialsindulgences
Excessive self-granted pleasures
absolutions · dispensations · pardons · permissions · licenses
- state penitentiaryGovernment-run facility for serious offenders
- penitential psalmsSacred songs expressing remorse