The Sacrament of Penance is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, in which the faithful are absolved from sins committed after baptism and reconciled with the Christian community. During reconciliation mortal sins must be confessed and venial sins may be confessed for devotional reasons. According to the dogma and unchanging practice of the church, only those ordained as priests may grant absolution.
Functional 19th century confessionals in St Pancras Church, Ipswich
Confessional
Built confessional room by bricks
Simple confession box, Manaoag Church.
Sacraments of the Catholic Church
There are seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, which according to Catholic theology were instituted by Jesus Christ and entrusted to the Church. Sacraments are visible rites seen as signs and efficacious channels of the grace of God to all those who receive them with the proper disposition.
Seven Sacraments Altarpiece by Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1448
The seven sacraments of the Catholic Church
Distribution of divine graces by the Church through the sacraments. In the center the personification of Ecclesia with the (papal) tiara; above her baptism, from which streams of grace proceed; at the right marriage, eucharist, confession; at the left anointing of the sick, holy orders, confirmation (Johannes Hopffe, Wrisberg epitaph, Hildesheim, before 1615)
Scene of baptism. Stained glass, Paris, last quarter of the 12th century. From the Sainte-Chapelle of Paris.
