Penitencia / Penance (DCH)

No. 2026-08

English Abstract:

In the early Modern period, penance had a dual meaning: it was both a virtue and a sacrament. According to Bartolomé de Ledesma, it consisted of confessing the sins committed after baptism in order to receive forgiveness through the absolution granted by the priest. Thomas Aquinas emphasized its theological and juridical dimension, since it involved the accusation of the offender and the fulfillment of the penance imposed through the power of the keys of the Church. In addition, penance possessed a medicinal character, as it sought to heal the wounds of the heart and lead to salvation.

The article analyzes several aspects related to the matter, form, and administration of the sacrament. After discussing the acts of the penitent that constitute the matter of the sacrament (contrition, vocal confession, and satisfaction) and the form or formula of absolution, it examines the minister, or confessor priest, and his power of order and jurisdiction. Issues such as the obligation to confess, confession in the case of the sick, and reserved cases are addressed. Among the distinctive features of confession in Spanish America, special attention is given to the use of interpreters, penitential quipus, and the confession of powerful individuals. Futhermore, space is devoted to the use of the confessional booth and the crime of solicitation, alongside the duty of sacramental secrecy. The entry concludes with a brief overview of the pragmatic literature on confession in the American territories and a historiographical reflection.