Reconciliation (RCN)
Absolution is the forgiveness of sins in the sacrament of penance. In a passive sense, it is the forgiveness brought about by the sinner's participation in the sacrament. Actively, absolution is the granting of a judicial pardon for sin, in the name of Christ and the church, by a priest who administers the sacrament. (NCE)
From the Greek askesis, meaning denial or suffering; asceticism is the habit of subordinating physical pleasure to spiritual demands. Asceticism is the voluntary denial of the body and its physical, sexual and social needs through such acts as fasting, sexual continence, isolation and the self-infliction of pain. In the Christian Gospels, asceticism includes the imitation of Christ's life and the sharing of the hardships, dangers and penalties that this imitation brings about. In Paul's letters, asceticism is seen as a spiritual athleticism, a conscious effort at discipline and obedience to the spirit and teaching of Christ. Ascetics willingly take up lives of sacrifice and denial out of spiritual dedication. Asceticism is not unique to Christianity, but has been practiced by many individuals throughout history. (NCE)
This is a term for any holy person who "confessed" or professed faith in Christ. Because such persons often suffered for their beliefs, confessors were frequently also martyrs. A saint commemorated as a "confessor" was not necessarily one who heard confession, therefore, and women "confessors" were not priests. One English king, Edward the Confessor, is so known because of his piety; "confessor" is therefore a term that describes a special category of holy person or saint and has no direct relation to the office of the confessor in the penitential system.
In theology, contrition is a technical term for the repentance of sin. It is an interior sorrow for and hatred of sin combined with the resolve to sin no more. Contrition can be brought about both by the fear of punishment and the love of God. It is necessary for forgiveness. (NCE)
An expression frequently found in religious texts, this phrase indicated the attitude that, according to theologians, man should take toward God. Fear of God is not a negative emotion of blind terror or servile fear of punishment, but is generally equated with reverence and piety. It includes the love of God and the hatred of sin. Fear of God is often described as "filial" fear, in other words, the fear a son feels toward an angry father, whom he knows to nevertheless love him even in the midst of anger. (NCE)
"In Catholic teaching, sin is an offense against God resulting in a state or condition of guilt, in which the sinner is estranged from God, deprived of His grace and friendship, and under a necessity of paying the debt of punishment occurred by his transgression." Forgiveness of sin is given by God after the sinner has undergone punishment or penance, and contrition, or sorrow for the sin, is a necessary part of this process. Once forgiveness is granted, the sinner is reconciled to God and restored to divine favor. (NCE)
Summoned by Pope Innocent III in 1215, the Fourth Lateran Council was a gathering of over 412 prelates, 800 abbots, and hundreds of political representatives from all of Christian Europe. The council address both doctrinal and political matters and adopted two dogmatic constitutions and 68 disciplinary decrees. These reforms included an intensification of the Inquisition to eliminate heresy, a standardization of the education of priests, and decrees banning clandestine marriage. All monastic orders were required to follow the pattern of the Cistercian (CIS) general Chapter, and a prohibition was placed on the founding of new monastic orders. The council also took several actions against European Jews, creating clothing restrictions, restricting their movements during Holy Week, and limiting their dealings with Christians. (DMA)
This is a genre that includes saints lives. Its roots are "hagio," meaning holy, and "graphy," meaning writing. "Hagiography" is a term used to describe any obviously favorable form of biography. Hagiographies celebrate the saint's power as a vehicle for God's intervention in the world. The saint is seen as a hero, but it is always clear that the saint acts at God's behest, not out of his or her own interest in glory. Irish saints performed great feats of self-denial; Chaucer's Custance (in the Man of Law's Tale) likewise suffers greatly for her faith. The saint's obedience and willingness to suffer are the core of behavior that is presented to the audience as exemplary; those hearing about these lives were not expected to emulate their miraculous features but to be edified by those miracles and to be inspired to holiness by them.
This is a common medieval expression for the priest, who is seen as healing sin, the sickness of the soul, the way the physician heals illness and diseases of the body.
Reconciliation (RCN): "The process by which man is restored to friendship with God, and the state that is the result of this process." Reconciliation is seen as a personal renewal of a loving relationship and is thus accomplished by each individual. In theological terms, "Man's reconciliation with God is already objectively perfected in Christ but has to be subjectively realized in "the world"; the final, perfect reconciliation of all in heaven and earth to God and to one another will occur after Judgment Day. (NCE)
From the Latin "sacramentum," which in turn is one of the ways in which the Greek word for "mystery" was rendered in the Middle Ages. The Catholic church has never given a definition of the term "sacrament," but in teachings from the 16th century Council of Trent to Vatican II certain essential characteristics have been enumerated. In general, sacraments are significant religious rites or ceremonies seen as signs of faith and profession of belief in the church. Before the 12th century there was dispute as to the number of sacraments, but after this time the number was set at seven: baptism, the Eucharist, confession, penance, marriage, holy orders, and anointing of the sick. In theological terms, each of the sacraments is meant to give, restore or intensify the "Christ-life" in the members of the church. The sacraments are a sign of faith and a renewal of loyalty to the teachings of the church. (NCE)
"A natural human propensity, evoked by perceiving, discriminating and judging some act or omission as violating an internalized accepted standard of conduct." Shame implies an acceptance of such a code of conduct, while guilt requires only its recognition. Shame (unlike embarrassment) may be felt toward an inner fault. It is often caused by a perceived discrepancy between one's real and ideal self. (NCE)
In commercial terms, a tariff is a table of costs or customs duties. By extension the word is used to describe medieval lists of sins and their appropriate penances. A document which contains these lists is often called a "tariff penitential." (OED)
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