Chapter — 1917 Code of Canon Law
Chapter IV: Of the Place for Receiving Confessions
Superseded as law in 1983 — read why this Code still matters. Each canon links to its 1983 counterpart.
The proper place of sacramental confession is a church or public or semipublic oratory.
Sacramentalis confessionis proprius locus est ecclesia vel oratorium publicum aut semipublicum.
1983 Code correlation: can. 964
§ 1. The confessional seat for hearing the confessions of women is always to be placed in an open and conspicuous place, and generally in a church or public or semipublic oratory destined for women.
§ 2. The confessional seat is to be furnished with a fixed and thinly perforated grate between the penitent and the confessor.
§ 1. Sedes confessionalis ad audiendas mulierum confessiones semper collocetur in loco patenti et conspicuo, et generatim in ecclesia vel oratorio publico aut semi-publico mulieribus destinato.
§ 2. Sedes confessionalis crate fixa ac tenuiter perforata inter poenitentem et confessarium sit instructa.
1983 Code correlation: can. 964
§ 1. The confessions of women are not to be heard outside the confessional seat, except from a cause of infirmity or another true necessity, and with the precautions which the local Ordinary has judged opportune applied.
§ 2. It is lawful to receive the confessions of men even in private buildings.
§ 1. Feminarum confessiones extra sedem confessionalem ne audiantur, nisi ex causa infirmitatis aliave verae necessitatis et adhibitis cautelis quas Ordinarius loci opportunas iudicaverit.
§ 2. Confessiones virorum etiam in aedibus privatis excipere licet.
1983 Code correlation: can. 964