Chapter III: On Satisfaction

1714. Things to be noted beforehand. Satisfaction in general, according to the force of the name (I do enough), signifies the payment of any debt whatever, but especially compensation for an injury inflicted on another.¹

Taken in the stricter sense, as here, it is defined: "Voluntary toleration of punishment for compensating the injury inflicted on God through sin, and for redeeming the graver temporal punishment deserved."

We say redeeming; for when fault and eternal punishment have been remitted through the Sacrament of Penance, the whole temporal punishment, to be paid either in this life or in the other, is not always remitted. This, through the merits of Christ, must be redeemed by our laborious works, as Trent teaches (sess. 14, cap. 8).

Satisfaction is one thing sacramental, and this is now treated; another extrasacramental, which consists in pious and laborious works spontaneously undertaken, and also in the evils and hardships of this life sent by God and patiently tolerated (cf. Trent, sess. 14, cap. 9).

SACRAMENTAL satisfaction is customarily defined: Penance, or a good work, imposed on the penitent by the confessor through the power of the keys, both for the vindication of past sins, which is called vindicative satisfaction, and for the custody of new life, which is called medicinal satisfaction.

In order that our treatment may extend to all things which pertain to satisfaction, we shall treat: 1. of the imposition of penance; 2. of its fulfillment; 3. of Indulgences, which can supply for the defects of our satisfactions.