Morals of the Church
Library › Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology › Volume II › Book III. On the Aids of the Christian Life, or on the Sacraments › Treatise V. On Penance › Dissertation II. On the Sacrament of Penance

Section — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Appendix. On External Circumstances to Be Observed

444.

I. Place.

  1. The proper place of sacramental confession is a church or a public or semi-public oratory (can. 908); hence, of itself, it is better that even the confessions of men be received in some one of the places assigned. As regards women, there is an obligation insofar as the confessional seat in which they must be heard is generally to be placed in such a place. But "it is licit to receive the confessions of men even in private houses" (can. 910, § 2).

  2. The confessions of women should not be heard outside the confessional seat except for a cause of illness or other true necessity, and with the precautions which the local Ordinary has judged opportune (can. 910, § 1). For the rest, observe:

a) 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 semi-public oratory destined for women (can. 909, § 1). Since "generally" is said, for a just cause it is licit to erect the confessional seat in another open and conspicuous place, for instance in the sacristy or in a room annexed to the church or oratory.

b) The confessional seat should be furnished with a fixed grating, finely perforated, between penitent and confessor (can. 909, § 2).

c) Even the confessions of men must be received in such a seat if they are received in a church or public oratory.1

1 Pontifical Commission, November 24, 1920 (A.A.S. 1920, p. 573).

The Office of the Confessor

445.

II. Vesture. "Let him use a surplice and a violet stole, as time or the custom of places will allow."1 Moreover, many regulars, either through direct concession or through communication of privileges, enjoy the faculty of using only the stole in church.

As regards the custom of using nothing except the stole alone or only the surplice, the response was: "Let the Roman Ritual be observed."2 And finally it was declared: "It is fitting that in church a stole be used, according to the decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Rites."3

1 Roman Ritual, title III, chapter I, n. 10.

2 Sacred Congregation of Rites, March 23, 1882 (n. 3542, response 3); cf. Sacred Congregation of Rites, July 7, 1877 (n. 3426, response 4).

3 Sacred Congregation of Rites, August 31, 1867 (n. 3158, response 2).

The Office of the Confessor