Duties of the Confessor Before Confession

What the confessor owes before and in hearing confessions: the knowledge, prudence, zeal and integrity of life his office requires, his obligation to hear confessions, and his conduct toward the penitent as judge, physician, teacher and father.

The works themselves ask 7 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.

In the index as Confessor (Confessarius) · Absolution (Absolutio) · Solicitation · Prudence of the Confessor · Questions (Interrogationes) · Knowledge · Absolution to be denied · Correction from Office (Correctio ex officio) · PASTOR · To question the penitent · Zeal · Absolution to be conceded · Admonition of the penitent · Approbation · Brothel (Meretricium) · CHARITY excuses on a feast day as regards labor · Canonical penalties · Certitude · Confessional · Delay of conversion · Denunciation in general · Disposition in reception of a Sacrament · Doubt (Dubium) · Goodness of an act

In the manuals

Read the manuals side by side → — each work's whole treatment in its own column

Moral Theology: A Complete Course (McHugh & Callan)

John A. McHugh, O.P., and Charles J. Callan, O.P.

Vol. II, Pt. II, Q. IV, Art. 3. Repentance; Penanc…, Duties of the Confessor Before Confession, n. 2756 — Duties of the Confessor before Confession. Duties of the Confessor before Confession.—(a) Fitness to Hear Confessions.—The confessor should have sufficient knowledge to be able readily to solve the usual cases and to work out or find the solution of the more diff… Read in context →

Manuale Theologiae Moralis

Dominic M. Prümmer, O.P. — 4 passages

Vol. III, Pt. II, Tr. V, Ch. III, Art. II, § 1. On the Duties of the Confessor Before the Act of Confession, nn. ¶57, 432, 433 & 434 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutiones Morales Alphonsianae

Clement Marc, C.SS.R. — 39 passages

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Chapter II: On The Qualities Of The Minister Of Penance, n. ¶1785 — 1785. "Now besides the power of Order and jurisdiction, which are altogether necessary, first of all there is need," says the Roman Catechism, "that the minister of this Sacrament be endowed both with knowledge and learn… Read in context →

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. II, Article I: On The Knowledge Of The Confessor, nn. ¶1786 & ¶1787 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. II, Article II: On The Prudence Of The Confessor, nn. ¶1788, ¶1789, ¶1790 & ¶1791 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. II, Article III: On The Goodness Or Integrity Of Life Of The Confessor, n. ¶1792 — 1792. "Let suitable confessors be had" (said St. Pius V), "behold the complete reform of all Christians. For it is not to be doubted that, if all confessors were strong in that knowledge and goodness of morals which so g… Read in context →

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. II, Art. III, § 1. On The Zeal And Charity Of The Confessor, n. ¶1793 — 1793. In the confessor there is required, so that he may be able fruitfully to perform his office, eminent CHARITY. - For since confession is an entirely voluntary act, by which the highest trust is shown to the confesso… Read in context →

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. II, Art. III, § 2. On Denouncing The Crime Of Solicitation, nn. ¶1794, ¶1, ¶1795, ¶1796, ¶2, ¶1797, ¶1798, ¶3, ¶1799 & ¶1800 (10 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Chapter III: On The Office Of The Confessor In Receiving Confession, n. ¶1801 — 1801. In this chapter we shall treat: 1. of the obligation of the confessor in general, or of his obligation toward all and each of the penitents; 2. of the obligation of the confessor in species, or of his varied obliga… Read in context →

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. III, Article I: On The Obligations Of The Confessor In General, n. ¶1 — There are many obligations of the confessor in the sacred tribunal, namely: 1. the obligation of hearing confessions; 2. of questioning the penitent; 3. of teaching the ignorant penitent; 4. of disposing the indisposed; … Read in context →

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. III, Art. I, § 1. On The Obligation Of Hearing Confessions, nn. ¶1, ¶1802 & ¶1803 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. III, Art. I, § 2. On The Obligation Of Questioning The Penitent, nn. ¶1804, ¶1805, ¶1806 & ¶1807 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. III, Art. I, § 3. On The Obligation Of Teaching And Admonishing The Penitent, nn. ¶1, ¶1808, ¶1809 & ¶1810 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. III, Art. I, § 4. On The Obligation Of Rightly Disposing The Penitent, nn. ¶1811 & ¶1812 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. III, Art. I, § 5, Or Denying, Or Deferring Absolution, nn. ¶1813, ¶1814, ¶1815, ¶1816 & ¶1817 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis Sancti Alphonsi: Reduced into a Compendium

Anthony Konings, C.SS.R. — 19 passages

Vol. II, TREATISE ON THE SACRAMENT …, PART THIRD: ON THE MINISTE…, CHAPTER II: ON THE OFFICE OF THE MINISTER, n. ¶1 — 1° In Confession; 2° after Confession.Read in context →

Vol. II, TREATISE ON THE SACRAMENT …, PART THIRD: ON THE MINISTE…, Ch. II, ARTICLE I: ON THE OFFICE OF THE MINISTER IN CONFESSION, n. ¶1 — There must be treated 1° of the duties of the confessor in general; 2° of his manner of acting with the various kinds of penitents.Read in context →

Vol. II, TREATISE ON THE SACRAMENT …, PART THIRD: ON THE MINISTE…, Ch. II, Art. I, § I. On the Duties of the Confessor, nn. ¶1 & ¶1413–¶1428 (17 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Benedict Henry Merkelbach, O.P. — 30 passages

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Penance, Fourth Part: On the Minist…, Question Three: On the Dut…, Article I: On the Duties before the Act of Confession, or on the Endowments of the Confessor, nn. 603, 604, 605 & 606 (30 passages — hover a number to read it)

Treated under the broader heading The Office of the Confessor — Slater, Manual of Moral Theology · Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology · Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884) · Tanquerey · Vermeersch, On Chastity · Vermeersch, Theologia Moralis · Merkelbach, Pastoral Questions · Sabetti-Barrett, Compendium of Moral Theology · Concina, Compendium · The Roman Catechism · The Casuist · 1917 Code of Canon Law — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)