A Topic of Moral Theology
Penitents of Particular Condition
How the confessor deals with penitents set apart by their state or condition of life: men and women, widows, the learned and persons of rank, merchants and soldiers, the betrothed and spouses, prisoners and the condemned.
The works themselves ask 3 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.
See also The Confession of Children — in The Office of the Confessor
Also asked about as…
confessing men · confessing women · confessions of persons of rank · prisoners and the condemned (ed.)
In the index as Confession (Confessio) · Confessor · Capital punishment · Penitents (Poenitentes) · Women · Doubts in faith · Learned man · Men · Merchants · Moral person (moral body) · Power of confessors concerning reserved matter · Prisoners · Prudence of the Confessor · Rich · Soldiers · Spouses · The betrothed · Widows
In the manuals
Read the manuals side by side → — each work's whole treatment in its own column
Commentaries on the Nature of Moral Theology, on Conscience and Probabilism, on the Fourth Precept, and on the Sixth and Ninth Precepts of the Decalogue (Commentarii)
Chapter VI: On the Confessor's Practice Regarding the Matter of Lust, n. 237 — 237. Moreover, speaking generally, "the confessor ought to be exceedingly cautious in hearing the confessions of women. And first it must be noted that in the Decree of the Sacred Congregations of Bishops, January 21, 16… Read in context →
Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.
Vol. II, Treatise On the Sacrament …, Pt. III, Ch. II, Art. I, § II, Point III. On Devout Penitents, nn. ¶1, 641 & 642 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)
Theologia Moralis: Principles — Responses — Counsels
Vol. III, Bk. II, Tr. V, Ch. II, § 2. With Regard to the Persons of Penitents, n. 550 — — Penitents of little piety and rarely approaching the tribunal of Penance, for example only at Paschal time, must be treated by the confessor with that dexterity by which, in a few moments, he knows how to question them… Read in context →
Pastoral Questions
Merkelbach, Pastoral Questions, III. Questions Concerning Various Categories of Penitents (1933), Concerning Various Categories of Penitents, nn. ¶1856–¶1890 (35 passages)
Ch. II, Question IV: Concerning Men and Women, nn. ¶2328–¶2367 (40 passages)
Ch. II, Question VII: Concerning the Incarcerated and Those Condemned to Death, nn. ¶2532–¶2570 (39 passages)
Ch. III, Question VII: Concerning the Learned and Persons of Distinguished Condition, nn. ¶3000, ¶3001, ¶3002, ¶3003, ¶3004, ¶3005, ¶3006 & ¶3007 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)
Ch. I, Question VI: Concerning Merchants and Soldiers, nn. ¶4378–¶4400 (23 passages)
Institutiones Morales Alphonsianae
Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. II, Article II: On The Prudence Of The Confessor, n. ¶1791 — 1791. III. In receiving the confessions of persons OF THE OTHER SEX, especially of those who profess piety, the confessor ought to be MOST CAUTIOUS. Wherefore let him diligently observe these prescriptions, and let him j… Read in context →
Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. III, Article II: On The Varied Obligation Of The Confessor Toward Various Penitents, n. ¶1 — Among penitents a twofold variety can be detected: the one, namely, which arises from their internal state of soul; and the other, which proceeds from their external condition of life. - Hence there is a twofold paragrap… Read in context →
Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. V, Diss. III, Ch. III, Art. II, § 2. On The Obligation Of The Confessor Toward Diverse Penitents From External Condition, nn. ¶1, ¶3, ¶1850, ¶1851, ¶1852, ¶4 & ¶1853 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)
Theologia Moralis Sancti Alphonsi: Reduced into a Compendium
Vol. II, TREATISE ON THE SACRAMENT …, PART THIRD: ON THE MINISTE…, Ch. II, Art. I, § II. On the Manner of Acting with Various Kinds of Penitents, nn. ¶1, ¶27, ¶1484, ¶28, ¶1485, ¶29 & ¶1486 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)
The Casuist: A Collection of Cases in Moral and Pastoral Theology
Vol. III, Case XLIV: Misuse of General Confession by Penitents of the Female Sex, nn. ¶1 & ¶2 (2 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 · McHugh–Callan, Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology · Tanquerey · Vermeersch, On Chastity · Prümmer, Manuale Theologiae Moralis · Merkelbach, Summa Theologiae Moralis · Sabetti-Barrett, Compendium of Moral Theology · Concina, Compendium · The Roman Catechism · 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.)