A Topic of Moral Theology
The Knowledge of the Confessor
The knowledge a confessor is bound to have, and what he must do if he lacks it.
The works themselves ask 10 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.
In the index as Confessor · Knowledge · Admonition · Approbation · Judge · Obligations of the confessor · Qualities of a Confessor · Study of moral theology · Zeal
In the manuals
Read the manuals side by side → — each work's whole treatment in its own column
Summa of Moral Theology (Summa Theologiae Moralis)
Vol. III, Book Fifth. On Penance., Ch. III, Question Three. Concerning…, Article One. Concerning the Knowledge of the Confessor., nn. 382 & 383 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)
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)
Bucceroni, Commentaries (1910), Second Commentary: On Cons…, III. On Probable Conscience and on Probabilism, n. 81 — 81. Must a confessor know all probable opinions? - "A confessor is not to be obliged to knowledge of all probable opinions, but to that knowledge which the moderately learned commonly have; just as an advocate, judge, ph… 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, § I, Point III. On the Office of Teacher, nn. ¶1, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612 & 613 (27 passages — hover a number to read it)
Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology
Vol. I, Matrimony, and Holy Orders, On Penance (Volume I), Moral Part — Chapter II: On the Confessor, nn. 458, 459, 460 & 461 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)
Institutiones Morales Alphonsianae
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)
Theologia Moralis Sancti Alphonsi: Reduced into a Compendium
Vol. II, TREATISE ON THE SACRAMENT …, PART THIRD: ON THE MINISTE…, Ch. II, Art. I, § I. On the Duties of the Confessor, nn. ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶1420 & ¶1421 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)
Pastoral Questions
Ch. IV, Question First: Concerning…, Article I: Concerning the Knowledge of the Confessor, nn. ¶3533–¶3548 (16 passages)
Summa Theologiae Moralis
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)
Christian Theology, Dogmatic and Moral, in Compendium
Chapter IV — Pastors and Directors of Christians ought, first of all, to be exactly versed in the spirit of the Christian profession, and in its chief rules and most lucid principles, nn. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, I, II, III, IV & V (15 passages — hover a number to read it)
Bk. II, Diss. I, Chapter II — On the obligation by which Confessors are bound to enlighten penitents laboring under an invincibly erroneous conscience. Lax opinions are refuted, nn. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X & XI (11 passages — hover a number to read it)
Diss. I, Chapter I — Propositions condemned by the Holy See, n. XLVII — XLVII. Fr. La Croix, Book 6, part 2, no. 1788: “Lamas and Sioz think that those are sufficiently learned for this office (of confessor) who have diligently read an entire SUM OF CASES, or have attentively heard it explai… Read in context →
Diss. III, Chapter I — On the sublime dignity and the eminent endowments of a confessor, nn. I & XX (2 passages — hover a number to read it)
Cases of Conscience for English-Speaking Countries, Volume II
Slater, Cases II, Penance, Case 28. Requisite Knowledge in the Confessor, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9, ¶10 & ¶11 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)
The Catechism of the Council of Trent (The Roman Catechism)
Pt. II, The Sacrament of Penance, nn. ¶120, ¶121, ¶122 & ¶123 (4 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 · Vermeersch, On Chastity · Vermeersch, Theologia Moralis · Prümmer, Manuale Theologiae Moralis · Sabetti-Barrett, Compendium of Moral Theology · 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.)