The confession made to the laity

Abstract

In the early centuries, the sacrament of penance could only be received once in a lifetime, because it was considered a second baptism. It was a public, communal celebration, usually presided over by the bishop. Centuries later, in the Middle Ages, it was administered privately, the rigorous penalties disappeared, and the emphasis was placed on the detailed confession of sins to the priest as an essential element for their forgiveness. It is not surprising that in this environment, confession to lay people arose, if it was not possible to do so before a priest. This practice was in force in the Latin Church for about six centuries. In this article, the author studies the vicissitudes that this practice underwent—between approvals and disapprovals—throughout this time.