Penance is the Sacrament in which a Christian receives, through the mediation of the priest, forgiveness of
sins on repenting and confessing them to the priest.
The doctrine of penance is based upon the command of our Lord who breathed upon the face of His disciples
and told them to receive the Holy Ghost; whose soever sins they remitted, they would be remitted ( John 20:21-23) .
Again He told His disciples that whatsoever they should loose on earth should be loosed in heaven (Matt. 18:18)
In the Mass, absolution is given twice. Auricular Confession is the rule of the Church, confession being
made only to a priest. The Lenten Fast ( Fast of Hudade ) and particularly Good Friday are appointed as
special days for Confession. Confession is a requisite for the Sacrament of Unction. Absolution includes a
blow over the shoulder administered with a branch of the Woira tree as a sign that the penitent has been
delivered from sin and Satan. When the faithful fall into sin, they confess what they have committed,
whether great or small, and the priest gives them penance according to the number and gravity of the
offences.
The penance may be in the form of fasting, prayer, alms or prostrations. 2 Chron. vii. 14, Mat, vii. 7,
Mat. ix 13, Ps. xx. 9,2. This is a punishment for the sins; sins are not cancelled bv this, true repentance
is shown when the sinner restores what he stole, forgives him who has injured him, asks pardon in humility
of the man whom he has harmed, forsakes his accustomed sin, keeps away from all evil and returns with the
whole heart to the Lord who is merciful and will cleanse him from sins. There is no forgiveness without
true repentance by showing real sorrow, and resolve not to repeat the evil. Every family has a Soul-father,
Confessor or Ya-nafs abbat who enjoys a confidential status. It frequently happens that the wills are deposited
with him. The seal of confession is the obligation of secrecy imposed upon the priest with regard to every thing
revealed to him in confession. It is absolute, with no exception.
