Choose a topic from Part 3a:
1. Penance is said to have parts inasmuch as severalthings are required to constitute this sacrament. This isparticularly the case with regard to the matter of thesacrament.
2. The parts of penance are the acts of the penitent:contrition, confession, and satisfaction. We may add, as a fourthpart, the absolution imparted by the priest.
3. An integral part of anything is something inand of the thing itself which gives completeness or perfection. Thethree acts of the penitent (contrition, confession, satisfaction),are called integral parts of penance. These acts must allcome together to constitute the rounded perfection of penance in sofar as this perfection depends on the penitent.
4. Considering penance as a virtue, wedistinguish three types or varieties of it: penance before baptism;penance for mortal sin; penance for venial sin.
"This is the greatest wisdom -- to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. "
Thomas á Kempis
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"It is not God's will that we should abound in spiritual delights, but that in all things we should submit to his holy will."
Blessed Henry Suso
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"Try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God.
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Thomas á Kempis
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