PENITENTIAL  CANONS
Knowledge of Which Is Necessary for Parish Priests and Confessors, Set Forth according to the Plan and Order of the Decalog

Canones poenitentiales quorum cognitio parochis, confessoribusque necessaria est, dispositi pro ratione ordineque decalogi.

[1] [first] that they personally and accurately investigate both the things that pertain to [1] the greatness of the sin and those that pertain to [2] the status, condition, and age of the penitent and [3] the inmost sorrow of the contrite heart--

[2] and then, that they temper the penance with their own justice and prudence.

And indeed the method explained by the fathers so disposed these things and everything else that is complicated of this necessary knowledge, that, as was said above in its proper place, the penitential canons set forth according to the plan of the Decalog are held over to the last part of the book, whence some knowledge of them can be drawn by the confessor-priests themselves. . . .

  Atque haec quidem omnisque alia, quae multiplex est, hujus necessariae cognitionis ratio a patribus explicata facit, ut, quemadmodum loco suo supra dictum est, cañones poenitentiales pro decalogi ratione dispositi in ultimam libri partem referantur, unde aliqua eorum notitia ab ipsis confessariis sacerdotibus sumi possit.

The confessor, while he understands from those things that are set down herewith that the penances are varied with regard both to the times and to the persons, and that a certain calculation of things to be commuted is applied, yet acts on his own will in all those matters which require mitigation or moderation, as was indicated at the outset.

Confessarius, cum ex iis, quae conscripta sunt, intelligat, pro ratione et temporum et personarum diversas poenitentias, fuisse, earumque redimendarum certam rationem adhibitam esse, arbitrio tarnen suo illis omnibus mitigandis moderandisque aget, ut initio traditum est.

Concerning the penance which is determined for the appointed days, the confessor shall take care that by this expression is understood Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, days ordered for the fast of penance in the canon law.

De poenitentLi, per legitimas ferias constituía, confessarius animadvertat, eo nomine intelligi feriam secundam, quartam, et sextam, canonum legibus poenitentiae jejunio praescriptam.

The fast of the “carina,” which is sometimes provided for in the penitential canon, is so called because it used to last through forty days on bread and water, as Burchard ofttimes explains. Some call it “carina,” some “carena,” others “carentena,” others “quadragena.”

Carinae jejunium, quod aliquando poenitentiali canone cavetur, id appellatur, quod per quadraginta dies in pane et aqu:i fiebat, ut saepenumero Burchardus interpretatur. Carinam alii dicunt, quidam carenam, alii carentenam, alii quadragenam.

A penance appointed for three forty-day periods is to be understood in this way: that he on whom it is imposed shall fast on bread and water for three forty-day periods, the first of which is before the day of the Lord’s Nativity; the second, before Easter of the Resurrection; the third evidently that which was held in the thirteen days before the day of the Feast of St. John Baptist, as can be seen from the decree of the council of Seligenstadt.

Poenitentia per tres quadragesimas indicta ita intelligitur, ut, cui imponebatur, is in anno pane et aqua jejunaret quadragesimas tres, quarum prima est ante diem natalem Domini, altera ante pascha resurrectionis, tertia, quae scilicet per dies tredecim ante diem festum sancti Joannis Baptistae agebatur, quem admodum ex concilii Salegustadiensis decreto perspici potest.

from the ABRIDGMENT of theMILAN PENITENTIAL (ca. 1700)

Canones poenitentiales praecipui secundum ordinem Decalogi ex variis conciljis et libris poenüentiarys cottecti in jnstruct. 8. Caroli B.

[ Schmitz pp. 729-732] found an eighteenth century Brussels manuscript, Codex Burgund. 5835-36, containing a set of canons selected and abbreviated from the Milan Penitential, and published these at the end of his second volume, 1 as the latest fragment of the genuine penitential literature. The Abridgment follows the arrangement of the original document, with the difference that the sixth and seventh Commandments are interchanged, the additional sections noted above are omitted, and two difficult sentences are added. With slight omissions the Abridgment is translated below. The original penitential has been referred to for the correction of a few readings.]The chief penitential canons collected according to the order of the Decalog from various councils and penitentiary books in the Instruction of St. Charles B[orromeo]

1.  He who falls away from the faith shall do penance for ten years.

1. Qui a fide desciverit, poenitentiam agat annis X.

2.  He who observes auguries and divinations [and] he who makes diabolical incantations, seven years. One who beholds things to come in an astrolabe, two years.

2. Qui augurijs et divinationibus servierit; qui decantationes diabólicas fecerit annis, VH. Respiciens furta in astrolabio annis II.

3.  If anyone makes knots or enchantments, two years.

3. Si quis ligaturas, aut fascinationes fecerit, annis П.

4.  He who consults magicians, five years.

4. Qui majos consuluerit, annis V.

1.  1. Whoever knowingly commits perjury, shall do penance for forty days on bread and water, and seven succeeding years; and he shall never be without penance. And he shall never be accepted as a witness; and after these things he shall take communion.

1. Quicunque sciens perjuraverit, XL dies in pane et aqua; et VII sequentes annos poeniteat, et numquam sit sine poenitentia; et numquam in testimonium recipiatur, et post haec communionem percipiat.

2.  He who commits perjury in a church, ten years.

2. Qui perjurium in Ecclesia fecerit, annos X.

3.  If anyone publicly blasphemes God or the Blessed Virgin or any saint, he shall stand in the open in front of the doors of the church on seven Sundays, while the solemnities of the masses are performed, and on the last of these days, without robe and shoes, with a cord tied about his neck; and on the seven preceding Fridays he shall fast on bread and water; and he shall then by no means enter the church. Moreover, on each of these seven Sundays he shall feed three or two or one,  if he is able. Otherwise he shall do another penance; if he refuses, he shall be forbidden to enter the church; in [case of] his death he shall be denied ecclesiastical burial.

3. Si quis Deum vel B. Virginem vel aliquem sanctum publiée blasphemaverit, prae foribus Ecclesiae diebus Dominicis VII in manifesto, dum missarum solemnia aguntur, stet, ultimoque ex illis die sine pallio et calce.amentis, ligatus corrigio circa collum, septemque praecedentibus ferijs sextis in pane et aqua jejunet, Ecclesiam nullo modo tune ingressurus. Singulis item illis diebus VII Dominicis III aut II aut unum pascat, si potest; alioquin alia poenitentia afflciatur; recusans, Ecclesiae ingressu interdicatur; in obitu Ecclesiastica careat sepultura.

4.  He who violates a simple vow shall do penance for three years.

4. Qui votum simplex violaverit, poeniteat III annis.

1.  He who does any servile work on the Lord’s day or on a feast day shall do penance for seven days on bread and water.

1. Qui opus aliquod servile die Dominico festove fecerit. poenitentiam aget VII dies in pane et aqua.

2.  If anyone violates fasts set by Holy Church, he shall do penance for forty days on bread and water.

2. Si quis jejunia a S. Ecclesia indicta violaverit, poenitentiam XL dies in pane et aqua.

3.  He who violates the fast in Lent shall do a seven-day penance for one day.

3. Qui in quadragesima jejunium violaverit, pro uno die poenitentiam aget dies VII.

4.  He who without unavoidable necessity eats flesh in Lent shall not take communion at Easter and shall thereafter abstain from flesh.

4. In Quadragesima carne sine inevitabili necessitate vescens, in pascha non communicet, ac praeterea a carne abstineat.

1.  He who reviles his parents shall be a penitent for forty days on bread and water.

1. Qui parentibus maledixerit, XL dies poenitens sit in pane et aqua

2.  He who does an injury to his parents, three years.

2. Qui parentes injuria affecerit, III annos.

3.  He who beats [them], seven years.

3. Qui perçussent, annos VII.

4.  If anyone rises up against his bishop, his pastor and father, he shall do penance in a monastery all the days of his life.

4. Si quis contra Episcopum, pastorem et patrem suum insurrexerit, in monasterio omnibus diebus vitae suae poenitentiam agat.

5.  If anyone despises or derides the command of his bishop, or of the bishop’s servants, or of his parish priest, he shall do penance for forty days on bread and water.

5. Si quis Episcopi aut ministrorum ejus, vel parochi sui praecepto comtempserit, vel irriserit, poenitentiam aget dies XL in pane et aqua.

1.  He who kills a presbyter shall do penance for twelve years.

1. Qui presbyterum occident poeniteat, XII annis.

2.  If anyone kills his mother, father, or sister, he shall not take the Lord’s body throughout his whole life, except at his departure; he shall abstain from flesh and wine, while he lives; he shall fast on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 6

2. Si quis patrem aut matrem, fratrem aut sororem occiderit, toto vitae suae tempore non suscipiat corpus Domini nisi in obitu; abstineat a carne et vino dum vixerit, jejunet П., IV. et IV. feria.

3.  If anyone kills a man he shall always be at the door of the church, and [only] at death he shall receive communion.

3. Si quis hominem occiderit ad januam Ecclesiae semper erit, et in obitu communionem recipiet.

4. Those share in responsibility for murder who have given verbal encouragement [to the murderer]: they are to do penance on bread and water for forty days during each of seven successive years.

4. Qui homicidii author rait, ob consilium quod dederit, poenitentiam aget XL dies in pane et aqua cum Vu sequentibus annis.

 5. One who causes a woman to spontaneously miscarry shall do penance for three years; if this was inadvertent for three Lents.

5. Si qua mulier sponte abortum fecerit poenitentiam aget annos Ш; si nolens quadragesimas très.

 6. One who inadvertently smothers his child shall do penance for forty days on bread and water, vegetables and beans, abstaining from intercourse with his wife: thereafter he shall do penance for three years on the legal feasts, and observe three lenten fasts during the year.

6. Qui nolens filium oppresserit, poenitentiam agat dies XL in pane et aqua oleribus ас leguminibus; abstineat ab uxore diestotidem; deinde poenitens erit III annos per legitimas ferias, tres praeterea quadragesimas in anno observabit.

 7. For the crime of concealing the case of a murdered child - penance for ten years.

7. Qui sceleris occultandi causa filium necarit poenitentiam aget annos X.

 8. One who kills a man because of sudden anger or while fighting shall do penance for three years.

8. Si quis per iram subitam, aut per rixam hominem necarit, poenitentiam aget annos III.

 9. One who wounds another, or causes them to lose a limb shall do penance for a year on the legal feasts.

9. Si quis aliquem vulneravit, vel ei aliquod membrum praesciderit, poenitentiam aget anno uno per legitimas ferias.

 10. One who strikes but does not injure his neighbor shall do penance for three days on bread and water.

10. Si quis ictum próximo dederit, nec nocuerit, tridui poenitentiam aget in pane et aqua.

[Sections 1-6 omitted.]

1. If a dissolute layman has intercourse with a dissolute women, he shall do penance for three years.

1. Si laicus solutus cum femina soluta concubuerit, poenitens erit III annos.

2. He who uses obscene language, thus negligently polluting what h sees shall do penance for twenty days.

2. Qui turpiloquio, aspectuque polluitur negligens poenitentiam aget XX dies.

3. He who has immoral intercourse with his wife shall do penance for eleven days.

3. Qui cum uxore sua turpiter concubuerit, poenitens erit XI dies.

4. He who fornicates with his sister, or who violates his spiritual daughter must do perpetual penance.

4. Qui cum II sororibus fornicatus fuerit, aut flliam spiritualem violaverit perpetuara poenitentiam aget.

5. He who commits incest - provided it is not horrific - shall do penance for twelve years.

5. Qui incestum fecerit (non ita enormem), poenitens erit XII annis.

6. He who violates a nun shall do penance for ten years.

6. Qui monialem violaverit, poenitens erit annis X.

7.  If any woman paints herself with ceruse or other pigment in order to please men, she shall do penance for three years.

7. Si qua mulier cerusa aliove pigmento se oblinit, ut alijs viris placeat, poenitentiam aget annos Ш.

8.  If a priest is intimate with his own spiritual daughter, that is, one whom he has baptized or who has confessed to him, he ought to do penance for twelve years; and if the offense is publicly known, he ought to be deposed and do penance for twelve years on pilgrimage, and thereafter enter a monastery to remain there throughout his life. For adultery penances of seven, and of ten, years, are imposed; for unchaste kissing or embracing, a penance of thirty days is commanded.

8. Si presbyter cognovit flliam suam spiritualem quam sc. baptizavit, vel quae sibi confessa fuit,-débet poenitentiam agere XII annis; et si crimen sit manifestum, débet deponi et peregrinando ХП annis poeniteat et postea monasterium intret tota vita sua moraturus ibidem. Pro adulterio septennij et decennii poenitentia imponitur, pro ósculo seu amplexu impúdico XXX dierum poenitentia statuitur.

1.  If anyone commits a theft of a thing of small value he shall do penance for a year.

1. Si quis furtum de re minori fecerit, poenitentiam aget annum unum.

2.  He who steals anything from the furniture of a church or from the treasury, or ecclesiastical property, or offerings made to the church shall be a penitent for seven years.

2. Qui furatus est aliquid de Ecclesiae suppellectili, vel thesauro, vel pecunianrEcclesiasticam, oblationesve Ecclesiae factas, poenitens erit annos VII.

3.  He who retains to himself his tithe or neglects to pay it, shall restore fourfold and do penance for twenty days on bread and water.

3. Qui decimam sibi retinuerit aut dare neglexerit, quadruplum restituet et poenitentiam aget dies УУ in pane et aqua.

4.  He who takes usury commits robbery; he shall do penance for three years on bread and water.

4. Qui usuras accipit, rapiñara facit, poenitentiam aget annis III uno in pane et aqua.

1.  He who conspires in falsification of evidence shall be a penitent for five years.

1. Qui falso testimonio consenserit, poenitens erit annos V.

2.  A forger shall do penance on bread and water as long as he lives.

2. Falsarius in pane et aqua poenitentiam agat quandiu vivit.

3.  If anyone slanders his neighbor, he shall be a penitent for seven days on bread and water.

3. Si quis de proximo detraxerit, poenitens erit dies VII in pane et aqua.

1.  He who basely covets another’s goods and is avaricious shall be a penitent for three years.

1. Rem alienara nefarie concupiscens avarusque poenitens erit TTT annis.

2.  If anyone desires to commit fornication, if a bishop, he shall be a penitent for seven 9 years; if a presbyter, five; if a deacon or monk, three; if a cleric or layman, two years.

2. Si quis concupiscit fornicari, si Episcopus, poenitens erit TTT. Si presbyter V. Si Diaconus vel monachus Ш; si clericus aut laicus annos duos.

He who sees no reason for the refusal or delay of his absolution, the hater, the withholder, he who occasions scandals, he who denies or declines to leave off his sin, he who refuses to flee from the occasion of sin, or he who has given no signs of sorrow . . . 10

Causae negandae, aut differendae absolutions ignorans, osor, detentor, scandala praebens, qui negat aut renuit peccatum linquere, nolens ansam peccati fugere, aut qui nulla doloris signa dédit, monitum sterili cum cruce remitios.

[Note Subjoined by Compiler or

Copyist]

Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, as is related in her Latin Life, Chapter XXX, 11 affirmed that Christ had revealed to her that he would require the expiation in purgatory of a penance of seven years or longer of those who neglect the canons of penance.

"jjf S. Maria Magd, de Pazzio, ut refertur in vita latina С. 30 asserit sibi a Chto revelatum, quod cessantibus cannonibua poenit., in purgatorio, exigat septennem aut diuturniorem poenitentiam luendam.