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Response: A part is twofold, essential and quantitative. The |
essential parts are naturally the form and the matter, and logically |
the genus and the difference. In this way, each sacrament is divided |
into matter and form as its essential parts. Hence it has been said |
above (Q. 60, AA. 5, 6) that sacraments consist of things and words. |
But since quantity is on the part of matter, quantitative parts are |
parts of matter: and, in this way, as stated above (A. 1), parts are |
assigned specially to the sacrament of Penance, as regards the acts |
of the penitent, which are the matter of this sacrament. |
Now it has been said above (Q. 85, A. 3, ad 3) that an offense is |
atoned otherwise in Penance than in vindictive justice. Because, in |
vindictive justice the atonement is made according to the judge's |
decision, and not according to the discretion of the offender or of |
the person offended; whereas, in Penance, the offense is atoned |
according to the will of the sinner, and the judgment of God against |
Whom the sin was committed, because in the latter case we seek not |
only the restoration of the equality of justice, as in vindictive |
justice, but also and still more the reconciliation of friendship, |
which is accomplished by the offender making atonement according to |
the will of the person offended. Accordingly the first requisite on |
the part of the penitent is the will to atone, and this is done by |
contrition; the second is that he submit to the judgment of the |
priest standing in God's place, and this is done in confession; and |
the third is that he atone according to the decision of God's |
minister, and this is done in satisfaction: and so contrition, |
confession, and satisfaction are assigned as parts of Penance. |
Reply Objection 1: Contrition, as to its essence, is in the heart, and |
belongs to interior penance; yet, virtually, it belongs to exterior |
penance, inasmuch as it implies the purpose of confessing and making |
satisfaction. |
Reply Objection 2: Satisfaction confers grace, in so far as it is in man's |
purpose, and it increases grace, according as it is accomplished, |
just as Baptism does in adults, as stated above (Q. 68, A. 2; Q. 69, |
A. 8). |
Reply Objection 3: Satisfaction is a part of Penance as a sacrament, and a |
fruit of penance as a virtue. |
Reply Objection 4: More things are required for good, "which proceeds from |
a cause that is entire," than for evil, "which results from each |
single defect," as Dionysius states (Div. Nom. iv). And thus, |
although sin is completed in the consent of the heart, yet the |
perfection of Penance requires contrition of the heart, together with |
confession in word and satisfaction in deed. |
The Reply to the Fifth Objection is clear from what has been said. |
_______________________ |
THIRD ARTICLE [III, Q. 90, Art. 3] |
Whether These Three Are Integral Parts of Penance? |
Objection 1: It would seem that these three are not integral parts of |
Penance. For, as stated above (Q. 84, A. 3), Penance is ordained |
against sin. But sins of thought, word, and deed are the subjective |
and not integral parts of sin, because sin is predicated of each one |
of them. Therefore in Penance also, contrition in thought, confession |
in word, and satisfaction in deed are not integral parts. |
Objection 2: Further, no integral part includes within itself another that |
is condivided with it. But contrition includes both confession and |
satisfaction in the purpose of amendment. Therefore they are not |
integral parts. |
Objection 3: Further, a whole is composed of its integral parts, taken at |
the same time and equally, just as a line is made up of its parts. |
But such is not the case here. Therefore these are not integral parts |
of Penance. |
Contrary: Integral parts are those by which the perfection |
of the whole is integrated. But the perfection of Penance is |
integrated by these three. Therefore they are integral parts of |
Penance. |
Response: Some have said that these three are subjective parts |
of Penance. But this is impossible, because the entire power of the |
whole is present in each subjective part at the same time and |
equally, just as the entire power of an animal, as such, is assured |
to each animal species, all of which species divide the animal genus |
at the same time and equally: which does not apply to the point in |
question. Wherefore others have said that these are potential parts: |
yet neither can this be true, since the whole is present, as to the |
entire essence, in each potential part, just as the entire essence of |
the soul is present in each of its powers: which does not apply to |
the case in point. Therefore it follows that these three are integral |
parts of Penance, the nature of which is that the whole is not |
present in each of the parts, either as to its entire power, or as to |
its entire essence, but that it is present to all of them together at |
the same time. |
Reply Objection 1: Sin forasmuch as it is an evil, can be completed in one |
single point, as stated above (A. 2, ad 4); and so the sin which is |
completed in thought alone, is a special kind of sin. Another species |
is the sin that is completed in thought and word: and yet a third |
species is the sin that is completed in thought, word, and deed; and |
the quasi-integral parts of this last sin, are that which is in |