The reception of the sacrament of Penance with public acts of mortification, such as fasting, or the wearing of sackcloth, constituting the element of sacramental satisfaction. In the early Church this method of reconciliation was usually required of those who committed scandalous sins, even though the confession was secret. Public penance continued, in a mitigated form until the 14th century.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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