Bellarmine · De Controversiis · On the Sacrament of Penance · Book I: On the Kind and the Parts of the Sacrament of Penance
Chapter 1: Who Have Written on Penance, Both Catholics and Heretics
Our translation, from the Latin of the Opera Omnia (Paris: Vivès, 1870–74), vol. III, De Sacramento Poenitentiae, Book I, the fourth general controversy on the sacraments. The Latin source text is public domain; this English rendering is released with the site. Scripture quotations follow Bellarmine's Vulgate citations, rendered in Douay-Rheims wording where he quotes exactly. Click “Show the Latin” for the original (raw OCR of the scan; scanning errors remain — the scan itself is the authority).
The argument and division of the disputation on Penance
On the sacrament of Penance there are four principal controversies, which we shall explain as the Lord, for whose glory alone we write, shall grant. The first is on its kind, namely whether Penance is a sacrament properly so called, and what are its parts. The second is on contrition, which is the first material part of Penance. The third is on confession, which is the second part. The fourth is on satisfaction, which is the third part.
But before we come to the controversies themselves, we have thought it worth while to set three things first: which authors have written on this subject; by what impostures and lies the adversaries strive to wrap up the truth; and what is understood by the name of Penance, both among the Latins and among the Hebrews and Greeks.
Chapter I. Who have written on Penance, both Catholics and heretics
Of the Catholics, then, many have left excellent volumes on Penance. And to begin with the ancients: first, Tertullian wrote a whole book on Penance, though we do not count him among the Catholics. Next, Saint Cyprian wrote on the same subject, both in sermon 5, On the Lapsed, and in the book to Novatian. Thirdly, Pacian wrote three letters against the Novatians, and an Exhortation to Penance, all of which are now found in the first volume of the Library of the Holy Fathers. Fourthly, Saint Ephrem wrote a book on Penance, and another on true Penance. Fifthly, Saint Ambrose wrote two books on Penance against the Novatians. Sixthly, Saint John Chrysostom wrote twelve homilies on Penance. Seventhly, Saint Augustine wrote two homilies, which are the 27th and the 50th in the book of Fifty Homilies, of which one goes under the title of the book On the Usefulness of Penance, the other under the title of the book On the Medicine of Penance; they are also found in volume 9. Eighthly, Theodoret in the Epitome of the Divine Decrees made a treatise of its own on Penance. Ninthly, Victor of Cartenna wrote a notable volume on Penance. Tenthly, Hugh of Saint Victor, book 2 On the Sacraments, part 14. Eleventhly, Peter Lombard, and after him the Scholastic theologians, book 4 of the Sentences, distinction 14; and Gratian, and after him the jurists, cause 33, question 3.
And properly against the more recent heretics these theologians have written: Thomas Waldensis, volume 2 On the Sacraments, chapters 135 and following; John Eck in the homilies on the sacraments, and in three books on Penance; John of Rochester in the refutation of Luther’s articles; Albert Pighius, controversy 9; Peter de Soto, On the Instruction of Priests; Ruard Tapper in the explanation of the articles of Louvain; Alfonso de Castro in the books against heresies; Diego Payva, book 8 of the Orthodox Explanations; Jacobus Latomus in the defence of the third article of Louvain, and in the book On Secret Confession, and in the other against Oecolampadius; Giovanni Antonio Delfino, book 2 On the Church; Mariano Vittorio wrote a history of the sacrament of confession; Cardinal Hosius in the Polish Confession, chapter 44 and following; Wilhelm Lindanus, book 4 of the Panoplia, chapter 57 and following; Peresius Ayala in the book On Traditions, part 3; Andreas Vega, book 13 on the Council of Trent; Johannes Cochlaeus in the discussion of articles 11 and 13 of the Augsburg Confession; John of Deventer in the refutation of the same articles; Johann Hoffmeister in the judgement on the same articles; Alfonso de Virues, Philippics 9, 10 and 11; Juan de Medina in the treatise on Penance, confession and satisfaction; Melchior Cano in the relection on Penance; Chrysostomus Javelli in the book on Christian philosophy, part 3, treatise 3; Tilmann in the book on the sacraments, chapter 4.
Now of the heretics of our time: first Martin Luther wrote on Penance, in the book On the Babylonian Captivity, chapter on the sacrament of Penance; in the assertions of his articles; in the disputations against the Antinomians. Philipp Melanchthon in the Augsburg Confession and its Apology, articles 11 and 12; in the Commonplaces, under the title of Penance, contrition, confession and satisfaction; and in a certain disputation on Penance. Johannes Oecolampadius in the book On Confession. Johannes Brenz in the Württemberg Confession and its apology, and in the homilies on Penance. John Calvin, book 3 of the Institutes, chapter 4, and book 4, chapter 19. Johannes Wigand in the book entitled Method of the Doctrine of the Church of Magdeburg, chapter 18. Peder Palladius in the Admonition on Penance and Justification. David Chytraeus in his catechism, under the same head. Martin Chemnitz in the second part of the Examination of the Council of Trent, on session 14. Theodore Beza in his Confession of Faith, chapter 7.
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partes. AUcra de contritione, quae prima pars est malerialis Poenilentiae. TGriia de confessione , quae est pars secunda. Quarta de satisfactione , quae esl pars tertia. Sed antequam ad ipsas controversias acceda- mus , operaepretium esse duximus , tria quae- dam praemiltere ; Qui auctores de hoc argumen- 10 scripserint ; quibus imposturis el mendaciis veritatem involvere nitantur adversarii;et quid no- mine Poenitenliae cum apud Latinos , tum apud Hcbraeos et Graccos inlelligatur. Beiiabmim VoI. IK. 74 CAPUT PKIMUM Qui scripserint de Pueniientia tum catholici^ ium haeretici. Igilur ex calholicis mulli dc Poenilenlia egregia vaniensium, Alphonsus a Caslro in llbris conlra volumina reliquerunt. Ac ul a veteribus incipia- haereses. Dieghus Payva lib. 8. orthodoxarum ex- mus. Primus,de Poenitenlia librum integrum scri- plicalionum. Jacobus Lalomus in defensione arli- psit Terlullianus,quem lamen inter catholicos non culi tcrlii Lovaniensium, et in lib. de confessione nuraeramus. Deinde, s. Cyprianus de eodem ;irgu- sccrela; et in altero contra Oecolampadium. Joan- menlo scripsit lum in sennon. 5. de lapsis, tum nes Anlonius DelQnus lib. 2. de Ecclesia. Marla- in lib. ad Novatianum. Terlio, scripsit Pacianus e- nus Victorius historiam scripsit de sacrameulo pislolas Ires conlra Novalianos, et Paraencsim ad oonfessionis. Ilosius cardinalis in confessione Po- Poenitcnliam; quaeomnia nuric habenlur in primo lonica cap. 44. et sequenlibus. VVilhelmus Linda- lomo bibliolh. sanclorum Palrum.Quarto, sanclus nus lib. 4. Panopliae cap. 57. el sequenlibus. Pe- Ephrem scripsit librum de Poenitenlia, et alterum resius Ajala in libro de Iraditionibus parl. 3. An- «ie veraPoenitenlia. Quinto, s. Ambrosius scripsit drcas Vet^a lib. 13. in conciliura tridentinum.Joan- libros duos de Poenilcnlia adversus Novalianos. nes Coclilaeus in discussionc arliculorum 11. et Sexto, s. Joan. chrysostomus scripsit homilias 13. Augustanae confessionis. Joannes a Daventria duodecim de Poenilenlia. Seplimo, s. Augustinus iii rcfulalionc eorundem arliculorum. Joannes Ilof- scripsit homilias duas, quae sunt 27. el oO. cl in luieislcrus in judicio dc iisdcnn arliculis. Alphon- lib. 'iO. homiliarum, quarum allera sub lilulo li- sus YirVcsius Philippica 0. 10. et 11. Joanncs Mc- hri (ie ulililale Pocnilcnliae; allera sub tilulo libri dina Iraclalu dc Poenilentia , confessionc et satis- de Poenilentiae medicina , in tomo D. cliain lia- lactione. Melchior Canus in releclionc de Poeni- b(?nlur. Octavo,Tlieodoretus in cpitome divinorum lcnlia. Chrysoslomus Javellus lib. dc philosophia decretorum,dc Poeiiilenlia proprium tractaluin l'e- chrisliaiia part. .*>. Iract. 3. Tilmannus in lib. do cit. Nono, Viclor cartenncnsis insignc volumcn sacramculis cap. 4. scripsit de Pocnilenlia. Decimo, Ilugo de s. Victo- Jam vciH) ex hacrclicis noslri lcmporis, scripsit re lih. 2. de Sacraraenlis part. 14. Undecimo, Pe- primus Martinus Lutherusde Poenilenlia in lib.de trus Lombardus, et post eum theologi Scholaslici caplivit. babylon. cap.de sacramenlo Poenitcntiac; lib. 4. senlcnl. disl. 14, el Gralianus, ac post eum iii assertioiiibus articulorum suorum; in dispula- jureconsulli 33. quaesl. 3. lionibus conlra Anlinomos. Philippus Melamilithon Proprie aulem adversus haereticos recentiores in confessione Augustana. el ejus apologia art.11, hi theologi srripserunl. Thomas Waldcnsis, lom. el 12. in locis communihus, tilulo dc PocniUMilia, 2. de sacramcntis cap. 13;>.el seq.Joannes Eckius conlritioue, confessione ct satisfactionc: cl in dis- in homiliis de sacramentis , et in Iribus libris de putalionc quadam de Poenitcnlia. Joanues Oeco- Poenitenlia. Joaiiiies Uoironsis in refutalione arti- lainpadius in lib. d(? coiilV.ssionc. Joannes Uren- culorum Lulheri. Albertus Pighius conlrovcrsia lius in coiifessione WirlcmbcrgtMisi.ct in ejiis apo- nona. Pelrus a Soto dc inslilulione sacerdolum. logia, et in homiliis dc Pocnitciilia. Joannes Ciil- Huardus Tappcrus in explicatione arliculorum Lo- vinu;-. lih. 3. Inslilul. cap. i. ct lib. J. cap. 11). 5S4 Dl-: POENIir.INIIA Joiiiiiies \Vi^'jiiiiiis 111 lil). (lui iiisoribiliir Melliodus iltH-lrinat' KrcIosi;ic inaj^fiJeburj^oiisis oap. IS. Po- Irus Palladiiis in AilniDiiilioiicile l*oenileiilia cl ju- slilicatione. David Cliylracus in sua ratecliesi, lo- eo S.Martiiius Keiniiilius iii secunda partc oxamin. irideiiiini coneilii ad li. sess. Tlicudorus Heza in sua confessionc tiilei cap. 7. C.VPIT II.