23. THE CONFESSIONAL
After describing the form of the ambo and the pulpit, from which the sacred reading or sermon is given, a few instructions must be given regarding the structure in wood, built to hear the confessions of the penitents, proper and decorous, which we call the confessional.
Number of confessionals
In the cathedral church as many confessionals will be built as the number of confessors deemed suitable or necessary in relation to the size of the crowds who come for the jubilee{1} or in times of indulgences, or for the solemnities.
In every collegiate church, secular or regular, there will be as many [confessionals] as are actually required, in agreement with the number of confessor priests who are normally needed when there are large crowds or who are usually employed there.
In every parish church there will be two confessionals so that the men (often displaying a certain amount of irreverence regarding the holy place or the holy action and not without offence to the pious objects) will not be intermingled with the women, nor crowded together with them when there is a large number for confession, but separated. In this way the men confess in one confessional, the women in the other; as is the case in many of the churches in this province, in which there are distinct parts for men and women. In those cases where the distinction has not been confirmed by a provincial decree, one confessional will be for the use of the parish priest, and the other for that of another confessor priest if, with the permission and approval of the Bishop, it is at times necessary to have him called in when there are a great number of penitents.
In the parish church in which there are several parish priests, prebendary or other priests, as well as coadjutor, who exercise the ministry of the confession, there must be just as many confessionals as their number. What has been established above with regards to the two confessionals to be set in all parish churches, must also be extended to every church, even if it is not a parish church, but is nevertheless subject to a parish by whatever parish right, or annexed, or added, or instituted within the limits of the parish itself, and in which any priest who administers confession, or a parish priest, resides or is accustomed to residing with whatever right or whatever cause.
In non-parish churches where there are schools of Christian doctrine, there will be at least one confessional, or two, if the Christian school is attended by both sexes, or even more, where, during the period of activity of the Christian school, by provincial decree, use is made of several priest confessors.
Form of the confessional
The prescribed form to be used in building the confessional is described below. Once this has been observed, some decoration may be added, such as carved moldings on the front or some other type of suitable ornament.
First of all the confessional will be made entirely of worked wooden panels, either walnut, or some other type of wood. These will enclose it on both sides and on the back and will cover the upper part, while it will be completely open in the front part, and must not be closed in any way.
It can however have, above all in the more frequented churches, a latticework door or a wooden gate, the parts of which are about four ounces apart, furnished with lock and key so that, when the confessor is not there, laymen, vagabonds or dirty people cannot idly sit or sleep therein, with irreverence of the sacred function there exercised.
The platform
The platform for the confessional, upon which the feet of the confessor and of the penitent rest, will be at the most eight ounces above the floor, two cubits wide and about four long.
The seat for the confessor
Inside the seat for the confessor will be about one cubit and three ounces high from the platform, one cubit and a half wide, from right to left, and only one cubit from the front to the back.
Height of the confessional.
The total height of the structure of the confessional, from the platform to the top, will be four cubits.
The wooden armrest for the confessor to lean on
A small wooden armrest will be set on the inner part of the panel between the confessor and penitent on which the confessor can rest his arm. It will be like a cross-bar, so that it can be lowered and raised, as desired.
The bench for the penitent
The bench for the penitent will be on the outer part. It will be fourteen ounces wide at the bottom and rest on the platform of the confessional, set against the panel that separates the confessor and penitent, and sloping upwards from the bottom to the top. From the bottom it will be one cubit and twenty ounces high. A small slightly inclined board will be set on the upper end. On this the penitent can lean with joined hands while kneeling during confession. This board will be twelve ounces wide and one cubit and a half long.
The kneeler
There will be a step on which the penitent can kneel at the bottom part of this bench. It will be eight ounces high from the platform, sixteen wide and as long as the stool.
The intermediate opening
There will be an opening in the middle of the partition between the confessor and the penitent. The base will be one cubit and eight ounces higher than the seat of the confessor. It will be sixteen ounces high and twelve wide. The small opening will be divided into three equal parts by two small columns or small supports in the panel itself.
An iron sheet with many small closely set holes, the size of a chick pea, will be applied on the side of the penitent. On the side of the confessor it will be lined with thin fabric, light serge cloth, or a cotton muslin called bunting.
Representation of the crucifix
On the side of the penitent, on the outside, a paper picture of the crucifix, piously made, will be placed above the small opening.
What is to be attached to some of the panels of the confessional
A board will be attached to the front part of the wooden partition panel situated between the confessor and the penitent. It will measure one cubit across, so that the slightly larger part will be facing the penitent, and the smaller one the confessor.
On the part of this board facing the confessor, that is on the inside, a picture of Christ or the Blessed Virgin Mary will be attached, and below it the preparatory prayer, printed, to be used by confessors who prepare to hear the confessions, as well as the formula for absolution.
On the partition on the other side of the confessional which has no opening, the letter of the process “In Coena Domini”, as promulgated each year by our most holy Lord [the Pope], will be attached inside.
The table of Penitential Canons will be placed on another board at the back of the confessional.
Above the small opening, on the side of the confessor, there will be affixed the list of cases for which the bishop reserves for himself the right of absolution, and of those reserved for any other right to the bishop or the supreme Roman Pontiff.
Alms boxes are not to be placed in the confessional
In no case are alms boxes to be set in the confessional or nearby under any pretext.
Location of the confessionals in the church
The confessionals will be located at the sides of the church, outside the area of the main chapel, in a spacious open location, some on the south side, and some on the north side.
Occasionally, with the bishop’s approval, depending on the space, they can be located in other places in the church, as in some large chapels, or at their entrance or on the threshold, so that the confessor is within the enclosure and the penitent outside. In this way the enclosure will keep at a distance those who, coming up to the holy confession in a disorderly way, are too close to the person confessing, and can easily disturb both the penitent and the confessor.
The location of the confessor and of the penitent
If the confessional in the church is set on the Gospel side, then the penitent’s bench and the small opening will be on the confessor’s right. They will be on his left if the confessional is located on the Epistle side, so that the confessor is always in the upper part of the church, and the penitent is facing the main altar and the head of the church.
HOME – Charles Borromeo’s Instructions