The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

430 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.IBimposed 011 the transgressor. 2. The penitentistruly contrite for his crime. 3. This determines theApostle to remit the penalty. 4. The Apostle considers the relaxation of the penance ratified by JesusChrist, in whose name it is imparted.We find the Bishops of- the Church, after theApostle, wielding this same power. No one disputesthe right, which they claimed from the veryfirstages, of inflicting canonical penances on grievouscriminals, who were subjected to long fasts, severeabstinences, and other mortifications for a period extending from a few days to five or ten years, andeven to a lifetime, according to the gravity of theoffence. These penalties were, in several instances,mitigated or cancelled by the Church, according toher discretion. For a society which can inflict apunishment can also remit And it. our Lord gaveHis Church power not only to bind, but also toloose. This discretionary prerogative was oftenexercised by the Church at the intercession of thosewho were condemned to martyrdom, when thepenitents themselves gave strong marks of ferventsorrow, as we learn from the writings of Tertullianand Cyprian.The General Council of Nice, and other Synods,authorize the Bishops to mitigate, or even to remitaltogether, the public penances, whenever, in theirjudgment, the penitent manifested special marks ofrepentance. Now, in relaxing the canonical penances,or in substituting for them a milder satisfaction, tho