5 March 1980

Abstract

Canonical penance (continued): not a second baptism, but a sec-ond penance. Characteristics of this second penance: it is unique; it is a status and an all-encompassing status. ~ Truth acts entailed by entry into this status: objective acts and subjective acts. (a) Analysis of objective acts on the basis of the Letters of Saint Cyprian: an individual, detailed, public examination. (b) Subjective acts: the sinner’s obligation to manifest his own truth (exomologēsis). Exomologesis: evolution of the word from the first to the third century. The three moments ofpenitential procedure: expositio casus, exomologesis strictly speaking (publicatio sui), and the act of reconciliation (impositio manus). Analysis of the second episode (Tertullian; other examples). Two usages of the word “exomologesis”: episode and all-compassing act. ~ Three remarks: (1) the expositio casus/publicatio sui relationship in the history ofpenance from the twelfth century; (2) difference between exomologesis and expositio casus; (3) exomologesis and the liar’s paradox.