there were priests appointed to absolve those who had fallen into
idolatry; and they were called _Presbyteri Pænitentium_. S. Marcellus
also, according to Anastasius, after the persecution raised by
Diocletian, appointed in Rome titular churches, in which penance as
well as baptism were administered by priests, the former sacrament is
conferred by the minor penitentiaries. Pope Simplicius in fine, as
we learn from the same author, destined fixed weeks at S. Peter's,
S. Paul's, and S. Laurence's, to _receive penitents_ and administer
baptism. From the usual custom of Rome in such matters, Zaccaria
argues that during the first five or six centuries, according to the
general custom proved by Thomassin, the great penitentiary was the
_bishop himself of the city_ in which they resided. It is however
certain, that in the 4th century from the numerous priests of
Constantinople one was selected called a penitentiary, who took
cognisance of crimes, to which public penance was annexed by the
canons. At Rome also there was a cardinal penitentiary long before
the fourth council of Lateran, which in 1215 prescribed that bishops
should appoint penitentiaries, for Berthod priest of Constance relates
in his chronicle, that in the year 1084 he was promoted to the dignity
of cardinal-priest and penitentiary of the Roman church.]




CHAP III.

ON THE DIVINE OFFICE, AND THE OFFICE OF TENEBRAE IN PARTICULAR.


_CONTENTS._