Definitions for: Confession


[n] (Roman Catholic Church) the act of a penitent disclosing his sinfulness before a priest in the sacrament of penance in the hope of absolution
[n] a written document acknowledging an offense and signed by the guilty party
[n] an admission of misdeeds or faults



Webster (1913) Definition: Con*fes"sion, n. [F. confession, L. confessio.]
1. Acknowledgment; avowal, especially in a matter pertaining
to one's self; the admission of a debt, obligation, or
crime.

With a crafty madness keeps aloof, When we would
bring him on to some confession Of his true state.
--Shak.

2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.

With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
--Rom. x. 10.

3. (Eccl.) The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest
in order to obtain sacramental absolution.

Auricular confession . . . or the private and
special confession of sins to a priest for the
purpose of obtaining his absolution. --Hallam.

4. A formulary in which the articles of faith are comprised;
a creed to be assented to or signed, as a preliminary to
admission to membership of a church; a confession of
faith.

5. (Law) An admission by a party to whom an act is imputed,
in relation to such act. A judicial confession settles the
issue to which it applies; an extrajudical confession may
be explained or rebutted. --Wharton.

Confession and avoidance (Law), a mode of pleading in which
the party confesses the facts as stated by his adversary,
but alleges some new matter by way of avoiding the legal
effect claimed for them. --Mozley & W.

Confession of faith, a formulary containing the articles of
faith; a creed.

General confession, the confession of sins made by a number
of persons in common, as in public prayer.

Westminster Confession. See Westminster Assembly, under
Assembly.

See Also: admission, document, papers, penance, self-accusation, self-condemnation, shrift, written document

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