Excerpts from the Penitentials - Ireland in the 8th Century

[Shin]

Here follows, extracts from an old Irish table of Commutations (8th Century)

It consists of an extended schedule of commutations to be applied in penitential cases. In other words, instead of the standard penance, a substitution.

The word "arreum" used here is a form of the Irish word "arra" which is explained as "equivalent, substitute, commutation."

The arreum for saving a soul out of hell, viz. 365 paternosters and 365 genuflexions and 365 blows with a scourge on every day to the end of a year, and fasting every month saves a soul out of hell.

For this arreum for redeeming the soul that deserves torments in the body has been made according to the number of joints and sinews that are in a man’s body.

Another arreum, viz. the three fifties [i.e the 150 psalms] every day, with their conclusion of the Beati 3 to the end of seven years, saves a soul out of hell.  

Another arreum which is no longer, viz. a Lauda and the Beati and a pater noster after each psalm to the end of three years.

Each of these arrea saves a soul out of hell, if it can be interceded for at all.

Now, every penance, both for severity and length of time in which one is at it, depends on the greatness of the sin and on the space of time which one perseveres in it, and on the reason for which it is done, and on the zeal with which one departs from it afterwards.

For there are certain sins which do not deserve any remission of penance, however long the time that shall be asked for them, unless God Himself shortens it through death or a message of sickness; or the greatness of the work which a person lays on himself; such as are parricides and manslaughters and man-stealings, and such as brigandage and druidism and satirising, and such as adultery and lewdness and lying and heresy and transgression of order.

For there are certain sins for which half-penances with half-arrea atone. There are others which an arreum with one third of penance atones for. There are others for which an arreum only atones.  

For these are the four things which the wise man has recounted for which the arrea are made, viz. for a speedy parting from the sin after its commission, for fear of increasing the sins, for (fear of) life being shortened before the end of the penance which the confessor adjudges be attained, for (fear of) chastising the body of Christ and His blood through the chastisement of penance.  

Now, as there is a difference between laybrothers and clerics, between nuns and laysisters,  so there is a difference between their work and penance. There is also between the arrea which it is right for them to perform.

First, the arrea of former lay-brothers and lay-sisters: sleeping in waters, sleeping on nettles, sleeping on nut-shells, sleeping with a dead body in a grave; for there is hardly a laybrother or laysister that has not had a share in manslaughter. These now are the arrea that are right for clerics and nuns, except those of them that have slain a man, unless (something) be done to increase the reward, viz. they to sleep in cold churches or in secret chambers, performing vigil and praying without ceasing, viz. without sitting, without lying, without sleeping, as though they were at the mouth of hell, save that a little weariness may take place in a sitting posture only between two prayers.

These now are the arrea which the holy man judges (an equivalent) for “black fasting”  after a great crime, viz. one hundred blows with a scourge, or the three fifties with their hymns and with their canticles.  

Another arreum, viz. one hundred paternosters in cross-vigil  and “Deus in adiutorium” usque “festina” (ps. 69, 1) three times at the end of every pater noster, and genuflexion at every “Deus,” and meditating intently on God. It is an arreum for a black fast of three days  to any one who does this three times.

An arreum for fasting for any one that can read: the three fifties with their canticles while standing up, and celebrating every canonical hour, and twelve genuflexions and the arms stretched out towards God at the hours of the day, with earnest thought towards heaven.

An arreum for a black fast on account of a great crime for any one who does not read, viz. 300 genuflexions and 300 honest blows with a scourge; crossvigil at the end of every hundred until the arms are tired; “Oh God I beseech an end, may mercy come to me,” “I believe the Trinity,” this is what he shall sing without ceasing until the arreum shall have come to an end, and strike his breast frequently at it with earnest repentance to God. It is an arreum for a three days’ fast for him to do this three times.  

An arreum for fasting on account of small common sins, viz. “Alleluia, Alleluia, in manus” usque “veritatis,” a paternoster to the end. Let this be sung thirty times in cross-vigil and thirty genuflexions and thirty blows with a scourge after it.

An arreum of pure prayers for seven years of hard penance to save a soul from the tortures of hell, viz. one hundred offerings, hundred and fifty psalms, one hundred Beati, one hundred genuflexions at every beatitude, one hundred paternosters, one hundred soul-hymns.  

. . .

[Shin]

The penitential goes on quite a while longer than this extract, along the same vein.

Hope it at least inspires an idea of how much penance is actually due one's sins.. and a little more effort that way.. step by step..

[Shin]

And a little bit more to finish with from the very end. . .

This is an arreum for a year for sudden repentance, viz. to sing 365 paters while standing up, the arms unwearied towards heaven. The elbows must not touch the sides at all, with intent meditation on God, and let not voice enter the speech, and to sing a Beati in a stooping posture, thy face towards the earth and thy arms stretched out by thy sides. Or, it is the body that is stretched out on the earth on its face, and the arms stretched out by the side.

It is Patrick who ordains this vigil, and Colum Cille and Maedoc of Ferns and Molacca Menn and Brennain, the great-grandson of Alta, and Colum son of Crimthan and Mocholmóc of Inisceltra.

With Enda in Aran this law was left. Four chief sages of Ireland ordained its practice to every son of life who desires Heaven, viz. Ua Mianadan and Cummin Fota and Murdebur and Mocholmóc mac Cumain from Aran.

 An arreum for a year of hard penance, which Ciaran mac int sáir adjudged to Oennu macu Laigse grandson of Comsola grandson of Dibrech: to be three days and three nights at it in a dark house or in some other place where no hindrance comes. And there must be no collation of a three days’ fast save three sips of water every day.

This, however, is the arreum, viz. to sing 150 psalms every day while standing up without a staff, and genuflexion at the end of every psalm, and a Beati after every fifty, genuflexion between every two chapters(?) and “Hymnum dicat” after every Beati in crossvigil, and he must not let himself down into a lying posture . . . but in a sitting posture, and celebration of every hour besides . . . and intent meditation of the passion of Christ with contrition of heart and earnest repentance to God with remembrance of the sins, every one of them that he remembers.

 An arreum for fifty nights of hard penance to be done in one day, which Colum Cille and Mobí Clárenech adjudged by the counsel of the archangel Michael, viz. Dominus regnavit (ps. 96 or 98), Exaudi Domine iustitiam meam (ps. 16), Domini est terra (ps. 23), Beatus que intellegit (ps. 40), Deus noster refugium (ps. 45), Exaudi Deus deprecationem (ps. 60), Nonne Deo (ps. 61) Exaudi Deus orationem meam cum (ps. 63), Te decet (ps. 64), Domine refugium (ps. 89), Domine exaudi (ps. 101), Domine probasti (ps. 138), Eripe me Domine (ps. 139), Domine clamavi (ps. 140). Voce (ps. 141), Domine exaudi (ps. 142).

“Gloria et honor Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto” at the end of every psalm, and seven genuflexions, and “Deus in adiutorium” usque “festina” three times, and a paternoster once while standing up between every two psalms until the whole arreum shall have ended. 

[martin]

 
There must be a plan "b" somewhere. 

I know !... If St Louis Marie de Montfort can have a word with St Patrick and St Colum Cille, maybe the daily rosary while meditating on the mysteries and offering it for knowledge of our sins and the grace of sincere contrition might be an acceptable "arreum."

Hope it at least inspires an idea of how much penance is actually due one's sins.. and a little more effort that way.. step by step..

Hmmm.. and I remember the sermon about the number of years in purgatory one may need to suffer in expediation for each confessed mortal sin committed on earth.
Yes. I don't think we half realize the horror of sin as seen through the eyes God. Good Friday though does go some way in revealing its true horror.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner. 

[ChristianCatholic]

Are these to be done without the express permission of a confessor?

[Shin]

It depends on the circumstances, certainly they can be in some cases, in others one is under guidance of one, or if one is seeking a substitution for a penance given rather than adding to it, one would need permission for that.

 

[ChristianCatholic]

Did you take this extract from an actually book? What is its title?

[Shin]

Let's see, looks like it was from 'Medieval Handbooks of Penance' a translation of the principal Libri Poenitentiales.

I don't know how accurate the commentary is, et all, but I have been happy to read the various translations.

There are a number of Irish works translated, and the entire book goes over 400 pages.

[Shin]

I'll add I've only read portions of the book, and reading lists of vices and penalties is not pleasant reading, so I can't say whether I recommend the book or not.