Wyznanie grzechów (confessio peccatorum) w nauczaniu św. Hilarego z Poitiers

Abstract

Saint Hilary was eminent bishop in Poitiers in Gallic town in the fourth century. Through exegetic and theological works he passed to history of the early Christian literature and the theology as the distinguished theologian among Latin Church Father between Tertulian and St. Augustine. In these writings he speaks very much about the place and role of the punishment in the life of the man. The author analyses in the article these fragments of Hilary's writings, which treat about the Christian punishment. This analysis brings on the author to definite conclusions. The man undertakes the penitential attitude already during the baptism. He makes up his mind on rupture with the sin and to enter on the way of the virtue, and in the baptism he receives the remission of sins. One can say that this is the first punishment in the life of Christian – paenitentia prima. Christian for imperfect and inclined to the sin the nature, can undertake the second punishment, to obtain the remission of sins after the baptism. Hilary writes in his writings nothing about the penitentiary practice of the Church in the fourth century. He represents however deep theological interpretation on of the punishment of Christian for sins committed after the baptism. This punishment is based on the confession of sins – confessio peccatorum. The confession of sins should be a permanent attitude of Christian until his death. As long as the man possesses the free will perhaps to do penance and to confess its own sins. In the Hilary's opinion confessio peccatorum should be preceded a deep meditation over own peccability and a recognition of own wrong-doings as sinful. Only this makes possible the authentic frankness of confession. The authentic sorrow and the sincere will of the permanent struggle with the sinful nature should accompany in confessing of sins. The punishment should make for the conversion. The bishop of Poitiers accents in the Christian punishment these elements which to today we qualify as necessary conditions of the good sacramental confession. Hilary doesn’t admit none routine in the penitential practice of the Christian life.