Dist. 17, Part 3, Divisio Textus
by St. Bonaventure
Source text: Public Domain Mark 1.0. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://bonaventure.wrootpress.com/browse/4/d/17/q/bon-sent-IV-d17-p3-divisio
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## COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION XVII.

### Part III.

### *On the making of sacramental confession.*

*Now, before [responding] with the authorities set down above, etc.*

FOR THE TEXT OF THE MASTER, SEE ABOVE, PAGE 416.

### DIVISION OF THE TEXT.

This is the third part, in which the Master pursues the third question. And this part is divided into three parts. In the first he raises the question. In the second he resolves it, there: *But to this it can be said, etc.* In the third, the truth now having been determined, he replies to the authorities adduced above for the false position, there: *Since therefore from these and from several other testimonies, etc.*

From which responses two things chiefly concerning confession are made clear, as is evident in the text, namely, to whom one ought to confess, and what one ought to confess.

### TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.

For the understanding of this part according to the two things which the Master touches upon here, two matters are principally asked.

First it is asked, to whom one ought to confess.

Second, what one ought to confess.

Concerning the first, three things are asked.

First it is asked, whether it suffices to confess to a layman.

Second, granted that it does not, it is asked, whether against the will of one's own priest someone may confess to another more discreet [confessor].

Third it is asked, whether one ought to confess to one's own priest in public, or in secret.

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