“K” Entries

Keys, Power of.—Pastors, therefore, must first teach that the institution of confession has been to us extremely useful, and even necessary; for granting that sins are canceled by contrition, who is ignorant that [to effect this] it must be so vehement, so intense, so ardent, as that the bitterness of our sorrow may be compared with, and bear a proportion to, the magnitude of our crimes. But as this is a degree of contrition which very few could reach, the consequence also was that very few could have hoped to obtain in this way the pardon of their sins.SBBS 279.6

It was therefore necessary that the Lord, in his infinite mercy, should provide by some easier means for the common salvation of men; and this he did, in his admirable wisdom, when he gave to the church the keys of the kingdom of heaven. For, according to the doctrine of the Catholic faith, it is to be believed and firmly professed by all, that if any one is sincerely sorry for his past sins, and firmly resolves to avoid sin for the future, although his sorrow be not such as may be sufficient of itself to obtain pardon, yet all his crimes, if duly confessed to the priest, are remitted and pardoned by the power of the keys; so that justly was it proclaimed by those most holy men, our Fathers, that by the keys of the church is thrown open the gate of heaven. Of this no one is at liberty to doubt, the Council of Florence having defined that the effect of penance is absolution from sins.—“Catechism of the Council of Trent,” Rev. J. Donovan, D. D. (R. C.), pp. 245, 246. Dublin: James Duffy, Sons & Co.SBBS 279.7

Kingdoms.—See Ten Kingdoms.SBBS 280.1