Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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PUBLIC PENITENTS

In the early Church, in some dioceses, persons separated from the rest of the congregation by wearing a special robe, having their hair closely cropped, and worshiping apart during the liturgy. In some places they received from the bishop a special laying-on of hands each Sunday. Only after satisfying his or her penance was the person readmitted to full communion with the Church.