Whether confession is an act of the virtue of penance?

❌ Objection 1 : It would seem that confession is not an act of the virtue of penance. For an act belongs to the virtue which is its cause. Now the cause of confession is the hope of pardon, as appears from the definition given above (Article [1]). Therefore it seems that it is an act of hope and not of penance.

❌ Objection 2 : Further, shame is a part of temperance. But confession arises from shame, as appears in the definition given above (Article [1], Objection [4]). Therefore it is an act of temperance and not of penance.

❌ Objection 3 : Further, the act of penance leans on Divine mercy. But confession leans rather on Divine wisdom, by reason of the truth which is required in it. Therefore it is not an act of penance.

❌ Objection 4 : Further, we are moved to penance by the article of the Creed which is about the Judgment, on account of fear, which is the origin of penance. But we are moved to confession by the article which is about life everlasting, because it arises from hope of pardon. Therefore it is not an act of penance.

❌ Objection 5 : Further, it belongs to the virtue of truth that a man shows himself to be what he is. But this is what a man does when he goes to confession. Therefore confession is an act of that virtue which is called truth, and not of penance.