How did the Council of Trent explain the sacrament of penance?

The Council of Trent (1545–1563) played a critical role in the Counter-Reformation by providing formal, dogmatic definitions for Roman Catholic doctrines contested by Protestant reformers. Regarding the sacrament of penance, the council provided an extensive definition during its second period (1551–1552).1

The council’s theological framework for penance was rooted in the established Scholastic tradition, which identified three essential components: contrition, confession, and satisfaction. This system maintained that it was not sufficient for the guilt of sin to be forgiven through absolution alone; the penitent was also required to undergo temporal punishment to address the offense against God.2

While the council reaffirmed the necessity of the penitential system, it also addressed the corruption that had plagued it. In 1563, the Council of Trent condemned all base financial gain associated with the securing of indulgences, a practice that had become a major point of contention during the Reformation. These decrees helped consolidate Roman Catholic teaching and discipline, ensuring the sacrament remained a central, mandatory element of the faith.21