Calvijn en de biecht

Calvin and the act of confession In 1540 Calvin declared that no member of the congregation would be allowed to take part in the ceremony of Holy Communion unless this ritual had been preceded by the act of confession. With this declaration Calvin, however, aimed to urge and encourage his fellow-believers to scrutinize their religious lifestyle on a disciplined and regular basis. Calvin regarded confession as a pastoral aid and an embodiment of compassion and admonition. Simultaneously it could also serve as a measure of social control. In this article the author consecutively outlines the practice of confession in medieval times and the way in which confession was implemented as a disciplinary device. In conclusion it is stated that, in line with the view point of the Reformation, Calvin allowed the members of the congregation the freedom to confess to fellow members. He, however, also stressed the importance and obligation to allow members of the consistory – and especially the minister – to investigate the condition of one’s religious lifestyle. Self-investigation should be coupled with regular house visitation in order to ascertain the quality of believers’ religious lives