Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Monks' Rules (Author: Columbanus Hibernus)

B

The diversity of offences makes adiversity of penances. For doctors


p.173

of the body also compound their medicines in diverse kinds;’’

cf. Greg. Magn. Reg. Past. iii. 36

thus they heal wounds in one manner, sicknesses in another, boils in another, bruises in another, festering sores in another, eye diseases in another, fractures in another, burns in another. Then so also should spiritual doctors treat with diverse kinds of cures the wounds of souls, their sicknesses, offences, griefs, distresses, and pains. But since this gift belongs to few, namely to know to a nicety how to treat all things, how to restore the weak to a complete state of health, let us set out even a few prescriptions according to the traditions of our elders, and according to our own partial understanding, for we prophesy in part and we know in part.’’

1 Cor. 13. 9

First we must enact concerning mortal sins, such as are punished even by the cognizance of the law.