covery through this sacrament.
Therefore an imposition of hands should be made in this sacrament.

Obj. 2: Further, in this sacrament man regains the Holy Ghost Whom he
had lost, wherefore it is said in the person of the penitent (Ps.
1:14): "Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and strengthen me
with a perfect spirit." Now the Holy Ghost is given by the imposition
of hands; for we read (Acts 8:17) that the apostles "laid their hands
upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost"; and (Matt. 19:13) that
"little children were presented" to our Lord, "that He should impose
hands upon them." Therefore an imposition of hands should be made in
this sacrament.

Obj. 3: Further, the priest's words are not more efficacious in this
than in the other sacraments. But in the other sacraments the words
of the minister do not suffice, unless he perform some action: thus,
in Baptism, the priest while saying: "I baptize thee," has to perform
a bodily washing. Therefore, also while saying: "I absolve thee," the
priest should perform some action in regard to the penitent, by
laying hands on him.

_On the contrary,_ When our Lord said to Peter (Matt. 16:19):
"Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth," etc., He made no mention of
an imposition of hands; nor did He when He said to all the apostles
(John 20:13): "Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them."
Therefore no imposition of hands is required for this sacrament.

_I answer that,_ In the sacraments of the Church the imposition of
hands is made, to signify some abundant effect of grace, through
those on whom the hands are laid being, as it were, united to the
ministers in whom grace should be plentiful. Wherefore an imposition
of hands is made in the sacrament of Confirmation, wherein the
fulness of the Holy Ghost is conferred; and in the sacrament of
order, wherein is bestowed a certain excellence of power over the
Divine mysteries; hence it is written (2 Tim. 1:6): "Stir up the
grace of God which is in thee, by the imposition of my hands."

Now the sacrament of Penance is ordained, not that man may receive
some abundance of grace, but that his sins may be taken away; and
therefore no imposition of hands is required for this sacrament, as
neither is there for Baptism, wherein nevertheless a fuller remission
of sins is bestowed.

Reply Obj. 1: That imposition of hands is not sacramental, but is
intended for the working of miracles, namely, that by the contact of
a san