Order of Penitents - Character of Penitents

Character of Penitents

  • Attire – tunic, walking-stick, cincture (belt), knapsack, sandals; symbol was often a Tau Cross after St. Anthony of the Desert.
  • Charitable works – most often in hospitals and hospices and leprosaria (hospitalers); restoring churches and burying the dead.
  • Life of Prayer.
  • Abstinence – from feasts and shows and dances, avoidance of drunkenness and gluttony.
  • Prohibited from public office or from riding horses.
  • Forbidden to take up arms or to take an oath.

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