Antique 1879 Confession Certificate | Billet de Confession | Saint-Martin d'Ainay Parish, Lyon | Signed by the Vicar

A rare and intimate piece of 19th-century French Catholic history: an original certificate of confession (billet de confession) issued by the parish of Saint-Martin d’Ainay in Lyon – one of the oldest and most venerable churches in France.

The printed Latin form is headed “Sancti Martini Athanacensis Parochia” (Parish of Saint Martin of Ainay – Athanacum being the Latin name of Ainay), with a shield bearing the crossed keys of Saint Peter beneath a cross. It continues “Ad … sacramentaliter audivi … Lugduni … 18…” (“I have heard sacramentally … Lyon …”).

The form is completed by hand in ink in French: “J’ai confessé la mère Collet ce 24 juin 1879” (“I heard the confession of Mother Collet this 24th of June 1879”), followed by the priest’s flourished signature. Beneath it a later pencil note identifies the signatory as a vicaire d’Ainay (curate of Ainay). The certificate is mounted on its original card, with old pencil inventory notes.

Historical note

In 19th-century France, a billet de confession was given by a priest as proof that the faithful had fulfilled their Easter duty or prepared for a sacrament such as marriage or First Communion. Very few survive, as most were handed in and discarded. The Basilica of Saint-Martin d’Ainay, consecrated by Pope Paschal II in 1107, stands on the site of an ancient abbey and is the finest Romanesque church in Lyon.

Details

• Type: printed and hand-completed confession certificate, mounted on card
• Place: Parish of Saint-Martin d’Ainay, Lyon, France
• Date: 24 June 1879
• Language: Latin and French
• Size: certificate approx. 13.5 × 11 cm (5.3 × 4.3 in); mount approx. 14.5 × 18.5 cm (5.7 × 7.3 in)
• Condition: good; light toning and foxing, a small nick to the top edge, old pencil notes

A fascinating document of everyday Catholic sacramental life in Lyon. The item you receive is the exact one pictured.