Confessor and died in peace. A notable example of this usage is the English king St. Edward the Confessor. During the Diocletianic Persecution, a number of Christians had, under torture or threat of torture, weakened in their profession of the faith. When the persecutions ceased under Constantine the Great, they wanted to be reunited with the Church. It became the practice of the penitents to go to the Confessors, those who had willingly suffered for the faith and survived, to plead their case and effect their restoration to communion. Thus, the word has come to denote any priest who has been
Iste confessor the day whereon the Lord’s true witness trns John O’Conner 1902 <poem> 1 This is the day whereon the Lord’s true witness, 2 Loving, far-seeing, lowly, modest minded, 3 Oft hath it been thro’ his sublime deserving 4 Wherefore to him we raise the solemn chorus, 5 Healing and power, grace and beauteous honour </poem> The Confessor of Christ, from Shore to Shore trn Fr. Edwards Caswall, 1849 <poem> 1 The Confessor of Christ, from shore to shore 2 Holy and innocent were all his ways; 3 Ofttimes his merits high in every land, 4 Therefore to him triumphant praise