The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

Chapter 6

WHAT’S GOING ON WITH CONFESSION?

 It is a precept of the Church to confess sins once a year by receiving Sacrament of Reconciliation  Catholics believe that it is the only way to reconcile oneself with God and the Church

What Does This Mean?

 Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church, unless physical or moral impossibility excuses from this kind of confession”  CCC 184

However…

 26% went to Confession once or more in a year  30% went to Confession less than once a year    45% Do not go to confession 2% go at least once a month 62% agreed that they could be a good Catholic without having to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation

A Different Outlook

 Catholics today focus less on isolated acts and focus more on attitudes and patterns of behavior  Do you think this is appropriate?

 “A spiritual rebirth which transforms the penitent into a new creature”  Pope Benedict XVI  We must have a proper understanding of sin in order to ensure that we don’t mistreat the gift of forgiveness and mercy Christ has given us in the sacrament  We are not able to clearly define what is “right” and “wrong”, which will cause us to deem more and more evil actions as acceptable

Importance of Confession

 Remember, a sacrament is efficacious  Provides the grace to cleanse our souls of sin

Other Names

 Determined by what part someone is referring to      Reconciliation Penance Conversion Confession Forgiveness

UNDERSTANDING THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

  Initial Conversion = Baptism Continual Conversion = Reconciliation  We are called to continual, and deeper levels of Conversion throughout life  Conversion = turn away from one thing (Sin), towards another thing (God’s law of love)

God’s Infinite Mercy

 Is imparted to us through the Sacrament not because we are deserving but only because God loves us  Relationship/Friendship   Cannot expect to reach a certain level and then just coast  The relationship either keep getting stronger or it fades away (cultivate it through the sacraments) Inevitably there will be times when we sin against Him   God offers us His mercy It is up to us if we will accept it  Prodigal Son

Ongoing Conversion

 Conversion does not center around or end with Baptism  It is more than exterior acts of penance  It is a conversion of the heart  Again, think relationship   Christ does not keep us in the dark  He practices love, tells us to love We do not hurt those we love; God offers us infinite love.  This is why we keep His commandments

The Church and the Sacrament of Penance

 Jesus chose to give the Apostles the power to forgive sins in his name   Sins not forgiven through their authority Christ works through them in the Spirit  In this way all future Christians would have access to the Sacrament and Christ   We experience Christ through the Church Jesus entrust his forgiveness to the Church  Bishops and priests must remain faithful to Church teaching   Do penance for the penitent Must always make themselves available to hear confessions (Priests)

Brief History of Reconciliation

 Early Church  Those who committed serious sins were enrolled in Order of Penitents  All but booted from the Church   No communion No contact with other Christians  Went through rigorous discipline to restore themselves before bishop granted them forgiveness

Brief History of Reconciliation

 7th Century    Irish missionaries changed the celebration out of necessity  No bishop available Began to hear private confessions   Priest acted in God’s name Gave them penance; after penance the penitent came back and received absolution Eventually became the norm of the Church  Overtime priests began to give absolution at the time of the confession with the understanding that the penitent would fulfill the penance as soon as they could

Brief History of Reconciliation

 People began to focus too much on the justice aspect of sin   Got caught up in “keeping score” for their sins and their penance Lost sight of God’s mercy  Vatican II  Called for new Right of Penance in which the reconciliation aspect of the Sacrament was highlighted  Focused on our ongoing covenant of love and friendship with God  The importance for lifelong conversion (always turn back)

CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILLIATION

 Three ways to celebrate the Sacrament: 1. Private Individual Confession 2. Communal celebration with individual confession and individual absolution 3. Communal celebration with general confession and general absolution

Private Individual Confession

 The only ordinary way for Catholics to be reconciled with God  The most common celebration  1-on-1 with priest either behind a screen, in a reconciliation room, or face-to-face

Communal celebration with individual confession and individual absolution

  Common in Parishes during Advent or Lent Community comes together for the Liturgy of the Word, homily, examination of conscience and communal request for forgiveness   Then individual confession and absolution Ends with “Our Father” and thanksgiving prayer

Communal celebration with general confession and general absolution

 Reserved for cases of grave necessity  Because no individual confession and absolution  The diocesan bishop uses discretion to judge if conditions existed for general absolution

Examination of Conscience

 It is important to prepare for the sacrament of Reconciliation  Allows us to recognize all of our sins so that we may be forgiven of them  Additionally, it helps us to develop a stronger sense of sorrow for our sins, which ultimately leads us to true conversion and repentance from sin

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Contrition

Heartfelt sorrow and disgust for sins committed, along with the intention to sin no more    Most important act of penitents Necessary for for receiving absolution A movement that begins before the sacrament   Imperfect = guilt as a result of fearing the consequences of our sins (Loss of our saving grace); Fear of punishment Perfect = guilt as a result of knowing that we have offended the One who loves us the most  What we strive to achieve through repeated conversion and examination of conscience

Sin

  An offense against God; a rejection of His love  Fault against our conscience Concupiscence  Our natural inclination to sin as a result of Original Sin  Cannot be removed    Personal sins (Mental & Actual)   Venial Mortal Social sins ***Sin of omission

Conditions for Mortal Sins

  Destroys our relationship with God Cannot be committed by accident 1. Must be of grave or serious matter  Specified by Ten Commandments 2. Person must have full knowledge of gravity of sinful action 3. Person must freely consent to the action ***Essentially, there is a desire to do evil. However, it is our human nature to convince ourselves that what we do is not evil to clear us of that guilt.

Forgiveness

 The Sacrament of Penance does not automatically remove sin  Not a “get out of jail free” card nor does it operate similar to a car wash  God is ready and waiting to offer us forgiveness   However, we must accept it and the only way to do so is to turn our heart away from the sinful things we desire and reposition it towards God Requires sincere contrition and heartfelt sorrow for sins

Confession of Sins

 After making an examination of conscience all mortal sins must be confessed to a priest  Expresses our faith in God “The medicine cannot heal what it does not know.” - St. Jerome **conscious withholding of sin to be confessed “It is human to fall, but angelic to rise again.” - St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier ** Don’t be discouraged or find yourself unworthy. Trust in God’s mercy; don’t commit sin against the H.S…. The only unforgivable sin

Satisfaction

 Righting your wrong  Ex. In the case of stealing or slandering  Penance is given by priest according to the sin committed and confessed  Purpose is to“Help configure us to Christ”  CCC, 1460

Absolution of Sin

    Sacramental seal  Priests are bound to secrecy regarding any sins confessed Priest pronounces God’s forgiveness after he hears Act of Contrition and deems it genuine  He is a servant, not a master of forgiveness  This authority is received through Holy Orders Priests pray for and do penance for the penitents “The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.”  Repent of sin and be merciful to others

THE GRACE OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION

 JESUS IS THE SOURECE OF OUR LIFE AND HAPPINESS  THEREFORE, WE NEED TO STAY CONNECTED TO HIM  SIN WEAKENS OR COMPLETELY SEVERS THIS CONNECTION  WE NEED THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION TO RESTORE THE CONNECTION - it is the only way to do so

The Nature of Reconciliation

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Reconciliation

 Greek word meaning “to restore union, to rejoin, to put together again”  Involves our desire to to be in a relationship with that person again  Our relationship with that person is important to us so we forgive the injustice, learn from the experience together and move forward  Similar to a resurrection  Life is restored

What Are Indulgences?

 a partial or total wiping away of punishment due for sins that have been forgiven     Even though we have been forgiven the consequences of our sins reach far beyond our comprehension (ex. Abuse) All sins result in some degree of temporal punishment  Must be worked off either in this world or the next; Purgatory  Work with the Communion of Saints Partial indulgences free us from some of the responsibility of our sins Plenary indulgences free us from any responsibility we have for our sins

Reconciliation with God & the Church

 Through the sacrament not only is our relationship with God restored but with the Church as well  Body of Christ  Sin destroys unity with both  Why we only are to receive the Eucharist in a state of grace  “Communion” - it is a sign of unity and when we willing choose to act against God and the Church we choose not to be united with them  Our intentions are not consistent; We have an incorrect disposition/Attitude (self-centered)

Reconciliation with Self

 Human Dignity   We are made in Likeness of God Sin goes against the standard by which we are created   We are much better than sinful actions; Our soul does not deserve them We let ourselves down when we sin  Through the sacrament we can forgive ourselves   We are assured of God’s forgiveness As well as the restoration of our relationship with Him

WE ARE CHANGED BY GOD’S FORGIVENESS

 When Jesus forgave someone he called the person to change their ways   A transformation We are to “form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit.” (CCC, 1458)  Develop good habits and practices  Just like being disciplined in academics and athletics; to a certain extent you have an ability. However; to be great you must put in the time and effort to improve.

Practice Discipline

    In addition to receiving forgiveness the Sacrament is also a form of spiritual discipline   Decrease the frequency of sin Does not necessarily mean to decrease frequency of sacrament  Become more aware of sins we may have never noticed Fasting   Link physical discipline with spiritual We first learn through the senses Prayer  Increase our awareness of our dependency upon God Almsgiving  Detach ourselves from material things and serve others

Return Forgiveness

 We are to always forgive others even if they don’t make amends for their transgression “Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” (Mt 18:21-22) “If you forgive others your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (Mt. 6:14)

Refrain From Anger and Revenge

 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you  Helps to break the chain of evil and sin that has entered the world through Original Sin  If we always retaliate or justify revenge the hate will always continue and be passed from person to person, generation to generation; harms humanity  Think personal foul or penalty in athletics for retaliating

Pursue Justice and Peace

 Initiate forgiveness  Jesus calls us to forgive others even if they have not apologized or asked us to forgive; unconditional  Strive for peace and justice

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Answer the Call to Perfection

The Rich Young Man (Mt. 19:16-30)      Keep the Commandments What do I still lack?

Be perfect Who can be saved?

Not possible for humans, requires grace of God  “We should never had had these prodigies of conversion and marvelous holiness if they had not changed the flames of human passion into volcanoes of immense love  Conversion; requires grace of God to complete the whole turn. However, we must take the first step.