MEETING JESUS IN THE SACRAMENTS CHAPTER 6 THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION

What’s Going on with Confession? The Church teaches the necessity of confessing your sins at least once a year by receiving this sacrament Yet, a majority of Catholics surveyed believed that you could be a good Catholic without going to Confession. So, what’s going on with Confession?

Four Dimensions of the Sacrament of Penance Memorial Celebration Communion Transformation The sacrament is necessary because it provides the grace to cleanse our souls of sin.

Names for this Sacrament CONVERSION CONFESSION PENANCE FORGIVENESS RECONCILIATION

Understanding the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation The sacrament is rooted in the forgiving actions of Jesus himself Only God forgives sins—because of Christ, we are no longer only sinners; we are sinners who have been forgiven.

“We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him” God’s Infinite Mercy “We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him” The Sacrament of Penance offers us the opportunity to repair our relationship with God and receive his mercy

Ongoing Conversion The movement of a contrite heart, drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first

The Church and the Sacrament of Penance Jesus chose to give his Apostles the power to forgive sins in his name The Church’s ministers of the sacrament are bishops and priests

A Brief History of the Sacrament of Penance In early years, Christians who committed serious sins after Baptism were enrolled in the Order of Penitents and underwent rigorous penitential discipline. In 7th century, Irish missionaries began to hear private confession because no bishops were present. The justice aspect of sin was overemphasized In early 20th century most Catholics went weekly Vatican II emphasized the reconciliation aspect of the sacrament.

Celebrating the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation Private individual confession Communal celebration with individual confession and individual absolution Communal celebration with general confession and general absolution

Examination of Conscience An honest assessment of how well we have lived God’s covenant of love, beginning with the Ten Commandments. This examination leads us to accept responsibility for our sins and to realize our need of God’s merciful forgiveness.

Sin Conditions for Mortal Sin The moral object must be of grave (serious) matter The person must have full knowledge of the gravity of the sinful action The person must completely consent to the action

Celebrating the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation Contrition Confession of Sins Heartfelt sorrow and aversion for the sin committed along with the intention of sinning no more Perfect contrition: sorrow for sin because we love God and want to be in relationship with him Imperfect contrition: sorrow for sin because we fear being punished for sin All mortal sins committed since our last confession of which we are aware after making a serious examination of conscience must be confessed This confession also expresses our belief in the goodness of the Church that will welcome us back

Celebrating the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation Satisfaction Absolution of Sins The confessor imposes a penance in line with the gravity and nature of the sins committed The penances help “configure us to Christ” and help us suffer with him The prayer by which a priest, by the power given to the Church by Jesus Christ, pardons a repentant sinner After a person’s genuine confession and Act of Contrition, the priest extends his hands over that person and pronounces God’s forgiveness

The Grace of Penance and Reconciliation SIN DAMAGES OUR CONNECTION WITH GOD AND OTHERS The Sacrament of Penance brings about forgiveness of sin, which in turn makes communion with God possible

The Nature of Reconciliation RECONCILIATION: “to restore to union, to rejoin, to put together again” “The whole power of the sacrament . . . consists in restoring us to God’s grace and rejoining us with him in an intimate friendship”

The Grace of Penance and Reconciliation Reconciliation with God is the purpose and effect of this sacrament. The sacrament also restores us to fellowship and communion with the Church. The sacrament also brings about “peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation.”

What Are Indulgences? A partial or total wiping away of punishment due for sins that have been forgiven We must work off temporal punishment in this world or in Purgatory—the Church Suffering—through acts of penance The process of asking for and receiving the assistance of the Church—the Communion of Saints—is what is entailed in the granting and asking of indulgences

We Are Changed by God’s Forgiveness “Rise, pick up your stretcher and go home” “Go in peace” “Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more”

We Are Changed by God’s Forgiveness PRACTICAL DISCIPLINE RETURN FORGIVENESS REFRAIN FROM ANGER AND REVENGE PURSUE JUSTICE AND PEACE ANSWER THE CALL TO PERFECTION

St. John Vianney The humble, gentle, and patient Cure of Ars who is considered the patron saint of parish priests “Put yourself on good terms with God . . . You will sleep as quietly as an angel.”