Sacred Heart Parish Sacrament of Reconciliation Rev. Scott J. Garrett The Catholic Faith In Plain English.

Sacred Heart ParishSacrament of Reconciliation

Rev. Scott J. Garrett

The Catholic Faith In The Catholic Faith In Plain EnglishPlain English

Bless me, for I have sinned.

The Rite Of PenanceThe Rite Of PenanceHow should it really work?How should it really work?

EntranceEntrance Confessing SinsConfessing Sins Priest’s words after confessingPriest’s words after confessing The assigning of a PenanceThe assigning of a Penance Act of ContritionAct of Contrition AbsolutionAbsolution Leaving the confessionalLeaving the confessional

Scripture and Scripture and ReconciliationReconciliation

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first be reconciled there at the altar, go first be reconciled with your brother (Mat 5: 24).with your brother (Mat 5: 24).

Jesus said to his apostles, “Whose sins you Jesus said to his apostles, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (John 20: 23).forgive are forgiven them” (John 20: 23).

Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II

While the sacrament of penance is a form While the sacrament of penance is a form of healing it is not a substitute for of healing it is not a substitute for psychoanalysis or psychotherapy, and psychoanalysis or psychotherapy, and confessors should refer penitents to confessors should refer penitents to appropriate professionals. It is a place for appropriate professionals. It is a place for clarifying conscience and the clarifying conscience and the commandments, not discussing the commandments, not discussing the meaning of life (Pope John Paul II, 1998, meaning of life (Pope John Paul II, 1998, Purpose and Benefits of Sacramental Purpose and Benefits of Sacramental Penance).Penance).

The Sacrament Of What?The Sacrament Of What?

The Sacrament of Penance: It The Sacrament of Penance: It consecrates (makes holy) the sinners consecrates (makes holy) the sinners steps of conversion, penance, and steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.satisfaction.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation: It The Sacrament of Reconciliation: It imparts to the sinner the love of God who imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles.reconciles.

Requirements to Receive Requirements to Receive PenancePenance

To receive the sacrament of penance, a To receive the sacrament of penance, a member of the Christian faithful must be member of the Christian faithful must be willing to reject sins committed, try to willing to reject sins committed, try to sin no more, and turn back to God sin no more, and turn back to God (Canon 987).(Canon 987).

““A member of the Christian faithful is A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins of which the person has grave sins of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of knowledge after diligent examination of conscience” (Canon 988, §1).conscience” (Canon 988, §1).

Obligations of Penitent: Obligations of Penitent: Canon 959Canon 959

In the sacrament of penance the faithful In the sacrament of penance the faithful must confess their sins to a legitimate must confess their sins to a legitimate ministerminister

They must be sorry for their sins and intend They must be sorry for their sins and intend to reform themselves.to reform themselves.

If they are sorry and intend to reform, they If they are sorry and intend to reform, they will obtain from God through the will obtain from God through the absolution, forgiveness for the sins they absolution, forgiveness for the sins they have committed after baptism.have committed after baptism.

At the same time, they are reconciled with At the same time, they are reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by the Church which they have wounded by sinning.sinning.

Reconciliation: What Reconciliation: What HappensHappens

Those who approach the sacrament of Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him for the offense committed against him (Catechism 1422).(Catechism 1422).

At the same time, they are reconciled At the same time, they are reconciled with the Church which they have with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion.for their conversion.

Reconciliation: What Reconciliation: What HappensHappens

The whole power of the sacrament of The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to Penance consists in restoring us to God's grace and joining us with him in God's grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship. The sacrament an intimate friendship. The sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about of Reconciliation with God brings about a true "spiritual resurrection," a true "spiritual resurrection," restoration of the dignity, and blessings restoration of the dignity, and blessings of the life of the children of God of the life of the children of God (Catechism 1468).(Catechism 1468).

Reconciliation: What Reconciliation: What HappensHappens

The sacrament of Penance repairs or The sacrament of Penance repairs or restores Communion. It heals the restores Communion. It heals the one restored to communion and has one restored to communion and has a revitalizing effect on the life of the a revitalizing effect on the life of the Church which suffered from the sin Church which suffered from the sin of one of her members (Catechism of one of her members (Catechism 1469).1469).

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, in The Sacrament of Reconciliation, in this life, offers us the choice between this life, offers us the choice between life and death (Catechism 1470).life and death (Catechism 1470).

Minister: Canon 966 & Minister: Canon 966 & 976976

The valid absolution of sins requires that The valid absolution of sins requires that the minister have the power of orders the minister have the power of orders and the faculty of exercising it for the and the faculty of exercising it for the faithful to whom he imparts absolution.faithful to whom he imparts absolution.

““Even though a priest lacks the faculty Even though a priest lacks the faculty to hear confessions, he absolves validly to hear confessions, he absolves validly and licitly any penitents whatsoever in and licitly any penitents whatsoever in danger of death from any censures and danger of death from any censures and sins, even if an approved priest is sins, even if an approved priest is present.present.

General Absolution: Many General Absolution: Many at Onceat Once

Danger of death is imminent, i.e. during a Danger of death is imminent, i.e. during a war, you are suddenly called to fight on war, you are suddenly called to fight on the front line.the front line.

There is grave necessity, i.e. 300 people There is grave necessity, i.e. 300 people are gathered in Nome for a scheduled are gathered in Nome for a scheduled penance service. Five of the eight priest penance service. Five of the eight priest get stuck at the Anchorage Airport. Three get stuck at the Anchorage Airport. Three priest show up in Nome. They cannot priest show up in Nome. They cannot hear all 300 confessions in a suitable hear all 300 confessions in a suitable period of time. There is no way the 300 period of time. There is no way the 300 penitents can receive confession for a long penitents can receive confession for a long period of time and it is not their fault. period of time and it is not their fault.

Censures or ReprimandsCensures or Reprimands Priests in this Archdiocese have the Priests in this Archdiocese have the

faculty to absolve from the censure of faculty to absolve from the censure of abortionabortion

When a priest absolves a penitent from When a priest absolves a penitent from a censure outside the sacrament of a censure outside the sacrament of penance, he uses the following penance, he uses the following formula:formula:

By the power granted to me, I absolve By the power granted to me, I absolve you from the bond of excommunication. you from the bond of excommunication. In the name of the Father, and of the In the name of the Father, and of the Son, Son, and of the Holy Spirit. and of the Holy Spirit.

Reconciliation And SinReconciliation And Sin

Sin is an offense against God…a Sin is an offense against God…a rupture of communion with him. At rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages the same time it damages communion with the Church. communion with the Church. (Catechism 1440).(Catechism 1440).

The Confession of SinsThe Confession of Sins

The confession of sins frees us and The confession of sins frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others.facilitates our reconciliation with others.

Through such an admission man looks Through such an admission man looks squarely at the sins he is guilty of, takes squarely at the sins he is guilty of, takes responsibility for them, and thereby responsibility for them, and thereby opens himself again to God and to the opens himself again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible (Catechism make a new future possible (Catechism 1455)1455)

The Different Kinds of The Different Kinds of SinSin

Sin according to their objects.Sin according to their objects. Sin according to the virtues they Sin according to the virtues they

opposeoppose Sins against neighbor, God, or oneselfSins against neighbor, God, or oneself Sin can be divided into spiritual and Sin can be divided into spiritual and

carnal sinscarnal sins We sin in thought, word, deed, or We sin in thought, word, deed, or

omissionomission Catechism 1852Catechism 1852

Venial SinsVenial Sins Venial sin weakens charity; it manifests a Venial sin weakens charity; it manifests a

disordered affection for created goods; it disordered affection for created goods; it impedes the soul's progress in the exercise of impedes the soul's progress in the exercise of the practice of the moral good; it merits the practice of the moral good; it merits temporal punishment. temporal punishment.

Un-repented venial sin disposes us little by Un-repented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not break the covenant with God. With does not break the covenant with God. With God's grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin God's grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness." consequently eternal happiness."

Saint Augustine and Saint Augustine and Venial SinsVenial Sins

While he is in the flesh, man cannot help While he is in the flesh, man cannot help but have at least some light sins. But do but have at least some light sins. But do not despise these sins which we call light not despise these sins which we call light sins: if you take them for light sins, when sins: if you take them for light sins, when you weigh them…tremble when you you weigh them…tremble when you count them. A number of light objects count them. A number of light objects makes a great mass; a number of drops makes a great mass; a number of drops fills a river; a number of grains makes a fills a river; a number of grains makes a heap. What then is our hope? Above all, heap. What then is our hope? Above all, confession (Saint Augustine).confession (Saint Augustine).

Mortal SinMortal Sin

It must be of a grave matter, i.e. and It must be of a grave matter, i.e. and offense against the 10 commandmentsoffense against the 10 commandments

It is committed with full knowledge, It is committed with full knowledge, i.e. one understands how grave it isi.e. one understands how grave it is

It is done with deliberate consent, i.e., It is done with deliberate consent, i.e., I know it is a sin but I do it anyway.I know it is a sin but I do it anyway.

Thankfully we have Thankfully we have Jesus!Jesus!

The The Letter to the GalatiansLetter to the Galatians contrasts the contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit: "Now the works of the flesh are Spirit: "Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, factions, anger, selfishness, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God." inherit the Kingdom of God."

Confession of Mortal Confession of Mortal SinsSins

Confession of all mortal sins to a priest is an Confession of all mortal sins to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance: essential part of the sacrament of Penance: "All mortal sins must be recounted by the "All mortal sins must be recounted by the penitent in confession, even if they are most penitent in confession, even if they are most secret and have been committed against the secret and have been committed against the last two commandments.last two commandments.

Thos who fail to confess all the sins that they Thos who fail to confess all the sins that they can remember and knowingly withhold some, can remember and knowingly withhold some, place nothing before the divine goodness for place nothing before the divine goodness for remission through the mediation of the priest, remission through the mediation of the priest, "for if the sick person is too ashamed to show "for if the sick person is too ashamed to show his wound to the doctor, the medicine cannot his wound to the doctor, the medicine cannot heal what it does not know (Catechism 1456).heal what it does not know (Catechism 1456).

Penance and CommunionPenance and Communion After having attained the age of discretion, After having attained the age of discretion,

each of the faithful is bound to confess each of the faithful is bound to confess serious sins at least once a year. Anyone serious sins at least once a year. Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, sin must not receive Holy Communion, without having first received sacramental without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.possibility of going to confession.

Children must go to the sacrament of Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time (Catechism 1457).for the first time (Catechism 1457).

Imperfect ContritionImperfect Contrition The contrition called “imperfect” is also a The contrition called “imperfect” is also a

gift of God. It is born of the consideration gift of God. It is born of the consideration of sin's ugliness or the fear of eternal of sin's ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner. Such a stirring of threatening the sinner. Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance (Catechism 1453).(Catechism 1453).

Perfect ContritionPerfect Contrition Contrition is sorrow of the soul and detestation Contrition is sorrow of the soul and detestation

for the sin committed, together with the for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again (Catechism 1451).resolution not to sin again (Catechism 1451).

When it arises from a love by which God is When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called loved above all else, contrition is called "perfect" (contrition of charity). Such "perfect" (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible (Catechism confession as soon as possible (Catechism 1452).1452).