Saint Michael the Archangel Parish

21 Manning St

Hudson, MA 01749

Reconciliation

Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you.  
Go, and from now on do not sin any more."  (John 8: 11)
 

Why is the Sacrament of Reconciliation necessary?

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, or simply Confession, was instituted by Christ to forgive those sins committed after Baptism.

Baptism cleanses us from all sin, but the inclination to sin, or concupiscence, remains part of the human condition. Christ established the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a means to receive God's forgiveness and healing for sins committed after Baptism. (Cf. CCC 986,1423,1486)

"I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!"  Luke 13: 3

"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week," Jesus showed himself to his apostles. "He breathed on them, and said to them: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'" 
John 20: 19, 22-23

Christ entrusted this ministry to the Apostles (cf. John 20:23), and this power is handed on through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Through the Sacrament of Penance, God reconciles the penitent with himself and his Church and restores his friendship after it has been either broken through mortal sin or wounded by venial sin. (Cf. CCC 976, 1446)

To receive God's forgiveness the penitent must have contrition for his or her sins. When a person is sorry for sins out of love for God, it is called perfect contrition; when sorrow arises from fear of Hell or punishment, it is called imperfect contrition. Either perfect or imperfect contrition is sufficient for divine forgiveness. (Cf. CCC 1440, 1451-1454)

The form of the Sacrament has changed over the centuries, but its essential elements—admission of guilt, contrition, absolution, and penance—have remained. In the Rite of Penance, the penitent confesses aloud to a bishop or priest, who grants absolution and prescribes a penance or restitution. (Cf. CCC 1447,1450, 1460,1491, 1494)

In addition to forgiving sins, the Sacrament of Penance restores sanctifying grace lost by mortal sin, remits eternal punishment and part of the temporal punishment due to sin, imparts actual graces to avoid sin in the future, reconciles the penitent with the Church, and gives peace of conscience and spiritual consolation. (Cf. CCC 980, 1422,1468-1471,1496)

While the Church requires Catholics to confess all mortal sins at least once yearly, it is best to confess any mortal sin as soon as possible. The Church recommends frequent confession even of venial sins as a way to help combat sinful tendencies. (Cf. CCC 1456-1458)


Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses this question, paragraph 1434

-The Didache Bible

What is this Sacrament Called?


It is called the Sacrament of Conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus' call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father from whom one has strayed by sin.

It is called the Sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner's personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.


It is called the Sacrament of Confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. In a profound sense it is also a "confession"—acknowledgment and praise—of the holiness of God and of his mercy toward sinful man.

It is called the Sacrament of Forgiveness, since by the priest's sacramental absolution God grants the penitent "pardon and peace".

It is called the Sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles: "Be reconciled to God." He who lives by God's merciful love is ready to respond to the Lord's call: "Go; first be reconciled to your brother."

-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

Jesus Forgave Sins


The Gospels provide numerous examples of Christ’s mission to forgive sins. 

 

  • When a paralytic was lowered through the roof of a house and placed at his feet, Christ first forgave the man’s sins and then cured his affliction (cf. Luke 5:17-26).


  • When a sinful woman knelt at his feet in the house of Simon the Pharisee, Jesus forgave her sins because she had “loved much,” unlike the Pharisee, who had little insight into his own sinfulness (cf. Luke 7:36-50)

.

  • Christ’s parable of the prodigal son illustrates the sublime meaning of his earthly ministry, which is to forgive sins, reconcile people to God, and lead us to true happiness (cf. Luke 15:11-32). 


  • Jesus died on the Cross and rose from the dead to reconcile sinful people with God through the forgiveness of sins and the gift of new life with the Triune God. Even on the Cross, he forgave those who were killing him and had mercy on the repentant thief.

-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

The Forgiveness of Sins


The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and our bodies...has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation. -Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1421

Because of human weakness, the new life in Christ, which we receive in the Sacraments of Initiation, is often threatened by sin. Moreover, we all face sickness and death. God constantly reaches out to us to reconcile ourselves to him. Through the gifts of the Church, Jesus, our divine physician, has given us the Sacraments of Healing—Penance and Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick—for the forgiveness of sins  and the ministry to the sick and the dying. Sins committed after Baptism are forgiven in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

Who is the Minister of this Sacrament?


Only God can forgive our sins. But Jesus willed that the Church should be his instrument of forgiveness on earth. On Easter night the Risen Christ imparted to his Apostles his own power to forgive sins. He breathed on them, imparting the promised Holy Spirit, and said, “Peace be with you.” Jesus was actually filling them with peace that is rooted in friendship with God. But he did more. He shared with them his own merciful mission. He breathed on them a second time and said, 

As the Father has sent me, so I send you...Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.  (John 20:21-23)

That night Jesus gave the Church the ministry of the forgiveness of sins through the Apostles (cf. CCC, no. 1461). By the Sacrament of Holy Orders, bishops and priests continue this ministry to forgive sins “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” 

In this Sacrament, the priest acts in the person of Christ, the Head of the Church, to reconcile the sinner to both God and the Church. “When he celebrates the Sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep...The priest is the sign and instrument of God’s merciful love for the sinner.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1465)


-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

What is the seal of Confession?


Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect due to persons, the Church declares that every priest who hears confessions is bound under very severe penalties to keep absolute secrecy regarding the sins that his penitents have confessed to him. He can make no use of knowledge that confession gives him about penitents' lives. This secret, which admits of no exceptions, is called the "sacramental seal," because what the penitent has made known to the priest remains "sealed" by the sacrament.
-Catechism of the Catholic Church, no.1467


The Sacrament of Penance involves

  • a Conversion of our hearts to God,
  • a Confession of sins to a priest,
  • the Forgiveness of our sins,
  • a Penance to make some amends for sin 
  • a Reconciliation with God and the Church. 


For those who commit mortal sin after Baptism, this Sacrament is necessary for being reconciled to God and the Mystical Body of Christ.

Conversion of Heart


The Sacrament of Penance must be seen within the context of conversion from sin and a turn to God. Peter wept bitterly over his triple denial of Christ but received the grace of conversion and expressed it with a threefold confession of love for Jesus (cf. Luke 22:54-62; John 21:15-19). Paul was converted from persecuting Christians to becoming one of the greatest disciples of Christ who ever lived (cf. Acts 9:1-31). These moments of conversion were only the beginning of their lifelong commitment to living in fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sin harms our relationship with God and damages our communion with the Church. Conversion of heart is the beginning of our journey back to God. Liturgically this happens in the Sacrament of Penance. In the history of the Church, this Sacrament has been celebrated in different ways. Beneath the changes, there have always been two essentials: the acts of the penitent and the acts of Christ through the ministry of the Church. Both go hand in hand. Conversion must involve a change of heart as well as a change of actions. Neither is possible without God’s grace.

What happens during the Sacrament of Penance?


In the Liturgy of Penance, the elements are ordinarily these: a greeting and blessing from the priest, a reading from Scripture, the confession of sins, the giving and accepting of a penance, an act of contrition, the priest’s absolution, a proclamation of praise of God, and a dismissal.



We offer here a description of the acts of the penitent and that of the priest.

Contrition

In order to be forgiven, we need to have sorrow for our sins. This means turning away from evil and turning to God. It includes the determination to avoid such sins in the future. Such sins may either be mortal or venial.

Contrition that arises from the love of God above all else is called “perfect contrition.” This loving sorrow remits venial sins and even mortal sins so long as we resolve to confess them as soon as possible. When other motives, such as the ugliness of sin or fear of damnation, bring us to confession, this is called “imperfect contrition,” which is sufficient for forgiveness in the Sacrament. The Holy Spirit moves us in either case and initiates the conversion.


Confession

Confession liberates us from sins that trouble our hearts and makes it possible to be reconciled to God and others. We are asked to look into our souls and, with an honest and unblinking gaze, identify our sins. This opens our minds and hearts to God, moves us toward communion with the Church, and offers us a new future.
 
In confession, by naming our sins before the priest, who represents Christ, we face our failings more honestly and accept responsibility for our sins. It is also in confession that a priest and penitent can work together to find the direction needed for the penitent to grow spiritually and to avoid sin in the future (cf. CCC, nos. 1455,1456).

When we have examined our consciences and have taken responsibility for our sins, we then confess them to the priest. We must confess all our mortal sins in kind and number. The Church strongly recommends confessing venial sins, though this is not strictly necessary.

Absolution

After we confess our sins to the priest, we are given some encouragement from the priest for our moral and spiritual growth. The priest then gives us a penance and asks us to say an Act of Contrition. Then the priest grants absolution, that is, he sets us free from our sins, using the power that Christ entrusted to the Church and by which he pardons the sins of the penitent (cf. CCC, no. 1424).


Satisfaction

Absolution takes away sin, but does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused” (CCC, no. 1459). It is obvious that we need to repair certain damages that our sins have caused, such as restoring the reputation of someone we have injured, returning money that we have stolen, or rectifying an injustice. Sin also weakens the relationship we have with God and others. Our inner life is harmed by sin and needs restoration. 

This is the reason for acts of penance and satisfaction for sins. The penance given by the priest helps us to begin making satisfaction for our sins. Just as when we get physically out of shape, we need to take up some exercise, so also when the soul is morally out of shape, there is the challenge to adopt spiritual exercises that will restore it. Obviously, this is always done in cooperation with God’s graces, which are essential for the healing.


What are the effects of this Sacrament?


"The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God's grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship."


Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament.  For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation I"s usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation."  Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true "spiritual resurrection," restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God. 

This sacrament reconciles us with the Church.  Sin damages or even breaks fraternal communion. The sacrament of Penance repairs or restores it. In this sense, it does not simply heal the one restored to ecclesial communion, but has also a revitalizing effect on the life of the Church which suffered from the sin of one of her members. Re-established or strengthened in the communion of saints, the sinner is made stronger by the exchange of spiritual goods among all the living members of the Body of Christ, whether still on pilgrimage or already in the heavenly homeland.

-Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1468, 1469

In this Sacrament, the penitent receives the merciful judgment of God and is engaged on the journey of conversion that leads to future life with God.
The Church also recommends that a person go regularly to confession, even if only for venial sins. This is because “the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our consciences, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit” (CCC, no. 1458).


-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrong doing.  1 John 1:8-9

In our churches, we behold Jesus nailed to the Cross, an image that reminds us of his painful sacrifice to bring about the forgiveness of all our sins and guilt.
If there were no sin, Jesus would not have suffered for our redemption. Each time we see the crucifix, we can reflect on the infinite mercy of God, who saves us through the reconciling act of Jesus.

Despite society’s efforts to downplay the reality of sin, there is an instinctive recognition of its existence. Children generally know, even when not told, when they have done something morally wrong. Adults readily admit the evil of terrorism, unjust war, lies, unfair treatment of people, and similar matters. Society as a whole must also learn to admit the evil of abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and obtaining stem cells from embryos, which results in the death of embryonic human life. Denying evil corrupts us spiritually and psychologically. Rationalizing our own evil is even more destructive.


-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

Mercy is the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name of God, the Face with which he revealed himself in the Old Covenant and fully in Jesus Christ, the incarnation of creative and redemptive Love. May this merciful love also shine on the face of the Church and show itself through the sacraments, in particular that of Reconciliation, and in works of charity, both communitarian and individual. May all that the Church says and does manifest the mercy God feels for man.

—Pope Benedict XVI, Regina caeli address, March 30, 2008

Recognizing Sin and Praising God's Mercy

The Sacrament of Penance is an experience of the gift of God’s boundless mercy. Not only does it free us from our sins but it also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us. We are liberated to be forgivers. We obtain new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: “It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.”

By the help of God’s grace, our call to holiness will be clearer when we recover an awareness of the reality of sin and evil in the world and in our own souls. Scripture will be enormously helpful in this since it reveals sin and evil clearly and fearlessly. Scriptural realism does not hesitate to pronounce judgment on the good and evil that affects our lives. The New Testament is filled with calls to conversion and repentance, which need to be heard in our culture today.

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