Chapter 13: Sacrament of Chapter 13: Sacrament of ReconciliationReconciliation

Turning Back to GodTurning Back to God

Also called: Penance or ConfessionAlso called: Penance or Confession

Sacrament = efficacious sign of Sacrament = efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Jesus grace, instituted by Jesus

Christ, entrusted to the Church, Christ, entrusted to the Church, in which we receive divine life in which we receive divine life

and graceand grace

Sacraments of Initiation = Sacraments of Initiation = Baptism, Confirmation, Baptism, Confirmation,

EucharistEucharist

Sacraments of Healing = Sacraments of Healing = Reconciliation and Anointing Reconciliation and Anointing

of the Sickof the Sick

Definition of sin = Definition of sin = offense offense against God;against God; a deliberate a deliberate

thought, word deed,thought, word deed, or omission or omission against God and right against God and right

conscienceconscience

Can sin in thought, word, deed or Can sin in thought, word, deed or things we don’t dothings we don’t do

2 types of sin2 types of sin

Original SinOriginal Sin = sin of Adam and Eve, each = sin of Adam and Eve, each person is born with this flaw in their natureperson is born with this flaw in their nature

Actual sinActual sin = sin we commit daily in our = sin we commit daily in our personal livespersonal lives

Actual sin is divided into Actual sin is divided into 22 categoriescategories

Mortal SinMortal Sin = an action contrary to the will of God = an action contrary to the will of God that it results in that it results in complete separation from Godcomplete separation from God and God’s grace; the consequence of mortal sin and God’s grace; the consequence of mortal sin is is eternal deatheternal deathHas 3 conditionsHas 3 conditionsGrave matterGrave matter – must be serious – must be seriousFull knowledgeFull knowledgeFull consentFull consentVenial SinVenial Sin = a less serious offense against God = a less serious offense against God that weakens the relationship with Him but does that weakens the relationship with Him but does not break the relationship completelynot break the relationship completely

Sins of commission = Sins of commission = something you dosomething you do

Sins of omission = Sins of omission = things things you are required to do, you are required to do,

but fail to dobut fail to do

God gives us His God gives us His mercymercy = the = the loving loving kindness and compassionkindness and compassion

given to one who offendsgiven to one who offends

God has infinite mercy for usGod has infinite mercy for us

No matter how many times we sin, He will No matter how many times we sin, He will always forgive usalways forgive us

We have the opportunity for We have the opportunity for forgiveness and restoration, just forgiveness and restoration, just

have to seek it outhave to seek it out

Sacrament of Reconciliation = Sacrament of Reconciliation = Sacrament of Sacrament of healinghealing in which Jesus in which Jesus

Christ himself, through the actions of a Christ himself, through the actions of a priest, priest, forgives the sins committed after forgives the sins committed after

BaptismBaptism

Restores our bond with Restores our bond with GodGod after we have after we have broken it by sinningbroken it by sinning

Reunites us with the Reunites us with the ChurchChurch

JesusJesus set up the Sacrament set up the Sacrament

John 20:19, 22-23 = Jesus gives the John 20:19, 22-23 = Jesus gives the Apostles the power Apostles the power He has to forgive the He has to forgive the sins of peoplesins of people

Jesus passes this healing power to Jesus passes this healing power to His His ApostlesApostles and through and through Apostolic Apostolic Succession thisSuccession this has continued in Church has continued in Church

Different names for the SacramentDifferent names for the SacramentSacrament of Conversion – it makes Jesus’ call to Sacrament of Conversion – it makes Jesus’ call to conversion present in our lives in a sacramental formconversion present in our lives in a sacramental formSacrament of Penance – aids us in our steps of Sacrament of Penance – aids us in our steps of return to God: conversion, penance and satisfactionreturn to God: conversion, penance and satisfactionSacrament of Confession – it involves the personal Sacrament of Confession – it involves the personal disclosure of our sins as a part of the rite of the disclosure of our sins as a part of the rite of the SacramentSacramentSacrament of Forgiveness – God forgives sins Sacrament of Forgiveness – God forgives sins through the priest’s actions, giving us pardon and through the priest’s actions, giving us pardon and peacepeaceSacrament of Reconciliation – it’s a gift of the life of Sacrament of Reconciliation – it’s a gift of the life of God who reconciles all sinners to Himself – we are God who reconciles all sinners to Himself – we are reconciled to Him through itreconciled to Him through it

In Baptism we were made new and In Baptism we were made new and free from the blemish of sin, but free from the blemish of sin, but

concupiscenceconcupiscence or or the inclination to sinthe inclination to sin was not removedwas not removed

We struggle with this everydayWe struggle with this everyday– We are all sinnersWe are all sinners– We must struggle to be holy so we can go to We must struggle to be holy so we can go to

HeavenHeaven

God gives us the Sacrament of Reconciliation God gives us the Sacrament of Reconciliation as as spiritual healing spiritual healing – a way to remove sin – a way to remove sin when we fall into itwhen we fall into itReconciliation is the opportunity for Reconciliation is the opportunity for conversionconversion

Christ entrusted the ministry of Christ entrusted the ministry of Reconciliation to the ChurchReconciliation to the Church

A way for people to return to God’s grace A way for people to return to God’s grace = forgiveness of sins through the ministry = forgiveness of sins through the ministry of the Churchof the ChurchPower to forgive sins has been passed Power to forgive sins has been passed through the ages through Apostolic through the ages through Apostolic Succession and Sacrament of Holy OrdersSuccession and Sacrament of Holy OrdersOnly a Only a Bishop or PriestBishop or Priest can give this can give this SacramentSacrament

Before receiving the Sacrament of Before receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation must make an Reconciliation must make an Examination of ConscienceExamination of Conscience

Conscience = Conscience = interior voiceinterior voice of each human of each human being, within whose heart the being, within whose heart the law of God law of God is writtenis writtenHelps us avoid sin and recognize when we Helps us avoid sin and recognize when we need to change our waysneed to change our waysEach person is born with this gift of God Each person is born with this gift of God Born with an elementary knowledge of Born with an elementary knowledge of good and evil, must form our consciences good and evil, must form our consciences as we growas we grow

Examination of Conscience = Examination of Conscience = questioning selfquestioning self on sins on sins

committed since last Confessioncommitted since last Confession

Must have Must have contritioncontrition = sorrow = sorrow for sins – and have a for sins – and have a

resolutionresolution to sin no more to sin no more

PenitentPenitent = person receiving = person receiving Sacrament – then enters Sacrament – then enters

Confessional and receives Confessional and receives SacramentSacrament

Rite of ReconciliationRite of ReconciliationReception of the PenitentReception of the Penitent:: Sign of the Cross, Sign of the Cross, Priest invites penitent to trust in God’s mercy and Priest invites penitent to trust in God’s mercy and forgiveness, also prays for the penitent to make a forgiveness, also prays for the penitent to make a good confessiongood confessionConfession of sins and Acceptance of PenanceConfession of sins and Acceptance of PenanceConfess sins after good examination of conscienceConfess sins after good examination of consciencePriest offers counsel or advice how to remedy Priest offers counsel or advice how to remedy situations and not sin againsituations and not sin againPriest gives a Priest gives a PenancePenance for penitent to complete to for penitent to complete to make up, or satisfy, for our sinsmake up, or satisfy, for our sins

Prayer of Penitent and AbsolutionPrayer of Penitent and Absolution

Penitent prays Penitent prays Act of ContritionAct of Contrition– Prayer expression sorrow for sinsPrayer expression sorrow for sins

Prayer of Prayer of AbsolutionAbsolution

Essential partEssential part of the Sacrament = of the Sacrament = Confession of sinsConfession of sins and and AbsolutionAbsolution

Proclamation of praise of God andProclamation of praise of God and DismissalDismissal– Praise God for His forgiveness of sins and Praise God for His forgiveness of sins and

make Sign of the Crossmake Sign of the Cross

6 points to making a good 6 points to making a good ConfessionConfession

Examination of ConscienceExamination of Conscience

Sorrow for sin = contritionSorrow for sin = contrition

Resolve to avoid sin in the futureResolve to avoid sin in the future

Confession of sinsConfession of sins

Making an Act of ContritionMaking an Act of Contrition

Doing the assigned PenanceDoing the assigned Penance

For Confession to be fully For Confession to be fully worthwhile the penitent must worthwhile the penitent must be be contritecontrite for their sins and do the for their sins and do the

assigned assigned penancepenance

Contrite = being sorry for one’s sinsContrite = being sorry for one’s sins

Perfect Contrition = being sorry for your Perfect Contrition = being sorry for your sins sins out of love for Godout of love for God

Imperfect Contrition = being sorry for your Imperfect Contrition = being sorry for your sins sins out of fearout of fear of punishment or hell of punishment or hell

Should confess mortal sins Should confess mortal sins regularlyregularly and receive the and receive the

Sacrament Sacrament at leastat least once a year once a yearTrue love of Jesus should lead us to True love of Jesus should lead us to confess as soon as possible after mortal confess as soon as possible after mortal sinssins

Church recommends Church recommends once a monthonce a month

Every sin Every sin harms and weakensharms and weakens us by us by inclining us to sin againinclining us to sin again

Makes it easier for us Makes it easier for us recognizerecognize our sins our sins and work so that they don’t become habitsand work so that they don’t become habits

Sin harms our relationship with Sin harms our relationship with our our neighborsneighbors and the Church and the Church

We must We must undoundo any harm we have caused any harm we have caused by our sinby our sin

Justice and CharityJustice and Charity calls us to act calls us to act

Effects of the Sacrament of Effects of the Sacrament of ReconciliationReconciliation

Purpose of the Sacrament = Purpose of the Sacrament = reconciliation with Godreconciliation with God

Effects of Confession of SinsEffects of Confession of Sins

Forgives sinsForgives sins

Remits Remits eternal punishmenteternal punishment caused by caused by mortal sinmortal sin

Imparts actual Imparts actual graces to avoid singraces to avoid sin in the in the futurefuture

ReconcilesReconciles the penitent with the Church the penitent with the Church

Gives Gives peacepeace of conscience and spiritual of conscience and spiritual consolationconsolation

Benefits of Frequent ConfessionBenefits of Frequent Confession

Genuine self knowledge is increasedGenuine self knowledge is increased

Bad habits are corrected and conscience Bad habits are corrected and conscience strenthenedstrenthened

Will is strengthenedWill is strengthened

Lukewarmness is resistedLukewarmness is resisted

Self control is increasedSelf control is increased

Read Luke 15:11-24Read Luke 15:11-24

1. What occurs in this story?1. What occurs in this story?

2. What is the message of this story?2. What is the message of this story?

3. Who does the “Father” represent? 3. Who does the “Father” represent? Why?Why?

4. Who does the “Younger Son” 4. Who does the “Younger Son” represent? Why?represent? Why?

5. Have you experienced forgiveness in 5. Have you experienced forgiveness in your life? How?your life? How?