report on penance in liturgy

PASTORAL ASPECT OF PENANCE

FREQUENT CONFESSION

WHAT MUST BE DONE?

SEM. BORGJIE DISTURA 3RD YEAR THEOLOGY

SANCTA MARIA MATER ET REGINA SEMINARIUMCAGAY, ROXAS CITY

HAERENT ANIMO

TO THE CATHOLIC CLERGY ON PRIESTLY SANCTITY

Apostolic Exhortation by Pope St. Pius X on August 4, 1908.

It cannot be denied, and it is bitterly to be deplored, that not infrequently one finds priests who use the thunders of their eloquence to frighten others from sin, but seem to have no such fear for themselves and become hardened in their faults; a priest who exhorts and

arouses others to wash away without delay the stains from their souls by due religious acts, is himself so sluggish in doing this that he delays even for months; he who knows how to pour the health-giving oil and wine into the wounds of others is himself content to lie wounded by the wayside, and lacks the prudence to call for the saving hand of a brother which is almost within his grasp. In the past and even to-day, in different places, what great evils have resulted from this, bringing dishonor to God and the Church, injuring the Christian flock and disgracing the priesthood!


MYSTICI CORPORIS CHRISTI

ON THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST

Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on June 29, 1943

“As you well know, Venerable Brethren, it is true that venial sins may be expiated in many ways which are to be highly commended. But to ensure more rapid progress day by day in the path of virtue, we will that the pious practice of frequent confession, which was introduced into the Church by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, should be earnestly advocated. By it genuine self-knowledge is increased, Christian humility grows, bad habits are corrected, spiritual neglect and tepidity are resisted, the conscience is purified, the will strengthened, a salutary self-control is attained, and grace is increased in virtue of the Sacrament itself” (88).


MEDIATOR DEI

ON SACRED LITURGY

Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on November 20, 1947

Since the opinions expressed by some about frequent confession are completely foreign to the Spirit of Christ and His Immaculate Spouse and are also most dangerous to the spiritual life, let Us call to mind what with sorrow We wrote about this point in the Encyclical on the Mystical Body. We urgently insist once more that what We expounded in very serious words be proposed by you for the serious consideration and dutiful obedience of your flock, especially to students for the priesthood and young clergy.


MENTI NOSTRAE

HOLINESS IN PRIESTLY LIFE

Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Pius XII on September 23, 1950

"Let The Ordinaries be vigilant to see that all their clergy frequently cleanse the stains of their conscience in the Sacrament of Penance".[52] Though we are the ministers of Christ, we are, nevertheless, wretched and weak; how then can we ascend to the Altar and handle the Sacred

Mysteries unless we make a frequent effort to expiate our sins and cleanse ourselves? By means of frequent Confession, "The right knowledge of one's self is increased, Christian humility is developed, perverse moral habits are uprooted, negligence and spiritual torpor are resisted, the conscience is purified, the will is fortified, salutary self-control is obtained, and an increase of grace is secured by the very fact that the Sacrament is received"


SACERDOTII NOSTRI PRIMORDIA

ON ST. JOHN VIANNEY

Encyclical of Pope John XXIII on August 1, 1959

Then too it is our portent hope that priest will take the lead in going frequently to confession, with regularity and devotion…This is virtually necessary if they are to attain holiness.


PRESBYTERORUM ORDINIS

DECREE ON THE MINISTRY AND LIFE OF PRIESTS

Promulgated by Pope Paul VI on December 7, 1965

The ministers of sacramental grace are intimately united to Christ our Savior and Pastor through the fruitful reception of the sacraments, especially sacramental Penance, in which, prepared by the daily examination of conscience, the necessary conversion of heart and love for the Father of Mercy is greatly deepened.


PAUL VI

Moreover with regard to the practice of frequent confession we ask you to recall to your priests and religious and laity – to all the faithful in search of holiness – the words of our predecessor Pius XII: “Not without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit was the practice introduced into the Church.


JOHN PAUL II

I therefore repeat…what has already been said about the need to regain that sense of sin which is closely linked with regaining the sense of God. Everything that is pastorally effective for evoking in people’s hearts sentiments of sorrow for faults committed must be opportunely supported by means that are available. These includes catechesis, frequent

penitential services, the presence of priests in the main churches who will ensure that at any hour of the day individuals can receive the Sacrament of Penance.


CIC 1983

Canon 246 § 4 (seminarians)Students are to be accustomed to approach the sacrament of penance frequently.

Canon 276 §§2, 5. (priests)In order that they can pursue this perfection…they are exhorted…to approach the sacrament of penance frequently.Canon 664 (religious)

They are to examine their conscience daily and to approach the sacrament of Penance frequently.

Canon 528 §2 (laity)The parish priest…is to strive to ensure that the faithful…frequently approach the Sacraments of the Blessed Eucharist and Penance.


BENEDICT XVI

When asked about the causes of crises, sexual scandals and cultural decline of the West and religious intolerance in the East, he said that these are because of:

1. Dictatorship of Relativism (Relativistic Intellectual Climate)

2. The concept of Penance…is something we have increasingly lost. The fact that one can be changed and allow oneself to be changed through Penance is a positive gift. It is imperative now really to start in the spirit of Penance. The cause of sexual scandals in the Church is due to the loss of the concept of penance – the lost sense of sin. The soiled garments of priests can be washed through the revival of the spirit of penance.


CONCLUSION

1. Three-quarters of Catholics report that they never participate in the sacrament of Reconciliation. They have no idea what they’re missing out on.

2. How did this sacrament got so deemphasized?

The demand

for confession

was reduced

over time because

sins

themselves had become deemphasized. Cut out sins and you cut out the need for confession.


3. Regardless of how we got to this point the question is how we can reverse it.

There has to be both an

a. effort to make it generally available and

b. for Catholics to understand that they need it.


4. The solution is to PREACH the need and OFFER the Sacrament and people will come.

The key is that a pastor enjoys hearing confessions and he PREACHES confession regularly.

PREACH the need and OFFER the Sacrament and people will come.

5. A new springtime for the Church will not blossom until such time as Catholics generally return to confession.


report on penance in liturgy

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