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The younger son said: “I will get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.”
Jesus said: “Let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.” Luke 15, 24
The older son became angry on learning of the celebration and refused to enter the house of his father. You give a feast for your son who has squandered your property and inheritance but nothing for me who stayed home with you.
Jesus said: “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” Luke 15, 30-32 |
The good news that Jesus repeatedly preached is: “God is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and of great kindness.” |
Some statements on Reconciliation, Confession, Sacrament of Penance
v The sacrament may be called by a number of names:
“Sacrament of Conversion” – makes present Jesus’ call to conversion, to reform your life “Sacrament of Confession” – confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament “Sacrament of Forgiveness” – God grants pardon and peace through the absolution prayed by the priest “Sacrament of Reconciliation” – corrects the relationship with God and one’s neighbor
v “Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. Hence, conversion entails God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church.”
v “Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect due to persons, the Church declares that every priest who hears confession 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 the penitents’ lives. This secret admits of no exceptions and is called the “sacramental seal” because what the penitent has made known to the priest remains “sealed” by the sacrament.”
v ”The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace and joins 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 is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation.”
v “To the eyes of faith no evil is graver than sin and nothing has worse consequences for sinners themselves, for the Church, and for the whole world.”
v “The movement of return to God, called conversion and repentance, entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, and the firm purpose of sinning no more in the future. Conversion touches the past and the future and is nourished by hope in God’s mercy.”
v “The sacrament of Penance is a whole consisting in three actions of the penitent and the priest’s absolution. The penitent’s acts are repentance, confession or disclosure of sins to the priest, and the intention to make reparation and do works of reparation.”
v The effects of sin are seen through the ravages to families and human society resulting in disorder, violence, injustice, abuse, neglect, greed, refugees, family divorce etc.
Quotations taken from Catechism of the Catholic Church, pp 362, 368-69, 373 |
“Forgive us our sin as we forgive those whose trespass against us” |
Have mercy on me, O God, in the greatness of your compassion! |
After reading the above statements from the Catechism of the Catholic Church,is there any one statement that caught your attention? Do you have a difficult time “getting hold of the truth of sin?”
How would you teach the truth of sin and sinfulness to a young person learning about the Catholic religion?
How would you teach the Sacrament of Reconciliation to an adult studying to become a Catholic? If God already knows my sins then why confess them?
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“Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, ‘I confess my faults to the Lord,’ and you took away the guilt of my sin.” Psalm 32, 5 |
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It is time to take a walk with the Lord.
Talk over some of this matter as it affects your spiritual life. Let him know what you struggle with in your understanding of sin and sinfulness. Does He have any suggestions? Tell Him about your confession practice
Let Him know how difficult it is for you to forgive certain people; that grudges seem to linger in your heart. You feel comfortable sharing your heart with His compassionate heart; He really understands.
The scene below is ideal for your walk – take a slow walk with Him whose compassionate heart has already impressed you. Share your thoughts and feelings, speak from the heart. |