Sacraments of Reconciliation/Penance

Definitions in the context of the Catholic Church:

1. Sacraments

 Are defined as outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ to help

individuals in their spiritual life and to grow in holiness. Sacraments are
mysteries; they are signs of the sacred presence of our God in our midst today.
(Our Lady of Lourdes - Parish & Mission at Pleasant PKWY)

2. Reconciliation

 Also known as Confession, is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in his love

and mercy to offer us forgiveness for the times we have sinned and turned away
from God. Officially called the Sacrament of Penance.

Objective:

In this lesson, we will study further the Sacrament of Reconciliation, its

meaning and effects in our life as Christians, and be able to live the grace of
God’s mercy and forgiveness to us as we become instruments of healing and
forgiveness for others. Let us start with the recall of our experiences.

Introduction:

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus himself taught us to ask forgiveness from God
for our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us. Thus, asking for God’s
forgiveness requires our act of forgiving others.

When we seek God's forgiveness, we also acknowledge our responsibility

to forgive those who have wronged us. In other words, God's mercy
encourages us to show mercy to others by forgiving them, creating a
connection between receiving forgiveness and extending it to others. It
emphasizes the idea that if we want to be forgiven, we should also be willing
to forgive others.
4 Simple Stages of Forgiveness: (Stuart Rothberg, 2018)

1. Hurt: Identify, experience and express your feelings

 Recognize that you have been hurt and recognize that it is okay for you to feel
hurt. Label it as specifically as you can answering questions like; Who did this to
you? When did it occur? Where did it happen?

2. Hate: If you have been hurt, you hate.

 It is not wrong to hate; in fact, we are supposed to hate what God hates. Hate sin,
not the sinner. Make this distinction to be sure your hate is directed toward a
permissible target. Unconfessed, persistent hatred often leads to depression.

3. Hook: Acknowledge the deceptive feeling of control.

 Refusing to forgive provides a feeling of power, but this feeling is deceptive as it

is really a cover for your own sense of hurt and vulnerability.

4. Heal: Forgiveness is both an event and a process.

 Giving forgiveness to an offender is an event. Finding relief from your

own pain is a process. It takes time. You must keep opening your hurt
heart to God, and you will experience healing over time.
Passage of Reconciliation:

Penance was instituted by Christ after the resurrection when he breathed on the
disciples and said, “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 20:23.

This statement is often understood as Jesus granting authority to His disciples,

particularly the apostles, to forgive or retain sins through the power of the Holy
Spirit. It is considered a foundational biblical basis for the sacrament of
reconciliation or penance in Christian traditions.

In this context, the act of forgiving or retaining sins is seen as a spiritual

authority given to the apostles and, by extension, to the Church. It implies the
authority to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to those who repent and seek
reconciliation with God, as well as the ability to withhold forgiveness from those who
persist in their sins without genuine repentance.

This passage has been interpreted by many Christian denominations as an

indication of the sacramental power of forgiveness and reconciliation, with priests
or ministers acting as representatives of the Church in the forgiveness of sins
through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Biblical background for the institution of the sacrament of reconciliation:

The name of this sacrament in the ancient times was “penance” from the
Latin word poena which means “penalty.” “Penance was codified as a
sacrament by the Council of Trent” It involves the confession of one’s sins to a
priest, who then pronounces “absolution” (i.e., forgiveness extended by the
cleric). The priest then provides requirements for satisfaction, which is the
confessor’s submission to a temporal penalty (e.g., a monetary fine or
assigned works) exacted in order to effect a reconciliation between the
offender and the Church.

Sacrament of Reconciliation is a sacrament that brings out the inner

relationship between being the reconciled with God and being reconciled with
our neighbor. This link is stressed by Christ in his Sermon on the Mount; “go
first to be reconciled with your brother, then come and offer your gift to God.”

The statement above essentially means that our relationship with others has an
impact on our relationship with God. If there are unresolved issues or conflicts with
our neighbors or "brothers," we are encouraged to address and reconcile those
relationships first. This reflects the idea that a genuine connection with God involves
not only our personal devotion but also how we treat and relate to the people around
us. So, before coming to God with our offerings or prayers, it's important to make
amends and seek reconciliation with others, emphasizing the unity of love and
forgiveness in both our human and divine relationships.

The matter of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the actual sins of the

penitent and the form of this sacrament is the prayer of absolution by the
priest. The effects of the sacrament of Penance are: reconciliation with God
and therefore the forgiveness of sins; reconciliation with the Church;
recovery, if it has been lost, of the state of grace; remission of the eternal
punishment merited by mortal sins, and remission, at least in part, of the
temporal punishment which is the consequence of sin; peace, serenity of
conscience and spiritual consolation; and an increase of spiritual strength for
the struggle of Christian living.

In simpler terms, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is like a healing process.

Confessing sins, receiving forgiveness, and the prayers said in the process help restore
a person's relationship with God, with the Christian community, and with their own sense
of inner peace. It's like a reset button that brings both forgiveness and strength for
better Christian living

The four elements needed for Reconciliation:

1. Contrition

 Sorrow for sins. Contrition requires sincere examination of conscience.

To do this, a person must ask themselves questions based on the 10
Commandments, to see if they have sinned.

2. Confession

 Owning up honestly about sin, accepting responsibility for sin. Confession

involves stating all the mortal and venial sins to the priest.

3. Satisfaction

 Doing what is possible to repair harm of offence. the two parts of

satisfaction are penance and prayer of sorrow (act of contrition).
Penance is when the priest states the satisfaction to be made (this could
be returning stolen goods, paying compensation for damage done, a
prayer). A prayer of sorrow can be a prayer in the person's own words, or
a formal prayer.

4. Absolution

 Forgiveness by Jesus through the priest. Priests have the same spiritual
gifts to forgive sins just as Jesus did. Interesting fact: priests exercise the
power the forgive sins by holding his hand over the person and blessing
them while saying, 'God, the Father of mercies, through the death and
resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the
Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of
the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from
your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.'
Interesting fact: priests are bound with something called the Sacramental
Seal, which means they cannot tell your confessions to anyone.
The Rite of the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

The priest and penitent, the person repenting, should first prepare
themselves by prayer to celebrate the sacrament. Then, after both penitent
and priest have made sign of the cross, the priest welcomes the penitent
warmly with words like: “May the Lord Jesus welcome you. He came to all
sinners, not the just. Have confidence in Him.” A short reading from the
scripture is recommended, followed by the penitent’s confession of sins and
acceptance of a penance. Here the priest is instructed to offer suitable
counsel, reminding the penitent that through the Sacrament of Penance the
Christian dies and rises with Christ and is thus renewed in the Paschal
Mystery.

The act of penance proposed by the priest “should serve not only to make
up for the past, but also to help the penitent begin a new life and provide him
with an antidote to weakness. This act of penance should correspond to the
seriousness and nature of the sins, taking the form of prayer, self-denial and
especially service of one’s neighbor and works of mercy. These underline the
social aspect of sin and forgiveness.”

Then the penitent prays an act of contrition and resolution of amendment,

asking God’s pardon, and the priest confessor extends his hand over the head
of the penitent and pronounces the words of absolution: “God, the Father of
mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the
world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace. And I
absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit.” To which the penitent answers: “Amen.”

With this process of the sacrament of reconciliation, we are led to the life
worthy and pleasing to God. Through the sacrament of reconciliation, we are
graced by God to live a righteous life. Though there are many ways of
conversion like “baptism, Eucharist, alms-giving, prayer and fasting,” but still
the sacrament of reconciliation stands as the appropriate graceful
opportunity to remit ours sins to God for forgiveness.

The process of whole conversion is a lifetime task of a Christian given the

reality of our being sinners. Catechism of the Catholic Church and the 2nd
Plenary Council of the Philippines are highlighting the urgent demand for
conversion. The Church, solicitous in calling the faithful to continual
conversion and renewal, urges us to acknowledge our sins with heartfelt
repentance, celebrate the sacrament of penance and attend penitential
celebrations.
 Conclusion:

In conclusion , The Sacrament of Reconciliation involves confessing sins

(matter), receiving forgiveness through the priest's prayer of absolution
(form), and brings about reconciliation with God and the Church, recovery of
grace, and peace of mind. It's a spiritual reset, offering forgiveness, strength,
and restored connections in the Christian journey.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, rooted in the teachings of Jesus, is a

profound means of seeking forgiveness and restoring harmony in the
Christian faith. This sacrament involves confessing one's sins, and through
the priest's prayer of absolution, the individual experiences a multifaceted
transformation. The effects include reconciliation with God and the Church,
recovery of grace, remission of both eternal and temporal punishments, and
the attainment of peace, serenity, and spiritual strength. In essence,
Reconciliation serves as a spiritual reset, offering believers not only
forgiveness but also the fortitude to navigate the challenges of Christian
living with a renewed sense of grace and peace.
 Icebreaker!

Share a time where you have forgiven someone or made peace with a
situation! Share as much or as you little as you are comfortable with,
however, please provide substance.