The Sacrament of Reconciliation
A Gift of God for God's People
THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION also known as Confession or Penance
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. “James 5:16
Why do we need the Sacrament of Penance? Because of human weakness, Christians ‘turn aside from [their] early love' (Revelation 2:4) and even break off their friendship with God by sinning. The Lord, therefore, instituted a special sacrament of penance for the pardon of sins committed after baptism, and the Church has faithfully celebrated the sacrament throughout the centuries, in varying ways, but retaining its essential elements (James 5:16).
What happens in the Sacrament of Penance? In the Sacrament of Penance, the sinner who by grace of a merciful God embraces the way of penance comes back to the Father who first loved us (1 John 4:19), to Christ who gave himself up for us, and to the Holy Spirit who has been poured out on us abundantly. Likewise, those who by grave sin have withdrawn from the communion of love with God are called back in the sacrament of penance to the life they have lost. And those who through daily weakness fall into venial sins draw strength from a repeated celebration of penance to gain the full freedom of the children of God.
What is the role of the priest in the Sacrament? The Church exercises the ministry of the sacrament of penance through bishops and priests. By preaching God's word they call the faithful to conversion; in the name of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit they declare the forgiveness of sins. In the exercise of this ministry, priests act in communion with the bishop and share in his power and office (Matthew 16:18-19 and Matthew 18:18)
What is the role of the community in the sacrament? The whole Church, as a priestly people, acts in different ways in the work of reconciliation which has been entrusted to it by the Lord. Not only does the Church call sinners to repentance by preaching the word of God, but it also prays for them and helps them to acknowledge and admit their sins and so obtain the mercy of God who alone can forgive sins. Furthermore, the Church becomes the instrument of the conversion and absolution of the penitent through the ministry entrusted by Christ to the apostles and their successors (John 20:21-23).
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HOW TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
(You may take this guide with you for use in making your confession)
1. Examine your conscience before entering the place of confession.
2. Enter the place of confession and bless yourself aloud: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
3. After the priest greets you, say:Bless me father, for I have sinned.The priest will give you a blessing.
4.Next say: It has been (how long of time) since my last confession. I confess the following sins.
Do not name names, dates or places: simple state the particular sins you wish to confess to God (i.e.; lying, cheating, lust, stealing, etc.)When you have finished confessing your particular sins, say:
5. For these and all my sins I am sorry and I repent.The priest may or may not offer suggestions for you to use to help overcome the temptation to commit these sins in the future. These words of encouragement and advice are known as acts of penance.
6. The priest will pronounce that God has forgiven your sins (James 5:16). This declaration is called the absolution. It is not the human person of the priest who forgives sins, because only God can forgive sins. The priest declares that God has forgiven you and assures you of the validity of your confession, because the priest has been given this ministry by God through the sacrament of Holy Orders (ordination) (John 20:23).
When the priest has pronounced absolution, you may leave the place of confession, forgiven, fulfilled and ready to begin anew (2 Corinthians 5:17).
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SOME ITEMS OF INTEREST REGARDING THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
THE ANCIENT CANONS OF THE CHURCH REGARDING CONFESSION
Priests may not reveal what they have learned during confession to anyone, even under the threat of their own death or that of others. For a priest to break confidentiality would lead to a latae sententiae (automatic) excommunication.
Let the priest absolutely beware that he does not by word or sign or by any manner whatever in any way betray the sinner: but if he should happen to need wiser counsel let him cautiously seek the same without any mention of person. For whoever shall dare to reveal a sin disclosed to him in the tribunal of penance we decree that he shall be not only deposed from the priestly office but that he shall also be sent into the confinement of a monastery to do perpetual penance.The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.
Decretum of 1151
U.S. FEDERAL LAW REGARDING CONFESSION
In a criminal matter, a priest may, but is not required to, encourage the penitent to surrender to authorities. Priests may not directly or indirectly disclose the matter to civil authorities themselves. Federal Law in the United States recognizes the seal of the confessional. It is protected by the First Amendment.
People Vs Philips
U.S. District Court
New York
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. “James 5:16
Why do we need the Sacrament of Penance? Because of human weakness, Christians ‘turn aside from [their] early love' (Revelation 2:4) and even break off their friendship with God by sinning. The Lord, therefore, instituted a special sacrament of penance for the pardon of sins committed after baptism, and the Church has faithfully celebrated the sacrament throughout the centuries, in varying ways, but retaining its essential elements (James 5:16).
What happens in the Sacrament of Penance? In the Sacrament of Penance, the sinner who by grace of a merciful God embraces the way of penance comes back to the Father who first loved us (1 John 4:19), to Christ who gave himself up for us, and to the Holy Spirit who has been poured out on us abundantly. Likewise, those who by grave sin have withdrawn from the communion of love with God are called back in the sacrament of penance to the life they have lost. And those who through daily weakness fall into venial sins draw strength from a repeated celebration of penance to gain the full freedom of the children of God.
What is the role of the priest in the Sacrament? The Church exercises the ministry of the sacrament of penance through bishops and priests. By preaching God's word they call the faithful to conversion; in the name of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit they declare the forgiveness of sins. In the exercise of this ministry, priests act in communion with the bishop and share in his power and office (Matthew 16:18-19 and Matthew 18:18)
What is the role of the community in the sacrament? The whole Church, as a priestly people, acts in different ways in the work of reconciliation which has been entrusted to it by the Lord. Not only does the Church call sinners to repentance by preaching the word of God, but it also prays for them and helps them to acknowledge and admit their sins and so obtain the mercy of God who alone can forgive sins. Furthermore, the Church becomes the instrument of the conversion and absolution of the penitent through the ministry entrusted by Christ to the apostles and their successors (John 20:21-23).
_______________________________________________________________________
HOW TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
(You may take this guide with you for use in making your confession)
1. Examine your conscience before entering the place of confession.
2. Enter the place of confession and bless yourself aloud: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
3. After the priest greets you, say:Bless me father, for I have sinned.The priest will give you a blessing.
4.Next say: It has been (how long of time) since my last confession. I confess the following sins.
Do not name names, dates or places: simple state the particular sins you wish to confess to God (i.e.; lying, cheating, lust, stealing, etc.)When you have finished confessing your particular sins, say:
5. For these and all my sins I am sorry and I repent.The priest may or may not offer suggestions for you to use to help overcome the temptation to commit these sins in the future. These words of encouragement and advice are known as acts of penance.
6. The priest will pronounce that God has forgiven your sins (James 5:16). This declaration is called the absolution. It is not the human person of the priest who forgives sins, because only God can forgive sins. The priest declares that God has forgiven you and assures you of the validity of your confession, because the priest has been given this ministry by God through the sacrament of Holy Orders (ordination) (John 20:23).
When the priest has pronounced absolution, you may leave the place of confession, forgiven, fulfilled and ready to begin anew (2 Corinthians 5:17).
_______________________________________________________________________
SOME ITEMS OF INTEREST REGARDING THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
THE ANCIENT CANONS OF THE CHURCH REGARDING CONFESSION
Priests may not reveal what they have learned during confession to anyone, even under the threat of their own death or that of others. For a priest to break confidentiality would lead to a latae sententiae (automatic) excommunication.
Let the priest absolutely beware that he does not by word or sign or by any manner whatever in any way betray the sinner: but if he should happen to need wiser counsel let him cautiously seek the same without any mention of person. For whoever shall dare to reveal a sin disclosed to him in the tribunal of penance we decree that he shall be not only deposed from the priestly office but that he shall also be sent into the confinement of a monastery to do perpetual penance.The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.
Decretum of 1151
U.S. FEDERAL LAW REGARDING CONFESSION
In a criminal matter, a priest may, but is not required to, encourage the penitent to surrender to authorities. Priests may not directly or indirectly disclose the matter to civil authorities themselves. Federal Law in the United States recognizes the seal of the confessional. It is protected by the First Amendment.
People Vs Philips
U.S. District Court
New York