“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him
might not perish but might have eternal life.” JOHN 3:16
JESUS CHRIST SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
The Sacrament of Penance is sometimes referred to by various names such as, Sacrament of Confession (we acknowledge our sins); Sacrament of Forgiveness (our sins are forgiven and removed); and Sacrament of Reconciliation (we are reconciled to God and His Church).
After Original Sin, man was separated both from God’s presence and God’s divine life of grace. At the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, God lets it be known that one day a Savior will come and restore man’s relationship with God.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman (Mary the New Eve), and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” Genesis 3:15
The Prophets of the Old Testament promise in their oracles a Savior one day who will offer himself up for the many that we might be restored and reconciled with the Father.
“See the days are coming when I will make a New Covenant….it is Yahweh who speaks…since I will forgive their iniquities and never call their sins to mind.” Jeremiah 31
During his public ministry, Jesus called the people to conversion just the same as the Church does today. Prior to receiving the Sacrament of Penance, we must turn back to God and reject sin.
Jesus is at dinner, with tax collectors and other sinners, some Pharisees object, “why is he eating with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus replies, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick; I did not come to call the virtuous but sinners.” Mark 2:15-17
In Luke 7:36, Jesus is administered to by a woman, a known public sinner. The Pharisee who invited Jesus is distraught by the attention this sinful woman was paying and Jesus allowing her to do so.
Jesus says, “…this woman though with many sins has shown great faith and love. The one who is pardoned more will love more.” Jesus absolves the woman of her many sins, “Your sins are forgiven.”
What great peace and joy the woman must have felt to hear these words of absolution. Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”
How similar these words are to the words of absolution we hear from the priest who absolves us in the name of Jesus today in Sacrament of Penance.
The Sacrament of Penance was instituted by Jesus Christ on the evening of his resurrection. “In the evening of the same day… As the Father sent me…so I am sending you…After saying this, Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven. For those whose sins you retain, they are retained.'” John 20:19-35
REPENT AND BE SAVED
Like all the Sacraments, Penance is a liturgical action. The elements of celebration are ordinarily these: a greeting and blessing from the priest, reading the word of God to illuminate the conscience and elicit contrition, exhortation to repentance, the acknowledging of sins to the priest, the imposition and acceptance of a penance, the priest’s absolution, a prayer of thanksgiving and praise and dismissal with a blessing from the priest. (CCC 1480).
“Catholics should go to Confession because everyone needs forgiveness for their sins.” “Whoever says he is without sin is a liar or blind!” Confession is meant to be a sincere moment of conversion, trusting in God’s willingness to forgive His children and help them back on the path of following Jesus, Pope Francis
The sacramental sign of the Sacrament of Penance are the words of absolution through which forgiveness of our sins and distinctive graces of sanctification are conferred.
The Priest receives the penitent with a greeting, a sign of the cross and invitation to trust in God’s mercy
When the priest receives the penitent, he is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seek the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds up the wounds, and the merciful Father of the Prodigal Son who welcomes the son back to his family. The priest is the sign and instrument of God’s mercy.
Reading of God’s word
The reading of God’s word is a sign that it is God calling the penitent to conversion. It is this call which draws us to God’s mercy and forgiveness. It is the call which invites us back into right relationship with God and His Church.
Confession of sins
Through the admission of our sins, we look squarely at our relationship with God and our neighbor and open ourselves again to be reconciled with God and full communion with His Church. We accept our Penance as satisfaction for the offense to God and the harm to His Church.
Our act of contrition
Our act of contrition expresses our sorrow for offending God and our detestation of sin. Our words of contrition (sign) express an inward condition and meaning to love God and avoid sin in the future.
Prayer of absolution
The words of absolution by the priest, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit” and the reply by the penitent, “Amen” restores the penitent to God’s grace, reconciles him with the Church, with himself, with his brothers and sisters whom he has somehow offended, and all Creation.
Proclamation of praise of God and Dismissal
“Give thanks to God for he is good. His mercy endures forever.” This proclamation of praise by the priest and penitent expresses all glory to God the Father and commitment to the First Great Commandment, to love God with our whole mind, our whole heart, our whole soul and with all our strength.
LORD JESUS CHRIST HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER