March 20th Update from Deacon Mike
In my last update I began a series on the Sacraments. We covered Baptism, now I would like to review Reconciliation, also known as Penance or Confession.
Just a few weeks ago, our 2nd grade children in our school of religion experienced their first confession. When I visited them two nights later at class, they were still excited and explained to me that they felt good, refreshed, one even said like being reborn. Out of the mouths of babes!
So what about this Catholic confession? Is this really necessary? Can’t I just talk to God without going to a Priest? Is that really a sin? These are just some of the questions I hear when the subject of Reconciliation comes up. So let’s take a closer look.
Reconciliation is one of the two sacraments of healing (the other being the anointing of the sick). Reconciliation is called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus’ call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father. See Mk. 1:15 and Luke 15:18. It is also called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is essential. It is also called sacrament of Reconciliation because it imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles. See 2 Cor5:20 and Mt 5:24.
Jesus himself instituted the Sacrament on the evening of His Resurrection. Jesus breathed on the Apostles as he 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 20:19, 22-23. Jesus is conferring on the Apostles the power to forgive sin. Before they could do this, they needed to hear the sins confessed out loud, in order to know what to forgive. See Mt. 18:18.
Necessary for a sacramental confession is the act of the penitent, coming to confession seeking repentance and the absolution of a priest, who in the name of Christ grants forgiveness. See Jn. 8:11.
What must be confessed? First, we must distinguish between mortal and venial sin. Are their distinctions in sin? See 1 Jn. 5:16-17. Therefore, all sin that rises to mortal must be confessed. Confession of venial sin is also recommended and encouraged.
Frequent confession is encouraged, of course full knowledge or awareness of a mortal sin requires confession if one wishes to receive the Eucharist. In all cases, Catholics are required to confess their sins once a year.
Penance is given to the penitent. We do penance to provide restitution and repair the damage of sin. This helps configure us to Christ. This allows us to become coheirs with Christ. See Rom. 8:17. And is St. Paul referring to penance in rejoicing in suffering and completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions? See Col. 1:24.
Why the priest? Let’s be clear. Forgiveness rests with God alone. God empowers others to forgive, in HIS NAME, as in Lk. 7:48 and Mt. 9:2. Through the priest, Christ forgives sin. The priest assigns the penance. The priest says the words of absolution. The power remains God’s alone. Christ is the priest behind the priest. Confession to others is scriptural. First look at 1 Jn. 1:9. Then look carefully at Jas. 5:14-16. In using the term presbuterous, literally meaning elders, in English the root is priest. St. James is telling his followers to confess to others, specifically presbyters and out loud. Wow!
Again, the Church is clear in teaching who it is that takes away the sins of the world: it is the Lamb of God. See Jn. 1:29.
The practice of sacramental confession, reconciliation, is not only scriptural, but documented in the earliest generations of Christians, the disciples of the Apostles. It is found in the Didache and almost every writing of the 2nd century church fathers.
What a loving and merciful God to give us the gift of the grace found in this sacrament of healing, Reconciliation.
Catechism references are in Article 4, paragraphs 1422 thru 1498 and in the Compendium, paragraphs 296 thru 312.
So, in these last several weeks of Lent, pledge to make a good confession, and like our 2nd grade students, feel good, feel refreshed, feel reborn.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His mercy endures forever!!! Psalm 118:1
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8.
Deacon Mike
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