Week 30: Passages 1420-1479

Chapter Two - The Sacraments of Healing
Article 4 The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

I. What is this Sacrament Called?
This sacrament goes by many names:

• sacrament of conversion
• sacrament of Penance
• sacrament of confession
• sacrament of forgiveness
• sacrament of Reconciliation

II. Why a Sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism?
After Baptism we still have the inclination to sin called concupiscence.
III. The Conversion of the Baptized
Jesus calls to conversion. The baptized are called to a second conversion, which is ongoing and has a communitarian dimension. Peter's conversion after he had denied his master three times bears witness to this.
IV. Interior Penance
Jesus' call to conversion is aimed at the heart rather then exterior acts like fasting and mortification. Interior penance urges us to exterior signs. Man's heart are hardened, God must give us a new heart. The conversion of the heart is accompanied by pain and sadness known as animi cruciatus (affliction of the spirit) and compunctio cordis (repentance of heart). The Holy Spirit illuminates sin but is also the Consoler.
V. The Many Forms of Penance in the Christian Life

"The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various
ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting,
prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God
and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism
or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: efforts at
reconciliation with one's neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the
salvation of one's neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and the practice of
charity 'which covers a multitude of sins.'
Conversion is accomplished in daily life by the gestures of reconciliation,
concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right, by the
admission of faults to one's brethren, fraternal correction, revision of life,
examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering,
endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness. Taking up one's cross
each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance." (CCC
1434-1435)

There are several ids to penance and conversion first the Eucharist and also reading Sacred Scripture, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and sincere worship. There are times in the liturgical year set aside for penitential practice.
The process of conversion and repentance is described by Jesus in the parable of the Prodigal son.
VI. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
Sin is an offense against God and a rupture of communion with him. It also damages communion with the Church. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation expresses forgiveness and reconciliation liturgically.
Only God forgives sins. Jesus Christ the Son of God has given authority to men to exercise the power of absolution and carry on the apostolic ministry.
Jesus not only forgave sins but also made plain the effects of forgiveness: sinners were reintegrated into the community. He gave the apostles this power with his words to Peter," I will give you the keys of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
"The words bind and loose mean: whomever you exclude from your communion, will be excluded from communion with God; whomever you receive anew into your communion, God will welcome back into his. Reconciliation with the Church is inseparable from reconciliation with God." (CCC 1145)
Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church but especially for those who have committed a mortal sin after Baptism so that they might have a chance to recover the grace of justification.
The celebration of this sacrament has changed over time but has always included two fundamentals: the contrition, confession, and satisfaction of the sinner and God's action through the Church.
VII. The Acts of the Penitent
Contrition - perfect contrition comes from a love of God and remits venial sins and mortal sins if the sinner is resolved to go to confession at the first opportunity, imperfect contrition comes from a fear of punishment. The reception of the sacrament should be prepared for by an examination of conscience made in the light of the Word of God (Ten Commandments, Sermon on the Mount, apostolic teachings).
The Confession of Sins- confession to a priest is an essential part of sacrament of Penance. All mortal sins must be confessed and one should not receive Holy Communion until they have done so. One should confess all the sins they remember and not hide anything, so that they can be healed. Children should go to confession before receiving Holy Communion for the first time. Although it is not necessary confessing venial sins is strongly recommended.
Satisfaction- After receiving absolution one must do something to repair the damage caused by sin, in the form of penance.
VIII. The Minister of this Sacrament
Bishops and Priests have the power to forgive sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit through the sacrament of Holy Orders.
IX. The Effects of this Sacrament
This sacrament restores us to God's grace.

"In this sacrament, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful
judgement of God, anticipates in a certain way the judgement to which he will be
subjected at the end of his earthly life. For it is now, in this life,
that we are offered the choice between life and death, and it is only by the
road of conversion that we can enter the Kingdom, from which one is excluded by
grave sin. In converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner
passes from death to life and 'does not come to judgement'". (CCC 1470)

X. Indulgences

"'An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due
to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who
is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of
the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with
authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.'
'An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or
all of the temporal punishment due to sin.' The faithful can gain indulgences
for themselves or apply them to the dead." (CCC 1471)

Questions for Reflection
Well I don't know about everyone else, but these readings make we want to run out to confession! What a beautiful thing that Our Lord has given us the Church and the sacraments so that we can have easy access to the abundant mercy of God! Yesterday was Priesthood Sunday, let's all remember to thank the priests in our lives who administer these sacraments.
I am also thinking more deeply about ways I can practice penance and revive the spirit of repentance and conversion within myself.
How did you respond to these readings?