Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are twenty-three (23) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and five (5) canons in the Code of Canon Law which can help us to appreciate the Sacrament of Penance. The following is a reflection on CCC, 1495.
The grace won by Jesus’ death and resurrection are applied to us in the sacraments which impart His grace and make us holy. For the renewal of the innocence first given us in Holy Baptism the Lord Jesus has provided the Sacrament of Penance. Integral to the Sacrament of Penance is the priest who serves as “the confessor.” The Church’s teaching about the confessor’s role is very clear. Only priests may absolve repentant sinners (cf. CIC ‘83 canon 965). Bishops, before they receive the fullness of Holy Orders have already been ordained priests. Deacons or religious (Sisters, Brothers, Nuns, Monks) while they may and should pray for our continued conversion (and their own) are not able to grant the sacramental absolution proper to the Sacrament of Penance. The validity of the Sacrament of Penance requires a validly ordained priest to absolve and a repentant sinner who has confessed. When priests go to confession they too have to go to another priest.
Only priests with faculties may absolve repentant sinners (cf. CIC ‘83 canon 966§1). The faculty to grant absolution presupposes priestly ordination and doctrinal soundness (cf. CIC ‘83 canon 970). The faculties to absolve are granted (or not) by the local bishop (cf. CIC ‘83 canon 969 § 1). When I was ordained a deacon I received faculties to solemnly baptize, to solemnize Marriages, and to preach. Further faculties were given to me when I was ordained a priest, including those to grant absolution to repentant sinners. Because I have faculties to absolve repentant sinners in the Diocese of Knoxville, I likewise have faculties to absolve repentant sinners anywhere, unless the local ordinary (normally a bishop) denies this in a particular case (cf. CIC ‘83 canon 967 § 2).
Priests with faculties absolve repentant sinners in the Name and Person of Christ the Head of the Church. To act in the Name and Person of Christ the Head is the prerogative of the Priest not only at the Altar when consecrating the sacred elements with the words of institution: This is My Body… this is My Blood… but also in granting absolution in the Sacrament of Penance: …I absolve you… While we may see the priest or hear his voice it is Christ the great High Priest (Episcopum animarum vestrarum) who absolves us through the priest and not without the priest (cf. 1 Peter 2:25. The Greek word episkopos here translated by Saint Jerome’s Latin means superintendent, Christian officer in charge or bishop).
In danger of death, even a priest who lacks the faculty to hear confessions absolves validly and licitly any penitent who is in danger of death from any censures and sins (cf. CIC ‘83 canon 976).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr