Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 13th 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, 1486.
God begins His saving work in us through the saving grace given in Baptism There is a special sacrament, instituted by Christ, which restores us to the life of grace sadly forfeited by post-baptismal sin(s), namely the Sacrament of Penance. Here we consider the four (4) different names for the Sacrament of Penance, each of which highlight a particular aspect of the sacrament.
The Sacrament of Penance is also called the Sacrament of Conversion. Conversion is not only a one time reality. “Once saved, always saved” is foreign to our Catholic way of thinking. Our life in Christ concerns not only our beginning, how we start, but also how we end. The ongoing conversion experienced and exercised in the Sacrament of Penance provides further graces along the way, allowing for correction of course en route to Heaven.
The Sacrament of Penance is also called the Sacrament of Confession because we actually tell the priest (or bishop) our sins. In the Sacrament of Penance we admit our shortcomings, failings and sins, not in a masochistic way, but to allow the healing grace of the Divine Physician to heal and salve us. When we confess our sins in the Sacrament of Penance we say: when our previous confession was (day, week, month…), what our state of life is (single, married, ordained, consecrated…) and identify our sins according to number and kind (e.g. I robed three banks, I told two lies…). This information helps the priest Confessor to help the penitent to grow in the life of grace.
The Sacrament of Penance takes it’s name from the assignment given by the priest Confessor as a form of reparation for the sins committed. Sometimes the penance assigned is further prayer (a Hail Mary, Our Father, Glory be, a decade of the Rosary, five mysteries of the Rosary, a week or month of rosaries…). Sometimes the making of a pilgrimage or lighting of votive candle(s) are assigned as a penance. Fasting has also been a classic penance.
The Sacrament of Penance is also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There are four (4) different reconciliations which take place in the Sacrament of Penance: with God, with the Church, with self, with others. When we sin we put distance between ourselves and God’s will for our salvation. Mortal sins separate us from the love of God and bar us from reception of Holy Communion. Having received the Sacrament of Penance allows us to return to full communion with Christ, His Church, His sacraments. Sadly, when we sin we prefer creation to the Creator and even ourselves. The Sacrament of Penance restores the proper relationship between ourselves and others, including Almighty God.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr