Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 24th 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, 1497.
In the Catechism, as in the Code of Canon Law (1983, canons 960–963), Mother Church has us consider five things about the Sacrament of Penance.
First, confession of our grave sins is to be done individually. Individual confession of grave sins is a part of the Sacrament of Penance. The Penitential Rite of Mass, for example, is an ordinary communal means for the forgiveness of venial, lesser sins. At the Holy Mass we pray “I confess…” and “Lord have mercy” all together. In the Sacrament of Penance we go individually to the priest confessor to admit our specific and personal need for God’s grace and mercy. Grave / Mortal / Serious sins require the Sacrament of Penance as the ordinary means of attaining God’s mercy.
Second, confession of our grave sins is to be integral. To make an integral confession of grave sins means to actually say what sins we have committed, ‘number and kind.’ The reference to ‘number and kind’ helps to explicate what an integral confession is the “number” refers to how many times the sin was committed, the “kind” refers to the sort of sin committed (e.g. I robbed three banks). If we purposely omit one or another grave sin during confession, that makes the confession sacrilegious, a sin in itself. This is why a thorough examination of conscience should proceed confession. While some people try to justify the omission of one or another sin due to embarrassment, we should rather be embarrassed to die in our sins, spurning God’s grace and mercy.
Third, confession of our grave sins is to be followed by the prayer of absolution by the priest. This prayer is an ‘effective utterance’ and is no less essential than the actual repentant confessing. Our sin(s) affects our personal relationship with God. Through His personal representative on Earth, the priest, the Lord Jesus personally grants us forgiveness.
Fourth, the Sacrament of Penance remains the only ordinary means for reconciliation with God and with His Church. This is how the Lord set up His Church (cf. Matthew 8:4; John 20:23). What sort of hubris (sinful pride!) would be involved for us to tell the Lord how He ought to give us His saving merciful grace?
Finally, by addressing the “ordinary” means for reconciliation with God and His Church in confession, may imply extraordinary means for reconciliation… When soldiers go off to battle, or the plane is crashing, or even as other disasters occur, the Church allows “general absolution” to be given and validly received. Recourse to the Sacrament of Penance is nonetheless required for subsequent reception of the graces of mercy and forgiveness.
Live in God’s grace, faithful to the Sacrament of Penance!
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr