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Doctrine: Baptism | Confirmation | Eucharist | Matrimony | Anointing | Holy Orders | Justification
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH PRESENTATION OF THE APOSTOLIC LETTER IN THE FORM OF MOTU PROPRIO MISERICORDIA DEI INTERVENTION BY H. EM. CARD. JOSEPH RATZINGER Thursday, 2 May 2002Catechism of the Catholic Church XI. The Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance 1480 Like all the sacraments, Penance is a liturgical action. the elements of the celebration are ordinarily these: a greeting and blessing from the priest, reading the word of God to illuminate the conscience and elicit contrition, and an exhortation to repentance; the confession, which acknowledges sins and makes them known to the priest; the imposition and acceptance of a penance; the priest's absolution; a prayer of thanksgiving and praise and dismissal with the blessing of the priest.
PAENITENTIAM AGERE ENCYCLICAL OF POPE JOHN XXIII ON THE NEED FOR THE PRACTICE OF INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PENANCE JULY 1, 1962
POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION RECONCILIATION AND PENANCE OF JOHN PAUL II TO THE BISHOPS CLERGY AND FAITHFUL ON RECONCILIATION AND PENANCE IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH TODAY
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
By Frederick Pogorzelski
Reconciliation is a sacramental celebration and reunion of a sinner with both God and the Church ( Rev 22:14,15 ) ( Lk 15:9,19,32 ) ( 1 Cor 12:26 ). It continues Baptisms work of conversion and forgiveness. Christ, in His mercy and great love, gave us this sacrament, which liberates us from sin and guilt and strengthens us with grace. Sinners, who are estranged because of their evil deeds, can reconcile by being contrite and by having a conversion of the heart towards God, which may include some external penance such as prayer, fasting, or almsgiving ( Col 1:21,22 ) ( Lk 7:44-50; 17:14; 19:9,10 ) ( Heb 9:14,15 ). Only God forgives sins through the "once for all" sacrifice of Christ ( Mk 2:5-12 ) ( Heb 7:27, 9:26 ) ( 1 Pet 1:18,19 ) ( Jn 12:32 ) ( Acts 4:12 ) ( 1 Tim 2:5 ) ( Titus 2:11-14 ). Christ instituted the sacrament of Reconciliation when he sent his apostles and gave them the keys to the kingdom of Heaven. Christ said, "...if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" ( 2 Cor 4:1-6; 5:11-21 ) ( Isa 22:22 ) ( Mt 16:18,19; 18:15-20 ) ( Jn 20:21-23 ) ( Gen 2:7 ).
Through Apostolic Succession and Holy Orders, the priest continues the mission of the apostles, forgiving all sins "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" ( Mt 28:16-20 ) ( Acts 6:6; 13:3; 14:23 ) ( 2 Tim 1:6 ) ( Jas 5:16-18 ) ( 1 Jn 1:5-10 ). After the redeeming "once for all" sacrifice of Christ has been applied, and the sinner has received the prayer of absolution by the priest, the sinner must now do what is possible to repair and remedy the harm and disorder the sin caused. This is called penance ( 1 Jn 2:1,2 ) ( Rom 3:25,26; 5:1-11; 8:16,17 ) ( Lk 3:8 ). Grace or divine love reseals the bond of love between man and God. Christ will continue to be present and to heal us on our faith journey, sanctifying the lives of people from birth to death. The sacrament of Reconciliation is the normative route God provided for us His creatures for we are not orphans left desolate ( Jn 14:18 ).