PENANCE
The sacrament of Penance is one of two sacraments which heals and saves the baptized person from sin. The other sacrament of healing is the Anointing of the Sick.
The sacrament of Penance is also called the sacrament of Conversion, of Reconciliation, or of Confession.
Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance on Easter Sunday evening when he breathed on the Apostles and said to them, "Received the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (See Jn. 20:22-23.)
The sacrament of Penance forgives the sins of the baptized person committed after Baptism.
The sacrament of Penance restores the gift of God's grace after it has been lost through a mortal sin. Penance reconciles us with the Church.
Penance anticipates the Last Judgment because the sinner, who is guilty of a mortal sin, in celebrating the sacrament of Penance avoids the judgment of the damned. The sinner is freed from the risk of hell.
For those who are not guilty of a mortal sin, the sacrament of Penance strengthens and intensifies the life of God in them.
The sacrament of Penance also helps all develop a sense of sin and helps in the proper formation of conscience.
The sacrament of Penance is for all members of the Church, most especially for those who have sinned gravely after Baptism.
There is no sin too great to be forgiven.
But one must ask for forgiveness.
The sin of presumption, which means that one assumes God will forgive, even without asking, or that one can be saved without God's help, is called a sin against the Holy Spirit. This sin cannot be forgiven because the one who commits this sin refuses to ask for forgiveness. Once the sinner asks, the sin can be forgiven.
The sin of despair, which means that one is convinced that his or her sins are so grave that God cannot forgive them, cannot be forgiven because the one who commits this sin refuses to ask for forgiveness. Once the sinner asks, the sin can be forgiven.
The sins of presumption and despair are called sins against the Holy Spirit.
In the sacrament of Penance, the sinner must have a sorrow for his or her sins, must confess them to a priest, and must do satisfaction for the sins.
Before celebrating the sacrament, the sinner should make an examination of conscience discerning the sins which have been committed.
The sins committed should arouse in the penitent a contrition for these sins. Contrition means a sorrow and a contempt for the sins committed as well as a firm commitment not to do them again.
Perfect contrition means that one is sorry for the sins committed because of the love of God. Perfect contrition can obtain the forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to celebrate the sacrament of Penance.
Imperfect contrition means that one is sorry for the sins committed because of the fear of eternal damnation.
The penitent must confess his or her sins to a priest.
All the mortal sins one remembers must be confessed to a priest.
Individual confession of all serious sins is essential to the celebration of the sacrament of Penance.
After the confession of sins, the penitent must make satisfaction for the sins committed. All sins wound the sinner and many wrong others. One must do what is possible to repair the harm.
Stolen goods must be restored.
Compensation must be made for injuries.
Reputations, if harmed, need to be restored.
The sinner must do a penance to restore his or her own spiritual health. This penance is assigned by the priest.
After the confession of sins, the priest says the words of absolution over the penitent: "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
There are three forms of the sacrament of Penance.
Private: In the common practice of the Church, the pastor of a parish establishes times when priests will be available to hear confessions. Those who wish to receive the sacrament come at the established times, make an examination of conscience, confess their sins, receive absolution, and do their penance.
Communal: Those who wish to receive the sacrament of Penance gather in Church at an appointed time. Several priests (often as many as ten or more) process into the Church. One of the priests begins the celebration in the usual way; there is a reading from the Scriptures, a homily, a public examination of conscience. All then say a prayer confessing their sinfulness and an "Our Father." Those who wish to celebrate the sacrament of Penance approach one of the priests, confess their sins, receive absolution, and do their penance. There can be a common penance which each of the priests assign to those who come to them. The rite may conclude with a final dismissal and a hymn.
General Absolution: In an emergency or when there is an unmanageable number of penitents who would have to wait a long time to celebrate the sacrament of Penance, a priest may absolve those gathered from their sins without the individual confession of sins. This form can be used, for example, when an airplane is crashing or when troops are entering battle. It may also be used when there is a large number of people gathered without a sufficient number of priests and the people would have to wait as much as a month to receive the sacrament. Those who receive this form of Penance are required to confess all their serious sins at the next available opportunity. Clearly, this third form of the sacrament is not envisioned as a regular practice. It is for unusual and extraordinary circumstances.
Only bishops and priests have the power to forgive sins.
The Lord forgives sins in virtue of the Cross and Resurrection.
A priest or bishop, when he celebrates the sacrament of Penance, is acting in the person of Christ. Through his ordination, a priest or bishop can act in the person of Christ when celebrating the sacraments.
A priest or bishop may never, under any circumstances, reveal the sins of a penitent to anyone for any reason. This is called the SEAL OF CONFESSION.
Information on this page was taken from Outlines of the Catholic Faith with permission from The Leaflet Missal Company. Click here for more information about Leaflet Missal Company publications.