We Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation

The simplest way to understand the celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation is to view it against the background of the parable of the prodigal son.  Recall the parable.

A father had two sons.  One day the younger one demanded his inheritance, took it, and left home.  Before long, he spent all his money "in reckless living".  Coming to his senses, he inventoried his situation, repented his sinfulness, returned home, admitted his sin, and amended his life.  He even memorized what he would say to his father.

A closer reading of the parable shows that when the son came to his senses, he did four things:

• inventoried his situation,
  ("I am about to starve!"    Luke 15:17)

• repented what he had done,
  ("I will .... go to my father."   Luke 15:18)

• confessed what he had done,
  ("I have sinned."  Luke 15:18)

• amended his life.
  ("Treat me as .... your hired workers."  Luke 15:19)

We do what the prodigal son did.

The parable of the prodigal son is a beautiful illustration of what we do in the sacrament of Reconciliation.  (CCC 1439, 1480-1484)

We do exactly what the son did.  We:

First, we inventory our sins with a view to confessing all serious sins, at least.  A serious sin (mortal sin) is one in which with full knowledge and full consent we violate God's law in a grave way, thus breaking our relationship with God and God's family - as the prodigal son did.  (CCC, 1854-1864).

Serious sins are confessed according to kind (what we did) and number (how often we did it).  Lesser sins may be confessed generically - for example, "I am not always as patient as I should be".  (CCC, 1458)

Following is a brief review of some sins of omission (not doing something that we should do) and commission (doing something we should not do).

Omission: failing in some way in our

• love of our family or others,

• work at home or our job,

• prayer or worship of God,

• patience with our family or others.

Commission:

• stealing,

• damaging property or someone's name,

• misusing alcohol, drugs, or sex,

• other (lying, getting angry, envying).

Second, we repent having sinned against God.  We express our repentance in words like these:

Third, we enter the reconciliation room to confess our sins.  (CCC 1455-1458).  We may do this either anonymously behind a screen or face-to-face.  We do four things:

• We announce our presence (if we remain behind a screen) and introduce ourselves in words like this: "Father, I'm a divorced parent of two children" (or whatever my status is).

• We state when we last confessed:  "It's been a month (ten years, or whatever) since my last confession."

• We explain any lengthy absence from the sacrament:  "The reason I don't celebrate Reconciliation more often is fear (laziness, or whatever)".

• We confess our sins:  "My sins are ________________.  This is all, Father".

Fourth, we make amends (satisfaction) to God and the community by doing what is reasonably possible to make up for any harm caused by our sin, and by performing the penance (for example, praying for those we harmed) assigned by the priest.  (CCC, 1459-1460)

The priest does what the father did.

To understand the priest's role in the celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation, we return to the parable of the prodigal son.  The priest does what the father did:

This scene portrays the father doing four things:

First, he embraced his son.  This shows that the father welcomed him back totally.  He withheld no sign of affection from him.

Second, the father put shoes on his son's feet.  This shows that the father also forgave his son totally.  In biblical times, shoes were a sign of a free person; slaves went barefoot.  When the father put shoes on his son's feet, he replaced the sign that he was a slave with the sign that said he was somebody's son.

Third, the father gave his son a ring (signet ring).  This shows that the father restored his son totally to the status he had before he ran away.  To have a signet ring of the family seal meant the son had the power to act in his family's name.

Fourth, the father ordered a banquet for his son.  This shows that the father rejoiced totally at his son's return.  Jesus said:

And so the priest does in the sacrament of Reconciliation what the father did in the parable of the prodigal son.  He

• welcomes us back totally,

• forgives us totally,

• restores us totally to our former status,

• rejoices totally in our return.

Christ instituted this sacrament because He knew that His followers would fall into sin.

This sacrament is called the Sacrament of Conversion because it restores sinners to friendship with God.  It is called the Sacrament of Penance because it consecrates the three steps required by the Church, namely, conversion, penance, and satisfaction. It is the Sacrament of Confession, because the telling of one's sins to a priest is essential for this sacrament.

This is the Sacrament of Pardon, because the sacramental absolution by a priest gives pardon and peace to the penitent.  It is the sacrament of Reconciliation because it restores God's merciful love to the penitent.

When should we celebrate Reconciliation?

People sometimes ask, "How often should we celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation?"  The obvious answer is, "As often as the  Holy Spirit touches our heart to do so."  Certainly, we will want to do so after a serious break with God and God's family.

Apart from this special situation, our celebration of the sacrament will vary.  During certain periods of our life we will experience the need or desire to celebrate more often than during others.  (CCC, 1425-1433)

Confession of Sins
&
Acceptance of Satisfaction

• The penitent speaks to the priest in a normal, conversational fashion.

• The penitent tells when he or she last celebrated the sacrament and then confesses his or her sins.

• The penitent then listens to any advice the priest may give and accepts the satisfaction from the priest.

• The penitent should ask any appropriate questions.
   

My God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God, have mercy.

- or -

Psalm 25: 6-7
Remember, Lord, your compassion and mercy you showed long ago.  Do not recall the sins and failings of my youth.  In your mercy remember me, Lord, because of your goodness.

- or -

Psalm 51: 4-5
Wash me from my guilt and cleanse me of my sin.  I acknowledge my offense: my sin is before me always.

- or -

Luke 15:18, 18: 13:
Father, I have sinned against you and am not worthy to be called your son.  Be merciful to me, a sinner.

- or -

Father of mercy, like the prodigal son I return to you and say: "I have sinned against you and am no longer worthy to be called your son."  Christ Jesus, Savior of the world, I pray with the repentant thief to whom you promised Paradise:  "Lord, remember me in your kingdom."  Holy Spirit, fountain of Love, I call on you with trust:  "Purify my heart, and help me to walk as a child of light.

- or -

Lord Jesus, you opened the eyes of the blind, healed the sick, forgave the sinful woman, and after Peter's denial confirmed him in your Love.  Listen to my prayer: forgive all my sins, renew your Love in my heart, help me to live in perfect unity with my fellow Christians that I may proclaim your saving power to all the world.

- or -

Lord Jesus, you chose to be called the friend of sinners.  By your saving death and resurrection free me from my sins.  May your peace take root in my heart and bring forth a harvest of Love, Holiness, and Truth.

- or -

Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Lamb of God; you take away the sins of the world.  Through the grace of the Holy Spirit restore me to friendship with your Father, cleanse me from every stain of sin in the blood you shed for me, and raise me to new life for the glory of your name.

- or -

Lord God, in your goodness have mercy on me; do not look on my sins, but take away all my guilt.  Create in me a clean heart and renew within me an upright spirit.

- or -

Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

ABSOLUTION:
(If the penitent is not kneeling, he or she bows his or her head as the priest extends his hands - or at least extends his right hand.)

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 the Holy Spirit.

(The penitent replies:)
Amen.

The Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are celebrated for children 7 years or older who have participated in at least ONE YEAR of Religious Education.  Since St. Justin, Martyr applies  a Family based program in preparing children for these Sacraments, parental participation is expected.
 

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