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SACRAMENTS: Reconciliation/Penance
 Last revised:
March 13, 2008 11:47 AM
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The tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to
hear him, at which the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, "This man welcomes
sinners and eats with them." Then he addressed this parable to them: "
Which among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave
the ninety-nine in the wasteland and follow the one until he finds it? And when
he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders in jubilation. Once arrived home, he
invites friends and neighbors in and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I
have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven
over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need
to repent." ~ Luke 15:1-7 | On
this Page: Reconciliation (Penance) - Children
| Reconciliation (Penance) - Teens
& Adults Sins: venial vs. mortal, seven deadly
sins and seven virtues Examination of Conscience |
How to Go To Confession | Randys Rummage:
Reconciliation Reconciliation
(Penance) - Children Children over the age of 7-8 who have been participating
in parish life and the faith formation program at St. Blase are invited to take
part in the preparation process for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The process
includes workshops offered in October-November for children and their parents.
The workshops are designed to foster a greater understanding of the concepts of
grace, sin, and forgiveness, and to support the faith formation already happening
in the home and in the family faith program. Each part of the preparation
process provides opportunities for families to share their experiences and reflect
on their journey of faith. The process involves parents recognizing they are the
most important teachers in their children's lives. Preparation process
includes: - Parent orientation
- Parent/Child Thursday evening
workshops
It is our expectation that all children would have
completed the preparation process by the end of 5th grade. Contact Pat Pakizer
at the Parish Office at (586) 268-2244. Reconciliation
(Penance) - Teens & Adults For baptized Catholic TEENS and ADULTS
who have never celebrated the sacrament or have been away from the sacrament for
several years, please call Mary Dumm, Pastoral Associate through the Parish
Office at (586) 268-2244 for assistance in determining the best way to prepare.
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Sins: Venial vs. Mortal,
The Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Virtues |
For generations of Catholics the opening words for the sacrament of
Reconciliation (Penance), "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned,"
represented the very essence of Catholic sorrow for sin. Today children are encouraged
to understand that sin is a matter of making choices for which they are responsible,
and to reconcile with those whom they may have offended. SINS - Venial
Sins: A venial sin is an act that is not fully consistent with an orientation
toward God and Christian morality.
- Mortal Sins: A sin is considered
mortal if (1) the act was seriously sinful, (2) the sinner knew it was seriously
sinful, but (3) did it willingly with full awareness that it was a rupture with
God, the world, and the self.
| The Seven Deadly Sins - Pride
- Avarice
- Lust
- Anger
- Gluttony
- Envy
- Sloth
| The Seven Virtues - Faith
- Hope
- Love
- Prudence
- Fortitude
- Temperance
- Justice
|
From: Inside Catholicism: Rituals and Symbols
Revealed, by Richard P. McBrien, 1995 |
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Examination of Conscience From:
" Brother, save yourself "by very Rev. James Alberione, S.S.P, S.T.D.
| | Prior to confession,
as well as each day in our life, we should compare our lives with the ten commandments.
Only through sincere examination can we identify our faults and know what we must
confess and where we must strive to live more as Christ would have us live. Consider
the following: [1] I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange
gods before me. - Do I give God time every day in prayer?
- Do
I seek to love Him with my whole heart?
- Have I been involved with superstitious
practices or have I been involved with the occult?
- Do I seek to surrender
myself to God's Word as taught by the Church?
- Have I ever received Communion
in a state of mortal sin?
- Have I ever deliberately told a lie in confession
or have I withheld a mortal sin from the priest in confession?
[2]
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. - Have
I used God's name in vain: lightly or carelessly?
- Have I been angry with
God?
- Have I wished evil upon another person?
- Have I insulted
a sacred person or abused a sacred object?
[3] Remember to keep
holy the Lord's Day. - Have I deliberately missed Mass on Sundays
or Holy Days of Obligation?
- Have I tried to observe Sunday as a family
day and a day of rest?
- Do I do needless work on Sunday?
[4]
Honor your Father and your Mother. - Do I honor and obey my parents?
- Have I neglected my duties to my spouse and children?
- Have I
given my family good religious example?
- Do I try to bring peace into
my home life?
- Do I care for my aged and infirm relatives?
[5]
You shall not kill. - Have I had an abortion or encouraged anyone
to have an abortion?
- Have I physically harmed anyone?
- Have I
abused alcohol or drugs?
- Did I give scandal to anyone, thereby leading
them into sin?
- Have I been angry or resentful?
- Have I harbored
hatred in my heart?
- Have I mutilated myself through any form of sterilization?
- Have I encouraged or condoned sterilization?
[6] You
shall not commit adultery. - Have I been faithful to my marriage
vows in thought and action?
- Have I engaged in any sexual activity outside
of marriage?
- Have I used any method of contraception or artificial birth
control in my marriage?
- Has each sexual act in my marriage been open
to the transmission of new life?
- Have I been guilty of masturbation?
- Have I sought to control my thoughts?
- Have I respected all members
of the opposite sex, or have I thought of other people as objects?
- Have
I been guilty of any homosexual activity?
- Do I seek to be chaste in my
thoughts, words and actions?
- Am I careful to dress modestly?
[7]
You shall not steal. - Have I stolen what is not mine?
- Have
I returned or made restitution for what I have stolen?
- Do I waste time
at work, school or at home?
- Do I gamble excessively, thereby denying
my family of their needs?
- Do I pay my debts promptly?
- Do I seek
to share what I have with the poor?
[8] You shall not bear false
witness against your neighbor. - Have I lied?
- Have I gossiped?
- Have I spoken behind someone else's back?
- Am I sincere in my
dealings with others?
- Am I critical, negative or uncharitable in my thoughts
of others?
- Do I keep secret what should be kept confidential?
[9]
You shall not desire your neighbor's wife. - Have I consented to
impure thoughts?
- Have I caused them by impure reading, movies, conversations
or curiosity?
- Do I seek to control my imagination?
- Do I pray
at once to banish impure thoughts and temptations?
[10] You shall
not desire your neighbor's goods. - Am I jealous of what other
people have?
- Do I envy the families or possessions of others?
- Am
I greedy or selfish?
- Are material possessions the purpose of my life?
- Do I trust that God will care for all of my material and spiritual needs?
Imprimatur: + Francis Cardinal Spellman Archbishop
of New York | Nihil Obstat: John M.A. Fearns, S.T.D
Censor Librorum | The Precepts of the Church:
- You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation and rest from
servile labor.
- You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
- You
shall receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter Season.
- You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the
Church.
- You shall help provide for the needs of the Church.
The
Two Greatest Commandments: - You shall love the Lord your God with
your whole heart, with your whole soul and with all your mind.
- You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.
|
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How to Go To Confession There
is the opportunity for private celebrations of the sacrament every Saturday at
3:00 PM. Communal celebrations are scheduled during Advent and Lent. The Sacrament
of Penance may also be made by appointment. | |
1. PREPARATION: Before going to confession, the penitent compares his
or her life with the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the example of Christ
and then prays to God for forgiveness. 2. GOING TO CONFESSION: When
you enter the Reconciliation Room, you may kneel before a screen or walk around
it to sit face-to-face with the priest. (Since face-to-face confession is new
for some, the rest of this will deal with that option. Keep in mind that you don't
have to know any spoken formulas or actions, The priest will guide you through
it). Normal greetings ("Good afternoon") are fine. 3. THE
WORD OF GOD: After the priest welcomes you, both of you make the sign of the
cross. Then you may wish to indicate facts about your life, the time of the last
confession, difficulties in leading the Christian life, and anything else that
may help the priest. After the Sign of the Cross, the priest will say a spontaneous
prayer and then read a short passage from Scripture. (If you wish, you can bring
along your own choice of a Scripture passage). 4. CONFESSION OF SINS
AND THE ACT OF PENANCE: You are then invited to express your sins and place
them before God for forgiveness and healing. This is best done in a conversational
way, and the priest is part of the conversation. The priest then gives a "penance"
which may be a prayer or a good work that will help bring healing. 5.
PRAYER OF THE PENITENT: You are invited to express sorrow for your sins -
a traditional "Act of Contrition" or one in your own words. Pray a prayer
expressing sorrow for your sins and resolving not to sin again. Two suggested
prayers are given here: 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. (Act of Contrition, Rite of Penance, no. 45) 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. (Rite of
Penance, no. 91) 6. ABSOLUTION: The priest extends
his hands over your head and pronounces the formula of absolution, making the
sign of the cross over your head during the final words. You answer, Amen.(You
may remain seated, or kneel.) 7. PROCLAMATION OF PRAISE: Praise
the mercy of God and give him thanks in a short invocation taken from Scripture,
such as Rejoice in the Lord and sing for joy, friends of God (Ps 32:1-7,
10-1 1), The Lord has remembered his mercy (Lk 1:46-55), or Blessed
be God who chose us in Christ (Eph 1:3-10) (Rite of Penance, no. 206). 8.
DISMISSAL: The priest dismisses you with the command to go in peace. Continue
to express your conversion through a life renewed according to the Gospel and
more and more steeped in the love of God. Normal "good-byes" are fine
as you leave. Based on the 2005
Little Black Book for Lent by Diocese of Saginaw www.dioceseofsaginaw.org
and How To Go to Confession from http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/examinationofconscience.html
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Randys
Rummage: Reconciliation
It is the time of year when some of our
youngsters celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. Yesterday
was the first of several opportunities for them and their families to experience
the forgiveness and love of Christ in this sacrament. Back in Lent I tried something
I had wanted to experiment with for many years: adding extra times and dates for
private reconciliation. I was unsure if I would be busy or spend most of the time
in prayer and reading. I was more than pleasantly surprised. I heard confessions
for almost the entire hour and a half during both sessions. I will continue this
practice and also add an opportunity for private reconciliation in the upcoming
Advent Season.
I realize that some stay away from this sacrament because
it has been so long and they are embarrassed. Others have forgotten
what to do. I hope the following helps allay these concerns. I most
priests today place little weight on the how to of this sacrament.
Following the right procedures or knowing the right words
are not all that important. Priests are more interested in assisting someone in
their journey of conversion. Hence the language change from confession
to reconciliation is significant. Confession places emphasis on only
one part of this sacrament ones sins. Reconciliation speaks of the
overall purpose of the sacrament.
Reconciliation is a process and requires
more than thirty seconds! A big part of this sacrament happens before one enters
the reconciliation room. It is hoped that the penitent (the person confessing)
has taken time to reflect on their life. Instead of presenting a grocery list
of sins (I did this so many times and that so many times) it is preferred that
the penitent come prepared to discuss a problem area in their life or a pattern
that their various sins point toward. One way to do this is to start with the
grocery list and then try to discern a pattern or root cause for the
various offenses. If you are having difficulty doing this, come with your grocery
list and sometimes in hearing you the priest can help discern a pattern. (Because
we are too close to a situation we sometimes fail to see a pattern but another
person listening to us can detect it.)
Upon entering the reconciliation
room you have a choice: face to face (sit in the chair) or anonymous (kneel behind
the screen.) Either way the seal of the sacrament is absolute. Personally, I prefer
face to face. Body language is a major aspect of communication. When someone chooses
face to face it allows me to better appreciate how they are feeling and what they
are experiencing. Still, I know many avoid this option because now father knows
who I am and what I have done. This fear is groundless. First, I am deeply
concerned about the penitents welfare. I am not interested in keeping books.
Second, there are too many parishioners for me to remember every individuals
faults. Third, there is the seal of confession. Fourth, the priest goes into private
mode and what is spoken of in reconciliation remains there. Finally, I am
a sinner too. Even so, the option remains your choice. I added these remarks to
give you a sense of the priests perspective.
After situating yourself
begin with the sign of the cross, then ask for a blessing (Bless me father
for I have sinned.) Inform the priest how long it has been since your last
reconciliation. If it has been awhile welcome back! You then can read a
brief portion of scripture you have previously selected, usually one that speaks
of forgiveness. Briefly you may want to elaborate on why this passage is important
to you. From there you move into confessing your sins. The priest might offer
some suggestions for spiritual growth and assign a penance. In the old days
this was often three Hail Marys and three Our Fathers. This could still be the
case. However, it is fitting for the penance to be a specific step toward dealing
with the underlying pattern or root cause of ones sins. You will then be
asked to pray an Act of Contrition. Do not panic if you have forgotten it. You
can always express this prayer in your own words. I also keep various versions
on hand in the reconciliation room. After you have prayed, the priest will pray
the prayer of absolution. Having been reconciled to Christ and to the Church,
you are then sent forth with a simple, God bless you or Go in
the peace of Christ.
A final note: while the sacrament is no longer
a thirty second production line, neither is it designed for counseling. If you
discern a need for counseling it is okay to touch on this in the context of
the sacrament, then call to make an appointment to discuss the matter at a later
date. This maintains the integrity of the sacrament and will also keep you on
good terms with those waiting outside the reconciliation room!
Fr.
Randy Phillips, as puclished in "The Flame", November 4, 2007 |

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