The Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Catholic Church

The Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation in the Catholic Church
The sacrament of Reconciliation is the sacrament that celebrates the divine power to forgive our sins and renew our love for God and people.
Its Different Names
Confession, Reconciliation, Penance,
Its Essential Elements
The Catholic Church teaches the primary elements of the Sacrament are contrition, confession, and satisfaction. The sinner confesses his sins and vocalizes his internal repentance. The priest then gives penance and through the power of his ordination, pronounces the words of absolution.
Contrition
The Council of Trent, defines contrition as: "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again" (#1451). The Catholic Church recognizes two types of contrition, perfect and imperfect. Perfect contrition means that we are sorry for our sins because we love God above all else and recognize that we've offended him. Imperfect contrition is a sense of being sorry that comes from imperfect motives, i.e. fear of hell or recognizing how awful our sin is.
Confession
Confession in the Catholic Church is not like the politician's "mistakes were made." On the contrary, it is an owning up to our own responsibility in our sinfulness by naming specific shortcomings. We must tell the priest all the mortal sins. In confession we are expected to do an "examination of conscience," where we reach deep into our souls and recall the sins we have committed.
Absolution
The absolution remits the guilt and the eternal punishment of mortal sin. After the confession, the person will make an "act of contrition" which is an outward prayer in front of the priest that affirms the person's inward state of being sorry. Then the priest will give counsel and assign a penance. Finally, the priest says the words of absolution and we are forgiven, a cause of great rejoicing! The priest is not the source of forgiveness.
Satisfaction
It is simply making reparation to God for our wrongs we have done. The Catholic Church does not burden people with excessive penances and the priest usually assigns a few prayers or an act of charity. The early Church, as noted above, strongly believed in the concept of penance.
Its Four Parts
Contrition – we feel great sorrow for our sins
Confession – we unburden our sins
Absolution – we are assured of God's forgiveness
Satisfaction – we perform an act of penance
Its Free Gifts of God's Mercy and Forgiveness
Lift the burden of sin
Renew the grace of Baptism
Give inner peace and a new strength of purpose

F r E e D o M

F r E e D o M

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:13-16

“Preserve Your Freedom”

Man was liberated by Jesus Christ from the bondage of sin so that he will never be slave again.

Sinful human desires or selfish human inclinations are contrary to freedom when they oppose us to do what is good for ourselves.

He is gifted with freedom to direct his actions towards what is good and not to be ruled by his irrational instincts.

He has the capacity to love others and to follow the law of God.

Church Teaching

Catechism for Filipino Catholics

a.CFC 694

Authentic Freedom is not the right to say and do anything but to do the good. (CCC 1740)
> not found in prejudice, deceit or ignorance but in truth.
–The TRUTH will set you FREE.( John 8:32 )

> 3 Pillars of Freedom
1. Truth about Jesus the Savior
2. Truth about the Church
3. Truth about Man and his Dignity

b.CFC 696

Freedom from- everything that opposes our true self- becoming with others in the community.

2 Obstacles:
Interior- ignorance, disordered passions, fears, personality defects, bad habits, prejudices, psychological disturbances
Exterior- violent force, threat of violence

•Greatest obstacle to authentic freedom is SIN.
•True freedom is freedom from the SLAVERY OF SIN.


c.CFC 697

Freedom for…
> freedom for growing as full persons and children of God
> freedom found in AUTHENTIC LOVE

2 Levels of Freedom
1. Freedom of Choice which direct my moral acts.
2. The fundamental freedom of my very self.

Baptism of Jesus Account

Baptism of Jesus
(Matthew 3: 13-17)

Baptism means (1) to be washed (2) to be buried (to be immersed) and in spiritual meaning, (3) to pass on sin by laying on of hands, as ministered in the Old Testament days. In the New Testament, the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist was to wash away all the sins of the world.
The baptism of Jesus has the meaning of taking away the sins of all mankind, to wash away the sins of the world. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the representative of all human beings and the High Priest of the lineage of Aaron, and took all the sins of the world upon Himself. This was the purpose of His baptism.
The spiritual meaning of the word baptism is to pass on, to be buried. So, the baptism of Jesus means that all sins were passed onto Jesus and that He was judged instead of us. In order to save mankind, Jesus had to take away our sins with His baptism and die for them.
Thus, His death is also the death of you and me, all the sinners of the world, and His resurrection is the resurrection of all people. His sacrifice is the salvation of sinners, and His baptism is the very witness to washing away all the sins of humankind.
The Bible tells us, There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (1 Peter 3:21). The baptism of Jesus is the righteous way of saving all humanity by washing away our sins.

Reference: http://www.bjnewlife.org/english/bstudy/terms_07.php

An Assignment

Christology
1. Make a line of investigation on what happened when Christ was baptized.
2. Explain briefly why there is one good news but four Gospels.

Christian Morality
1. Delve into the church teachings on FREEDOM.
2. Analyze the relation of the film, "BRUCE ALMIGHTY" into HUMAN FREEDOM.

What is Morality?

Final and Perfect Definition of Morality
Morality is... a science; concerned about what ought to be; judging right from wrong in the light of revelation; one's act of responsibility; and responding to all personal invitations of Jesus Christ.

> Michael Pennock

SMCB -GK Fusion

St. Mary's College of Baliuag
Gawad Kalinga

A Joyful Encounter with GOD

A sailor was stucked in an island where he is the only survivor.

He made a hut for his shelter, day and night he prays and waits for someone to rescue him but no one came.

He stored food in the hut for his survival, but one day the hut burned to ashes and nothing was left of it.

He was so angry, he said, "GOD, why have you done this to me!".

The next morning, rescuers came.

He asked: "How did you know I'm here?".

They replied, "We saw a smoke signal."


Lesson:
Trust GOD when misfortune happens.
HIS plans are always GREATER than yours!