| The Sacrament of Reconciliation God loves all of humanity. He delights in us. He never loses faith in us, even though we may lose faith in ourselves. He never ceases to love us, even though we may have turned our back on him and tried to reject him and his Church. God’s mercy is endless, and it gives him joy to take away our sins. When you celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, then, think more of God and His Mercy than of your sins. Your very wish to celebrate it and the effort you make to do so, are signs that God’s love is already enfolding you and his grace is at work in you. Facing your sins and naming them, can be a painful experience. But there is joy and liberation in being reconciled to the Church and to God. In your preparation, therefore, let the thought of God’s love and compassion fill you and your heart. No life is so ruined that God cannot build it up again; no heart so withered that he cannot refresh it and make it young again. Preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation As you prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, begin not by thinking about your own life, but about the life and words of Jesus. It is good to have a standard against which to measure your life and the kind of person you are. Jesus provides the standard for us Christians. He loved God and his neighbor with a love beyond all telling, and he showed it in so many ways – he was compassionate and forgiving; he mixed with sinners and outcasts. He was a friend of the sick and the poor. He trusted God, his Father, totally. It is his life and words that give meaning to our own. So, before celebrating the sacrament, spend a little time thinking about Jesus, the kind of person he was, the attitudes and values he had, the way he treated others. Think of what Jesus has to say to us today, and to our world. | Celebrating the Sacrament This is the procedure you follow when you celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Reception of the Penitent: - Beginning by making the Sign of the Cross, saying aloud; “ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
- The priest may say a welcoming prayer. You answer: “Amen”.
- The priest may read briefly from scripture. Listen attentively.
Confessions of Sins - Tell how long it is since you last went to confession, and, if you wish, any particular details about your life which may be helpful for the priest to know, e.g., whether you are married, or single, working or unemployed, etc.
- Then confess your sins. The Examination of Conscience ( above ) will help you to look at your life as a Christian and where and how you might have failed.
- The priest gives a suitable penance.
- You then express your sorrow by saying an Act of Contrition. Use any suggested prayers of sorrow (below) or speak your sorrow to God in your own words.
|
Examination of Conscience Having looked at Jesus’ life, now take time to look at your own. Here is an examination of conscience which may help you to look more closely at the serious issues in your life and where you have failed in living out your gospel calling. It is a checklist against which to measure how your life as a Christian is going. What kind of Christian am I in: - My Religious practice: Do I give time to God in Prayer ? Do I pray regularly ? Do I join my parish community for Sunday Mass ?
- My Home life: What am I like to live with? Do I make my home happy? Do I honor my marriage vows or my duties towards my parents, or children, those whom I love? Am I selfish or moody? Do I cause serious problems in my home – through abusing alcohol or drugs, being violent or bullying, being lazy or selfish?
- My relationship with others: Am I tolerant of others? Do I treat others with respect? Am I bitter towards anyone? Do I hold a grudge against anyone? Do I forgive those who hurt me? Do I look down on any group or individual because of class, race, nationality, politics, sex or religion?
- My practice of justice: Am I too fond of material things? Do I respect the needs, rights and property of others? Am I honest in my work and business relationships? Do I pay my debts and return borrowed goods? Do I cheat, steal, or make false claims? Do I respect the environment of all God’s creation?
Remember that God isn’t interested in how good a memory you have, or how many failings you discover in yourself. It is impossible to recall every fault and failing. God knows that. All God asks is that you come before him genuinely sorry for those times when you have failed him and failed the community. | Absolution from Sin ( God’s and the Church’s forgiveness) - The priest then gives you absolution, speaking Christ’s words of forgiveness.
- He finishes by saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good”
- The priest concludes the sacrament by saying, “God Bless You”.
After Confession God has forgiven you. But your celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation does not end when you come out of the confessional or leave the church. At the heart of the celebration is your undertaking, not only that, with God’s help, you will try not to sin again, but that you will show by the way you live that you are conscious of having been forgiven and reconciled with other, the Church and God. Suggested Acts of Contrition - 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. Amen.
- Our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen.
O my God, I am sorry for all my sins because they displease you, who are so good and deserving of all my love. With your help, I will not sin again Amen. |