what is reconciliation?
The Sacrament of Penance is also called the Sacrament of Reconciliation, of forgiveness, of conversion, or of confession. This is the sacrament in which a sinner is reconciled to Christ and to the Church through our Lord's mercy.
what is the FORm?
The minister of the sacrament must say:
"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."
"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."
what is the MATTER?
The matter of Penance is the individual's sins, contrition, the confession of sins, and the priest's words of absolution.
who is the MINISTER?
A priest or a bishop are the only ones who may hear a confession and absolve sins in the name of Christ. It is always Jesus who forgives our sins; the priest/bishop stand in, representing the Church and offer us Christ's forgiveness.
What is the rite?
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Reconciliation can be face-to-face or anonymous, with a screen between you and the priest. Before going to Confession, one must complete an examination of conscience. Through this, a person identifies what sins they have committed and what they need to confess. When at Confession, the minister will start by giving you a blessing or a greeting. Then, the person confessing makes the sign of the cross and confesses their sins to the priest or bishop. The minister will talk about the sins in order to help them fully understand what they have done. Then, they will give the person penance. Penance is an action done to repent for one's sins; it is usually some form of prayer or fasting. The minister will then say, "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." The recipient will then move to a pew, where they can pray or complete their penance. After completing Penance, a recipient is absolved of their sins and is forgiven.
who can receive penance?
Anyone who is in mortal sin, who desires the grace of Reconciliation, or is in need of spiritual healing or guidance may go to Reconciliation.
how many times can this sacrament be received?
This sacrament should be received at least once per year, but most recommend going monthly. There is no maximum amount of times you can receive penance; you can go as often as necessary.
what are the effects of reconciliation?
1) Forgiveness of serious sin.
2) Reunification with the Church.
3) Cleansing of conscience.
4) Restoration of Grace.
2) Reunification with the Church.
3) Cleansing of conscience.
4) Restoration of Grace.
how can you prepare for reconciliation?
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In order to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, you must examine your conscience. An examination of conscience is a personal process through which a person remembers and identifies their sins in order to recall them in confession. The examination should be done thoroughly. Click here to read an examination of conscience for teenagers. The insight into one's personal guilt produces a longing to better oneself; this is called contrition and it prepares a person for repentance. We get contrition when we see the contradiction between God's love and our sin. No one can be absolved from their sin without real contrition.
my first experience at reconciliation
My first Reconciliation was at my home parish, St. Kilian, when I was in 2nd grade. At the time, I was only 7 years old and I remember how daunting the idea of confession was to me. I went with my religious education class and I remember waiting in the long line thinking about what I should confess. My class had learned about the sacrament the week before, so I knew what I would have to do. At the time, I didn't realize the severity of the Sacrament or how powerful it truly was. I vividly remember how scared I was of the priest and I wasn't completely familiar with the idea of penance. My first Confession was face-to-face; I remember walking in and immediately calming down because of the familiarity of the priest. The priest walked me through the Confession and by the end of the Confession, I was happy and relieved at how easy and assuring the experience was. Now, I feel more confident walking into a Confession, knowing that the outcome will leave me cleansed of my sins, having deepened my relationship with God.
reconciliation at my local parish
At St. Kilian in Farmingdale, NY, Reconciliation is offered Monday from 1:00pm to 1:30pm and Saturday 4:00pm to 5:00pm.