Play-by-Play
The penitent prepares to receive the sacrament by this reflection upon his thoughts, words, deeds, and omissions.
What is an examination of conscience?
In response to the grumbling of the Pharisees, Jesus heals the paralytic in order to provide evidence that he has the power to do this. (Mk 2:1-12; Mt 9:2-8; Lk 5:17-26)
What is forgive sins?
In the prayer of absolution, the priest asks that God may grant the penitent these two fruits “through the ministry of the Church” immediately before he absolves the sins of the penitent.
What are pardon and peace?
When God presents an opportunity for contrition and repentance to this Old Testament couple by asking them “Where are you?”, they instead blame others for their sin.
Who are Adam and Eve?
In order to make a valid confession (i.e. for their sins to actually be forgiven), the penitent must name all of these of which he is aware (as well as indicating an approximate number of occurrences).
What are mortal sins?
The priest assigns this to the penitent for him to participate in God’s work to repair and heal the harm caused by his sins.
What is a penance?
After the Resurrection, Jesus appears to these men, breathes the Holy Spirit upon them, and tells them “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:19-23)
Who are the Apostles?
Not only does Reconciliation restore our relationship with God, but it also restores our relationship with this group, represented by the person of the priest.
Who is the Church?
This Old Testament prophet tells King David a parable in order to awaken his conscience and bring him to repentance after he has Uriah killed and takes his wife, Bathsheba.
Who is the Prophet Nathan?
While it is not strictly necessary to confess these sins, doing so is strongly encouraged as it opens our hearts more fully to the Father’s mercy, heals and forms us, and strengthens us to resist sin and temptation.
What are venial sins?
The penitent begins the sacrament with this step, in which he names his faults.
What is Confession (of sins)?
After encountering Jesus, this man makes restitution for his past sins by giving half his possessions to the poor and repaying fourfold anyone he extorted money from.
Who is Zacchaeus?
If it has been lost through mortal sin, this gift of God’s own life within us is restored through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
What is sanctifying grace?
During this Jewish feast, the high priest laid his hands on a goat, confessed the sins of the people, and then sent the goat off into the desert to carry away the sins of the people. This is where we get the word “scapegoat”. (Lev 16)
What is Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement)?
Grave matter, full knowledge, and full consent of the will.
What are the conditions for mortal sin?
This is the prayer said by the priest which gives the forgiveness of sins.
What is absolution?
Jesus tells this sinner to “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” (John 8:1-11)
Who is the woman caught in adultery?
As we are sent back into the battle of the Christian life renewed in spirit, Reconciliation gives us this that by God’s help we may be victorious in the battle?
What is the strength to resist sin (and temptation)?
This Psalm is the most famous of the Penitential Psalms and was written by King David after he repented of having Uriah killed and taking his wife. [Reading from the psalm.]
What is Psalm 51?
This type of contrition flows from a love of God and even obtains the forgiveness sins prior to receiving the sacrament.
What is perfect contrition?
This is the first act of the penitent by which he experiences sorrow and detestation for his sins and a resolve to not sin again.
What is contrition?
This Latin phrase explains why the priest speaks in 1st person when he says “I absolve you…”
What is in persona Christi?
While it always remits (erases) completely the eternal punishment of mortal sin, Reconciliation may only partially remit this second consequence of sin. This second consequence of sin is important for our understanding of indulgences and Purgatory.
What is the temporal punishment (of sin)?
In Leviticus 4 and 5, these sacrifices, by which “the priest shall make atonement for [their sin] and it will be forgiven”, are delineated for different persons and cases.
What are sin offerings?
Also known as imperfect contrition, this type of contrition flows from a recognition of the ugliness of sin or a fear of punishment. It is sufficient for the reception of forgiveness in Reconciliation.
What is attrition?