Which name do YOU prefer, and how well do you know this sacrament so
helpful in achieving Divine intimacy, and so vital in fighting the battles against the flesh, the world, and the devil?
The fourth part of the spiritual warfare series focuses on
gaining a better understanding of, and appreciation for, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a tremendous gift given to us by our most loving and merciful God.
This post presents just a small sense of what this sacrament means to humanity in general and you as an individual. Hopefully it encourages you to learn more about the Sacrament of Christ’s Peace, apply it to your own life, and teach others this important information by word and by your example.
This post presents just a small sense of what this sacrament means to humanity in general and you as an individual. Hopefully it encourages you to learn more about the Sacrament of Christ’s Peace, apply it to your own life, and teach others this important information by word and by your example.
Guaranteed, your life will never be the same!
Rest assured that this sacrament is necessary for every one of us because every one of us has a fallen human nature. Also know that God’s love and mercy are available to every single person, without exception. Go for yourself, and go to obtain graces for others!
Rest assured that this sacrament is necessary for every one of us because every one of us has a fallen human nature. Also know that God’s love and mercy are available to every single person, without exception. Go for yourself, and go to obtain graces for others!
Part II: Do You Know What Weapons You Need to Fight the Spiritual Battles Against Evil and Win? Perhaps Some of Them May Surprise You
Part III: Suggestions for Making Your Confessions More Powerful, Intimate, and Meaningful
And now Part IV:
The Sacrament of
Penance and Reconciliation
1422 “Those who
approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the
offense committed against Him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the
Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example,
and by prayer labors for their conversion.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, p.
396
Did you know that the Sacrament of Penance goes by many
different names? It is called
the Sacrament of Conversion, the Sacrament of Penance, the Sacrament of Confession,
the Sacrament of Forgiveness, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.Servant of God, Father John A. Hardon, S.J. referred to it as the Sacrament of Christ’s Peace.
Other delightful names are the Sacrament of Humility, the Sacrament of Healing, and the Sacrament of Divine Intimacy. St. John Bosco referred to it as the devil’s bankruptcy, and we can also call it the Sacrament of Catholic Courage, Spiritual Warfare, or Spiritual Combat.
Do you have a
preferred title among them? Or, do you prefer a title of your own.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this is what
some of the names imply in particular:
Sacrament of Conversion
because it makes sacramentally
present Jesus’ call to conversion, which is the first step in returning to the
Father from whom we stray when we sin.
Sacrament of Penance consecrates
the Christian sinner’s personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and
satisfaction.
Did you know it was this meaningful? Read on!
Did you know it was this meaningful? Read on!
Sacrament of Confession
because the disclosure, or
confession, of our sins to a priest is an essential element, our confession or
acknowledgement and praise of the holiness of God and of His mercy toward
sinful man.
Sacrament of Forgiveness since penitents are granted pardon
and peace by the priest’s sacramental absolution.
Sacrament of
Reconciliation because it imparts to the sinner the love of God who
reconciles by the words “Be reconciled to God.”
When we accept God’s love and mercy, we are ready/equipped to respond to
the Lord’s call that we be reconciled to one another.
Some other unofficial names and meanings:
Sacrament of Healing; perhaps one of the most under appreciated
and least considered benefits of making good Confessions is the healing power of God's graces. Penitents are relieved of the burdens of guilt and shame sinning imposes upon our moral consciences. While this state of spiritual disequilibrium can help us because we then feel remorse and want to reconcile with God, the devil can also use these feelings against us and try to stop us from confessing. After having asked for and received pardon for their sins, penitents have greater mercy for others.
Sacrament of Divine
Intimacy; when we willingly are honest,
sincere, and humble while seeking pardon and ask to be reconciled with
our most loving Creator, our actions show we love Him in return and we grow closer to God. The setting is intimate, the discourse
is intimate, the reason we are there is intimate, admitting our sins is
intimate, our love is intimate, and our relationship with God is intimate.
Sacrament of Catholic
Courage; it takes great courage to be humble, admit one’s faults, be truly
sorry, and be committed to amending one’s life. We need God’s grace to accomplish this; and what takes place in the confessional is totally supernatural and transforming. Grace is necessary for us to accomplish good and fight evil. This sacrament is very, very powerful, makes us stronger, and is indispensible in helping us fight temptation AND WIN.
The Sacrament of
Humility; by this name, we come to better understand that this
sacrament is a very powerful way to break the devil’s hold on
us. Humility causes the demons to bid a hasty
retreat. When we apologize, we are
humble. When we submit to our confessor,
we are humble. When measuring our unworthiness against the love and mercy of God, we are humbled.
“We cannot content
ourselves, as the Pharisees did, with simply not doing harm to our
neighbor; we must practice toward him a
positive fraternal charity. It is not
enough ”not to kill” in order to escape “the Judgment,” the Master teaches, but
“whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment.
"It is useless to make
an exterior display of goodness is this does not proceed from a good
conscience, a sincere heart. It does not
suffice to avoid giving outward offense to our neighbor; we must avoid, or rather, repress our inner
resentment. ... Jesus asks great delicacy
of us in all our exterior dealings with our neighbor He demands that we avoid not only offensive
acts but even words that might hurt another.
~ Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D., Divine Intimacy, pp. 670-671.
~ Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D., Divine Intimacy, pp. 670-671.
So much more could be said about the Sacrament of
Reconciliation! One final thought to end
Part IV, from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Daily conversion and penance find their source
and nourishment in the Eucharist, for in it is made present the sacrifice of
Christ which has reconciled us with God.
Through the Eucharist those who live from the life of Christ are fed and
strengthened. “It is a remedy to free us
from our daily faults and to preserve us from mortal sins.” ~ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1436.
What follows is an actual confession, which is included as an example, to help you make every one of your confessions deeply personal and meaningful.
Part III of this series provides more examples for you to consider as you make your examinations of conscience and, together with the Holy Spirit, determine what you should say to God each time you go. Remember, details differ because they are personal to each individual penitent.
So pray, and then make your examinations of conscience and confessions deeply intimate, personal, meaningful, and loving!
Soon, you
will be so astounded by your spiritual progress and by how you have grown closer to God by leaps
and bounds, and will find yourself absolutely loving going to confession, if
you don’t already!
Don't just be Catholic. Be PROFOUNDLY Catholic!!
Don't just be Catholic. Be PROFOUNDLY Catholic!!
Sample of a Confession
The Sign of the Cross. Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last
confession was two weeks ago.
My most loving and merciful God,
I kneel here at the foot of the
Cross to ask for Your pardon for having offended You. I remain so incapacitated and in great
discomfort, and doing even the simplest things has been incredibly difficult, especially being kind, patient,
and positive. But even though it doesn’t always feel like it, my health is
improving and I am so grateful to You for allowing me to attend Holy Mass and
receive You in the Blessed Sacrament most days.
That brings me great joy, my Jesus!
Lord, I freely consented to accept
this cross which most recently has me unified with Your suffering body attached
to the Cross, so cruelly stretched as to cause you unfathomable torment. You suffered so horribly to atone for my sins
because You are so loving, and I thank You for the opportunity to offer You
reparation for my many offenses against Your Divine majesty.
I apologize to you for my tremendous
pride, my worldliness, lack of fraternal charity, impatience, negative
disposition, and for the many times I have spoken to others harshly, including
(name), (name), and (name).
Thank You for Your incredible
generosity, for what You have restored in me, for those beautiful moments of
Divine intimacy, for teaching me so many things, for being willing to use me as an instrument of Your unfathomable
love, and for Your great mercy. May all
of my brothers and sisters benefit from the mercy and pardon obtained here at
the foot of Your Cross. Please heal
those in need, and may we all come to know and love You as we should.
Please help the dying, convert
sinners, and liberate the Holy Souls in purgatory.
My sweet, gentle, patient, and
innocent Jesus, I trust in You! And now, as You have requested, my poor soul
arises to begin again and though unworthy, I submit to Your most perfect
will. Do with me as You please. I give
myself entirely to You, and promise to love and honor You all the days of my
life.
* * *
The following
reconciliation prayer was written during a moment of Divine intimacy, and was used for years as a prayer before going into the confessional. Then one day when the penitent was very sick, the good Lord requested that it be said that morning during the actual Confession. Feel free to say it as it is, modify it to make it personal, or use it as a guide to create your own.
A Reconciliation Prayer
Oh sweet Author of Life,
Your pardon I seek as I kneel before Your Cross.
Lord, forgive me.
Immerse me in Your compassion,
for I have so little to offer you.
Even my petition for forgiveness comes from You.
You long for my approach, though wounded,
so generously willing to exchange human iniquity
with the Love that annihilates and saves,
when the soul but accepts Your invitation.
I give my nothingness entirely to You.
Divine Justice, have mercy on me,
and may all my brothers and sisters benefit also,
especially those most in need of Your saving grace.
Blood of Christ wash over me,
and transform my self into You.
Make of me the mirror
that reflects Your love to Your beloved.
I thank You for Your sacrifice and invitation,
for Your patience while awaiting my response,
as I seek Your will
while You encourage me to make my own choices.
For lovingly creating, guiding, and consoling me,
for all You have generously given me,
including the grace to recognize
that which on my own I cannot see.
For allowing me to lose, that I may win.
For giving me the opportunity to journey with You
along Your Way of the Cross.
I accept Your love,
and return to You my heart united with Yours
along with my obedience.
Thank You for everything, Thy will be done;
accept my petition to fill this dry well
with Your Divine Presence.
Amen.
Oh sweet Author of Life,
Your pardon I seek as I kneel before Your Cross.
Lord, forgive me.
Immerse me in Your compassion,
for I have so little to offer you.
Even my petition for forgiveness comes from You.
You long for my approach, though wounded,
so generously willing to exchange human iniquity
with the Love that annihilates and saves,
when the soul but accepts Your invitation.
I give my nothingness entirely to You.
Divine Justice, have mercy on me,
and may all my brothers and sisters benefit also,
especially those most in need of Your saving grace.
Blood of Christ wash over me,
and transform my self into You.
Make of me the mirror
that reflects Your love to Your beloved.
I thank You for Your sacrifice and invitation,
for Your patience while awaiting my response,
as I seek Your will
while You encourage me to make my own choices.
For lovingly creating, guiding, and consoling me,
for all You have generously given me,
including the grace to recognize
that which on my own I cannot see.
For allowing me to lose, that I may win.
For giving me the opportunity to journey with You
along Your Way of the Cross.
I accept Your love,
and return to You my heart united with Yours
along with my obedience.
Thank You for everything, Thy will be done;
accept my petition to fill this dry well
with Your Divine Presence.
Amen.
© Joseph Karl Publishing
Hopefully this information increases your appreciation for the beautiful Sacrament of Reconciliation, which is so valuable for our souls, as you grow in sanctity and intimacy with God.
God is at work in you!
Images taken at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Catholic Church, Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A.
Images taken at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Catholic Church, Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A.