The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Penance is God’s gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In confession, we can repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. – Penance | USCCB

Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance to offer us a new possibility of converting and recovering, after Baptism, the grace of justification. This is why Christ wanted the Church to continue his work of healing and salvation through this sacrament. Let us be clear on the fact that Forgiveness is not the fruit of our own efforts but rather a gift. It is given to us by the Holy Spirit, who fills us with the fountain of mercy and grace that flows unceasingly from the open heart of the Crucified and Risen Christ. Sometimes, we get people to ask us why they should go to confession. In most cases, l simply tell them that we go to confession because we need to regain the new life that God gave to us in baptism that has been weakened and lost through sin. The sacrament of penance also helps to sanctify us, build up the Body of Christ, and help us give worship to God in thanksgiving.

 TheBible tells us that through the Sacrament of Penance, God offers mercy and forgiveness to us and in response to this gift, we are called to become vehicles of Christ’s love, making amends and restoring justice and the promise that have been broken. Also, we are challenged to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us because we are liberated to be forgivers. When Jesus commanded His apostles to go and forgive sins, He meant it by saying that whose sins they forgive are forgiven and whose sins they retain are retained.  However, He went further to say,” Therefore, I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:22-32). Considering this strong warning therefore, we are called to be careful of what we say particularly when we are angry or when things are not going well for us so that we do not say things that will be considered as a sin against the Holy Spirit.

Before the time of Christ, the virtue of penance was the only means by which people’s sins could be forgiven. Back then, the sinner willingly hated his/her sins as an offense against God and made a firm purpose of amendment and satisfaction. Nevertheless, we see today those outside the Catholic Church, not having the sacrament of Penance and see the virtue of penance as the only means for forgiveness of sins.  Be that as it may, Catholics see the Sacrament of penance and reconciliation as one of the two sacraments that bring spiritual healing to them when they discover that they have distanced themselves from God by committing sins.  So, for them to fully benefit from this sacrament, they go to confession and follow these steps:

• The penitent examines his/ her conscience and is sorry for the sins.
• Goes to confession to a priest- the priest here acts as an agent for Christ as He directed to His disciples at the last supper.
• Gets absolution from the priest and
• Carries out the penance given by the priest.
• This exercise gives the Catholic the peace of mind that has no substitute. It gives the peace of mind that flows from a certainty of hope that his/ her sins have been forgiven and that he/she is right with God again.

Nonetheless, let us all treasure the sacrament of penance and remember that Jesus Christ died on the Cross to redeem us from sin and its consequences, especially from eternal death.