Sacrament of Confession
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE – RECONCILIATION
By virtue of Baptism and Chrismation we have a share in the life of God; but, as we all know through personal experience, how fragile this divine life in us is. God has given each of us the freedom to choose, and we do not always choose wisely. We disobey Him and sin. God “knows what we are made of; He knows we are dust” (Ps 102); He knows that we are weak, imperfect human beings constantly in need of His mercy.
Therefore, as a sign of His great mercy, He instituted the Sacrament of Penance to restore divine life in us lost through sins committed after Baptism. This Sacrament was instituted when, on Easter Sunday, Jesus “breathed on the apostles, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained'” (Jn 20, 19, 22-23). Our Lord instituted the Sacrament of Penance, which is the tribunal of mercy, so that He could forgive us every time we fall.
Requirements For Making a Worthy Confession
To receive this Sacrament worthily, five things are necessary:
1) to examine our conscience.
2) to be sorry for our sins.
3) to resolve to sin no more.
4) to confess all our mortal sins to the priest.
In order to prepare oneself for a good confession, it is good to implore God for His light and grace.
