Confession - Reconciliation -Penance

The Priest and the Sacraement of God’s Forgiveness

Very Rev. Sean Henry, PP

“Not  perfect just forgiven.”

—

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is one of the seven Sacraments Jesus gifted to the Church.

More popularly known as Confession or going to Confessions. In effect we have three names for the Sacrament, Penance, Reconciliation and Confessions. Each name emphasises something about the Sacrament itself and focuses our minds.

God knows  all things, he sees right through us, there is nothing we can hide or withhold. God does not need words, but we do, it is true we need words we need to express ourselves, confession is putting our thoughts into words.  In the case of Confession it is about telling our sins saying it as it is.

People make confessions all the time,  but the Church was first to recognise and teach the essential value of  putting our thoughts, our worries our transgressions into words.

So the name Confession emphasises the need to use words to name our faults to admit them to be honest with ourselves and with God.

It is worth recalling too that Confession guarantees us that someone is listening to us. We believe God is listening,  to emphasise the importance of this exercise the ordained priest is sitting there listening to us in Jesus name.  He is the guarantee that the Lord hears us.  So listening is the second element in the actual confession.

With confidentiality assured a listening ear, confession brings relief, we feel good.

Secondly  the Sacrament of  Reconciliation

The Sacrament reconciles us to God and to one another. Reconciliation works very powerfully. In fact the Sacrament can be seen to work like a poultice,  a poultice was put on a wound or sore  to bring  healing.  In order to do so it had to be applied, this is painful at first, it stung, but gradually  drew out the badness, soothing the sore and healing the wounds.

This is how reconciling happens, we get  to the source of cause of the problem, we are reconciled by the healing words of absolution and we are restored to God favour.

Thirdly  the Sacrament of Penance

Confession can itself be  a Penance, we don’t like it but we know we need to go for our good. To be honest  going to Confession is not always easy,  like the application of the poultice it can be painful at first,  much of what is good for us is not the easiest choice.

For the priest hearing Confessions is probably the most challenging, at times tiring and demanding but also the most satisfying and next to saying Mass the most priestly

During the lockdown I missed hearing confessions, we had Mass on webcam we had the Rosary and other devotions , but confessions were not possible because of distance

In the past many people went to Confession on a monthly even weekly basis, now less so.

We hear people say  with great authority ‘sure no one is going to confession these days’. But this is  not true.  We don’t have the full seats any more, but people do go to Confession.

They come to receive the healing forgiveness of Jesus when they feel they need the Sacrament not out of habit or obligation.   

Many express gratitude in saying I am so grateful to get Confession.

The final word I want to reflect on is the word ‘Forgiveness’ 

I  served as Chaplain to a large Hospital, someone had placed a sticker on the kneeler,   ‘Not perfect, just forgiven’   The words stayed with me over the years

Confession does not make us perfect, is not a once off,  when preparing children we say First Confession, we do tell children it is their First Confession. 

We confess our sins, we are reassured of the loving mercy and forgiveness of a God who loves us with so much love and we are absolved by the priest in the name of Jesus. 

Pope Francis often speaks of that feel good factor that comes with a good confession; he is impatient with priests who are not kind and welcoming thereby diminishing the experience of the love and mercy of God.

The priest says the words in the name of the Lord;

God the Father forgives you and I absolve you from all your sins in the Name of the Father…

Sometimes I use the story of the journey of the three Kings or the Magi for a Penitential Service

Strange you might think what on earth has this got to do with Confession

Well one aspect appeals to me; As the Wise men leave, they are advised to return by a different way

As we go through life we can find ourselves on the wrong road, we stray from God’s ways and Confession alerts us to change direction.

The Priest will  give a penance, a prayer or a bit of advice, sometimes that might involve guidance like go home by a different way, don’t go back on the same path.

The Sacrament keeps us on the right path and gradually will bring about that change towards holiness, towards perfection which we all seek in our Christian lives.

Not  perfect just forgiven.

Fr Sean Henry, PP is a priest of the Diocese of Meath, Parish Priest of St Seachnaill’s Parish Dunshaughlin.