"Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation: God is Rich in Mercy" (USCCA, Chapter 18)

OPENING PRAYER

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

(A traditional version)

or:

My God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong
and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you
whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance,
to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God, have mercy.

(from the Rite of Penance)

or:

Lord Jesus, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.

(from the Rite of Penance)

Source: USCCB

"SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILATION"
—CCC, Nos. 1420–1498
How have you experienced forgiveness in your life?

Because of human weakness, our new life in Christ arising from the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), is often challenged by sin that can weaken and harm our relationship with God and damage our communion with the Church, as well as with others and our self. In addition, we all face sickness and death. God continually reaches out to us to reconcile ourselves with God and restore our communion with the Church.

We find references throughout Scripture to God’s divine mercy, calling us to conversion and the forgiveness of sin. We find numerous examples in the Gospels of Christ’s mission to forgive sins. One needs only to read Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son which exemplifies our loving, merciful, and forgiving God. (Lk 15:11-32).

Through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection we are reconciled with God through the forgiveness of sin, and we are given the gift of new life with our Triune God now, ultimately leading to our eternal happiness. Even while Jesus was suffering on the Cross, he forgave those who were rejecting and killing him, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Lk 23:34). It is never too late to seek or receive God’s mercy and forgiveness before we die (e.g. Lk 23:32-43).

Only God can forgive sin. But through his Church, Jesus, the divine healer, has given us the gift of the Sacraments of Healing—Penance and Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick—for the forgiveness of sins and ministry to the sick and dying. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you….Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (Jn 20:21-23).

In the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, the priest acts in the person of Christ, the Head of the Church, to reconcile the sinner to both God and the Church. “The priest is the sign and instrument of God’s merciful love for the sinner” (CCC, no. 1465).

This Sacrament involves a conversion of our hearts to God, the confession of our mortal sins to a priest, contrition or sorrow for our sins and the determination to avoid such sin in the future, and a penance to make some amends for our sin. The priest, representing Christ, brings us his forgiveness, absolves us from our sins, and reconciles us with God and the Church. For those who commit mortal sin after Baptism, this Sacrament is necessary in order to be reconciled to God and restored to communion with the Church.

Please read this week USCCA,Chapter 18, "Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation: God is Rich in Mercy," (pages 233–2247), the CCC, Nos. 1420–1498, (pages 357–74), and the Compendium, Nos. 296–312
VIDEOS

"The Confession" (a short and moving dramatic film)

"The Sacrament of Penance" (USCCB)

"The iPhone App and Confession" (Bishop Robert Barron)

"Making a Good Confession" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)

"Priest Answers Questions About Confession" (Fr. Casey Cole, OFM)

"Why Confess My Sins to a Priest" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)

"Going to Confession for the First Time in a Long Time" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)

"Why Go to Confession" (Catholic.org)

"Sacraments 101 - Penance - Why We Confess"

"How to Make a Good Confession" (Syracuse Diocese)

"Sacraments of Healing" - CCC 1420-1439 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)

"Reconciliation - Penitent, Minister, Effects" - CCC 1440-1449 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)

"Reconciliation - Penitent, Minister, Effects" - CCC 1450-1470 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)

"Indulgences and Penance" - CCC 1471-1498 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
MUSIC

"All to Jesus I Surrender"

"Amazing Grace" (Celtic Women)

"Create in Me a Clean Heart"

"Do I Trust You" (Twila Paris)
OTHER RESOURCES

"Penance" (USCCB)

"Penance and Reconciliation: Reconciled to Right Relationship, Called to Heal and Restore" (USCCB)

"Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation" (Archdiocese of Milwaukee)

"Penitencia" (USCCB)

"God's Gift of Forgiveness and How to Go to Confession" (USCCB)

"El Regado de Dios del Perdón  y Como Confesarse" (USCCB)

"Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation: Forgiveness in Four Easy Steps" (USCCB)

"Rediscovering the Sacrament of Penance" (USCCB)

"How to Go to Confession–Part One" (Video)

"How to Go to Confession–Part Two" (Video)

"How to Go to Confession - A Guide to Confession" (Video)

"Examinations of Conscience" (USCCB)

"Examination of Conscience" (Video with Music)

"Examination of Consciousness" (Fr. Albert Haase–Video)

Links to Other Liturgical Resources Available on this blogsite
REFLECT ON YOUR EXPERIENCE

Are there any sins that you want to confess and experience God’s mercy and forgiveness?

What prevents you from seeking or receiving the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation?
We encourage and invite you to  spend time to reflect, pray, and write in your journal about what you have read, seen, heard, or experienced this week. You can find some questions you may wish to consider here.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, in now, and ever shall be.
Amen.