THE SACRAMENT

OF RECONCILIATIO

NEncountering the Healing Christ

A SACRAMENT OF CHANGINGNAMES

Baptism of Tears Sacrament of Conversion

Sacrament of Penance Confession

Sacrament of Reconciliation

EVOLUTION OF THE SACRAMENT

Early Church-experience of conversion

Lapsis: one-time penance

Ecclesial Penance: up to 6/7th century

Celtic Soul Friend tradition—repeatable

Revision of Rites: after Vatican II

Encountering the Healing Christ

JesusSource of HealingAnd forgiveness

In relationship with us

Sin is a break/diminishment

Of that love relationship

MOVEMENT

Emphasis upon rules/law gives way to

Emphasis upon relationship with God, self and others

Focus on “me” Gives way to

Focus on the mercy and Forgiveness of God

MOVEMENT

Emphasis upon list of sins and failings gives way to

Emphasis upon attitudes and actions

Cumulatively the movement was away from seeing sin as a solitary

action to the fracture or neglect of a love relationship

UNDERSTANDINGS OF MORALITY

Morality as Law-keeping

Morality as the science of what we ought to be by reason of what we are: human

Morality as response-ability—honoring the call to authentic freedom

Morality as covenant

CYCLE OF RESPONSE

God invites…

We become aware of God’s invitation

We make a choice/response to it

We act and through our experience we hear again an invitation from God

Hearing the Invitation of God

Scripture

Natural Law

Cumulative Tradition provides a horizon for

interpretation

FORMING CONSCIENCE

circumstances Common good

Natural law

Revelation, pattern of Jesus

FORMING CONSCIENCE

Fostering Imagination

Providing experiences

Introducing empathy

Providing scriptural paradigms

imitation

HOW TO CELEBRATE

Prayer to the Holy Spirit for wisdom Reflect and claim how one has hurt others and hurt the bond of love with

God Sincerely desire to change Confess your sin to a priest

Make an Act of Sorrow Receive absolution and counsel

Accept and fulfill the penance given

HOW TO CELEBRATE A FAMILY RECONCILIATION CIRCLE

Gather as a familyOpen with a short prayer or story of

forgivenessEach member of the family names how

they contributed to the life of the whole and how they have hurt

anyone in the familyOur Father

Greeting of PeaceSpecial family dessert or treat