USCCA Chapter 18 1 The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

Session 5: The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation—

God is Rich in Mercy

Cat 202: Celebration of the Christian Mystery –

USCCA Chapter 18

Date: _____/_____/_____ Name: _______________

1. Sins committed after Baptism are forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

a. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also known as the Sacrament of Forgiveness,

Penance, Confession and Conversion.

b. Divine _______________ and conversion are constant themes in Scripture.

c. The Sacrament of Reconciliation makes God’s _______________ available to us.

2. The mission of healing and forgiveness was at the heart of the ministry of Jesus.

a. “Jesus died on the Cross and rose from the dead to _______________ sinful people

with God through the forgiveness of sins and the gift of new life with the Triune God.”

(USCCA p. 235)

b. Only __________ can forgive sins, but God uses the Church to be an _______________

of His forgiveness.

c. _______________ instituted Sacramental Reconciliation in John 20:21-23 with the

Apostles. This continues today in the ministry of the bishop and priest.

d. In this Sacrament, the priest acts in the person of _______________, the Head of the

Church.

e. If one is conscious of having committed a _______________ sin, the Sacrament of

Confession is _______________ for reconciliation with the Church and reception of

Holy Communion.

3. Sin:

a. Harms our relationship with _______________.

b. Damages our communion with the _______________.

c. Is _______________ a private or personal matter, but always weakens the Body of

Christ.

4. The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance includes:

USCCA Chapter 18 2 The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

a. _______________, sorrow for sin. This is an absolute necessity for the reception of

this Sacrament. In order to help with this, the Church asks that we _______________

our conscience before participating in the sacrament.

b. _______________, in which our individual sins are confessed to the priest both in kind

(type) and number. Oftentimes the priest will offer encouragement and advice.

c. Praying an _______________ of _______________, in which we express sorrow for

our sins.

d. Receiving _______________ by the priest, in which Christ, through the priest, absolves

us of our sins.

e. Doing _______________ (penance), in which we make amends for the wrong we have

done by doing the penance prescribed by the priest.

5. The effects of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are:

a. Reconciliation with _______________.

b. Reconciliation with the _______________, the family of God.

6. It is recommended to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a frequent basis, even if one is

not conscious of having committed a mortal sin.

7. Every sin has consequences that we endure here on earth, and these effects are referred to as

temporal punishment. The Church recommends certain spiritual practices to remove some or

all of these bad effects. This removal is either a partial indulgence or a plenary (full)

indulgence (or pardon).

For Further Study:

- Scripture: Psalm 51; John 20:21-23; 1 John 5:16-17.

- Catechism of the Catholic Church #1420-1498