The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Sacraments of Healing

Confession and Anointing of the Sick - both can be received multiple times

Confession

Name for the sacrament of healing which indicates that the penitent needs to verbally own up to his sins

Reconciliation

Name for the sacrament of healing which indicates that the penitent's relationship with God is mended

Penance

Name for the sacrament of healing; the penitent must do something on his part to repair the damage done by sin

General Absolution

A priest or bishop may offer forgiveness to large groups of people when death is immanent and there is no time for individual confession

Scrupulosity

Inaccurate assessment of one's own actions - considering something a sin which is not a sin, or considering something a mortal sin which is a venial sin

Temptation

A thought to commit a sin - a person is not morally responsible for it unless they make the choice to indulge in the thought, act or word

Sin

A freely chosen thought, word, or action which is a failure to love God or neighbor - wounds our relationship with God, others, and self

Repentance

The choice to turn back to God after a sin is committed - a requirement for forgiveness

John 20:21-23

Jesus institutes reconciliation - "Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."And when he had said this, he breathed on them, 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."

Venial Sin

Failure to love which wounds our relationship with God - if committed repeatedly can become a habit and lead to mortal sins

Mortal Sin

Failure to love which destroys the life of grace in our soul - must be grave matter, and committed with full knowledge and full consent

Original Sin

Lack of grace in a person's life, inherited from our first parents - restored by baptism - all sins echo this in that we decide for ourselves what is right and wrong

Sin of comission

Failure to love whereby a person chooses some evil which should not be done

Sin of omission

Failure to love whereby a person chooses not to do a good which ought to be done

Internal Sin

Sin whereby a person chooses to indulge in a sinful thought - if this continues, it will probably become a word or deed

Eternal Punishment

Effect of sin - broken relationship with God, could result in hell if not repented - sacramental confession remedies this

Temporal Punishment

Effect of sin in time - could be attachment to sin - if it is not dealt with in this lifetime, it will be dealt with in purgatory

Prayer

Taking time to listen to God and to talk to Him - builds my relationship with Him; vocal, meditative, and contemplative are its forms.

Fasting

Voluntarily giving up something such as food, drink, or media as a sacrifice - helps build self-control and helps the person not to be ruled by their sensual desires (one example would be abstaining from meat)

Almsgiving

Practice which builds generosity, charity, and relationships with others - could involve giving money, time, or service

Matter for Reconciliation

Oral confession of sins - a person cannot knowingly leave out a sin and have the sacrament be valid - in case of immanent death, the priest has the authority to absolve the person's sins without confession

Form for Reconciliation

"I absolve you of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Minister for Reconciliation

Priest, typically, but in the cases of excommunication, a bishop

Seal of Confession

Because confession is between the penitent and Christ, the priest may not reveal anything that would lead anyone to connect a particular sin to a particular person, under penalty of excommunication

Imperfect Contrition

A person is sorry for his sins because of fear of punishment (hell) - God accepts this type of sorrow, but it's not the best

Perfect Contrition

A person is sorry because he/she realizes that his sin has wounded his relationship with God, as a son or daughter would to his/ her Father

moral law

The ethical code, authored and revealed by God and safeguarded by the Church, imposing obligations on the conscience of each person.

conscience

an inner feeling or voice, facilitated by reason, inscribed by God that helps guide one's behavior

Partial Indulgence

An indulgence that removes part of the temporal punishment due to sin.

Plenary Indulgence

An indulgence that removes all of the temporal punishment due to sin.

Sensuality

A preoccupation with the senses or appetites; overindulgence in sensual pleasure; the gratification of sensual pleasures, often to the development of deficiencies in the spiritual, moral, or intellectual realms.

Conversion

a reorientation of one's whole life away from sin and evil and towards God, a central element of Christ's teaching.

Satisfaction

An act whereby the sinner makes amends, especially in reparation to God for offenses against him.

Contrition

True sorrow for and hatred of committed sins, coupled with the firm purpose to sin no more; necessary for absolution.