Sacrament of Penance
In most religions there are rites which convey a sense of penance and reparation for wrongdoing. These, in their own imperfect way, indicate man’s initiative in trying to find God once more and make peace.
From the time of Christ it was believed that all concrete, serious sins could be forgiven. Our Lord knew that given the weakness of fallen humanity, the Apostles would immediately need the power to forgive sins.
In the early Church, for the more serious sins, reconciliation involved a confession and then a temporary exclusion, or separation, from the Church community. During the penitent’s period of exclusion, he would pray, fast, perform acts of charity and other renunciations. After this period the penitent could request readmission to the Church community. Often the sin(s) needed to be confessed publically and much of the penance was to be performed publically before the sin could be forgiven and the person able to rejoin the parish community. (Aren’t you glad we do not do this anymore?!?)
As a result of the practice of public penance, many Catholics waited until their deathbeds to make their confession where sins could be absolved without a lengthy penance period. In the 7th century Ireland and England developed a penitential rite that did not involve a public confessing of sins and did not require a lengthy public penance. The forgiveness of sins was still the goal but could now be done privately.
The Sacrament of Penance brings about the forgiveness of mortal and venial sins. It can also bring about a peace of soul and a deep sense of spiritual consolation. Let us pray this week for the forgiveness of our sins and those of our friends and family in Christ. Let us pray for all those who are ridden with guilt over un-confessed sins and let us pray that the Lord will ease their pain. . –God Bless, Holly Clark
Source: The Sacramental Mystery, Paul Haffner
