I believe in the forgiveness of sins 21 ©Fr. Mark Emman H. Sese

Compendium of the Catechism 201. Why does the Church have the power to forgive sins? 981-983  986-987 The Church has the mission and the power to forgive sins because Christ himself has conferred it upon her: “Receive the Holy Spirit, if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:22-23).

Introduction The forgiveness of sins underpins the mission of Christ in the world, because as Saint Paul says, “He was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25). in His appearance on the afternoon of the resurrection He said to the Apostles: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven" (Juan 20:23). In the Church, therefore, the forgiveness of sins exists by virtue of an infinite condescension of God to man.. The glorious mystery of the resurrection of Jesus brings to the world the exceptional gift of peace - the greeting of the Risen One to his disciples - and the forgiveness of sins that Christ announces and grants to the Apostles the very day of his resurrection. They are like two sides of the same coin: the forgiveness that peace generates, and the peace that wells up from the forgiveness of sins. The forgiveness of sins underpins the mission of Christ in the world, because as Saint Paul says, “he was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4, 25), with the result that peace extends to us, because “he is our peace” (Ephesians 2, 14). Jesus means Saviour: he has come to save people from their sins. In accordance with this mission, the Lord had shown his mercy to sinners, but it was essential that such power be granted to people. For that reason he wanted to communicate it to his Church, and in his appearance on the afternoon of the resurrection he said to the Apostles: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained” (John 20, 23). In the Church, therefore, the forgiveness of sins exists by virtue of an infinite condescension of God to man. The Apostles’ Creed professes faith in the remission of sins by saying, “I believe in … the forgiveness of sins”, which the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed expresses more specifically, saying, “We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins”. We will explain the role of the sacraments of baptism and penance further on. CRESPI, Giuseppe Maria Confession 1712 Oil on canvas, 127 x 95 cm Gemäldegalerie, Dresden

Main ideas ©Fr. Mark Emman H. Sese

1. We are sinners Man is born with original sin, inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve. Moreover, throughout our life all of us sin: we offend God because we do not do what He asks of us; we also offend our fellow men, and in this way we offend God too. Man has a great need of God´s forgiveness. Man has a great need of God´s forgiveness. Man is born with original sin, inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve. Moreover, throughout our life all of us sin: we offend God because we do not do what He asks of us; we also offend our fellow men, and in this way we offend God too. Man has a great need of God´s forgiveness. BOSCH, Hieronymus The Seven Deadly Sins (detail) c. 1480 Oil on panel, diameter of detail: 36,3 cm Museo del Prado, Madrid

2. Christ forgave sins While Jesus Christ was on earth he forgave the sins of those who repented. In the Gospel this power of Christ is emphasized; he could do so because, in addition to being true man, he was also true God. " Take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven " (Matthew 9:2) He says to the paralytic. Y And to the sinful woman, who was present in Simon´s house, He says: “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48). While Jesus Christ was on earth he forgave the sins of those who repented. In the Gospel this power of Christ is emphasized; he could do so because, in addition to being true man, he was also true God. “Take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9, 2) he says to the paralytic. And to the sinful woman, who was present in Simon´s house, he says: “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7, 48). LINT, Pieter van Christ and the Adulterous Woman Oil on copper, 74 x 90 cm Private collection

3. Christ gives to the Church the power of forgiving sins When on the afternoon of the resurrection Christ gave the Holy Spirit to his Apostles, it was precisely the power of forgiving sins that he gave them: ”Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained” (John 20:22-23). The Church exercises this power mainly in the sacraments of baptism and penance. When on the afternoon of the resurrection Christ gave the Holy Spirit to his Apostles, it was precisely the power of forgiving sins that he gave them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained” (John 20, 22-23). The Church exercises this power mainly in the sacraments of baptism and penance. GIOTTO di Bondone No. 38 Scenes from the Life of Christ: Ascension 1304-06 Fresco, 200 x 185 cm Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

4. There is only one baptism for the forgiveness of sins When Jesus was about to ascend into Heaven, he said to his Apostles: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Baptism is the first sacrament that pardons sins and removes them all completely, although this does not eliminate the weakness of man’s nature nor free him of his disordered desires. When Jesus was about to ascend into Heaven, he said to his Apostles: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16, 15-16). Christ wanted to link the forgiveness of sins to faith and baptism. Baptism is the first sacrament that pardons sins and removes them all completely, although this does not eliminate the weakness of man’s nature nor free him of his disordered desires. CRESPI, Giuseppe Maria Baptism 1712 Oil on canvas, 127 x 95 cm Gemäldegalerie, Dresden

5. The sacrament of penance The effect of baptism is so radical that it would be possible to think of a consequent state of innocence. Nevertheless, man’s freedom is fragile, and he finds himself time after time in need of forgiveness. Christ knew our condition, so He established another means of reconciliation for those who have fallen after baptism: the sacrament of penance, which reconciles us with God and the Church. The effect of baptism is so radical that it would be possible to think of a consequent state of innocence. Nevertheless, man’s freedom is fragile, and he finds himself time after time in need of forgiveness. Christ knew our condition, so He established another means of reconciliation for those who have fallen after baptism: the sacrament of penance, which reconciles us with God and the Church. LONGHI, Pietro The Confession Oil on canvas, 61 x 50 cm Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

6. The Church can forgive all sins There is no sin, no matter how serious it is, that the Church cannot forgive. Christ redeemed us from sin. He wished that in the Church the doors of forgiveness would always be open to those who repent of their sins. In the Church, the power of forgiving sins by means of the sacrament of penance has been given only to those who have received the sacrament of holy orders, that is to say, the bishops and priests. There is no sin, no matter how serious it is, that the Church cannot forgive. Christ redeemed us from sin offering his life for us. He wished that in the Church the doors of forgiveness would always be open to those who repent of their sins. In the Church, the power of forgiving sins by means of the sacrament of penance has been given only to those who have received the sacrament of holy orders, that is to say, the bishops and priests. WEYDEN, Rogier van der Seven Sacraments (left wing) 1445-50 Oil on oak panel, 119 x 63 cm Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp

7. We have to be thankful for this gift of Christ to his Church Saint John Chrysostom said: “Priests have received a power that God has given neither to angels, nor to archangels… God approves in heaven everything that the priests do here on earth”. And Saint Augustine says: “If in the Church there were no remission of sins, there would be no hope, no expectation of an eternal life and of an eternal liberation. Let us thank God, who has given this gift to the Church”. How easy it is to thank God for giving the Church the power of forgiving sins! Saint John Chrysostom said: “Priests have received a power that God has given neither to angels, nor to archangels… God approves in heaven everything that the priests do here on earth”. And Saint Augustine says: “If in the Church there were no remission of sins, there would be no hope, no expectation of an eternal life and of an eternal liberation. Let us thank God, who has given this gift to the Church”. FETI, Domenico Saint Mary Magdalene Penitent 1615 Oil on canvas Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Resolutions for Christian life ©Fr. Mark Emman H. Sese

Resolutions to move forward Go frequently and truly contrite to the sacrament of penance. Give thanks to God for the immense gift of Christ to his Church: the mission and the power to truly forgive sins.