Encountering the Healing Christ
Baptism of Tears Sacrament of Conversion Sacrament of Penance Confession Sacrament of Reconciliation
Early Church-experience of conversion Lapsis: one-time penance Ecclesial Penance: up to 6/7 th century Celtic Soul Friend tradition—repeatable Revision of Rites: after Vatican II
Encountering the Healing Christ Jesus Source of Healing And forgiveness In relationship with us Sin is a break/diminishment Of that love relationship
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
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
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
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
circumstances Common good Natural law Revelation, pattern of Jesus
Fostering Imagination Providing experiences Introducing empathy Providing scriptural paradigms imitation
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
Gather as a family Open with a short prayer or story of forgiveness Each member of the family names how they contributed to the life of the whole and how they have hurt anyone in the family Our Father Greeting of Peace Special family dessert or treat