1. Chapter 10: Reconciliation Reconciled with God, ourselves and the whole community (church)

2. What it Celebrates: Acknowledging our Sins Types of Sin Personal: Personal: Commission – Commission – Omission – Omission – Social Sin Social Sin Mortal (“deadly”): Mortal (“deadly”): Venial: Venial:

3. What it Celebrates: Sharing our Stories: Confession Good listener; Sharing is a healing process Good listener; Sharing is a healing process A good confession A good confession Priest represents Jesus Priest represents Jesus

4. Penance: Repent, “to be sorry” Conversion of heart, a Conversion of heart, a Our sorrow, our willingness to change and not repeat the sin Our sorrow, our willingness to change and not repeat the sin

5. What it Celebrates: Restoring Relationships: Conversion Insight comes first Insight comes first Paschal Mystery Paschal Mystery New life when we are freed New life when we are freed

6. Reconciliation- “coming back together” Restoring relationships – the first process of conversion Restoring relationships – the first process of conversion Sacrament of Reconciliation provides Sacrament of Reconciliation provides For our need to be forgiven For our need to be forgiven To confess to someone who represents God and the community (priest) To confess to someone who represents God and the community (priest) To hear the words of forgiveness (absolution) To hear the words of forgiveness (absolution)

7. Ritual of Reconciliation Two forms acceptable today Two forms acceptable today Individual Individual Communal with individual confession and absolution Communal with individual confession and absolution Absolution Absolution

8. Elements of the Rite Greeting & blessing by priest Greeting & blessing by priest Scripture Scripture Confession of sins Confession of sins Act of Contrition Act of Contrition Penance by priest Penance by priest Absolution by priest (laying on of hands or raised hand in blessing) Absolution by priest (laying on of hands or raised hand in blessing) “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen” “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen” Prayer of thanksgiving and blessing Prayer of thanksgiving and blessing

9. Essential Penitent's contrition Penitent's contrition Confession of sin Confession of sin Penance Penance Words of absolution Words of absolution

10. History Jesus Jesus Priests & bishops Priests & bishops “If you forgive sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained (John 20-:23) “If you forgive sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained (John 20-:23) Early Church Early Church Minor sins: informal sharing. Minor sins: informal sharing. Major Sins: Major Sins: Baptism Baptism Excommunication Excommunication “Second Baptism” “Second Baptism”

11. 5 th -6 th Century: Private Confession, Irish Monks 5 th -6 th Century: Private Confession, Irish Monks 13 th Century private confession decreed one official form 13 th Century private confession decreed one official form Seal of confession Seal of confession Current Practices Current Practices