Reconciliation and Penance

Lk. 15 & Jn. 20:22

Reconciliation and Penance Schedule

  • 2nd and 4th Saturdays 4:00pm-4:45pm
  • First Fridays from 10:30am-11:45am.
  • Also available by appointment.

The Sacrament of forgiveness

CCC  1446     Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism. have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion.  It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification.  The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as “the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace.”

Reconciliation and Penance

The Sacrament of Penance is an experience of the gift of God’s boundless mercy.  Not only does it free us from our sins but it also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us.  We are liberated to be forgivers.  We obtain new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: “It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.”

Penance is an experience of the gift of God’s boundless mercy.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION DURING RECONCILLIATION
Take a moment to reflect on how sin has damaged 
your relationship with others.

· What false “gods” do I place above God and people?
· After leaving Mass, do I continue to glorify God by the actions in my life?
· How have I failed to love others in my family, workplace, or community?
· Do I hold any views that are prejudiced or biased or that perpetuate stereotypes?
· Have I responded to the needs of the poor and those whose rights are unfulfilled?
· Do my personal, economic, and public choices re ect a genuine concern for others and the common good?
· Have I stood up to protect the dignity of others when it is being threatened?
· Am I aware of problems facing my local community and involved in efforts to find solutions?
· Do my purchasing choices take into account the well-being of those producing what I buy?
· How do I protect and care for God’s creation? Are there ways I could reduce consumption?

The Effects of This Sacrament

CCC  1468     “The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship.”  Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament.  For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation “is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation.”  Indeed the Sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true “spiritual resurrection,” restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God.
For more information on Penance … UCCB Download