RCIA:1-30-2017Fr. Alessandro Borraccia
SACRAMENTS OF FORGIVENESS
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION(CCC 1448 to 1498)
Restore the relationship
Broken relationship / Restored relationshipRelationship man-God (Gen 3: original sin) / Love God (1Jn 4:7-12.16-21)
Relationship man-man (Gen 4: Cain and Abel) / Love your neighbor as yourself (Mt 19:16-19)
Relationship man-community (Gen 6-11: the great flood and the tower of Babel) / Love one another as I love you (Jn 15:5.10-14)
What is sin?
In Hebrew: hattah = “missing the target”.
“Only in the knowledge of God’s plan for man can we grasp that sin is an abuse of the freedom that God gives to created persons so that they are capable of loving him and loving one another.” (CCC 387)
Mortal sin and venial sin (CCC 1854-1858-1859-1861-1862-1863)
Mortal sin: God is no longer our final end - we reject God
“If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin” (1Jn 5:16)
“Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent” (John Paul II, Reconciliation and Penance, 17)
Effects: loss of charity and of sanctifying grace (i.e. state of grace).
Venial sin: God is still our final end - but we take a longer path… a straying from God
“All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly” (1Jn 5:17)
Venial sin is sin whose object is a less serious matter, or is a grave matter, but without full knowledge or without deliberate consent.
Effects: weakens charity; disordered affection for created goods; impedes the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good.
Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin.
Sin is always individual and communitarian.
Dynamic of the Sacrament
“Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more” (Rm 5:20)
1) GOD’S ACTIONthrough the intervention of the Church.
Only God forgives sins.
“Child, your sins are forgiven” (Mk 2:5)
“The Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” (Mk 2:10)
He gives this power to men to exercise in his name, by his divine authority.
“[Jesus] said to them again,‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you’.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained’.” (Jn 20:21-23)
2) OUR RESPONSE.The penitent undergoes conversion through the action of the Holy Spirit:
Contrition. It is “sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again” (Council of Trent (1551): DS 1676)
It can be perfect (out of love for God) or imperfect (out of fear)
Confession of sins. “All mortal sins of which penitents after a diligent self-examination are conscious must be recounted by them in confession” (Council of Trent (1551): DS 1680 (ND 1626))
You need to be truthful and can’t omit willingly, otherwise the Sacrament is not valid.
“Each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year” (CIC, Can. 989; Council of Trent (1551): DS 1683; DS 1708).
Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion before confessing the sin.
Satisfaction. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused.
This satisfaction is also called “penance”.
Tips fora good reconciliation
Not counseling or spiritual direction (find a proper time and place outside the confessional)
Not the time to confess other people’s sins
Examine your conscience regularly and thoroughly[1] and, if it helps, write down your sins.
Don’t ever take it for granted
If you forget, don’t be afraid to ask
Good practice is once a month. Foster a habit of contrition and a relationship of love
No need for unnecessary details
The root of all sins is in the original sin: pride to think I know better than God (and you fight pride also with the opposite virtue, humility); distrust toward a loving God who knows better what you need and how you’ll be happy (and you fight mistrust by going back to God’s love and mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation)
Confess all your mortal sins in number and kind
Effects of the Sacrament
1. “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” (Roman Catechism, II, V, 18).
2. This sacrament reconciles us with the Church, restoring fraternal communion (CCC 1469)
3. As we receive God’s forgiveness, it’s easier to forgive ourselves and others.
SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK(CCC 1499 to 1532)
“By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of her priests the whole Church commends the sick to the suffering and glorified Lord, asking that He may lighten their suffering and save them” (LG 11 #2)
Miracles of healing are an important part of Jesus’ ministry, but he’s more than just a healer.
Often Jesus asks the sick person to believe.
Jesus passed on the ministry to his chosen disciples:
“[The Twelve] drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them” (Mk 6:13)
“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven” (Jm 5:14-15)
Effects of the Sacrament (CCC 1520-1521-1522-1523)
A particular gift of the Holy Spirit. Strength, peace and joy to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age. This grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the temptation to discouragement and anguish in the face of death.
Union with the passion of Christ. The sick person is, in a certain way, consecrated to bear fruit by configuration to the Savior's redemptive Passion.
An ecclesial grace. By celebrating this sacrament the Church, in the communion of saints, intercedes for the benefit of the sick person, and he, for his part, though the grace of this sacrament, contributes to the sanctification of the Church and to the good of all men for whom the Church suffers and offers herself through Christ to God the Father.
A preparation for the final journey. The Anointing of the Sick completes our conformity to the death and Resurrection of Christ, just as Baptism began it.
Who can receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick?(CCC 1514-1515)
In case of grave illness, in danger of death from sickness or old age, prior a serious operation. It can be received multiple times.
Are the so called Last Rites the same thing as the Anointing of the Sick? (CCC 1524-1525)
Last Rites are Penance, Anointing, Viaticum (Eucharist as food for the journey).
Prayerfully Reviewing Your Day - The Daily Examen (St Ignatius of Loyola)
1. GOD’S PRESENCE: Be Still
Relax in God's presence in your favorite prayer place and posture. Be aware of how God shows his love for you in all his gifts to you. Be thankful as you think of God the Father's love, the love of his Son Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to come into your heart and to help you to look honestly at your actions this day and how you have responded in different situations. With the Spirit's inspiration you can recognize what draws you close to God as well as what pulls you away from God.
2. GRATITUDE: Express Your Thankfulness
Review your day and give thanks to God for his gifts. Try not to choose what to be thankful for but rather to see what springs to mind as you reflect. Think of the concrete details of your day and recall the gifts that God has given you that you can share with others. Pause and express your gratitude to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Lord, I realize that all, even myself, is a gift from you. Today, where did I see God’s blessings? For what things am I most grateful?
3. GREATEST EXPERIENCE OF GOD’S LOVE: Reflect on Your Day
Again review the events of the day and notice how you acted in the many situations in which you found yourself. Ask yourself when you were conscious of God's presence. When we reflect on the times we did or didn't act with God's grace, we can be more sensitive to developing habits of positive responses.
Lord, show me what has been happening to me and in me this day. Today, in which events have I experienced God’s love the most?
4. FORGIVENESS: Express Your Sorrow
After you have asked for the Holy Spirit's guidance in recalling and reflecting on the actions of your day, spend time talking with God or Jesus. Express sorrow for the times you failed to follow his direction and ask him to be with you the next time you encounter a similar situation. Give thanks to God for the grace that enabled you to follow his will freely. Feel the sorrow and gratitude in your heart as you converse with God.
Lord, I am still learning to grow in your love. Today, what choices have been inadequate responses to your love?
5. GROWTH: Hope for Tomorrow
Ask God to help you as you look forward to a new day tomorrow. Resolve to cooperate and trust in the loving guidance of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Conclude the day's prayerful review with the Lord's Prayer. Lord, let me looking with longing toward the future. Today, how will I let you lead me to a brighter tomorrow?
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[1] See Examination of conscience at the end of the handout.