Reconciliation

[dar...@yahoo.com]

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "dar...@yahoo.com" <dar...@yahoo.com>
To: "firstholy...@yahoogroups.com" <firstholy...@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: beatricebindu <beatri...@yahoo.com>; "jaye...@hotmail.com" <jaye...@hotmail.com>; "rejya...@yahoo.com" <rejya...@yahoo.com>; "saji_b...@hotmail.com" <saji_b...@hotmail.com>; Tom Salomy <tompaz...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 7, 2012 11:12 PM
Subject: What we learned last Sunday, 3/4/2012.

      Last Sunday we discussed about sin and the two types of sins, mortal sin and venial sin. If we violate God's commandment in a light manner,it is venial sin. In the same way when we violate God's commandment in serious matters with complete knowledge and consent ,it is mortal sin.We understood that sin is the violation of the commandment of God who is love Himself.When we sin, we move away from God's love and His divine life. When we move away from God, in other words, when we are lost in sin, our God, like a loving father waits for our return patiently and with a heavy heart. On our return with a contrite heart, we are accepted again and heaven rejoices. We related this story to the Prodigal son's parable in Luke's Gospel.(please refer Lesson 9)

        Reconciliation is a sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ, in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest's absolution to those who, with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same. It is called a "sacrament" not simply a function or ceremony, because it is an outward sign instituted by Christ to impart grace to the soul. Reconciliation should happen with perfect repentance and with a decision not to commit sin again. Mortal sin can be absolved only through the Sacrament of reconciliation. We get forgiveness of venial sins through perfect repentance and the reconciliation service of the Holy Mass.

  Let us see how Jesus had given the authority to His disciples to forgive sins. In John 20:23 He said '' For those sins you forgive,they are forgiven,for those sins you retain,they are retained''. This power given to apostles continues till today in church through the Bishops and priests.Jesus Himself forgives our sins in the person of the priest.

 When we sin we not only offend God but our parents, brothers and friends are also hurt. In the sacrament of reconciliation we are reconciled with God and fellow beings."The Sacrament of reconciliation is the Sacrament that forgives our sins,strengthens us not to sin again and reconciles us to God and our brothers"

The restoring or the increasing of sanctifying grace and the forgiving of mortal and venial sins—is there anything else that the sacrament of Reconciliation can do for us?

Yes indeed! Let us talk about atonement.

If it is a question of mortal sin, Reconciliation wipes out the eternal punishment which is the inevitable consequence of mortal sin. It also remits at least part of the temporal punishment due to sin.

The temporal punishment due to sin is simply the debt of satisfaction (atonement) which you owe to God for my sins even after the sins themselves have been forgiven. It it a matter of "repairing the damage," we might say.

A simple example to illustrate this would be that of an angry boy who kicks at the table leg and knocks a piece of pottery off onto the floor. "I'm sorry, Mother," he says repentantly. "I shouldn't have done that." "Well," mother says, "if you're sorry, I won't punish you. But get down and pick up the pieces, and I'll expect you to buy a new dish out of your allowance."

Mother forgives the disobedience and absolves from the punishment—but she still expects her son to make satisfaction for his rebellious outburst.

It is this satisfaction which we owe to God for having offended him that we term "the temporal punishment due to sin." Either we pay the debt in this life by the prayers, penances,charity,mercy  and other good works which we perform in the state of grace, or we shall have to pay the debt in purgatory. And it is this debt which the sacrament of Reconciliation at least partially reduces, in proportion to the degree of our sorrow.

Please learn the 5 conditions to receive sacrament of reconciliation in page 54.

  It is good to remember yet frightening at the same time to realize that even after confession if you have no contrition about the sins you have done, your sins will not be forgiven. 

   Next Sunday we will go through commandments and will try to give  awareness about sins we possibly do, preparing you guys for confession.

[dar...@yahoo.com]

.

      Today you guys learned about sin and the two types of sins, mortal sin and venial sin. If we violate God's commandment in a light manner,it is venial sin. In the same way when we violate God's commandment in serious matters with complete knowledge and consent ,it is mortal sin.We understood that sin is the violation of the commandment of God who is love Himself.When we sin, we move away from God's love and His divine life. When we move away from God, in other words, when we are lost in sin, our God, like a loving father waits for our return patiently and with a heavy heart. On our return with a contrite heart, we are accepted again and heaven rejoices. We related this story to the Prodigal son's parable in Luke's Gospel.(parents please let the kids read this parable with you.)

        Reconciliation is a sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ, in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest's absolution to those who, with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same. It is called a "sacrament" not simply a function or ceremony, because it is an outward sign instituted by Christ to impart grace to the soul. Reconciliation should happen with perfect repentance and with a decision not to commit sin again. Mortal sin can be absolved only through the Sacrament of reconciliation. We get forgiveness of venial sins through perfect repentance and the reconciliation service of the Holy Mass.

  Let us see how Jesus had given the authority to His disciples to forgive sins. In John 20:23 He said '' For those sins you forgive,they are forgiven,for those sins you retain,they are retained''. This power given to apostles continues till today in church through the Bishops and priests.Jesus Himself forgives our sins in the person of the priest.

 When we sin we not only offend God but our parents, brothers and friends are also hurt. In the sacrament of reconciliation we are reconciled with God and fellow beings."The Sacrament of reconciliation is the Sacrament that forgives our sins,strengthens us not to sin again and reconciles us to God and our brothers"

The restoring or the increasing of sanctifying grace and the forgiving of mortal and venial sins—is there anything else that the sacrament of Reconciliation can do for us?

Yes indeed! Let us talk about atonement.

If it is a question of mortal sin, Reconciliation wipes out the eternal punishment which is the inevitable consequence of mortal sin. It also remits at least part of the temporal punishment due to sin.

The temporal punishment due to sin is simply the debt of satisfaction (atonement) which you owe to God for my sins even after the sins themselves have been forgiven. It it a matter of "repairing the damage," we might say.

A simple example to illustrate this would be that of an angry boy who kicks at the table leg and knocks a piece of pottery off onto the floor. "I'm sorry, Mother," he says repentantly. "I shouldn't have done that." "Well," mother says, "if you're sorry, I won't punish you. But get down and pick up the pieces, and I'll expect you to buy a new dish out of your allowance."

Mother forgives the disobedience and absolves from the punishment—but she still expects her son to make satisfaction for his rebellious outburst.

It is this satisfaction which we owe to God for having offended him that we term "the temporal punishment due to sin." Either we pay the debt in this life by the prayers, penances,charity,mercy  and other good works which we perform in the state of grace, or we shall have to pay the debt in purgatory. And it is this debt which the sacrament of Reconciliation at least partially reduces, in proportion to the degree of our sorrow.

Please learn the 5 conditions to receive sacrament of reconciliation in page 54.

  It is good to remember yet frightening at the same time to realize that even after confession if you have no contrition about the sins you have done, your sins will not be forgiven. 

   Next Sunday we will go through reconciliation(Sacrament of penace) in detail. Please make sure that you memorize both Act of contrition and penitential act( I confess )prior to this class.