Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

“So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.”

The Sacrament of Penance, which is also known by Reconciliation or Confession, is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church.  Reconciliation is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in His love and mercy to offer sinners forgiveness for any offenses committed against God. In this sacramental moment, one is reconciled with the Church who is also wounded by our sins.  Each time we sin, we injure ourselves, others and God.

There are four components of Reconciliation:

• Contrition- when we approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we must have sincere sorrow for the sins we have committed.
• Confession- the act of speaking aloud our sins to the Priest.
• Penance- an important part to Reconciliation, penance is given to us by the Priest for reparation of the sins we confessed
• Absolution- the Priest speaks the words by which “God, the Father of Mercies” reconciles the sinner back to Himself through the victory won on the cross.

For more information on Reconciliation, please contact your parish church office, click on the below links or call the Office of Religious Education and Faith Formation office at the St Joseph Center at (318) 445-6424, ext. 207.

https://goodconfession.com/

https://www.catholicscomehome.org/your-questions/what-is-the-sacrament-of-confession/

https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance