Repentance

The sacrament of penance (Confession) is reconciliation with God and the Church. The priest forgives sins and gives spiritual peace in the name of Christ. Regular use of this sacrament is recommended.

Every St. At the beginning of Mass, we say together: "I confess to Almighty God and to you, brothers and sisters, that I have sinned greatly in thoughts, words, deeds and omissions. I am guilty, I am guilty, I am very guilty. Therefore, I ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the angels and saints, and you, brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord God."

We pray like this because we all know that we are human beings who can do bad things or think bad things, hurt God, a neighbor or a creature entrusted to him. This is how we pray, trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ, who says about Himself: "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mt 9, 13). He began His public ministry with the exhortation: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 4, 17). To those who are angry with Him who communicates with sinners, Christ says: "...even so there will be more joy in Heaven over one converted sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to be converted" (Luke 15:7).

In his parables, Jesus talks about God loving his people as a father or mother loves their son or daughter. His Love is infinite - it remains even when His loved ones go their own way, disobeying His words and commandments.

Jesus tells about his Father. He calls the nation—every man—to turn to Him who is forgiving and very merciful. Jesus, authorized by the Father, promises sinners reconciliation and forgiveness - a new life. His Church is the meeting place of the brothers and sisters of Jesus, where the converted prodigal son or lost daughter once again experiences the embrace of a loving Father, where they rejoice over the appearing, returning brother or son, sister or daughter.

Evangelist John refers to this task of the Church when he tells about the fact that Jesus Christ comes to the disciples on the evening of Easter Day, inspires them with the Holy Spirit and gives them the power to forgive each other's sins. And Matthew has this Act of Reconciliation in mind, testifying that Jesus says to Peter, the foundation of his Church: "I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven" (Mt 16:19).

The forgiveness of sins that we affirm in the Creed is experienced by every believer in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Every baptized person can receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation through the mediation of a priest authorized by the Church. After Baptism, the grave sinner must reconcile with God and the community of believers if he wants to receive Holy Communion. The sinner is required to realize his guilt and firmly resolve to change his life, to admit his guilt and be ready, if it is still possible, to make amends for it and to pay for it in order to perform the penance that the priest offers him.

In difficult times, when there are no conditions for personal confession, the priest can grant group forgiveness and reconciliation ("general absolution"). However, everyone must, when the conditions are more favorable, make a personal confession.

The words of the priest:

God, the Merciful Father, reconciled the world to Himself by the Death and Resurrection of His Son and sent the Holy Spirit to forgive sins. May He give you forgiveness and peace through the Church. I release you from your sins in the name of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Conversion. It means turning away from evil and deciding to start a new life. Regarding the sacrament of Penance, it is emphasized that the sinner must desire to make amends for his guilt. Confession is the personal confession of each sinner's guilt; it is the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Conversion.

Forgiveness. "Personal confession of all major sins, followed by absolution, is the only normal means of reconciliation with God and the Church" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1497).

Sin. "Sins must be judged according to their severity. The distinction between grave and venial sin already indicated in the Holy Scriptures has remained in the tradition of the Church. This is also confirmed by human experience" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1854).

"For a sin to be grave, three conditions must be present: "Grievous is every sin, the object of which is an important matter, and which is committed fully knowingly, with deliberate consent, and freely" (Reconciliatio et poenitentia 17; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1857). "A venial sin is committed when the provisions of the moral law are disobeyed in a not very important matter, or when that law is disobeyed in an important matter, not quite consciously, with reckless approval" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1862).