By Nielsen Chan
The sacrament of reconciliation comprises two equally essential elements: the acts of the penitent (the person who confesses sins and seeks absolution), who undergoes conversion by the action of the Holy Spirit and God’s action through the Church. It normally proceeds in this structure:
- Confession: We give an account of our sins. It is recommended to do an examination of conscience beforehand. All mortal sins should be confessed in number (roughly) and kind.
- Absolution: Through the ministry of the Church, the priest absolves us of our sins.
- Penance: We complete some form of prayer or act of penance, as prescribed by the confessor, which helps to reform and reorient our soul. When we confess, the priest also prays for us and does penance with us.
Confession confers forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism, reconciling us with God, the Church (sin ruptures our communion with God and with the Church. Thus, conversion entails both God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church) and ourselves. It also gives us spiritual strength for the Christian battle. Each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year. However, it’s encouraged to make it part of our normal lives. Though we’re often tempted to wrongly view confession as a place of shame, it is in fact always a place of victory where the sinner receives God’s loving mercy. It is a place of healing and strength, where Saints are made.
