Let's keep going. Let’s look into how we are to be saved. We will start with James 2:24-26 “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead“. So without works faith is dead this is spelled out very clearly. This is the only place in scripture where the phrase “faith alone” is used and it clearly tells us that we need works along with our faith to be saved. We can now look at Gal 5:6 “For in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love”. Faith does count if it is working through love. If faith was the only thing that needed to be saved then why does it need to work through love? In this passage, we also see the reference to the fact that Christ came for the Gentiles (uncircumcised) not only for the Jews. What does Paul say about faith in First Corinthians? “And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Cor 13:2). We can clearly see if we have faith but do not have love we are nothing. This is a very powerful statement if all we need to be saved is faith. Our faith without love is nothing, loving is clearly a work. How are we to love? Christ states in John 15:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” I Matt 19:16-17 “Then someone came to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Christ clearly states in this passage that we need to keep the commandment of God, not have “faith alone” to obtain eternal life.
Where do we see either that I have been saved, I am being saved, or I will be saved and is faith mentioned here? I will start with I have been saved. Romans 8:24 “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?” This does not say we are saved in faith but it states that we are saved in “hope”. Now we will look at Ephesians 2:5-8 “even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”. Here we see that we are saved by Grace through our faith. Is this stated elsewhere? Look at 2 Timothy 1:9 “He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,” Here see that we are saved not by works but by grace. This is the teaching of the Catholic Church as seen in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (for now own noted as CCC) 1023: “Those who die in God's grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live forever with Christ. They are like God forever, for they "see him as he is," face to face:[596] By virtue of our apostolic authority, we define the following: According to the general disposition of God, the souls of all the saints . . . and other faithful who died after receiving Christ's holy Baptism (provided they were not in need of purification when they died, . . . or, if they then did need or will need some purification, when they have been purified after death, . . .) already before they take up their bodies again and before the general judgment - and this since the Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into heaven - have been, are and will be in heaven, in the heavenly Kingdom and celestial paradise with Christ, joined to the company of the holy angels. Since the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, these souls have seen and do see the divine essence with an intuitive vision, and even face to face, without the mediation of any creature.” Now that we see that grace, which is given to us from God, is what we need to be saved. What is the process to be saved through grace? In Paul’s letter to the Philippians “So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12). Again we need to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. If we only need to have faith then why must we work out our salvation? If we only have to profess our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior we would not need to have any fear. I want to look at the First letter of Peter. In this letter we find Peter writing “Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it, investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them” (1 Peter 1:8-11). Here we see that to the goal of our faith is the salvation of our souls, not the other way around. We are to hope in Christ and this is how will save us through the grace freely given to us by God.
Friday, February 1, 2008
ARE YOU SAVED?
This question is asked of Catholics most often by Fundamentalists. The fast answer is; “That is what my ultimate goal is”! Evangelicals and Fundamentalists feel that by “accepting Jesus Christ as their personal lord and Savior” they are assured salvation. We are saved by our faith alone! So the question that should be asked is, "have you accepted Christ" instead of, "are you or have you been saved". What we really need to look into is if you can gain salvation in a single act and if you can lose your salvation once it has been received. There are many different inferences that can be taken from this question as well. I plan to address this also. I will address if we are saved by our faith or by works, or if we need both to be saved. Another question that needs to be answered is if once we are saved can we lose our salvation.
Let’s look at scripture and see if we find any places that would show us that once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior will are assured of salvation. I like the sound of that. We do not have to worry about how we live our lives we just need to accept Jesus into our hearts then all bets are off. It is like when you hear, “if it sounds too good to be, true it probably is". So common logic disagrees with this but what about scripture? Is there any place in the bible where we find this?
Common teaching with Evangelicals and Fundamentalists is from Romans 10:9-11 “because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’” But if we read on we can see how this passage is taken out of context. Romans 10:12-13 states “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” Paul is clearly trying to assure gentiles that Christ came for their benefit also. Paul’s letter to the Romans was written for the benefit of the Church in Rome to prepare for his visit there. This letter shows how Christianity is rooted in Judaism but is the faith for all peoples.
By looking at the last passage we see all people can be saved and that Christ came for the benefit of all, but this passage still does not show if once we are saved if we can lose that salvation or if we are saved by faith alone, works, or both.
PRIMACY OF PETER
I would like to start by quoting Matthew 16:15-19 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." In this passage, many say that we must look at Peter’s statement about who Jesus is and that this is the “rock’ that Jesus’ was talking about. But, if you look at the language that Jesus would have been speaking it would have been Aramaic. The word that Jesus would have used would have been “Kapha” meaning rock or Peter and translated into the Greek Prtro. Therefore, Jesus would have said I say to you, you are Kapha (rock) and upon this Kapha (rock), I will build my Church. He then gave Peter the Keys to Heaven, which would have given Peter the power to hand down His authority.
His authority is stated many times in The Acts of the Apostles. Acts 1:13-26 headed a meeting which elected Matthias, Acts 2:114 led the Apostles in preaching on Pentecost. There are many more examples in Acts that can be added.
His authority is stated many times in The Acts of the Apostles. Acts 1:13-26 headed a meeting which elected Matthias, Acts 2:114 led the Apostles in preaching on Pentecost. There are many more examples in Acts that can be added.
Petra and Petros Distinction:
Counterpoint: In Aramaic, Jesus likely used the term "Kepha," which does not have the same gender distinction as the Greek "petra" and "petros." The Aramaic language doesn't make a distinction between a large rock and a small rock. Early Christian tradition supports this view.
Biblical Reference: The Gospel of John 1:42 records Jesus giving Simon the name Cephas (Kepha), which is translated as Peter (Petros) in Greek.
Church Fathers: St. Petra and Petros Distinction:
Counterpoint: In Aramaic, Jesus likely used the term "Kepha," which does not have the same gender distinction as the Greek "petra" and "petros." The Aramaic language doesn't make a distinction between a large rock and a small rock. Early Christian tradition supports this view.
Biblical Reference: The Gospel of John 1:42 records Jesus giving Simon the name Cephas (Kepha), which is translated as Peter (Petros) in Greek.
Church Fathers: St. Augustine of Hippo affirmed this understanding, stating, "On this rock, therefore, He said, which thou hast confessed, I will build my Church. For the Rock (Petra) was Christ; and on this foundation was Peter himself built."
Collective Leadership:
Counterpoint: While collective faith is crucial, the specific language of Matthew 16:18 suggests a unique role for Peter. The Church Fathers often understood this passage as highlighting Peter's distinctive position among the apostles.
Biblical Reference: In Matthew 16:19, the "keys to the kingdom" symbolize authority. This imagery is reminiscent of Isaiah 22:22, where the "key of the house of David" signifies royal authority. This reinforces the uniqueness of Peter's role.
Church Fathers: St. John Chrysostom emphasized Peter's distinctiveness, stating, "For if there be a devil, and his ministers, and tribunals, and a punishment, and a kingdom, it is clear that there is also a judge."
Historical Context:
Counterpoint: The historical context doesn't negate a specific role for Peter. Instead, it helps understand the challenges the early Church faced and the need for a foundational leader. The papacy's development can be seen as a response to these challenges.
Biblical Reference: In Acts 15, the Council of Jerusalem, Peter plays a decisive role in resolving a significant doctrinal issue. His leadership is recognized, and his words lead to a resolution.
Church Fathers: St. Cyprian of Carthage acknowledged Peter's primacy, stating, "Would the heretics dare to come to the very seat of Peter whence apostolic faith is derived and whither no errors can come?"
Role of Paul:
Counterpoint: Acknowledging Paul's contributions doesn't diminish Peter's role. Both Peter and Paul played crucial roles in the early Church, but Peter's unique role is evident in various biblical passages.
Biblical Reference: In Galatians 2:11-14, Paul recounts an incident where he opposed Peter. This episode highlights Peter's influential position, as Paul considered it significant to confront him publicly.
Church Fathers: St. Irenaeus, in the 2nd century, emphasized the roles of Peter and Paul, stating, "In this order, and by this succession, the ecclesiastical tradition from the apostles, and the preaching of the truth, have come down to us."
Development of Papal Authority:
Counterpoint: The development of papal authority can be seen as a natural progression in the Church's understanding of its structure and leadership, with seeds planted in biblical passages like Matthew 16.
Biblical Reference: The concept of the Church being built upon a foundation is consistent with other biblical imagery, such as Ephesians 2:20, where the Church is described as built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
Church Fathers: St. Ignatius of Antioch, in the early 2nd century, wrote to the Church in Rome and addressed it as having a preeminent leadership role, recognizing the importance of the Roman Church in the early Christian community. Augustine of Hippo affirmed this understanding, stating, "On this rock, therefore, He said, which thou hast confessed, I will build my Church. For the Rock (Petra) was Christ; and on this foundation was Peter himself built."
Collective Leadership:
Counterpoint: While collective faith is crucial, the specific language of Matthew 16:18 suggests a unique role for Peter. The Church Fathers often understood this passage as highlighting Peter's distinctive position among the apostles.
Biblical Reference: In Matthew 16:19, the "keys to the kingdom" symbolize authority. This imagery is reminiscent of Isaiah 22:22, where the "key of the house of David" signifies royal authority. This reinforces the uniqueness of Peter's role.
Church Fathers: St. John Chrysostom emphasized Peter's distinctiveness, stating, "For if there be a devil, and his ministers, and tribunals, and a punishment, and a kingdom, it is clear that there is also a judge."
Historical Context:
Counterpoint: The historical context doesn't negate a specific role for Peter. Instead, it helps understand the challenges the early Church faced and the need for a foundational leader. The papacy's development can be seen as a response to these challenges.
Biblical Reference: In Acts 15, the Council of Jerusalem, Peter plays a decisive role in resolving a significant doctrinal issue. His leadership is recognized, and his words lead to a resolution.
Church Fathers: St. Cyprian of Carthage acknowledged Peter's primacy, stating, "Would the heretics dare to come to the very seat of Peter whence apostolic faith is derived and whither no errors can come?"
Role of Paul:
Counterpoint: Acknowledging Paul's contributions doesn't diminish Peter's role. Both Peter and Paul played crucial roles in the early Church, but Peter's unique role is evident in various biblical passages.
Biblical Reference: In Galatians 2:11-14, Paul recounts an incident where he opposed Peter. This episode highlights Peter's influential position, as Paul considered it significant to confront him publicly.
Church Fathers: St. Irenaeus, in the 2nd century, emphasized the roles of Peter and Paul, stating, "In this order, and by this succession, the ecclesiastical tradition from the apostles, and the preaching of the truth, have come down to us."
Development of Papal Authority:
Counterpoint: The development of papal authority can be seen as a natural progression in the Church's understanding of its structure and leadership, with seeds planted in biblical passages like Matthew 16.
Biblical Reference: The concept of the Church being built upon a foundation is consistent with other biblical imagery, such as Ephesians 2:20, where the Church is described as built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
Church Fathers: St. Ignatius of Antioch, in the early 2nd century, wrote to the Church in Rome and addressed it as having a preeminent leadership role, recognizing the importance of the Roman Church in the early Christian community.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
PREPARING FOR CONFESSION DURING LENT
In the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession),
we encounter Jesus Christ, who after rising from
the dead breathed the Holy Spirit on his Apostles —
the first priests — and gave them the power to forgive
sins in his name (Jn 20:23). The Heart of Christ
burns with love for us and he wants us to experience
his immense and unfathomable mercy by confessing
our sins and receiving his forgiveness. This
Sacrament gives us the consolation of God’s pardon
and strengthens our relationship with Christ and
his Church.
A Guide
to Confession
PRAYER TO OUR LADY
BEFORE CONFESSION
“Mary, Mother of Jesus and my Mother, your Son
died on a cross for me. Help me to confess my sins
humbly and with trust in the mercy of God, that I
may receive his pardon and peace.”
RECOGNIZING SIN AND
GROWING IN HOLINESS
As followers of Jesus, we need to examine our
lives and recognize our sinful thoughts, words,
deeds, and omissions so that we can bring them to
God for forgiveness. Such an examination of conscience
should be done regularly, always with trust
in God’s mercy and love and in the power of the
Sacrament of Reconciliation.
We all sin, but we do not all acknowledge our sins.
It takes honesty and courage to reflect upon our
refusals of God’s grace and our rejections of his law
of love. Contemporary society is often blind to the
reality of sin and sometimes even presents sinful
behaviors or lifestyles as positive goods to be sought
and desired. In his encyclical Reconciliation and
Penance (1984), Pope John Paul II suggests that the
defining sin of modern times is the “loss of the sense
of sin”and reminds us of St. John’s warning:“If we say
we have no sin,we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us” (1 Jn 1:8).
Sin is the deliberate violation of God’s law.
Although sin promises illusory goods or happiness, it
results in harm to the sinner, who is always the primary
victim of sin.The Church teaches that there are
two kinds of sin: mortal and venial. Mortal sin is a
deliberate and free choice of something known to be
seriously wrong that destroys our friendship with
God and separates us from him (cf. 1 Jn 5:16-17).All of
the following three conditions must be met for a sin
to be mortal: (1) it must be something serious; (2) it
must be done with sufficient knowledge of its gravity;
and (3) it must be done with sufficient freedom of
the will. Venial sin is a minor offense against God’s
law that hurts our relationship with God but does not
destroy it.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the ordinary
way to have our sins forgiven. It is an encounter
with the mercy of the living God, who meets us
where we are in our weakness and our sins, and it
powerfully deepens our psychological and spiritual
growth. The source of many graces, it should be celebrated
regularly and whenever the need is felt.
Monthly confession is a healthy and effective means
of growing closer to God and leading a balanced,
Christ-centered lifestyle.
CONTRITION
We need contrition, or sorrow for our sins, to
receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and contrition
must include a firm purpose to amend our life
and avoid the near occasions of sin — that is, the situations,
persons, places, and things that lead us to sin.
Sorrow for sin is very different from sadness or selfhatred.
As we draw closer to God, our sense of sin and
sorrow for sin become deeper,just as do our joy,peace
of heart, and purity of conscience.
ACT OF CONTRITION
“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having
offended you, and I detest all my sins because of
your just punishments, but most of all because
they offend you, my God, who are all good and
deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the
help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the
near occasions of sin.”
HOW TO GO TO CONFESSION
■ Pray to the Holy Spirit for self-knowledge and trust
in the mercy of God. Examine your conscience, be
truly sorry for your sins, and resolve to change your
life.
■ Go to the priest and begin with the Sign of the
Cross. Welcoming you, the priest will say:“May God,
who has enlightened every heart, help you to know
your sins and trust in his mercy,” or similar words
taken from Scripture.You answer:“Amen. Then say,
“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been
____ weeks/ months/years since my last confession.”
■ Confess your sins openly and candidly. Tell the
priest of all mortal sins and the number of times each
was committed, and then you may confess some of
your venial sins. (Although it is not strictly necessary
to confess venial sins, the Church recommends that
you do.) If you do not know whether a sin is mortal
or venial, ask the priest. If you have no mortal sins,
confess venial sins you have committed since your
last confession; you may also mention some mortal
sin from your past life for which you are particularly
sorry, indicating that it has already been confessed.
■ Then listen to the priest for whatever counsel he
may judge appropriate. If you have any question
about the faith, how to grow in holiness, or whether
something is a sin, feel free to ask him. Then the
priest will assign you a penance.
■ Pray the Act of Contrition when the priest tells you.
■ Listen as the priest absolves you of your sins and
enjoy the fact that God has truly freed you from all
your sins. If you forget to confess a mortal sin, you
are still forgiven, but must mention it the next time
you go to confession.
■ Do the penance the priest assigns you.
If you are anxious or unsure of what to
do, take this guide with you or tell the
priest and he will make it easier for you.
AN AID TO YOUR EXAMINATION
OF CONSCIENCE
1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have
strange gods before me.
■ Do I seek to love God with all my heart and with
all my soul and with all my strength (Dt 6:5)? Do I
put anything or anyone above God? Do I pray daily?
■ Have I had any involvement with the occult, witchcraft,
wicca, ouija boards, seances, tarot cards, new
age crystals, fortune telling, or the like? Have I put
faith in horoscopes?
■ Have I received Holy Communion in the state of
mortal sin?
■ Have I abused the Sacrament of Penance by lying to
the priest or deliberately not confessing a mortal sin?
■ Have I denied a truth of the faith out of concern for
the respect or opinion of others?
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your
God in vain.
■ Have I used God’s holy name irreverently?
■ Have I blasphemed God, the Church, Mary, the
saints, or sacred places or things?
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
■ Do I try to keep Sunday as a day of prayer, rest, and
relaxation, avoiding unnecessary work?
■ Have I deliberately come late or left early from Mass
without a good reason?
4. Honor your father and your mother.
■ Do I honor and respect my parents?
■ Have I deliberately hurt my parents?
■ Do I treat my children with love and respect?
■ Do I support and care for the well-being of all family
members?
■ Have I neglected family duties?
■ Do I honor and obey my lawful superiors?
5. You shall not kill.
■ Have I deliberately harmed anyone?
■ Have I had an abortion or encouraged an abortion?
■ Have I attempted suicide or seriously considered it?
■ Have I abused drugs or alcohol?
■ Have I led anyone to sin through bad example or
through direct encouragement?
6. You shall not commit adultery.
For the married
■ Am I faithful to my spouse in thought and action?
■ Have I used artificial contraception,✥ or been sterilized?
■ Was I married outside the Church without proper
permission of the Church?
For the unmarried
■ Have I engaged in sexual activity with anyone of
either sex?
For all
■ Have I deliberately viewed pornographic magazines,
videos or internet websites?
■ Have I masturbated?
■ Have I used impure language or told impure jokes?
■ Do I dress modestly?
7. You shall not steal.
■ Have I stolen or accepted stolen goods?
■ Have I deliberately destroyed the property of others?
■ Have I cheated anyone of what I owe?
■ Do I gamble excessively?
■ Do I share what I have with the poor and the
Church according to my means?
■ Have I pirated materials: videos, music, software?
8. You shall not bear false witness against
your neighbor.
■ Have I lied? Have I sworn falsely?
■ Have I plagiarized or been academically dishonest?
■ Have I gossiped? Have I revealed secrets or confidential
information without good reason?
■ Have I ruined the good name of others by spreading
lies or maliciously revealing their faults and sins?
9. You shall not desire your neighbor’s wife.
■ Have I deliberately and consciously permitted sexual
thoughts about anyone besides my spouse?
■ Do I guard my imagination and senses?
■ Have I watched shows, plays, pictures or movies
that contain impure scenes with the deliberate intention
of being aroused by them? Am I responsible
about what I read?
10. You shall not desire your neighbor’s
goods.
■ Am I envious of the possessions, abilities, talents,
beauty, or success of others?
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
■ Do I love my neighbor? Is there anyone whom I do
not love or refuse to love? Have I wished harm or
misfortune on anyone?
■ Do I forgive from my heart those who have hurt
me? Do I harbor hatred or grudges? Do I pray for my
enemies?
■ Have I ridiculed or humiliated others?
■ Do I seek to help others in need?
■ Do I love myself as God loves me? Do I care for my
physical, emotional, and spiritual health?
■ Do I forgive myself for my sins after bringing them
to God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Precepts of the Church
■ Have I deliberately missed Mass on a Sunday or
Holy Day of obligation without a serious reason?
■ Do I go to confession at least once a year when I
have serious sins to confess?
■ Do I receive Holy Communion, at least once during
Eastertime?
■ Do I take part in the major feasts celebrating Our
Lord, the Virgin Mary, and the saints?
■ Do I abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent (for
ages 14 and over) and fast on one full meal on Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday (for ages 18-59)? Do I
fast for one hour before Holy Communion (water
and medicine allowed)?
■ Do I contribute to support the material needs of
the Church?
IMPRIMATUR
+ William E. Lori, S.T.D.
Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
Oct. 8, 1999
2075 3/00 © Copyright 2000 by Knights of Columbus.
All rights reserved.
To View in the original context please see PREPARING FOR RECONCILIATION Guide by the Knights of Columbus. Used with permission
we encounter Jesus Christ, who after rising from
the dead breathed the Holy Spirit on his Apostles —
the first priests — and gave them the power to forgive
sins in his name (Jn 20:23). The Heart of Christ
burns with love for us and he wants us to experience
his immense and unfathomable mercy by confessing
our sins and receiving his forgiveness. This
Sacrament gives us the consolation of God’s pardon
and strengthens our relationship with Christ and
his Church.
A Guide
to Confession
PRAYER TO OUR LADY
BEFORE CONFESSION
“Mary, Mother of Jesus and my Mother, your Son
died on a cross for me. Help me to confess my sins
humbly and with trust in the mercy of God, that I
may receive his pardon and peace.”
RECOGNIZING SIN AND
GROWING IN HOLINESS
As followers of Jesus, we need to examine our
lives and recognize our sinful thoughts, words,
deeds, and omissions so that we can bring them to
God for forgiveness. Such an examination of conscience
should be done regularly, always with trust
in God’s mercy and love and in the power of the
Sacrament of Reconciliation.
We all sin, but we do not all acknowledge our sins.
It takes honesty and courage to reflect upon our
refusals of God’s grace and our rejections of his law
of love. Contemporary society is often blind to the
reality of sin and sometimes even presents sinful
behaviors or lifestyles as positive goods to be sought
and desired. In his encyclical Reconciliation and
Penance (1984), Pope John Paul II suggests that the
defining sin of modern times is the “loss of the sense
of sin”and reminds us of St. John’s warning:“If we say
we have no sin,we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us” (1 Jn 1:8).
Sin is the deliberate violation of God’s law.
Although sin promises illusory goods or happiness, it
results in harm to the sinner, who is always the primary
victim of sin.The Church teaches that there are
two kinds of sin: mortal and venial. Mortal sin is a
deliberate and free choice of something known to be
seriously wrong that destroys our friendship with
God and separates us from him (cf. 1 Jn 5:16-17).All of
the following three conditions must be met for a sin
to be mortal: (1) it must be something serious; (2) it
must be done with sufficient knowledge of its gravity;
and (3) it must be done with sufficient freedom of
the will. Venial sin is a minor offense against God’s
law that hurts our relationship with God but does not
destroy it.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the ordinary
way to have our sins forgiven. It is an encounter
with the mercy of the living God, who meets us
where we are in our weakness and our sins, and it
powerfully deepens our psychological and spiritual
growth. The source of many graces, it should be celebrated
regularly and whenever the need is felt.
Monthly confession is a healthy and effective means
of growing closer to God and leading a balanced,
Christ-centered lifestyle.
CONTRITION
We need contrition, or sorrow for our sins, to
receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and contrition
must include a firm purpose to amend our life
and avoid the near occasions of sin — that is, the situations,
persons, places, and things that lead us to sin.
Sorrow for sin is very different from sadness or selfhatred.
As we draw closer to God, our sense of sin and
sorrow for sin become deeper,just as do our joy,peace
of heart, and purity of conscience.
ACT OF CONTRITION
“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having
offended you, and I detest all my sins because of
your just punishments, but most of all because
they offend you, my God, who are all good and
deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the
help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the
near occasions of sin.”
HOW TO GO TO CONFESSION
■ Pray to the Holy Spirit for self-knowledge and trust
in the mercy of God. Examine your conscience, be
truly sorry for your sins, and resolve to change your
life.
■ Go to the priest and begin with the Sign of the
Cross. Welcoming you, the priest will say:“May God,
who has enlightened every heart, help you to know
your sins and trust in his mercy,” or similar words
taken from Scripture.You answer:“Amen. Then say,
“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been
____ weeks/ months/years since my last confession.”
■ Confess your sins openly and candidly. Tell the
priest of all mortal sins and the number of times each
was committed, and then you may confess some of
your venial sins. (Although it is not strictly necessary
to confess venial sins, the Church recommends that
you do.) If you do not know whether a sin is mortal
or venial, ask the priest. If you have no mortal sins,
confess venial sins you have committed since your
last confession; you may also mention some mortal
sin from your past life for which you are particularly
sorry, indicating that it has already been confessed.
■ Then listen to the priest for whatever counsel he
may judge appropriate. If you have any question
about the faith, how to grow in holiness, or whether
something is a sin, feel free to ask him. Then the
priest will assign you a penance.
■ Pray the Act of Contrition when the priest tells you.
■ Listen as the priest absolves you of your sins and
enjoy the fact that God has truly freed you from all
your sins. If you forget to confess a mortal sin, you
are still forgiven, but must mention it the next time
you go to confession.
■ Do the penance the priest assigns you.
If you are anxious or unsure of what to
do, take this guide with you or tell the
priest and he will make it easier for you.
AN AID TO YOUR EXAMINATION
OF CONSCIENCE
1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have
strange gods before me.
■ Do I seek to love God with all my heart and with
all my soul and with all my strength (Dt 6:5)? Do I
put anything or anyone above God? Do I pray daily?
■ Have I had any involvement with the occult, witchcraft,
wicca, ouija boards, seances, tarot cards, new
age crystals, fortune telling, or the like? Have I put
faith in horoscopes?
■ Have I received Holy Communion in the state of
mortal sin?
■ Have I abused the Sacrament of Penance by lying to
the priest or deliberately not confessing a mortal sin?
■ Have I denied a truth of the faith out of concern for
the respect or opinion of others?
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your
God in vain.
■ Have I used God’s holy name irreverently?
■ Have I blasphemed God, the Church, Mary, the
saints, or sacred places or things?
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
■ Do I try to keep Sunday as a day of prayer, rest, and
relaxation, avoiding unnecessary work?
■ Have I deliberately come late or left early from Mass
without a good reason?
4. Honor your father and your mother.
■ Do I honor and respect my parents?
■ Have I deliberately hurt my parents?
■ Do I treat my children with love and respect?
■ Do I support and care for the well-being of all family
members?
■ Have I neglected family duties?
■ Do I honor and obey my lawful superiors?
5. You shall not kill.
■ Have I deliberately harmed anyone?
■ Have I had an abortion or encouraged an abortion?
■ Have I attempted suicide or seriously considered it?
■ Have I abused drugs or alcohol?
■ Have I led anyone to sin through bad example or
through direct encouragement?
6. You shall not commit adultery.
For the married
■ Am I faithful to my spouse in thought and action?
■ Have I used artificial contraception,✥ or been sterilized?
■ Was I married outside the Church without proper
permission of the Church?
For the unmarried
■ Have I engaged in sexual activity with anyone of
either sex?
For all
■ Have I deliberately viewed pornographic magazines,
videos or internet websites?
■ Have I masturbated?
■ Have I used impure language or told impure jokes?
■ Do I dress modestly?
7. You shall not steal.
■ Have I stolen or accepted stolen goods?
■ Have I deliberately destroyed the property of others?
■ Have I cheated anyone of what I owe?
■ Do I gamble excessively?
■ Do I share what I have with the poor and the
Church according to my means?
■ Have I pirated materials: videos, music, software?
8. You shall not bear false witness against
your neighbor.
■ Have I lied? Have I sworn falsely?
■ Have I plagiarized or been academically dishonest?
■ Have I gossiped? Have I revealed secrets or confidential
information without good reason?
■ Have I ruined the good name of others by spreading
lies or maliciously revealing their faults and sins?
9. You shall not desire your neighbor’s wife.
■ Have I deliberately and consciously permitted sexual
thoughts about anyone besides my spouse?
■ Do I guard my imagination and senses?
■ Have I watched shows, plays, pictures or movies
that contain impure scenes with the deliberate intention
of being aroused by them? Am I responsible
about what I read?
10. You shall not desire your neighbor’s
goods.
■ Am I envious of the possessions, abilities, talents,
beauty, or success of others?
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
■ Do I love my neighbor? Is there anyone whom I do
not love or refuse to love? Have I wished harm or
misfortune on anyone?
■ Do I forgive from my heart those who have hurt
me? Do I harbor hatred or grudges? Do I pray for my
enemies?
■ Have I ridiculed or humiliated others?
■ Do I seek to help others in need?
■ Do I love myself as God loves me? Do I care for my
physical, emotional, and spiritual health?
■ Do I forgive myself for my sins after bringing them
to God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Precepts of the Church
■ Have I deliberately missed Mass on a Sunday or
Holy Day of obligation without a serious reason?
■ Do I go to confession at least once a year when I
have serious sins to confess?
■ Do I receive Holy Communion, at least once during
Eastertime?
■ Do I take part in the major feasts celebrating Our
Lord, the Virgin Mary, and the saints?
■ Do I abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent (for
ages 14 and over) and fast on one full meal on Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday (for ages 18-59)? Do I
fast for one hour before Holy Communion (water
and medicine allowed)?
■ Do I contribute to support the material needs of
the Church?
IMPRIMATUR
+ William E. Lori, S.T.D.
Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
Oct. 8, 1999
2075 3/00 © Copyright 2000 by Knights of Columbus.
All rights reserved.
To View in the original context please see PREPARING FOR RECONCILIATION Guide by the Knights of Columbus. Used with permission
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