Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation

​

Jesus Christ, on the evening of his Resurrection from the dead, appeared to his Apostles.

At the Last Supper, he had already instituted them as first priests of his Church, commanding and empowering them to celebrate the Eucharist in his memory. (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:23-26) Now, he also empowered them to forgive sins in his name: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.' (John 20:22-23)

 

This power has been handed on from the Apostles to the priests of the Catholic Church, which Christ established upon St Peter, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome - giving him the 'keys of the kingdom of heaven' and the power to 'bind' and 'loose'. (Matthew 16:18-19)

​

According to the faith of the Church - guided by the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised (John 14:16-17, 26; 16:13) - the forgiveness of sins is imparted in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as the Sacrament of Penance, or Confession).

 

...especially for the forgiveness of serious sins,

to set us once again on the path to heaven

​

Reconciliation is most especially for the forgiveness of serious sin (also called 'grave' or 'mortal'): deliberate and knowing violation of God's law in a serious matter.

 

Such sins, by their rejection of God's will in favour of our own will, revoke our love for God above all things. They are incompatible with the influx of sanctifying grace from God, the divine life which is the necessary seed on earth of union with him in heaven. Our choice of serious sin thus turns us away from the path to heaven: in order to reach heaven we must die with God's grace in our souls.

​

As a remedy for this, Christ empowered priests to forgive sins in his name, in virtue of the saving divine power of his Death and Resurrection.

​

To receive this saving remedy, penitents confess all the unconfessed grave sins they can remember - with sincere repentance, and the resolution, with God's help, not to sin again.

​

The absolution given by the priest completes the repentance and confession of penitents, imparting God's forgiveness, restoring their souls to the state of grace and divine beauty, and setting them once again on the path to heaven.

​​

...and for the forgiveness of smaller sins,

strengthening us in Christian life.

​

The confession of our smaller daily faults (venial sins), while not absolutely necessary, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. While venial sins do not cut us off from salvation, they do offend God, harm others, and damage ourselves spiritually and morally.

 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation heals these wounds and strengthens us in the Christian life. It is a powerful weapon in our battle gradually to overcome sinful habits.

​

We should confess at least once a year, and are well-advised to do so as soon as possible if we do unfortunately fall into grave sin and depart from the path of salvation. But even if, with God's grace, we have happily avoided grave sin, if we are serious in our Christian discipleship we will be eager to come to Reconciliation with greater frequency - a few times a year, or even monthly - so as to receive all the blessings and graces God pours out so abundantly in this Sacrament of mercy.​​​​​​