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Confession

Introduction

The forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism is conferred by a particular sacrament called the sacrament of conversion, confession, penance, or reconciliation. To the eyes of faith no evil is graver than sin and nothing has worse consequences for sinners themselves, for the Church, and for the whole world.

The movement of return to God, called conversion and repentance, entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, and the firm purpose of sinning no more in the future. Conversion touches the past and the future and is nourished by hope in God's mercy.

The spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance are:

• reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace;

• reconciliation with the Church;

• remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins;

• remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin;

• peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation;

• an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.

Individual and integral confession of grave sins followed by absolution remains the only ordinary means of reconciliation with God and with the Church.

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The sacrament of Penance at Saint Anthony's

There is always priests hearing confessions on Saturdays at noon. If you need urgent confession you can fix an appointment calling one of the priests directly. During Lent and Advent there are communal penance services with personal hearing of sins and general absolution.

How to prepare for Reconciliation

The sacrament of Penance is a whole consisting in three actions of the penitent and the priest's absolution. the penitent's acts are repentance, confession or disclosure of sins to the priest, and the intention to make reparation and do works of reparation.

Repentance (also called contrition) must be inspired by motives that arise from faith. If repentance arises from love of charity for God, it is called "perfect" contrition; if it is founded on other motives, it is called "imperfect."

To prepare for Confession it is desirable to make a good examine of conscience.

One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.

The confessor proposes the performance of certain acts of "satisfaction" or "penance" to be performed by the penitent in order to repair the harm caused by sin and to re-establish habits befitting a disciple of Christ.

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