The Sacrament of Penance/ Reconciliation
Q: Why do Catholics receive the Sacrament of Penance? The Sacrament of A: “Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against Penance/ him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church Reconciliation which they have wounded by their sins and which by char- ity, by example, and by prayers labors for their conversion.“ FAQ’s CCC1422 The Sacrament of Penance is also referred to as a Sacrament of conversion or confession. When we receive this Sacra- What is sin? Q: ment, we return to God with all of our heart, we turn away A: Sin “is an offense against God as well as a fault against reason, truth from evil, and we express the desire to change our life with and right conscience. Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission the help of God’s mercy and grace. Through the Sacrament contrary to the eternal law of God“. CCC 1849, 1850 In other words, of Penance, God gives us a new heart and the strength to sin is willfully rejecting good and choosing evil. Unfortunately, in today’s begin again. All of our sins are forgiven and our communion culture, many people have lost the understanding of sin. Pope John Paul II with God and the Church is restored. Confession is the visi- said that “it happens not infrequently in history, for more or less lengthy ble manifestation of God’s mercy that gives us the clear periods of time and under the influence of many different factors, that the awareness that God has forgiven us.
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