The Sacrament The Sacrament of Confessionof Confession

(Penance)(Penance)

Why penance?Why penance? PoenitentiaPoenitentia (Latin): sorrow, regret, (Latin): sorrow, regret,

change of mind or heart.change of mind or heart. Christ instituted this sacrament for the Christ instituted this sacrament for the

remission of sins committed after baptism.remission of sins committed after baptism. God alone can forgive sins! This sacrament God alone can forgive sins! This sacrament

makes that forgiveness possible through makes that forgiveness possible through the instrument of the the instrument of the priesthoodpriesthood..

DefinitionDefinition: the sacrament in which the : the sacrament in which the priest in the name of Christ, forgives sins, priest in the name of Christ, forgives sins, if the sinner is heartily sorry for them, if the sinner is heartily sorry for them, confesses them sincerely, and is willing to confesses them sincerely, and is willing to make satisfaction for them.make satisfaction for them.

Matter & FormMatter & Form Remote MatterRemote Matter: the sins of the penitent.: the sins of the penitent. Proximate MatterProximate Matter: the acts of the : the acts of the

penitent penitent contritioncontrition, , confessionconfession, , satisfactionsatisfaction

FormForm: Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in : Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.

(I absolve thee from thy sins in the Name (I absolve thee from thy sins in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost)Holy Ghost)

ScripturesScriptures Matthew 16:18-19Matthew 16:18-19 Christ promised Christ promised

the power of the keys to Peter and the the power of the keys to Peter and the Church.Church.

John 20:21-23John 20:21-23 “As the Father has sent “As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit: me, so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit: whose sins you forgive they are whose sins you forgive they are forgiven…”forgiven…”

Matthew 9:2Matthew 9:2 “The Son of Man has “The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”power on earth to forgive sins”

The Apostles and their successors have The Apostles and their successors have the power to forgive because it was given the power to forgive because it was given to them directly by Christ.to them directly by Christ.

Administration Administration of the of the

SacramentSacrament

Order and JurisdictionOrder and Jurisdiction Two essential requirementsTwo essential requirements: (1) : (1) Holy Holy

OrdersOrders, and (2) , and (2) JurisdictionJurisdiction.. JurisdictionJurisdiction: legal power; Christ : legal power; Christ

appointed the Apostles and their appointed the Apostles and their successors judges over sins.successors judges over sins.

A judge can only exercise authority over A judge can only exercise authority over those subject to his jurisdiction.those subject to his jurisdiction.

Two types of jurisdictionTwo types of jurisdiction: (1) : (1) ordinary ordinary jurisdictionjurisdiction, and (2) , and (2) delegated delegated jurisdictionjurisdiction..

Ordinary JurisdictionOrdinary Jurisdiction: connected : connected with an office involving the with an office involving the ordinary care of soulsordinary care of souls

The bishop of a diocese and the The bishop of a diocese and the pastor of a parishpastor of a parish

Delegated JurisdictionDelegated Jurisdiction: not : not holding such an office, but holding such an office, but empowered by the Pope or the empowered by the Pope or the bishop to hear confessions.bishop to hear confessions.

associate pastorsassociate pastors The permission to hear confessions The permission to hear confessions

is conferred via “is conferred via “facultiesfaculties”.”. A priest with faculties can hear A priest with faculties can hear

anyone’s confessions anywhere in anyone’s confessions anywhere in the world.the world.

In danger of death, a priest without In danger of death, a priest without faculties may hear a confession faculties may hear a confession validly.validly.

Special SinsSpecial Sins Confession has the Confession has the

power to forgive any power to forgive any type of sin!type of sin!

Some sins are reserved Some sins are reserved to the pope or bishopto the pope or bishop::

1.1. Desecration of the Desecration of the Blessed Sacrament;Blessed Sacrament;

2.2. Violence towards the Violence towards the pope, a bishop, or pope, a bishop, or priest;priest;

3.3. The absolution of a The absolution of a partner in a sin against partner in a sin against the 6the 6thth commandment; commandment;

4.4. A confessor who A confessor who directly breaks the seal directly breaks the seal of confession.of confession.

Contrition and Contrition and Purpose of Purpose of

AmendmentAmendment

ContritionContrition ContritionContrition: pain/grief of : pain/grief of

mind and detestation of mind and detestation of sin committed, with the sin committed, with the firm resolution to sin no firm resolution to sin no more.more.

Without contrition, Without contrition, NONO sin sin is ever forgivenis ever forgiven

an “act of contrition” an “act of contrition” must be made must be made immediately after sinning immediately after sinning before confession, or at before confession, or at least before absolution is least before absolution is given.given.

2 Types of Contrition2 Types of Contrition PerfectPerfect: sorrow because : sorrow because

you have offended God, you have offended God, who is infinitely Good and who is infinitely Good and Loveable.Loveable.

ImperfectImperfect: (: (attritionattrition) ) sorrow because you fear sorrow because you fear the punishment that is due the punishment that is due to evil acts.to evil acts.

Perfect Contrition ALWAYS Perfect Contrition ALWAYS destroys mortal sin. destroys mortal sin. Attrition alone does not!Attrition alone does not!

However, attrition plus the However, attrition plus the sacrament of confession sacrament of confession suffices for the forgiveness suffices for the forgiveness of mortal sin.of mortal sin.

Firm Purpose of Firm Purpose of AmendmentAmendment

The penitent The penitent HATESHATES the sins committed, the sins committed, REGRETSREGRETS his acts, and is his acts, and is RESOLVEDRESOLVED never to sin again.never to sin again.

Must see sin as the greatest evilsMust see sin as the greatest evils Wishes never to have committed evil actsWishes never to have committed evil acts Must regret all sins committedMust regret all sins committed The saints would’ve rather died than The saints would’ve rather died than

to have committed a single mortal to have committed a single mortal sin.sin.

The Effects of The Effects of the Sacramentthe Sacrament

4 Main Effects4 Main Effects

1.1. Remits sins committed after Remits sins committed after baptismbaptism

2.2. Remits the eternal punishment of Remits the eternal punishment of mortal sin (i.e., Hell), and at least a mortal sin (i.e., Hell), and at least a part of the temporal punishment part of the temporal punishment due to sin (i.e., Purgatory)due to sin (i.e., Purgatory)

3.3. Restores sanctifying graceRestores sanctifying grace

4.4. Strength not to fall back into sins Strength not to fall back into sins committedcommitted

IndulgencesIndulgences

IndulgencesIndulgences IndulegentiaIndulegentia (Latin) = kindness, favor. (Latin) = kindness, favor. In Roman Law, it was the remission of a In Roman Law, it was the remission of a

tax or debt.tax or debt. DefinitionDefinition: the remission, in whole or : the remission, in whole or

in part, of the temporal punishment due in part, of the temporal punishment due to sin that has been forgiven.to sin that has been forgiven.

The power to remove this debt is The power to remove this debt is derived from the (a) derived from the (a) merits of Christmerits of Christ and of His saints—especially the and of His saints—especially the martyrs—(b) through the exercise of the martyrs—(b) through the exercise of the power of the Keys of the Kingdompower of the Keys of the Kingdom given to St. Peter by Christ.given to St. Peter by Christ.

Pope Bl. Urban II at the Pope Bl. Urban II at the Council of Claremont (1095)Council of Claremont (1095)““Those who have undertaken the Those who have undertaken the

journey to Jerusalem for the salvation journey to Jerusalem for the salvation of their souls and the liberty of the of their souls and the liberty of the Church we have, through the mercy Church we have, through the mercy of God and the intercession of the of God and the intercession of the

universal Church, universal Church, remitted the whole remitted the whole penance for their sins which they penance for their sins which they have rightly and fully confessedhave rightly and fully confessed, , because they have risked their because they have risked their

property and their lives for the love property and their lives for the love of God and their neighbor.”of God and their neighbor.”

Indulgences Become Indulgences Become FrequentFrequent

After the Crusades, indulgences became After the Crusades, indulgences became more freely given:more freely given:

pilgrimage to pilgrimage to JerusalemJerusalem, , RomeRome, , Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de Compostela (Spain); (Spain);

the occasion of the consecration of a the occasion of the consecration of a church and the canonization of saints;church and the canonization of saints;

for contributions towards the building of for contributions towards the building of churches, hospitals, bridges;churches, hospitals, bridges;

Attached to objects of devotion, such as Attached to objects of devotion, such as crucifixes, rosaries, etc.crucifixes, rosaries, etc.

The Church pays our The Church pays our debts!debts!

She draws on the merits (good works, She draws on the merits (good works, sacrifices) of Christ and the saints, sacrifices) of Christ and the saints, especially the Blessed Virgin Mary.especially the Blessed Virgin Mary.

They are a boundless source of spiritual They are a boundless source of spiritual riches; an infinite treasury.riches; an infinite treasury.

The church administers these merits for The church administers these merits for the good of souls.the good of souls.

This flows from the doctrine of the This flows from the doctrine of the Communion of Saints.Communion of Saints.

Souls in PurgatorySouls in Purgatory Indulgences can be gained Indulgences can be gained

either for oneself or for the either for oneself or for the holy souls in Purgatoryholy souls in Purgatory

We gain the indulgence on We gain the indulgence on their behalf, but God alone their behalf, but God alone knows how it is applied.knows how it is applied.

It may remit the entire It may remit the entire debt, or only partially.debt, or only partially.

They can be gained for They can be gained for specific souls, or for souls specific souls, or for souls in general.in general.

Types of IndulgencesTypes of Indulgences1.1. Plenary IndulgencePlenary Indulgence: the : the

removal of the entire debt of removal of the entire debt of justice.justice.

2.2. Partial IndulgencePartial Indulgence: the removal : the removal of a part of the entire debt.of a part of the entire debt.

RequirementsRequirements:: Must be in the state of grace;Must be in the state of grace; Must have gone to confession and Must have gone to confession and

have received Holy Communion;have received Holy Communion; Pray for the intentions of the PopePray for the intentions of the Pope Must be detached from ALL venial Must be detached from ALL venial

sin!!!sin!!! If in the state of venial sin, can If in the state of venial sin, can

gain only the partial indulgence.gain only the partial indulgence.

The EndThe End