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9. The Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation

Individual confession and absolution remains the "sole ordinary means by which one of the faithful who is conscious of grave sin is reconciled with God and with the Church" (Code of Canon Law, 960; Ordo Paenitentiae, 31; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1484). Energetic efforts are to be made to avoid any risk that this traditional practice of the sacrament of penance fall into disuse.

The communal celebration of penance with individual confession and absolution should be encouraged especially in Advent and Lent, but it can not be allowed to prevent regular, ready access to the traditional form for all who desire it.

Unfortunately, communal celebrations have not infrequently occasioned an illegitimate use of general absolution. This illegitimate use, like other abuses in the administration of the sacrament of penance, is to be eliminated.

The teaching of the Church is reflected in precise terms in the requirements of the Code of Canon Law (especially 959-964). In particular it is clear that “a sufficient necessity is not... considered to exist when confessors cannot be available merely because of a great gathering of penitents, such as can occur on some major feast day or pilgrimage” (Code of Canon Law, 961, 1).

The bishops will exercise renewed vigilance on these matters for the future, aware that departures from authentic tradition do great wrong to the Church and to individual Catholics.

COMMENTS

While individual confession and absolution remains “the sole ordinary means by which one of the faithful who is conscious of grave sin is reconciled with God and with the Church”, the lived reality for many faithful Catholics is that truly grave sin might not be a frequent occurrence.

Good catechesis and moral theological reflection is needed around this issue. Catechesis on sin and reconciliation has been inadequate in recent decades. There is also need for catechesis about the history of the sacrament of Penance.

It is also possible that we have tried to telescope too much into this one Sacrament of Reconciliation! Reconciliation is also achieved through Eucharist and Anointing. Participation in the Eucharist is the ordinary means of reconciliation and forgiveness for the ‘daily sins’ of the Christian life. Lesser sins are forgiven by prayer, acts of fasting and good works. There may exist some sense that the Sacrament of Reconciliation has been trivialised by merely devotional or compulsive confessions.

There is a need to provide times and places for the appropriate celebration of the First Rite. This is sometimes lacking. In some places the First Rite of Reconciliation either might be offered infrequently or might not be celebrated well. There might be no sharing of Scripture and prayer. The celebration might be rushed. The revised ritual forms might not be taken seriously. Good faithful Catholics find this less than satisfying. Where the First Rite is celebrated well it can be a rich and fruitful opportunity for personal reflection and spiritual direction.

In regard to the use of the Third Rite, the document states that “the teaching of the Church is reflected in precise terms”. The mind of the Roman authorities is clear: the conditions for celebrating the Third Rite of Reconciliation are to be interpreted strictly. The need remains for a pastoral response to the question of how reconciliation might best be celebrated. How may a communal Second Rite of Reconciliation be practically celebrated given the declining number of priests, particularly in those parts of Australia where there are large distances between parishes?

Because the Second Rite is difficult to celebrate well, more pastorally responsive solutions need to be considered. For example, there might be a period of retreat and recollection, beginning with a celebration of the Word and an examination of conscience, followed by an extended period of quiet prayer and reflection, when there would be the opportunity for those participating to seek spiritual direction or to confess their sins and receive individual absolution. Such a gathering could conclude with Mass using a Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation.

There are tensions in the Church regarding the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. On this issue, as on others, reconciliation is needed within our Catholic community!

QUESTIONS

Have you found some celebrations of reconciliation particularly helpful?

How might we develop rituals of reconciliation that respond directly to the needs people feel today?