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SACRAMENTS
History of the Sacrament: In the early centuries after Christ, Baptism was believed to be the once-in-a-lifetime forgiveness of sin because Baptism was celebrated with adults after a long period of preparation. Serious sin after baptism needed to be publicly confessed before the Church, and the penances imposed could be quite burdensome. In the fifth century, in Celtic Churches, the practice of private and frequent confession was prescribed by the Irish monks, partly to avoid the scandal of public confession of sins, and partly as a way of aiding spiritual growth. The second Vatican Council directed emphasis away from a too-legalistic understanding of sin and turned more toward the covenant with God, the call to conversion, the inner attitudes of the heart, personal responsibility, and reconciliation with God and the community. Definition of Penance and Reconciliation Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against Him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church, which they have wounded, by their sins.5 Penance is a sacrament of conversion, penance, confession, forgiveness and Reconciliation.6 Forgiveness of sin happens after an Act of Contrition and an effort not to sin again. There are three rites for the Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance: individual reconciliation, communal celebration with individual confession and absolution, and communal celebration with general confession and general absolution.Procedure for Reception of the Sacrament at St. John's 1. Children at the Second grade level in school are enrolled by their parents in the class for Reconciliation through the Faith Formation Office. Parents participate in educating their child for the celebration of the Sacrament. All those children prepared, celebrate the sacrament together on appointed days. 2. Children who have not received this sacrament in second grade will be prepared for celebrating the sacrament through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC). 3. Adults who seek to celebrate this sacrament will enroll in the RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) and receive this sacrament before Holy Week. 4. The Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation can be celebrated each week at times listed for the parish. 5. Each of the faithful who has celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation, is bound by an obligation to confess serious sins at least one a year.7 Students registered in the Faith Formation Program (classroom or parent-guided study) or attend St. John's School prepare for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in the second grade. The parents/guardians are the primary educators for this program. The program (6 sessions) begins in October. Registration takes place in September. 5 C.C. #1422. 6 C.C. 1423, 1424. 7 Canon #989 |
