Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth

The Diocese of Portsmouth covers Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, the Channel Isles and parts of Berkshire, Dorset and Oxfordshire

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The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Over the centuries, the form of this sacrament has varied. Consequently it is known by many names: sacrament of conversion, penance, confession, forgiveness, return, reconciliation, healing....

The purpose of this sacrament is simple: to reconcile the person with God and the Church. It addresses the reality of sin in a greater context of our giftedness and appropriate service within a community of believers - and beyond it.

Catechists involved in the sacramental preparation for reconciliation need to be intimately aware of the revised Rite of Penance (1973), and the ritual forms of the celebration. They need to know how the Church celebrates this sacrament and why if they are to lead others to an encounter with the reconciling Christ.

The Rite of Penance has three forms for celebrating the sacrament:

Rite for Reconciliation of Individual Penitents (Rite A)
Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession & Absolution (Rite B)
Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents With General Confession and Absolution (Rite C)

The Rite of Penance, #6 states that the person is converted to God in the sacrament through:

1) Contrition

this is “the most important act of the penitent” (Rite of Penance, 6.a). Contrition is intimately connected to an individual's experience of God's Love and conversion. So the first step really begins before the celebration of the sacrament itself.

2) Confession

or naming the sins

3) Penance

4) Absolution

These four major actions can fruitfully become the basis of the sessions for the sacramental preparation for the First Reconciliation. However, this sacrament can easily be just "tagged on" to the mystery of the Eucharist as a doorway, or an appendix. Although the sacrament of reconciliation is linked with Mass, it is a sacrament in its own right. It therefore needs to be appreciated as such in order to refresh our understanding of the penitential moments of the Eucharist, and our own practice of pardon and reconciliation in daily lives.

Some Resources:

Thinking About Reconciliation (Liturgy Office Link)