SACRAMENT OF PENANCE/RECONCILIATION

 

Sacrament of Reconciliation

By Edward Matulanya 

The Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation)

Definition and Meaning of Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Penance, also known as Reconciliation or Confession, is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Through it, the faithful receive forgiveness for sins committed after baptism, are reconciled with God and the Church, and are strengthened by divine grace for their Christian journey.

Different names of Sacrament of Reconciliation 

The different names of the sacrament emphasize distinct dimensions:

Penance stresses conversion and satisfaction.

Confession highlights the acknowledgment of sins to a priest.

Reconciliation underlines restored communion with God and the Church.

Forgiveness points to the merciful pardon received (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1997, §§1423–1424).

Scriptural Foundations of Sacrament of Reconciliation 

Catholic teaching bases this sacrament on Christ’s authority given to the apostles:

John 20:22–23 — Jesus grants the apostles the power to forgive or retain sins.

Matthew 16:19; 18:18 — authority of binding and loosing.

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 — Paul speaks of the “ministry of reconciliation.”

These passages are seen as the biblical roots of sacramental confession (Martos, 2014).

Historical Development of Sacrament of Reconciliation 

Early Church (1st–3rd centuries)

In the early centuries, baptism was believed to cleanse all sins, but post-baptismal sin caused grave concern. Serious sins such as idolatry, adultery, and murder required long periods of public penance before reconciliation with the Church. Absolution was granted rarely and only by the bishop (O’Collins & Farrugia, 2010).

Post-Constantinian Era (4th–6th centuries)

After Christianity became legal in the Roman Empire, public penance became institutionalized but remained severe. This often discouraged people from seeking reconciliation and led many to delay baptism until late in life (Kelly, 2009).

Irish and Celtic Influence (6th–9th centuries)

Monks from Ireland developed the practice of private confession, which spread throughout Europe. Penitential manuals prescribed specific penances, such as fasting or pilgrimages, for different sins (Meens, 2014).

Medieval Period (9th–13th centuries)

By the Middle Ages, private confession was the norm. The Fourth Lateran Council (1215) required all Catholics to confess their sins at least once a year (Lateran IV, Canon 21). Scholastic theologians such as Thomas Aquinas explained the sacrament in terms of contrition, confession, satisfaction, and absolution (Aquinas, 1947/1274).

Council of Trent (1545–1563)

The Protestant Reformation challenged sacramental confession, denying priestly absolution. The Council of Trent reaffirmed that confession is divinely instituted, that priests absolve sins in Christ’s name, and that the sacrament is necessary for mortal sins (Council of Trent, 2012/1551).

Modern Era

The 1917 and 1983 Codes of Canon Law maintained the obligation of annual confession. The Second Vatican Council highlighted the communal and ecclesial dimension of reconciliation (Second Vatican Council, 2012/1963). The Rite of Penance (1973) introduced three forms of celebration: individual confession, communal services with individual absolution, and general absolution in emergencies (Martos, 2014).

Theology of the Sacrament of Reconciliation 

Acts of the Penitent

1. Contrition: sorrow for sins, with a resolve to avoid sin in the future.

2. Confession: verbal acknowledgment of sins to a priest.

3. Satisfaction: acts of penance assigned to repair the damage caused by sin.

Act of the Minister in Sacrament of Reconciliation 

The priest, acting in persona Christi (“in the person of Christ”), pronounces the words of absolution: “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Effects of Sacrament of Reconciliation 

Forgiveness of sins.

Reconciliation with God and the Church.

Restoration of grace.

Inner peace and renewed spiritual strength (CCC, 1997, §§1468–1470).

Contemporary Practice of Sacrament of Reconciliation 

Today, Catholics are required to confess mortal sins at least once a year and before receiving Holy Communion if aware of grave sin (Code of Canon Law, 1983, can. 989). Confession of venial sins is recommended for spiritual growth. Modern popes have emphasized confession as a “sacrament of joy and mercy” (John Paul II, 2002; Francis, 2016).

References

Aquinas, T. (1947). Summa Theologica (Fathers of the English Dominican Province, Trans.). Benziger Bros. (Original work published 1274)

Catechism of the Catholic Church. (1997). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Code of Canon Law. (1983). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Council of Trent. (2012). The canons and decrees of the Council of Trent (H. J. Schroeder, Trans.). TAN Books. (Original work published 1551)

Francis. (2016). Misericordia et Misera. Vatican City.

John Paul II. (2002). Reconciliatio et Paenitentia. Vatican City.

Kelly, J. N. D. (2009). Early Christian doctrines (5th ed.). HarperOne.

Martos, J. (2014). Doors to the sacred: A historical introduction to sacraments in the Catholic Church (25th anniversary ed.). Liguori.

Meens, R. (2014). Penance in medieval Europe, 600–1200. Cambridge University Press.

O’Collins, G., & Farrugia, E. G. (2010). A concise dictionary of theology (3rd ed.). Paulist Press.

Second Vatican Council. (2012). Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy). Vatican City. (Original work published 1963)

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