The Sacrament of Penance has many different understandings - it is the

1. Sacrament of Conversion – because it makes sacramentally present Jesus’ call to conversion, the first step to returning to the Father from whom one has strayed by sin – recall the parable of the Prodigal Son.
2. Sacrament of Penance – since it consecrates the Christian sinner’s personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.
3. The Sacrament of Confession – since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is one of the essential elements.
4. The Sacrament of Forgiveness – because through the Priest, God grants absolution and penitent "pardon and peace".
5. The Sacrament of Reconciliation – because it gives the sinner the love of God, who reconciles – or forgives.

The sacrament should be received many times, including after one has been baptized. Now recall that through Baptism, we are free of the stain or Original Sin… which is the fact of our being born without Original Holiness. Now, this lack of grace is what allows us to sin. IF, we are Baptized, why do we sin? Recall that we said that although we may be forgiven, the physical (Earth) consequences are still here – thus we still have the tendency to sin. Thus, God’s gift of Penance is amazing.

Penance – is the acts that we do to try to reorient ourselves to God. Usually this is either (a) Prayer, (b) fasting, or (c) charitable works.

ONLY God forgives Sin. The priest only acts as a go-between you and God. The Church is the actor of God on Earth – recall Matthew 16:19 (cf 18:18 and 28:16-20), that "whatever sin you bound on Earth will be bound on Heaven, and loosed on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven).

Today – this sacrament is performed privately between the penitent and the priest. In the Confessional – one must do certain things…

1. Give an Act of Contrition – which is to say that the person is to admit that he has sinned and that he is sorry for that. Because, the sin cannot be forgiven if the person who committed the sin is neither sorry for doing it, nor has any intention of trying to avoid it in the future.
2. Confess the sins – both Mortal and Venial. (which we will go over later).
3. Perform the penance.

The Sacramental Seal of Confession. Anything said to a priest in the Confessional is secret – and has no known exceptions.

The effect of this Sacrament is to reconcile the sinner with the church (as a community). Thus, we will be better people.

Indulgences – The doctrine and practices of Indulgences are closely linked to this sacrament. An indulgence is "a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven."

To understand this – you must realize that sin has a double consequence – that is to day that there is effects of sin on today’s existence as well as to our everlasting soul. Grave sins that are not forgiven can prevent us from eternal life with God. Those with sins that are not forgiven, but not very grave, go to Purgatory to be purified. This is not a punishment, but a conversion process that God gives us so that we might be able to go to Heaven.

The Sacrament of Penance can be celebrated either privately or communally for Venial Sins. However, Mortal Sins must be forgiven in an individual confession.

Who may marry?

• Those who are free (not under constraint, not impeded by any natural or ecclesiastical law)
• Those who want to be married

Does your spouse have to be Catholic to get married in the Church? No – a disparage of cult is not always an obstacle that cannot be overcome.

The marriage bond. A permanent bond between two loving people who pledge to bring up children in the Church. It is graced by Christ. It is insoluble – that means it can never be broken.

Fidelity – don’t cheat. Fidelity is a sign of this insoluble bond.

Annulment and Divorce.

You cannot get a Divorce – which is the dissolution of the marriage. You can get a legal divorce, but in the eyes of the Church, you are still married.

You cannot marry a divorced person. That would break the fidelity bond that they have with their ex-spouse.

Annulment – A recognition that the original marriage ceremony was invalid. The Diocese will have a board of three persons to look at Annulment requests to see if it would be legitimate.

There are three degrees of Holy Orders:

• The deaconate, which allows the Deacons to assist the priests in performing their functions (including Baptism)
• The Priesthood – which is the Sacerdotal dignity (hmmm…), and they form the presbyterium which in turn forms a particular Diocese.
• The Bishop – the person that receives the fullness of the Sacrament. The Bishop is the head of the Church (in that area); and share in the apostolic responsibility of the whole church.

Other important notes:

• A monsignor is a Priest that has extra responsibilities.
• An archbishop is a bishop of an archdiocese with the added responsibility of being the liaison of the surrounding diocese with the larger church.
• A cardinal is a member of the College of Cardinals, which is the group of men who elect the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.
• The Pope is the Archbishop of Rome, which is the seat of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Who may receive this sacrament – baptized men whose suitability for the exercise of the ministry has been duly recognized. Celibacy is usually a requirement. Obedience is also a requirement.

The Bishop is the only person who can perform this ceremony.

p. 440-2 to answer questions on women in priesthood, etc.