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FROM THE "PENNY CATECHISM" |
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Penance or Reconciliation |
281. |
What is the Sacrament of Penance (or Reconciliation)? |
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Penance (Reconciliation) is a Sacrament
whereby the sins, whether mortal or venial, which we have
committed after Baptism are forgiven. |
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282. |
Does the Sacrament of Penance increase the grace of God in the
soul? |
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The Sacrament of Penance increase the grace
of God in the soul, besides forgiving sin; we should,
therefore, often go to confession. |
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283. |
When did our Lord institute the Sacrament of Penance? |
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Our Lord instituted the Sacrament of
Penance when he breathed on his Apostles and gave them power
to forgive sins, saying: 'Whose sins you shall forgive, they
are forgiven.' John 20:23 |
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284. |
How does the priest forgive sins? |
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The priest forgives sins by the power of
God, when he pronounces the words of absolution. |
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285. |
What are the words of absolution? |
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The words of absolution are: 'I absolve you
from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit'. |
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286. |
Are any conditions of forgiveness required on the part of the
penitent? |
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Three conditions for forgiveness are
required on the part of the penitent - Contrition, Confession,
and Satisfaction. |
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287. |
What is Contrition? |
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Contrition is a hearty sorrow for our sins,
because by them we have offended so good a God, together with
a firm purpose of amendment. |
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288. |
What is a firm purpose of amendment? |
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A firm purpose of amendment is a resolution
to avoid, by the grace of God, not only sin, but also the
dangerous occasions of sin. |
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289. |
How may we obtain a hearty sorrow for our sins? |
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We may obtain a hearty sorrow for our sins
by earnestly praying for it, and by making use of such
considerations as may lead us to it. |
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290. |
What consideration concerning God will lead us to sorrow for our
sins? |
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This consideration concerning God will lead
us to sorrow for our sins: that by our sins we have offended
God, who is infinitely good in himself and infinitely good to
us. |
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291. |
What other consideration concerning our Saviour will lead us to
sorrow for our sins? |
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This consideration concerning our Saviour
will lead us to sorrow for our sins: that our Saviour died for
our sins, and that those who sin grievously 'crucify again to
themselves the Son of God, making him a mockery'. Heb. 6:6 |
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292. |
Is sorrow for our sins, because by them we have lost heaven and
deserved hell, sufficient when we go to confession? |
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Sorrow for our sins, because by them we
have lost heaven and deserved hell, is sufficient when we go
to confession. |
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293. |
What is perfect contrition? |
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Perfect contrition is sorrow for sin
arising purely from the love of God. |
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294. |
What special value has perfect contrition? |
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Perfect contrition has this special value:
that by it our sins are forgiven immediately, even before we
confess them; but nevertheless, if they are
serious, we are strictly bound to confess them afterwards. |
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295. |
What is confession? |
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Confession is to accuse ourselves of our
sins to a priest approved by the Bishop. |
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296. |
What if a person willfully conceals a serious sin in confession? |
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If a person willfully conceals a serious
sin in confession he is guilty of a great sacrilege, by
telling a lie to the Holy Spirit in making a bad confession. |
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297. |
How many things have we to do in order to prepare for confession? |
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We have four things to do in order to
prepare for confession:
first, we must heartily pray for grace to make a good
confession;
secondly, we must carefully examine our conscience;
thirdly, we must take time and care to make a good act of
contrition; and fourthly, we must resolve by the help of God
to renounce our sins, and to begin a new life for the future. |
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298. |
What is satisfaction? |
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Satisfaction is doing the penance given us
by the priest. |
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299. |
Does the penance given by the priest always make full satisfaction
for our sins? |
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The penance given by the priest does not
always make full satisfaction for our sins. We should
therefore add to it other good works and penances,
and try to gain Indulgences. |
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300. |
What is an Indulgence? |
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An Indulgence is a remission, granted by
the Church, of the temporal punishment which often remains due
to sin after its guilt has been forgiven. |
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