My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are twenty-three (23) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and five (5) canons in the Code of Canon Law which can help us to appreciate the Sacrament of Penance. The following is a reflection on CCC, 1493.
The confession of grave sins to a Priest is necessary for anyone who wants to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church.
All grave sins must be confessed. What makes a sin grave? The Ten Commandments help us to recognize what is grave matter (cf. CCC, 1858). Sometimes these sins are also called “serious” or “mortal.” The obvious connection between “grave” and “mortal” is that when one dies (mortality established) then one is buried (in a grave). To risk either grave or mortal sin is “serious” especially in that we have but one life to live. There are three criteria which must be met together in order for a sin to be grave or mortal or serious: that the matter is grave, serious or mortal; that the person knows the gravity or seriousness of the matter; that the person does the serious or grave deed, desire, omission… without any coercion, that is to say, of one’s own free will.
The conscience is to be examined carefully. We well examine our conscience before the Cross because Jesus Christ was nailed to the wood of the Cross to save us from ourselves, from our sins. To look upon Christ Crucified helps us to focus on our specific responsibility for His Passion. Our consciences should also be examined in light of the teachings found throughout Sacred Scripture. While the whole of Sacred Scripture should be considered, just to look at the following five passages allows God’s direct help in forming our consciences concerning the evils of: adultery, ambition, coarse joking, debauchery, discord, dissension, drunkenness, envy, factions, fits of rage, foolish talk, greed, hatred, idolatry, impurity, jealousy, magic arts, obscenity, omission of feeding the hungry – giving drink to the thirsty – welcoming the stranger – clothing the naked – visiting the sick and imprisoned, practices of falsehood, selfish ambition, sexual immorality (including fornication, homosexual offenses, and orgies), slanderers, swindling, theft, witchcraft (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Galatians 5:19–21; Ephesians 5:3–6; Revelation 22:12–16; Matthew 25:41–46). One fourth of the Catechism is dedicated to treating our moral life in Christ, with particular attention to the Ten Commandments of God, with all their parts. This will all be treated latter.
The confession of venial sins, while not necessary in itself, is heartily recommended by Mother Church. If one or two of the three criteria for a mortal sin are missing, then our sins may be venial. In our desire to be the Saints God calls us to be we should even despise our venial sins. Sacramental Confession allows us to renounce our sins and gives the graces needed to overcome and avoid sin in the future. Saint John Vianney and Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr