Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time.
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 CIC’83 canon 987.
The Sacrament of Penance is a salvific remedy. Jesus Christ uses His sacraments to administer the graces He won by His saving Passion on Good Friday. The specific saving graces administered in the Sacrament of Penance addresses our need for forgiveness of post-baptismal sins.
Certain dispositions are required to receive the sacraments well. Baptism presupposes Faith, at least on the part of the parents and godparents in the case of Infant Baptism. Bread and wine as well as a validly ordained priest are required for Eucharist. When considering the Sacrament of Penance there are three specific dispositions addressed by this canon as being required in order to make a good confession.
A prerequisite for the worthy reception of the Sacrament of Penance is that one is a member of the Christian faithful, that is baptized. The Sacrament of Penance is for the remission of post-baptismal sins. Among the graces proper to Baptism, which we have already considered, are not only the forgiveness of Original Sin which we inherit with our human nature, but also the forgiveness of any other sins we may have personally committed before Baptism.
The second required disposition for a worthy reception of the Sacrament of Penance is the repudiation (rejection) of the sins committed. Whenever we sin we choose poorly, we choose evil. Whenever we confess our sins we choose well, we choose God and His grace and mercy. By repudiating and rejecting our sins in the Sacrament of Penance we have the same mind as Christ who also despises sin (cf. Romans 7:25; 15:5–6; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2:13–16; Philippians 1:27; 1 Peter 1:13). By renouncing the iniquity, impurity and filth of our sins we cooperate with Christ Jesus who came to destroy the works of the devil and make us adopted children of God, holy and pleasing in His sight (cf. Leviticus 15:31; Deuteronomy 7:26; 13:18; 29:17; Hebrews 13:21; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 John 3:4–10, 22; 4:4; 5:2).
The third required disposition for a worthy reception of the Sacrament of Penance according to the canon is having a purpose of amendment. The Latin version of the Act of Contrition actually specifies the sort of amendment of life called for as firmiter propono (firmly propose/resolve/intend). Of course, it is with the help of God’s grace that we repent our sins and avoid them.
The Sacrament of Penance is a part of the ongoing conversion to which the Lord calls us (cf. Matthew 13:15; 18:3; Luke 17:4). Having been baptized, repudiating our sins and proposing to amend our lives we are converted to the Lord God more and more, day by day, in His saving grace. May it always be so unto eternity.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr