The Sacrament of Penance

In the biological order, though a baby is born healthy, it later becomes subject to disease. In the spiritual order, though the soul is made clean in Baptism, it later contracts stains and spiritual diseases. The Sacrament of Repentance and Confession is for the healing of spiritual wounds received after Baptism.

In His mercy, the Lord instituted this sacrament for spiritual guidance, healing, and reconciliation. He said to His disciples, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven,” and again, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

These words imply hearing confessions, for how would the disciples know what to forgive or retain if they did not hear the sins confessed? Thus the Church practiced confession openly in apostolic times, as we read in Acts: “Many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.”

The body of the lesson explicitly cites Matthew 18:18, John 20:22-23, Acts 19:18, and Psalm 103:14.

The Old Testament prepared for this sacrament in many ways. God called Adam, Cain, Israel, and many others to acknowledge their sins before Him. Joshua required confession from Achan, and David confessed to Nathan the Prophet.

The lesson names specific Old Testament examples from Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, Proverbs, Joshua, 2 Samuel, and the ministry of St. John the Baptist as preparation for this sacrament.

There are stages or forms of confession. First, confession to oneself, when the sinner comes to himself. Second, confession to God, for every sin is finally against Him. Third, confession to the priest, where the confessor receives spiritual guidance and absolution. Fourth, where needed, confession to the person against whom the trespass was committed, with the advice of the father of confession.

Confession without repentance and without hope is not acceptable to God and will not benefit the person. Pharaoh confessed at times, and Judas confessed the shedding of innocent blood, yet both perished. Confession must therefore be joined to repentance.

Acceptable confession requires a contrite heart, regret, and a firm intention not to return to sin. It must be joined to steadfast faith in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It also requires self-examination. The confessor must not excuse himself, must not hide anything from the father of confession, must be truthful, and must not be biased in his own favor. The lesson cites Joel 2:12, 2 Corinthians 7:10, John 5:14, Hebrews 10:39, 2 Peter 2:21-22, Micah 7:8, Ecclesiastes 5:6, Lamentations 2:19, Acts 5, and John 12:25 here.