Holy_Cross_Penance

PARISH OF THE HOLY CROSS

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Reconciliation

Like all the other Sacraments, Confession was renewed in the Second Vatican Council and called "The Sacrament of
Reconciliation." In order to emphasize the notion of being reconciled with God and with one another, I believe this Sacrament
has great value and I go to confession regularly myself. I find it uplifting and freeing. Yet, while a lot of people receive
Communion regularly, most do not go to confession even yearly. The only time we are obliged to go to Confession before
receiving Communion is when we are conscious of committing serious sin. Still, the Sacrament has great value for us.

A good examination of conscience takes place in light of God's love. The only way to realize our sinfulness is to appreciate
how much God loves us. This leads to my second point. Sin, whether it is serious or not, is always destructive because, in
the light of God's love for us, any sin is a breach of that love. Do you know how much God loves you? First accept God's
love and then look at your response. When we sin we are not being the person God made us to be. God made us good not
bad. When Jesus preached He emphasized what we should do in order to inherit everlasting life: ?Love one another as I have
loved you.? The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a beautiful opportunity for healing and cleansing that can free our spirit for
love.

Can we stay at home and ask God's forgiveness? Yes, we can but, in His wisdom and generosity, God has given us a concrete
way to tell us we are forgiven and we are loved. Don't we need to hear this? Through the ministry of the Church, Jesus
extends His words of forgiveness and love.

Should we apologize to the person we hurt? Yes, we should but it doesn't end there. When we sin we not only hurt other
people; we also hurt ourselves and our God who loves us. The healing of forgiveness is not just from those we hurt. The
deeper healing of forgiveness is from God who alone can free us from sin. When we do good and when we sin, we are not
isolated individuals; we are members of a community of faith in Jesus Christ.

Have you been to confession recently? Why not join us on Mondays between 6:30 and 7:30pm?

May the Lord give you His peace.

Fr. Jim

PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION AND CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT

HAVE YOU BEEN TO CONFESSION
RECENTLY?

Act of Contrition:

1 -- O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. But I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of hell.
But most of all because they offend you, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love, I firmly resolve with the help of your grace
to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

2 -- Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me, a sinner.

3 -- Lord God, in your goodness have mercy on me:
do not look on my sins but take away all my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart and renew within me an upright spirit.

4 -- My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you Whom I love above all things.
I firmly intend with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Amen.

The priest will wait for you to finish your act of contrition and you can then listen as he pronounces the words of absolution.

God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son, has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among
us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you of all your sins in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.?

May the Lord give you His peace.