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SCRIPTURE
READINGS
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Exodus |
20:1-7 |
| Psalm |
18 |
| I
Corinthians |
1:22-25 |
| John |
2:13-25 |
Recently
I have had the pleasure (and the honour) of taking
confession classes at the diocesan seminary in Chelsea
. These are workshop sessions in which we look at
the theory and practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
and discuss pastoral issues that may arise in the
confessional. As is well known, the “seal of confession”
is sacrosanct and inviolable. Nothing may be said
by the confessor that could identify a penitent
or reveal the content of his or her confession (canon
983). There is also a rule regarding the use of
“knowledge acquired in confession” (canon 984).
The wording of this rule prohibits any such use
as would be “to the detriment of the penitent.”
Fortunately for our class, and for pastoral training
as a whole, priests may use such “knowledge” in
a general way – without reference to a particular
confession or penitent – if it can help us to understand
and appreciate what happens in confession and how
to make the best use of this source of grace and
growth. With this in mind, I wish to share these
thoughts.
The
confession was near its close. I had given a penance
and it was time for the act of contrition. The penitent
asked if he might be allowed to say it in his own
language. The language was vaguely familiar to me
and I understood these words: “Lord, you know
everything; you know I love you.” I waited for the
rest to follow. Nothing more was said. I realised
that this was his act of contrition and I was stunned
for a moment with the beauty and the appropriateness
of these words. One gets accustomed to the traditional
formulas. They vary some-what. The simplest is,
“O my God, because you are so good, I am sorry I
have sinned against you and with the help of your
grace I will try not to sin again”. The most formidable
begins, “O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for
all my sins and detest them above all things because
they deserve thy dreadful punishments, because they
have crucified my loving Saviour and most of all
because they offend against thine infinite goodness….”
Sometimes (and increasingly) a penitent will use
his or her own words to express sorrow for sin,
reliance on God's mercy, and a firm resolution to
change what needs changing.
In
the instance I have used above, the words come from
the Gospel of John. They are Peter's words to the
risen Lord who asks him three times, “Do you love
me?” Three times Peter replies “Yes, Lord, I love
you” and the third time he uses the words cited.
The context suggests that this is Peter's “act of
contrition” for denying Christ three times during
the Passion. It is an unexpected moment of atonement.
The words of Christ pierce the heart of the
disciple. Peter's responses are accompanied by a
three-fold com-mission from Christ: “Feed my sheep”.
In
this dialogue we might see a possible model for
our own reconciliation. The encounter does not refer
directly to the sin. It does not dwell on the past.
No future penance or reparation is demanded. Everything
is expressed in the sinner's love for his Redeemer
just as everything is accomplished by the Redeemer's
love for the sinner. Finally, the exchange opens
the penitent to a future which will bear fruit for
God's Kingdom.
There
will be a penance service on the Monday of Holy
Week with an opportunity for individual confessions.
Why not make this a date with the Lord?
William
Pearsall SJ
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