Sacrament of Reconciliation

The best preparation for Holy Week is a good Confession. They say, there are few people who go to Confession, nowadays. I don't think so. In fact, I have gone to Confession today and there were six priests hearing Confessions. Each Confessional Box had a long line of Penitents.Penitents are persons who are sorry for their sins and are willing to go to Confession. With contrite hearts they are willing to do penance and have a strong resolve to amend or change their lives. 

If you have observed, the things I mentioned above are all found in the Act of Contrition. Let us highlight each resolve a penitent should have based on the Act of Contrition: 1. to confess my sins; 2. to do penance 3. to amend my life.Recall that the Act of Contrition tells God how sorry we are for our sins: "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You and I detest all my sins..." Why should we hate all our sins? The Act of Contrition tells us clearly that the reason why we should detest all our sins:is because of that dread that we shall  lose heaven and we fearfully anticipate the unimaginable pains of hell. But most of all because I have offended you, O my God who art all good and deserving of all my love." So, it's not merely because we are afraid of hell. Well, are you not afraid of the sufferings hell would bring? We've had enough sufferings here on earth. Do you still want more in the next life? No way! But that's not the most important reason. It says "most of all because I have offended You, O my God. Yes, my God who is all good. Yes, my God who is most worthy of all my love. All, meaning not half but all. 

After confessing or telling our sins to the priest, there is another thing we need to do. We have to do penance. Penance is the satisfaction or peace offering for our sins. It is not enough and it will never be enough to pay for the sins we have committed. It is Christ's death on the Cross that paid the full price for our sinfulness Nevertheless, it shows our sincerity to do everything we can to reconcile with Him. 

Reconciliation with God does not stop in confession and doing penance. The last component is a change of heart or continuous conversion. We call this the purpose of amendment. For some, doing good and living an ordered life is a form of penance. Indeed, it is a good way of doing penance. It is also a way of amending one's life.

If you have not yet gone to Confession, you still have next week. Remember, the schedule for Confession at San Sebastian Cathedral is at 4;30 pm every Saturday.