The second part of reconciliation is confession. Confession is the disclosure of the sins to the priest. The sinner confesses what mortal sins he may have done, but may also confess venial sins if he has committed no mortal sins. Mortal sins are grave sins committed by the sinners. The sinners know that it is a sin and the sin is done after thinking over it. According to the Catholic church, if the sins are not forgiven, the sinner will go to hell. On the other hand, venial sins are smaller sins that are committed everyday. These sins will not destroy one’s relationship with God, but it will affect it in a negative way.
In confession, the sinner starts by saying, "Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been [time period] since my last confession."(3) The sinner confesses what mortal sins he may have done, but may also confess everyday sins if he has committed no mortal sins. The third step in the reconciliation is penance. Penance is usually a task assigned by the priest. It may be saying a few prayers, or it can also be doing a specific task, such as fasting.
Some penances can be done immediately, such as praying, but others may take a specific amount of time, such as fasting. Generally, the severity of the punishment depends on the intensity of the sin, the conditions of the sinner, and the need to remove evil habits. He must complete his penance to receive absolution, and even after finishing the penance, one may have to complete another sacrament to receive absolution. The last part of this sacrament is absolution. Absolution is the words of forgiveness by the priest, which symbolises the forgiveness by Christ. In this part of the sacrament, the priest says, “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 from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (4) These words officially forgive of your sin, but not in the priest's name, but in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
St. Robert's Roman Catholic Church
Services:
Saturday 6:30
Sunday 9:00, 12:00
For other services, including marriage, call 123-456-7890 ext.5