Reconciliation
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Reconciliation is the celebration of God’s unconditional love and desire to take us back no matter how long or how far off we have wandered: God always takes the initiative in our relationship and this is especially true with reconciliation. In the words of St. Augustine of Hippo, “God is more anxious to bestow His blessings on us than we are to receive them.”
Preparation for Reconciliation
Prayer
Pray in silence for a brief period asking the Holy Spirit to help you reflect.
Father, you call us out of darkness into light, out of self-deception into truth, out of death into life. Send your Holy Spirit to open my ears to your call. Fill my heart with courage to be able to set out into the deep with your Son.
or
Lord Jesus Christ, you have called us to follow your way. But often I prefer my own way. So I displease you and wander from your truth. Help me to know your love better, to see my sins clearly, and to seek your forgiveness honestly and humbly in this Sacrament of Reconciliation. I ask this in your name. Amen.
Guides for an Examination of Conscience
Reflect on your life with the help of one of the following guides. Two key questions to keep in mind are: In what major ways have I displeased God? and Which of my actions are getting in the way of my love for God and my neighbour? Allow the Holy Spirit to show when you have acted different from the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ in thought, word or deed.
Have my actions been different from the teaching of Jesus Christ
In relation to God and my faith:
- Have I given to anyone or anything else the love, honour and worship that belongs to God alone? Do I really love God above all things?
- Do I go to Mass humbly and hungering to meet the Lord in the Eucharist?
- Do I listen to God in prayer each day?
- Am I hesitant or ashamed to witness my faith in God in my daily life?
- Do I try to deepen my faith, even when my life is confusing?
- Do I ask God to help me be more faithful, hopeful and loving?
- Do I turn to God only when I am in need?
In relation to my family:
- Do I try to communicate with my parents and understand their point of view?
- Do I thank them for what they do for me?
- Do I have any main fault that disrupts the family (e.g. jealousy, laziness, rudeness, etc.)?
- Do I apologize and forgive quickly?
- Am I generous and kind with the other members of the family?
In relation to my neighbour:
- Am I kind to my friends and treat them with care?
- Do I help people in need? Do I take care of the poor, sick and defenseless?
- Have I been the cause of another’s committing sin?
- Do I respect my girlfriend/boyfriend and avoid sexual situations?
- Do I care for and respect the environment in which I live?
- Do I bear grudges or contemplate revenge?
- Am I responsible at school, at work, and in the groups to which I belong?
In relation to myself:
- Do I truly live as a Christian and give a good example to others?
- Do I really believe that I am made in the image and likeness of God and therefore am one of God’s wondrous creations?
- Am I too focused on myself?
- Do I respect my body by avoiding alcohol and drugs, by eating healthy foods and by exercising?
The Ten Commandments
1. Putting God First
I am the Lord your God; you shall not have other gods before me.
2. Respect for God
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Respect for the Lord’s Day
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Respect for Parents and ancestors
Honour your father and mother.
5. Respect for Human Life
You shall not kill.
6. & 9. Respect for Marriage
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.
7. & 10. Respect for Private Property
You shall not steal.
You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbour.
8 Respect for Truth
You shall not bear false witness.
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Celebration of Reconciliation
At this point you should be ready to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Priest will welcome you and treat you with kindness. He may help you by asking questions and offering encouragement and advice. The following is a basic guide to how the Sacrament will proceed.
Together with the priest make the sign of the cross:
Ì In the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The priest invites you to have trust in God:
May God who has enlightened every heart, help you to know your sins and trust in his mercy.
You respond: Amen
You then confess your sins.
The priest will propose an act of penance – an act of satisfaction for sin and for amendment of life.
You will be invited to express sorrow (act of contrition) for sin. Use these or some other words:
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 should 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.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.
The priest gives you 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 from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
You respond: Amen
The priest invites you to praise God:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
You respond: God’s mercy endures forever.
The priest dismisses you.
The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.
Penance
Do your act of penance as proposed by the priest.
Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a burnt-offering, you would not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
then you will delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt-offerings and whole burnt-offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
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