Part 2 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Church’s symbols help explain penance [Catholic Caucus]

The CatholicSpirit.com ^ | Tuesday, 17 March 2009 | Father Michael Van Sloun

[Salvation]

Church’s symbols help explain penance

By Father Michael Van Sloun - For The Catholic Spirit   

Tuesday, 17 March 2009

The following is the second in a 10-part series on reconciliation. This week’s focus is the meaning behind symbols used in the sacrament of reconciliation.

Penance

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Father Michael Van Sloun

• Keys. A single key or a pair of keys, usually crisscrossed in the shape of an “X,” occasionally one on top of the other, is the most common symbol for the sacrament of reconciliation. The symbol ori­g­inates with Jesus’ words to Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19a), by which Jesus im­part­ed his authority to the church, and his continuing statement, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19b), by which he established the sacrament of reconciliation and gave the church the authority to forgive sins (see also John 20:23).

• A stole. The stole is the primary symbol of the ordained priesthood, and it is the priest “in persona Christi,” as a representative of Christ, who grants sacramental absolution. A stole is a long, narrow strip of cloth worn over the shoulders, which hangs in front in equal lengths on the right and left sides.

The stole signifies the priest’s authority to preside over the sacraments in general, and his authority to absolve sins in particular. When a priest hears confessions, he wears a purple stole, which symbolizes repentance and sorrow.

• A raised hand. During the rite of reconciliation, after the penitent makes the Act of Contrition, the priest offers the Prayer of Absolution, the blessing that removes the person’s sins, and as he does so he extends his right hand over the penitent’s head.

• The cross. The priest makes a Sign of the Cross over the penitent as he recites the final words of the Prayer of Absolution: “And I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus “himself bore our sins in his body upon the Cross” (1 Peter 2:24a). Jesus has reconciled all things through himself, and he has made peace by the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:20).

• A scourging whip. Before Jesus, our Suffering Servant, was crucified, he was scourged at the pillar. “He was crushed for our sins, by his stripes we were healed; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear; he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses” (Isaiah 53:5, 11, 12). The Apostle Peter reflected, “By his [Jesus’] wounds we were healed” (1 Peter 2:24b).

Father Michael Van Sloun is pastor of St. Stephen in Anoka.

[Salvation]

The Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation is growing in popularity. People are learning to just sit down (or kneel down) and talk with the priest.

Welcome home, all you who have been away from the blessings of this Sacrament!

[Salvation]

Confession Questions From the Pew [Catholic Caucus] Introduction to 10 Part Series

Part 1 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Jesus placed great value on forgiveness [Catholic Caucus]
Part 2 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Church’s symbols help explain penance [Catholic Caucus]

[Salvation]

Ping for the Sacrament of Penance!

[Salvation]

 

1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the 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.

[Salvation]

Examination of Conscience
A Guide for Confession

Why Go to Confession? (Part 1) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte
Why Go to Confession? (Part 2) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte
How To Make a Good Confession (especially if you haven't gone in years)
Why Go to Confession? (Part 3) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte
Pulling Sin up by the Roots: The Need for Mortification

Reasons for Confession [Sacrament of Reconciliation]
Cardinal Stafford's Homily at Penitential Liturgy With an Examination of Conscience
How to Go to Confession
Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For Making A Good Confession
Learning to Confess

[Salvation]

Part 2 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Church’s symbols help explain penance [Catholic Caucus]
Part 1 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Jesus placed great value on forgiveness [Catholic Caucus]
Confession Questions From the Pew [Catholic Caucus] Introduction to 10 Part Series

Part 1 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Jesus placed great value on forgiveness [Catholic Caucus]

Beginning Catholic: The Sacrament of Reconciliation: Rising Again to New Life [Ecumenical]
Why do I have to confess my sins to a priest?
Why do Catholics have to confess their sins to a priest instead of praying straight to God? [Ecu]

When did confession to a priest start? [Ecumenical]
Confession, Confession Everywhere (Cardinal Says Youth Day Is Reviving the Sacrament)
In One Church, Confession Makes a Comeback (Catholic Caucus)
Priests should encourage recovery of Sacrament of Reconciliation
A Gift That is Always in Season (Sacrament of Penance) Catholic Caucus

[Sacrament of]Confession
Make a Good Confession
Those in Mortal Sin Can't Go to Communion, Says Pope
Holy Week Recovers Celebration of Penance (at St. Peter's Basilica) - photos!
Reasons for Confession [Sacrament of Reconciliation]

Lesson 19: Confession (Part 1) BY FATHER ALTIER
Lesson 20: Confession (Part 2) BY FATHER ROBERT ALTIER
Serious about God? Then get serious about confession
St. Ephraim the Syrian: On Repentance
What happened to confession – Changing mores reflective of use
Repentance and Confession - Introduction [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

The Spiritual and Psychological Value of Frequent Confession
Pick a sin, any sin (Confession gone awry)
The Early Church Fathers on Confession / Reconciliation - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
Catholics called from the idiot box to confession
Benedict XVI Extols Sacrament of Penance - Says Priests Need to Make It a Priority

Confession’s Comeback
Priests say more Catholics returning to confession
Pope Hears Confessions of Youth
MESSAGE FOR ALL CATHOLICS (in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday - April 15)
Salvation: Just click and confess

CONFESSION AND CONFUSION
Get Thee To A Confessional! (beautiful insight for those who dread going to Confession)
Emerging Trends: The Return to the Confessional
Confessing to 'sins' is booming in America (Evangelicals and Protestants take up practice)
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Penance (Reconciliation, Confession) [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

A Comeback for Confession
MORTAL SIN and HOLY CONFESSION - The Antidote of Death
Thinking Inside the Box: An Attitude for Confession
Confessional Advice
The Epidemic and the Cure [The Sin of the World and the Sacrament of Reconciliation] (Confession)