Important Aspects of REconciliation:
Form: "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 from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Matter: The Matter of Reconciliation is the individual's sins, contrition, the confession of sins, the Priest's words of absolution, and doing the penance.
Minister: The Minister for Reconciliation is a Priest or Bishop. The Minister stands in representing the Church and offers us Christ's forgiveness.
Rite: In Reconciliation, before you make the sacrament you should make an examination of conscience. In Reconciliation, The Priest or Bishop first gives you a prayer or blessing. When you get to the Priest you say,"Bless me Father, for I have sinned, my last confession was..." The individual then confesses their sins to the Priest. The Priest then gives you a penance and then says an Act of Contrition. The Priest then absolves you of your sins by saying, "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 from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
My Reconciliation Experience:
When I received Reconciliation for the first time I was very nervous. I received Reconciliation at Saint Agnes Cathedral in second grade a fews months before receiving Communion. Before I went to the Priest I thought of all of the sins I wanted to tell the Priest. I was so nervous on line for my Priest, but the Priest was very nice and it wasn't scary at all! I felt very refreshed after doing my penance. I still feel anxious when receiving Reconciliation, but I always remember the refreshing joy felt afterwards!
Examination of Conscience:
An Examination of conscience is a personal process through which a person remembers and identifies their sins in order to recall them in confession. The Examination of Conscience is used to help a person recall the sins they have committed for Reconciliation.
Effects of Reconciliation
Forgiveness of serious sin
Reunification with the Church
Cleansing of conscience
Restoration of Grace
Reunification with the Church
Cleansing of conscience
Restoration of Grace