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Sign & sacrament

05 Aug 2012 - Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

The word manna can be translated “what is this?” Not a bad question for us who are confronted on a Sunday morning not with strange, edible flakes strewn upon the desert floor but with the “true bread from heaven.” Some of us are old enough to recall parents who would take that bread, Holy Communion, at Mass only if they had gone to confession the very day before. Today we do not presume upon familiarity. Asking ourselves “what is this?” or “what is the Eucharist?” can keep us from taking the sacrament for granted. The crowds misunderstood Jesus’ meaning and expected his bread to nourish them like a loaf warm from the oven—a limited view. A hymn says it better: The one “whom earth and heaven cannot contain comes in our hearts to dwell.”

manna Bread confession Eucharist

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God obliterates your sins

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Sacrament: Reconciliation ONE OF THE MOST remarkable things Saint Paul ever wrote was a single word in the second chapter of his Letter to the Colossians. The Colossian Christians were a little confused about their new faith, and Paul worked hard to explain who Christ was and what he had done. One of the most important things Christ had done, Paul said, was to forgive sins. To explain that Paul chose his words carefully—particularly the verb describing what Christ did with our sin. He “obliterates” it, the New American Bible translation says (Col. 2:14). Paul could have used other words with milder meanings—that Christ “cancelled” our sin or “crossed it out” or, simply, “forgave” it. But he very deliberately picked a word that conveys the idea that God erases all traces of our sin from the record. God not only forgives; God forgets, too. This is what will happen this evening in the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. We will bring our burden of sin to God. If we repent of our sin and ask forgiveness, God will lift our burden from us—and then God will forget about it. This will happen because God is who God is. As the psalmist says of God, “You are kind and forgiving, most loving to all who call on you” (86:5). God overflows with mercy and love. Tonight, look at yourself honestly. Consider the ways you have failed in your responsibilities, let other people down, cut corners, given into pressure, disguised the truth, lashed out at others, abused yourself. Look at all this without embarrassment—and bring it to God without fear. God will obliterate it. This is the miracle of God’s forgiveness of sin. But along with this miracle comes a great responsibility—the responsibility to do likewise, to forgive others as God forgives us. Along with this miracle of God's forgivenss comes a great responsibility—the responsibility to do likewise, to forgive others as God forgives us. Jesus often spoke of this duty to forgive. One day, Peter decided to question Jesus more closely about it (Matt. 18:21ff). He wanted to know where the limits are. He asked, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” We all ask Peter’s question. When do we stop forgiving the wayward spouse, the hostile in-law, the vindictive neighbor, the scheming co-worker? Jesus gives Peter a hard answer. He answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” “Seventy-seven times” is a reference to an infinitely large number. We never stop forgiving, Jesus says. To underline the point, Jesus tells a very tough parable. A king decided to settle accounts with his servants. One of these servants owed the king a very large amount, yet the king had mercy on him and forgave him the debt. However, the servant turned around and attacked another servant who owed him money. He refused to forgive the debt. When the king heard about this, he called the man back, revoked the pardon he had granted, and had him thrown into prison. The lesson of the parable is very clear: Jesus insists that his servants have a forgiving spirit. It is a very challenging lesson because it seems impossible to act the way Jesus wants us to act. The wounds that people have inflicted on us are not superficial injuries. Consider the abused child, the betrayed spouse, the person cheated by a business colleague or lied to by a treacherous friend. Perhaps it is possible to be civil to people who have injured us this way. Perhaps we can refrain from exacting revenge. But to forgive, to really forgive? To forgive and forget—the way God forgives? That seems impossible. But it is possible to forgive this way, precisely because we are forgiven this way. God does not forgive us because we deserve to be forgiven. We are not basically good people who have a right to ask God to excuse our infrequent slipups. We are sinners who are redeemed by a merciful, loving God, a God whose mercy knows no bounds. We can forgive those who have wounded us not because they deserve to be forgiven, but because the grace of forgiveness lives in us through the sacrament that we will receive tonight. This sacrament is called the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. The church added the term “reconciliation” some years ago to emphasize the way this sacrament restores the sinner to the community. Tonight, as you come forward to receive God’s forgiveness for your sins, pray for the grace to make reconciliation a reality in your own life. Pray for the grace to forgive those who have sinned against you. Pray for the grace to forgive as you are forgiven, the way God forgives you—the grace to forgive and forget.

Authors Jim Manney

sacrament reconciliation Colossians 2:14 Psalm 86:5 confession rite of initiation

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Catholics can indulge once again

15 Feb 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

In Moses' time, we learn in this Sunday's reading from the Book of Leviticus, lepers were instructed to cry out, "Unclean, unclean!" Catholics who may feel "unclean of spirit" are being offered a different option these days: plenary indulgences, which are reportedly making a comeback in an increasing number of dioceses worldwide after having fallen out of favor decades ago. Like the Latin Mass and meatless Fridays, the indulgence was one of the traditions that faded from mainstream Catholic practice in the 1960s and 1970s in the wake of the Second Vatican Council. Its revival is seen in some quarters as part of a conservative resurgence that has brought some quiet changes and some highly controversial ones, such as Pope Benedict XVI's recent decision to lift the excommunications of four schismatic bishops who challenged the council's reforms. The return of indulgences began with Pope John Paul II, who authorized bishops to offer them in 2000 as part of the celebration of the church's third millennium. But the offers have increased markedly under his successor Benedict XVI, who has made plenary indulgences part of church celebrations nine times in the past three years. According to the websites of a number of U.S. dioceses, Catholics can receive an indulgence by fulfilling the basic requirements of going to confession, receiving Holy Communion, saying a prayer for the pope, and achieving "complete detachment from any inclination to sin." Praying for others and performing acts of charity are also part of gaining an indulgence. But the return of this practice has raised questions, especially for Lutherans, whose churches were born in part from controversy over indulgences. "It has been something of a mystery to us as to why now," said Reverend Michael Root, dean of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. The renewal of indulgences, he said, has "not advanced" the dialogue. "Our main problem has always been the question of quantifying God's blessing," Root said. "Confessions have been down for years and the church is very worried about it," said Father Tom Reese, S.J., former editor of the Jesuit weekly America. In a secularized culture of pop psychology and self-help, Reese said, "the church wants the idea of 'personal sin' back in the equation. Indulgences are a way of reminding people of the importance of penance. "The good news is we're not selling them anymore," he added. Source: An article by Paul Vitello for the New York Times

Penance confession benedict xvi john paul ii plenary indulgences indulgences second vatican council michael root thomas reese

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Bless me, Father, for I’ve downloaded an app

13 Feb 2011 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Whoever breaks the commandments will have something to worry about, Jesus warns in this Sunday’s gospel. But those ready to atone for their shortcomings now have a mobile app to help them along. The makers of "Confession: A Roman Catholic App" say their software is designed to help Catholics prepare for the sacrament of Reconciliation and assist those who have left the church take a digital step back. The $1.99 application for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch is not intended to replace the confessional, developers said, but rather to complement the act of confession by offering a "personal examination of conscience" (password-protected, of course) and a step-by-step guide to the act of confessing. "Our desire is to invite Catholics to engage in their faith through digital technology," said Patrick Leinen, cofounder of Little iApps, developer of the confession app. And they’ve received a seal of approval from a church official. Little iApps claims "Confession" was created with the help of two Catholic priests and has been given the blessing of Bishop Kevin C. Rhodes of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana--marking the Catholic church's first known imprimatur for a mobile app. The app provides suggested acts of contrition and the "ability to add sins not listed in standard examination of conscience." Source: An article by Doug Gross for CNN.com

reconciliation confession apps bishop kevin c rhodes little iapps patrick leinen confession a roman catholic app

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Bless me, Father, for I’ve downloaded an app

13 Feb 2011 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Whoever breaks the commandments will have something to worry about, Jesus warns in this Sunday’s gospel. But those ready to atone for their shortcomings now have a mobile app to help them along. The makers of "Confession: A Roman Catholic App" say their software is designed to help Catholics prepare for the sacrament of Reconciliation and assist those who have left the church take a digital step back. The $1.99 application for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch is not intended to replace the confessional, developers said, but rather to complement the act of confession by offering a "personal examination of conscience" (password-protected, of course) and a step-by-step guide to the act of confessing. "Our desire is to invite Catholics to engage in their faith through digital technology," said Patrick Leinen, cofounder of Little iApps, developer of the confession app. And they’ve received a seal of approval from a church official. Little iApps claims "Confession" was created with the help of two Catholic priests and has been given the blessing of Bishop Kevin C. Rhodes of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana--marking the Catholic church's first known imprimatur for a mobile app. The app provides suggested acts of contrition and the "ability to add sins not listed in standard examination of conscience." Source: An article by Doug Gross for CNN.com

reconciliation confession apps bishop kevin c rhodes little iapps patrick leinen confession a roman catholic app

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A world of forgiveness at World Youth Day

21 Aug 2011 - Preaching the News for Sunday

“Your kindness, O Lord, endures forever,” the psalmist gratefully intones this Sunday. The Vatican wants young pilgrims attending World Youth Day in Spain this week to know God’s forgiving power and has granted priests the right to forgive the sin of abortion when hearing the confessions of hundreds of thousands of young people attending the gathering. "This [concession] is to make it easier for the faithful who attend the Word Youth Day celebrations to obtain the fruits of divine grace," the Madrid archdiocese said in a statement on its website. Under church law the termination of pregnancy is punishable by excommunication. “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven," Jesus tells Saint Peter this Sunday in a passage often linked to the church’s sacrament of Reconciliation. World Youth Day pilgrims will attend confession in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday in a central Madrid park. Two hundred white portable confessional cabins have been erected in Madrid's Retiro Park where hundreds of priests will hear confessions in different languages from pilgrims who have traveled to Spain from around the world. The Vatican announced last week that it had authorized a plenary, or full, indulgence to all the young people attending the WYD celebrations. Pope Benedict will arrive in Spain's capital on Thursday for a four-day visit culminating in a Mass on Sunday in the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome which over 2,000,000 people are expected to attend. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, an open secularist, has clashed with the church over abortion and has changed the law during his tenure to make it easier for women seeking to terminate unwanted pregnancies. In addition, segments of Spanish society, including some Spanish clergy and religious, are protesting the expenses associated with the event, which comes at a time of national austerity. Source: An article by Judy MacInnes and Tom Heneghan for Reuters

confession benedict xvi indulgences abortion world youth day jose luis rodriguez zapatero madrid

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Confessing is good for the soul—and the collection plate

16 Dec 2012 - Preaching the News for Sunday

When the crowds ask John the Baptist in this Sunday’s gospel, “What should we do?” he answers by encouraging acts of charity and generosity. Apparently the Sacrament of Reconciliation encourages some generous behavior as well. People who recall being absolved of their sins are more likely to donate money to the church, according to research published in the journal Religion, Brain and Behavior.Researchers from the University of London's Royal Holloway college and the University of Oxford in England assigned participants two memory tasks. In the first,they were asked to privately recall a sin that they had committed in the past, while in the second they recalled attending confession for this sin or imagined doing so, if they had not rfeally confessed.Each participant was also given an opportunity to donate to a local Catholic church by placing some money in an envelope. For some participants this donation was collected before they recalled being absolved of the sin, whereas for others the donation was collected afterward.The results showed that recalling (or imagining) absolution strongly increased church donations, with the effect more pronounced in participants who believed in divine judgment and engaged in religious activities such as reading the Bible or praying.Dr. Ryan McKay of the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway said: “The results of our study suggest . . . that 'releasing' people from their sin has a positive pro-social effect” (that is, it encourages helping, sharing, donating, cooperating, and volunteering activities). “This indicates that the Catholic ritual of Confession [sic] is an effective means of promoting commitment to the church."Homily hint: “Back in the day,” the Saturday afternoon line for “confession” was especially long in the lead-up to Christmas. Point out that genuine rejoicing is only possible for those whose burdens are light and hearts are free. Remind folks that the healing power of Reconciliation is very much alive and available to them. Source: A news release by Paul Teed for EurekAlert

reconciliation religion brain and behavior ryan mckay absolution royal holloway university of oxford Sins confession sin commitment to the church

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Confession out of recession

08 Sep 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

When Jesus speaks of the need to renounce possessions in this Sunday’s gospel, he also is calling us to freedom from everything—material or otherwise—that binds or possesses us.For centuries Catholics have turned to the Sacrament of Confession as a way to unburden themselves and find that freedom. Now an informal survey of Roman Catholic clergy based in cathedrals across England and Wales found that two thirds had noticed an upturn in numbers taking part in the sacrament, something many of them attributed to a papal “bounce.”The priests surveyed said there is a greater willingness these days than in the past for people to unburden themselves and talk through their issues, a reality which also has given the centuries-old practice a new relevance, including for those who might be put off by public worship.The Rt. Rev. Kieran Conry, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, said a more informal approach to Confession than in the past had also helped draw younger people—including increasing numbers who even attend with a smart phone in one hand, making use of a range of special Confession apps to guide them through the process.Homily hint: There is a reason Confession has been around as long as it has. When a practice touches a core human need, it endures. All of us wish to be reconciled—with ourselves, our loved ones, and our God. Encourage parishioners to give Confession another look. Source: An article by John Bingham for The Telegraph (UK)

reconciliation confession england kieran conry wales

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Homily stories

19 Feb 2012 - Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

THE LAST THREE Sunday gospels have spoken of healing and forgiveness, appropriately enough with Lent right around the corner. So it is a good time to think about reconciliation. As described by Father Paul Boudreau the "Five C's" of the Rite of Reconciliation are: conviction, confession, contrition, compensation, and correction. Conviction: I admit I've done wrong. Confession is how I hand over the actual matter of my responsibility: What did I do or fail to do that puts me at odds with God, others, or myself? Contritionis next. Either through a traditional Act of Contrition or in your own words, you express regret for sin in one's life. Compensation is the "penance": If you stole something, you return it. If the offense is less tangible, you may spend time in prayer or in other ways demonstrate your good will. Finally there's the matter of Correction. With God's help you're not going to repeat this behavior. To strengthen this resolve you're going to avoid places, people, and patterns that initiated it in the past. These steps to restoration are valid not only in the rites of the church but in any relationship where reconciliation is needed.

Authors Alice Camille

Healing Forgiveness reconciliation confession

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Homily stories

16 Mar 2025 - Second Sunday of Lent, Cycle C

Years ago, I was asked to tell my story at a women’s retreat. I had to talk about struggles I’d had—including growing up with a debilitating childhood illness—and how faith helped me overcome. As I struggled with how to begin, I remembered a pivotal experience I’d had as a teen. It happened during a parish Communal Penance service, which my parents made us attend. I wasn’t happy about being there and was ready to rattle off the same old laundry list. But somehow, because of the priest I went to, I dredged up deeper stuff. I confessed I’d been a great burden to my family when I was young and ill. And how, now that I was better—but greatly overcompensating by being a stellar student and overinvolved in extracurriculars—I was afraid to let them down all over again. In all my years of going to Confession, nobody had ever taught me the difference between shame and guilt—but this priest did so. He took the time, despite a long Confession line, to make sure he planted that message—which included God’s vast love to me, my parents’ vast love for me—deep within my heart. That priest was Jesus for me, and an enormous weight fell from my shoulders. It transformed me to the core. Much like the Transfiguration, that encounter revealed to me who God was and how Jesus channeled that power. It had the same effect as a near-death experience—except that it was a near-life experience, a near God of Life experience.

Authors Mary Lynn Hendrickson

near-death experience Transfiguration confession

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