ALivingFaithPublication

ConfessionQuestions and Answers About

the Sacrament

Fr. Martin Pable, OFM Cap.

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When I was a young priest, we used to have long lines of people

coming to Confession. Catholics are just not making use of this sacrament like they used to. Does this mean they are not sinning like they used to? I don’t think that’s it! Let’s examine what might be some of the reasons.

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How Has the Sacrament Changed?For one thing, the form of the sacrament has been revised since the Second Vatican Council—and people sometimes find change difficult. Even the name has been changed. It is now called the Sacrament of Reconciliation instead of “the Sacrament of Penance” or “Confession.” Those latter names are inadequate because they describe only one part of the sacrament. The word “reconciliation” highlights the total process: a sinner repents inwardly, confesses his/her sins, and receives forgiveness. Most Catholics have heard that the method or formula for Confession has changed, and they are afraid they won’t “do it right.” They’ve also heard that people are going to Confession to the priest “face-to-face” instead of behind the screen, and that may be scary for some. We will examine these matters more fully later. But there is another dynamic at work here: Some people seriously question why they need to confess their sins to a priest. Why not directly to God in the privacy of their heart?

Father Martin Pable is a Capuchin preacher residing in Milwaukee. He is a nationally known retreat director and author of many books, including Remaining Catholic: Six Good Reasons for Staying in an Imperfect Church (ACTA Publications).

Confession: Questions and Answers About the Sacrament was written by Fr. Martin Pable, OFM Cap. Designed by Kathleen W. Herring. Photos by Fr. Gene Plaisted, OSC. © 2010 by Creative Communications for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Drive, Fenton, MO 63026. 800-325-9414. Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. www.creativecommunications.com PJ-H

Jesus was very wise. He knew we would need assurance of divine forgiveness for our sins. So he gave us a special

sacrament for this purpose. During his lifetime, Jesus baptized, anointed people for healing, gave us his body and blood under the forms of bread and wine. And he also forgave sins. Those wonderful actions of his are made present and visible to us today through the ministry of the Church in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

ImprimaturBishop William Patrick Callahan • Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Nihil ObstatRev. Melvin E. Michalski