Reconciliation, Paul Bernacchio

7/31/2019 Reconciliation, Paul Bernacchio

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Reconciliation (Overview)In this presentation we will look at

from an Apologetics approach:3. Why Confession is not a Catholic invention

5. Why Catholics too believe that it is blasphemy to claim thepower to forgive sins, only God can forgive sins.

7. The Biblical authority by for priests in the Sacrament of Reconciliation

12. Sin the nature of it and types

15. Along with what the Early Church Fathers wrote and thought about Confession

6. Why it is not enough to confess your sins privately


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Knowledge aKnowledge a

ripple effectripple effect


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Confession Not A Catholic Invention

The Fall Lets go where it all started Butof the fruit of the tree which is in the midstof the garden, God hath said, Ye shall noteat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest yedie. Genesis 3:3

Adam & Eve lost their divine life sin

snuffs out the divine/supernatural life The gift of divine life is greater than the

gift of physical life


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Confession Not A Catholic InventionThe Mystery of Confession

1. The First Sin: the Fall Historical/Eschatological 2. The Lord speaks: Where are you? (Gen 3:9)

(opportunity for mercy) 3. Adams Confession: I ate (Gen 3:12) (opportunity

for an Act of Contrition) 4. Eves Confession: I ate (Gen 3:13) (more honest) 5. The Book of Revelation: Call to Sinners to

Repent a. Necessity of Repentance b. Readmission to Paradise (Rev 2:5-7)


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Original Sin Christians believe that "the world has been

established and kept in being by theCreator's love; has fallen into slavery to sin but has been set free by Christ, crucifiedand risen to break the power of the evilone. Catechism of the Catholic Church 421


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Psalmists on Sins Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my

transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, OLord Psalm 25

Happy the sinner whose fault isremoved who sin is forgiven When Ikept silent about my sin, my body wastedawayI was groaning all day long. Psalm 32

We have sinned like our ancestors; we havedone wrong and are guilty. Psalm 106


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Atonement Then whoever is guilty in any of these cases

shall confess the sin he has incurred, and ashis sin offering for the sin he has committed he shall bring to the Lord a female animal from the flock, a ewe lamb or a she-goat. The priest shall then make atonement for his sin. "If, however, he cannot afford ananimal of the flock, he shall bring to the Lord as the sin offering for his sin two turtledovesor two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the

other for a holocaust. He shall bring them tothe priest, who shall offer the one for the sinoffering first.

Leviticus Chapter 5: 5-8


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Confess the Wrong "Tell the Israelites: If a man (or a

woman) commits a fault against his fellow man and wrongs him, thus

breaking faith with the Lord, he shall confess the wrong he has done, restorehis ill-gotten goods in full, and inaddition give one fifth of their value tothe one he has wronged. Numbers 5:6-7


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Confession is not a Catholic Invention

Began at Garden of Eden Was evident throughout OT Genesis 3, Leviticus 4,

Numbers 5,

Elements of our confession includingconfessing, penance, reconciliation,atonement

Awareness of sins. Genesis 3, Leviticus 4, Numbers 5,Psalms 25,32, 106, 1 Kings 13, Lamentations 4:13, Nehemiah 9:37


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Only God Can Forgive Sins

Who can forgive sins but God alone? Mark 2:7 Father, hallowed be thy nameforgive us our

sins Luke 11:2, 4 One church has set up a priestly system by

which the sinner comes to them forforgiveness, not to God. In this system, evenGod cannot forgive a sin if the priest refuses to

forgive it. How can Catholics have the sacrament of

reconciliation when only God alone canforgive sins?


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Only God Can Forgive Sins

Yes that is exactly what we believe! The answer to the Catholic Confession is

two-fold:

A. what method does the Bible teach aboutconfessing sins B. what authority does one have to forgive

sins


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Jesus, The Son of God Has Authority to Forgive Sins

Jesus says which iseasier to forgive sinsor for the paralytic to

rise?


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Christ Death & Resurrection The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ

liberates us from sin: by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life. This new life is above all justificationthat reinstates us in God's grace, "so that as Christ wasraised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might

walk in newness of life. Justification consists in both victory over the deathcaused by sin and a new participation in grace . It brings about filial adoption so that men become Christ's brethren, as Jesus himself called his disciples after his

Resurrection: "Go and tell my brethren." We are brethren not by nature, but by the gift of grace, because that adoptivefiliationgains us a real share in the life of the only Son, which was fully revealed in his Resurrection 654 CCC


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Jesus Institutes the Sacrament and ThusGives the Apostles The Authority

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Fatherhas sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiventhem; whose sins you retain are retained.

John 20: 21-23 Question - How did the Father send Jesus? With fullpower & authority.

Question How can you know if a sin isforgiven or retained if it is not confessed ?

The Authority did not reside just withoriginal Apostles there were no protests when their successors practiced forgiveness of sins


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The Power to Forgive Sins Residesin the Office not the Individual

1444 In imparting to his apostles his own power toforgive sins the Lord also gives them the authority toreconcile sinners with the Church. This ecclesialdimension of their task is expressed most notably inChrist's solemn words to Simon Peter: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in

heaven." The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to thecollege of the apostles united to its head .


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The Power of the Office can beconferred to another erson

St. Paul appears to be passing his officealong to Timothy (1 Tim 6:20; 2 Tim 1:6,13-14, 2:1-2, 4:1-6). See, for example:

2 Timothy 2:1-2 (RSV) You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in ChristJesus, [2] and what you have heard from

me before many witnesses entrust tofaithful men who will be able to teachothers also.


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Luke 24:36-50 And he said to them, "Thus it is written that

the Messiah would suffer and rise from thedead on the third day and that repentance,for the forgiveness of sins, would bepreached in his name to all the nations , beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnessesof these things. And (behold) I am sendingthe promise of my Father upon you; butstay in the city until you are clothed

with power from on high .


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The Apostle is sent out 1440 Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with

him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason

conversion entails both God's forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the sacramentof Penance and Reconciliation.Only God forgives sin

1441 Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself,"The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises thisdivine power: "Your sins are forgiven.Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name.

1442 Christ has willed that in her prayer and life and action his whole Churchshould be the sign and instrument of the forgiveness and reconciliation that heacquired for us at the price of his blood. But he entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry which he charged

with the "ministry of reconciliation.The apostle is sent out "on behalf of Christ" with "God making his appeal" through him andpleading: "Be reconciled to God.


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In ersona Christi In the bishops, therefore, for whom priests

are assistants, Our Lord Jesus Christ, theSupreme High Priest, is present in the midstof those who believe

it is clear that, by means of the impositionof hands and the words of consecration, thegrace of the Holy Spirit is so conferred,(20*)and the sacred character so impressed,(21*)that bishops in an eminent and visible way sustain the roles of Christ Himself asTeacher, Shepherd and High Priest, and thatthey act in His personLumen Gentium DogmaticConstitution of the Church


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A New Era THE SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY 1076 The Church was made manifest to the world on the day

of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Spirit ushers in a new era in the "dispensation of themystery" the age of the Church, during which Christ

manifests, makes present, and communicates his work of salvation through the liturgy of his Church ,"until he comes. In this age of the Church Christ now livesand acts in and with his Church, in a new way appropriate tothis new age. He acts through the sacraments in what thecommon Tradition of the East and the West calls "thesacramental economy"; this is the communication (or"dispensation") of the fruits of Christ's Paschal mystery in thecelebration of the Church's "sacramental" liturgy.


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Why Confess to a Priest?

Is anyone among you suffering? He shouldpray. Is anyone in good spirits? He shouldsing praise. Is anyone among you sick? 6 He should summon the presbyters of

the church, and they should pray over himand anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will savethe sick person, and the Lord will raisehim up. If he has committed any sins,he will be forgiven. James 5: 13-19
http://usccb.org/nab/bible/james/james5.htmhttp://usccb.org/nab/bible/james/james5.htm


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Why Confess Sins Privately to Priest? A . Jesus instructed us to do so B. You have a certainty of forgiveness C. Sacramental graces are obtained that

strengthen us spiritually D. Penance an external sign of internal

conversion E. Talking to someone can help us sort out and

destroy scruples, anxieties, doubt that comesfrom ourselves or the devil

F. helps overcome self-deception, andrationalization of sins G. Get spiritual direction in avoiding future sins


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Why Confess Sins Privately to Priest?

H .Accountability to someone other thanourselves

I. Unload our spiritual and emotionalbaggage to another human being who isnon-judgmental and relates to us with acompassionate heart

J. Confidential listener bound by the seal


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The Three Models of Penance The Therapeutic Model spiritual remedy

for healing the wounds of sin The Judicial Model sinner is forgiven,

the guilt is pardoned and the eternalpunishment assigned to serious sins isremitted

The Relational Model reconciles thealienated sinner with God and thecommunity


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Confession is a Sacrament The Latin Word Sacramentum oath,

sacred, hidden or mysterious Two Parts of a Sacrament a . Form: words And I absolve you b. Matter: actions freedom of the

penitent. The priest cannot make thepenitents acknowledge their guilt or forcethem to resolve not to sin again ( THEUNTAPPED POWER OF THE SACRAMENT OFPENANCE)


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Confession is a Sacrament Sacraments of Healing Confession heals

like the Anointing of the Sick and theEucharist

The Sacraments are Necessary for Salvation

a. Healing b. Transformation

c. Participation in the Divine Nature (cf. CCC460) what Adam & Eve lost & what mortal sindoes to a soul


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Reconciling Sinners The Mystery of Sin: In order to

understand the sacraments of healing, wefirst need to understand what is sin and

how it wounds us. What is mortal sin? What is venial sin? Where are these taughtin Scripture, and how can we avoid them?


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Sins Is all sin the same????? No! "If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin isnot deadly, he should pray to God and he will

give him life. This is only for those whose sin isnot deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that youshould pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there issin that is not deadly." (1 John 5:16-17). Thus St.John distinguishes between mortal and venialsin.

Jesus also warns us that " Anyone who doesnot remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them andthrow them into a fire and they will be burned"(John 15:6).


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Mortal Sin So what kind of Sins are Mortal?

In order for a sin to be mortal, it must meet threeconditions: Mortal sin is a sin of grave matter Mortal sin is committed with full knowledge of

the sinner Mortal sin is committed with deliberate

consent of the sinner

This means that mortal sins cannot be done"accidentally." A person who commits a mortal sin isone who knows that their sin is wrong, but stilldeliberately commits the sin anyway. This means thatmortal sins are "premeditated" by the sinner and thusare truly a rejection of Gods law and love.


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Reconciliation with the Church 1443 During his public life Jesus not only forgave sins,

but also made plain the effect of this forgiveness: hereintegrated forgiven sinners into thecommunity of the People of God from whichsin had alienated or even excluded them . A remarkable sign of this is the fact that Jesus receivessinners at his table, a gesture that expresses in anastonishing way both God's forgiveness and the returnto the bosom of the People of God.

1445 The words bind and loose mean: whomever youexclude from your communion, will be excluded fromcommunion with God; whomever you receiveanew into your communion, God will welcome

back into his . Reconciliation with the Church isinseparable from reconciliation with God.

E l Ch h F h


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Early Church Fathers


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Early Church fathers

Origen , a prolific theologian in the third-century Church, wrote:The layman who falls into sin cannot by himself washaway his fault. He must have recourse to the levite; heneeds the priest. At times, he applies to one evengreater: he needs the pontiffs help, that he may obtainthe forgiveness of sins ( Hom. in Numeros 10, 1).

St. Cyprian , bishop of Carthage, also writing in thethird century, said:I entreat you, brethren, that each one should confesshis own sin while he who has sinned is still in this

world, while his confession may be received, while hissatisfaction and absolution given the priest are stillpleasing to the Lord ( De lapsis 28, 29).


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Early Church Fathers In the fourth century, St. Ambrose ,

bishop of Milan, wrote:Sins are forgiven through the Holy Ghost.

Certainly, but men lend him theirministry. . . . They forgive sin, not in theirown name, but in the name of the Father,the Son, and the Holy Ghost ( De Spiritu Sancto iii, 137).


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Early Church Fathers "The Church has received the keys of the

kingdom so that sins may be forgiventhrough Christ's blood and the Holy Spirit'sactions" (St. Augustine).

( Sermon to Catechumens on the Creed 7:15,8:16 [A.D. 395])

St. Augustine (d. 430) warns the faithful:

"Let us not listen to those who deny that theChurch of God has power to forgive all sins "(De agon. Christ., iii). . . .


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Early Church Fathers For those who sought to escape the obligation

of confession it was natural enough to assertthat repentance was the affair of the soul alone with its Maker, and that no intermediary wasneeded. It is this pretext that St. Augustinesweeps aside in one of his sermons: " Let noone say I do penance secretly; I performit in the sight of God, and He who is topardon me knows that in my heart Irepent". Whereupon St. Augustine asks:

"Was it then said to no purpose, 'What you shall loose upon earth shall beloosed in heaven?' Was it for nothingthat the keys were given to the Church?"(Sermo cccxcii, n. 3, in P.L., XXXIX, 1711). . . .

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Reconciliation, Paul Bernacchio