03-20-2022
“You have made us for
yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
St Augustine
*******
CCC
1212-1533
295. Why did Christ institute the sacraments of Penance and the
Anointing of the Sick? 1420-1421, 1426
Christ, the physician of our soul and body, instituted these
sacraments because the new life that he gives us in the sacraments of Christian
initiation can be weakened and even lost because of sin. Therefore, Christ
willed that his Church should continue his work of healing and salvation by
means of these two sacraments.
THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
AND RECONCILIATION
296. What is the name of this sacrament? 1422-1424
It is called the sacrament of Penance, the sacrament of
Reconciliation, the sacrament of Forgiveness, the sacrament of Confession, and
the sacrament of Conversion.
297. Why is there a sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism? 1425-1426,
1484
Since the new life of grace received in Baptism does not abolish
the weakness of human nature nor the inclination to sin (that is, concupiscence),
Christ instituted this sacrament for the conversion of the baptized who have
been separated from him by sin.
298. When did he institute this sacrament? 1485
The risen Lord instituted this sacrament on the evening of Easter
when he showed himself to his apostles and said to them, “Receive the Holy
Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the
sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:22-23).
299. Do the baptized have need of conversion? 1427-1429
The call of Christ to conversion continues to resound in the lives
of the baptized. Conversion is a continuing obligation for the whole Church.
She is holy but includes sinners in her midst.
300. What is interior penance? 1430-1433, 1490
It is the movement of a “contrite heart” (Psalm 51:19)
drawn by divine grace to respond to the merciful love of God. This entails
sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, a firm purpose not to sin again in
the future and trust in the help of God. It is nourished by hope in divine
mercy.
301. What forms does penance take in the Christian life? 1434-1439
Penance can be expressed in many and various ways but above all in
fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. These and many other forms of penance can be
practiced in the daily life of a Christian, particularly during the time of
Lent and on the penitential day of Friday.
302. What are the essential elements of the sacrament of
Reconciliation? 1440-1449
The essential elements are two: the acts of the penitent who comes
to repentance through the action of the Holy Spirit, and the absolution of the
priest who in the name of Christ grants forgiveness and determines the ways of
making satisfaction.
303. What are the acts of the penitent? 1450-1460,
1487-1492
They are: a careful examination of conscience; contrition (or
repentance), which is perfect when it is motivated by love of God and imperfect
if it rests on other motives and which includes the determination not to sin
again; confession, which consists in the telling of one’s sins to
the priest; and satisfaction or the carrying out of certain
acts of penance which the confessor imposes upon the penitent to repair the
damage caused by sin.
304. Which sins must be confessed? 1456
All grave sins not yet confessed, which a careful examination of
conscience brings to mind, must be brought to the sacrament of Penance. The
confession of serious sins is the only ordinary way to obtain forgiveness.
305. When is a person obliged to confess mortal sins? 1457
Each of the faithful who has reached the age of discretion is
bound to confess his or her mortal sins at least once a year and always before
receiving Holy Communion.
306. Why can venial sins also be the object of sacramental
confession? 1458
The confession of venial sins is strongly recommended by the
Church, even if this is not strictly necessary, because it helps us to form a correct
conscience and to fight against evil tendencies. It allows us to be healed by
Christ and to progress in the life of the Spirit.
307. Who is the minister of this sacrament? 1461-1466,
1495
Christ has entrusted the ministry of Reconciliation to his apostles,
to the bishops who are their successors and to the priests who are the
collaborators of the bishops, all of whom become thereby instruments of the
mercy and justice of God. They exercise their power of forgiving sins in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
308. To whom is the absolution of some sins reserved? 1463
The absolution of certain particularly grave sins (like those
punished by excommunication) is reserved to the Apostolic See or to the local
bishop or to priests who are authorized by them. Any priest, however, can
absolve a person who is in danger of death from any sin and excommunication.
309. Is a confessor bound to secrecy? 1467
Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect
due to people every confessor, without any exception and under very severe
penalties, is bound to maintain “the sacramental seal” which means absolute
secrecy about the sins revealed to him in confession.
310. What are the effects of this sacrament? 1468-1470,
1496
The effects of the sacrament of Penance are: reconciliation with
God and therefore the forgiveness of sins; reconciliation with the Church;
recovery, if it has been lost, of the state of grace; remission of the eternal
punishment merited by mortal sins, and remission, at least in part, of the
temporal punishment which is the consequence of sin; peace, serenity of
conscience and spiritual consolation; and an increase of spiritual strength for
the struggle of Christian living.
311. Can this sacrament be celebrated in some cases with a general
confession and general absolution? 1480-1484
In cases of serious necessity (as in imminent danger of death)
recourse may be had to a communal celebration of Reconciliation with general
confession and general absolution, as long as the norms of the Church are
observed and there is the intention of individually confessing one’s grave sins
in due time.
312. What are indulgences? 1471-1479
1498
Indulgences are the remission before God of the temporal
punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. The faithful
Christian who is duly disposed gains the indulgence under prescribed conditions
for either himself or the departed. Indulgences are granted through the
ministry of the Church which, as the dispenser of the grace of redemption,
distributes the treasury of the merits of Christ and the Saints.
THE
SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK
313. How was sickness viewed in the Old Testament? 1499-1502
In the Old Testament sickness was experienced as a sign of
weakness and at the same time perceived as mysteriously bound up with sin. The
prophets intuited that sickness could also have a redemptive value for one’s
own sins and those of others. Thus sickness was lived out in the presence of
God from whom people implored healing.
314. What is the significance of Jesus’ compassion for the sick? 1503-1505
The compassion of Jesus toward the sick and his many healings of
the infirm were a clear sign that with him had come the Kingdom of God and
therefore victory over sin, over suffering, and over death. By his own passion
and death, he gave new meaning to our suffering which, when united with his
own, can become a means of purification and of salvation for us and for others.
315. What is the attitude of the Church toward the sick? 1506-1513,
1526-1527
Having received from the Lord the charge to heal the sick, the
Church strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick and accompanying them
with her prayer of intercession. Above all, the Church possesses a sacrament
specifically intended for the benefit of the sick. This sacrament was
instituted by Christ and is attested by Saint James: “Is anyone among you sick?
Let him call in the presbyters of the Church and let them pray over him and
anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14-15).
316. Who can receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick? 1514-1515,
1528-1529
Any member of the faithful can receive this sacrament as soon as
he or she begins to be in danger of death because of sickness or old age. The
faithful who receive this sacrament can receive it several times if their
illness becomes worse or another serious sickness afflicts them. The
celebration of this sacrament should, if possible, be preceded by individual
confession on the part of the sick person.
317. Who administers this sacrament? 1516, 1530
This sacrament can be administered only by priests (bishops or
presbyters).
318. How is this sacrament celebrated? 1517-1519,
1531
The celebration of this sacrament consists essentially in an anointing with
oil which may be blessed by the bishop. The anointing is on the forehead and on
the hands of the sick person (in the Roman rite) or also on other parts of the
body (in the other rites) accompanied by the prayer of the
priest who asks for the special grace of this sacrament.
319. What are the effects of this sacrament? 1520-1523,
1532
This sacrament confers a special grace which unites the sick
person more intimately to the Passion of Christ for his good and for the good
of all the Church. It gives comfort, peace, courage, and even the forgiveness
of sins if the sick person is not able to make a confession. Sometimes, if it
is the will of God, this sacrament even brings about the restoration of
physical health. In any case this Anointing prepares the sick person for the
journey to the Father’s House.
320. What is Viaticum? 1524-1525
Viaticum is the Holy Eucharist received by those who are about to
leave this earthly life and are preparing for the journey to eternal life.
Communion in the body and blood of Christ who died and rose from the dead,
received at the moment of passing from this world to the Father, is the seed of
eternal life and the power of the resurrection.
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