Talking Sacrament

The need to talk is profound. The need to listen is profound.

These two human needs come together in what is known as the sacrament of confession, penance, reconciliation. Our resurrection appearance confirms the sensitivity Jesus has towards human flourishing:

Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven. For those who sins you retain, they are retained (John 20).

In the early Church, the sacrament for the forgiveness of sins was primarily baptism. But what to do with believers who have committed grave sin?

In the early Church, three sins were considered to be grave – mortal – sins:

Apostasy, whereby one abandoned the faith one professed.

Adultery, whereby one abandoned marital fidelity.

Homicide, whereby one abandoned respect for human life.

There was a pathway back to Christ through the confession of these sins and public penance.

The practice was eventually deemed to be too strict and exacting, and so gave way to a more private form of confession that we now have today.

When things go wrong – and sometimes quite seriously – we need to talk, be honest and have a priest who will listen and forgive.

Amen.