This document discusses the history and development of penitential rituals and the sacrament of reconciliation from biblical times to the present. It traces how the sacrament evolved from public penance ceremonies in early Christian communities to private confession and absolution by priests starting in the Middle Ages. It also examines how the Council of Trent standardized the sacrament and emphasized God's mercy and forgiveness.

1. LESSON 7
“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”

2.  Penitential Rituals
 Sacrament of Baptism
 Public Confession
 Private Confession
 The Council of Trent

3.  Followed by Jesus and the early Christians as
it is prescribed in the Hebrew scriptures and
Jewish traditions.
 Rite celebrated during the Day of Atonement
 Began the term “scapegoat”
 Ritual sacrifice offered by the Chief Priest as a
symbol of the people’s promise to reform
their lives.

4.  Seen as the primary sacrament of
reconciliation in the days of the first Christian
communities
 The Christian’s response to Christ's call for
conversion
 Should only be received once in a persons
lifetime
 Romans were persecuting the Church during
the 3rd century

5.  Done before the bishop and local community
 Absolution was given only after sincere
reform of one’s life has been proven.
 The problem with this was that many people
did not avail because of fear that they may
not have another opportunity to receive
forgiveness and absolution.

6.  Started by the monks during the 7th-11th
centuries
 This practice was adopted by the Catholics
who confessed, did penance, and given
absolution by the monks.
 Development seen in the role of the priest
confessor and practice of indulgences

7.  Issued directives and teachings on the
sacrament of the sacrament of reconciliation
 It reaffirmed the truth of God’s unconditional
love and mercy on His people and the
necessity of confession after baptism for the
forgiveness of our sins.
 Public and canonical penance- reconciliation
of penitent with God and the community
 Private penance- acts of
sorrow, confession, penance and absoultion

8.  “Those who approach the sacrament of
Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for
the offense committed against him, and
are, at the same time, reconciled with the
Church which they have wounded by their
sins and which by charity, by example and by
prayer labours for their conversion”
(LG 11)

9.  “Sin is, before all else, an offense against
God, a rupture of communion with Him”
(CC 1440)
 The Parable of the Prodigal Son
 “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them
and whose sins you retain are retained”
(John 20:23)

10.  “In the Church, the same power is given to
the bishops and the priests. We
understand, though, that the efficacy of the
sacrament act ex opere operato by the virtue
of the saying work of Christ accomplished
once for all. It follows that the sacrament is
not wrought by the righteousness of either
the celebrant or the recipient, but by the
power of God.”
(CCC 1128)