Part Two: The Celebration of the Christian Mysteries › Section Two of Part Two: The Seven Sacraments of the Church ›› CHAPTER 2: The Sacraments of Healing ››› Article 4: The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

› IN BRIEF

Questions and Answers

1416. What is given to those who receive the sacrament of Penance? (CCC 1422) To those who receive the sacrament of Penance are given:
1. pardon from God
2. reconciliation with the Church.
1417. What is this sacrament of Penance called in the CCC? (CCC 1423) The sacrament of Penance is called in the CCC the sacrament:
1. of conversion
2. of Penance
3. of confession
4. of forgiveness
5. of Reconciliation.
1418. Why is the sacrament of Penance called “the sacrament of conversion”? (CCC 1423) The sacrament of Penance is called the sacrament of conversion, because it makes sacramentally present Christ’s call to conversion, the first step in returning to God the Father from whom one has strayed by sin.
1419. Why is the sacrament of Penance so called? (CCC 1423) The sacrament of Penance is so called, because it consecrates the Christian sinner’s personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance and satisfaction.
1420. Why is the sacrament of Penance called “the sacrament of Confession”? (CCC 1424) The sacrament of Penance is called “the sacrament of Confession”, because the confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament.
1421. Why is the sacrament of Penance called “the sacrament of forgiveness”? (CCC 1424) The sacrament of Penance is called “the sacrament of forgiveness”, because by the priest’s sacramental absolution God grants the penitent forgiveness for his sins.
1422. Why is the sacrament of Penance called “the sacrament of Reconciliation”? (CCC 1424) The sacrament of Penance is called “the sacrament of Reconciliation”, because it imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles.
1423. Why is there a sacrament of reconciliation after Baptism? (CCC 1426) There is a sacrament of reconciliation after Baptism, because Baptism does not abolish:
1. the weakness of human nature
2. the inclination to sin (concupiscence).
1424. What is the struggle of conversion? (CCC 1426) The struggle of conversion is the daily battle of Christian life directed toward holiness where the Christian may prove himself with the help of grace.
1425. What is the conversion of the baptised? (CCC 1428) The conversion of the baptised is the continuous second conversion after Baptism.
1426. How does St Ambrose describe the two conversions in the Church? (CCC 1429) St Ambrose (before AD 400) describes the two conversions in the Church by saying that:
1. Baptism is the conversion of water
2. Penance is the conversion of tears.
1427. Why must penance primarily be interior? (CCC 1430) Penance must primarily be interior since it aims at the conversion of the heart.
Interior penance, however, urges expression in visible signs.
1428. What is interior penance? (CCC 1431) Interior penance is (1) a conversion to God and (2) a turning away from evil, accompanied by (3) a salutary affliction of spirit (Latin: animi cruciatus) and (4) repentance of heart (Latin: compunctio cordis).
1429. Whose work is conversion first of all? (CCC 1432) Conversion is first of all a work of God’s grace.
1430. How are the many forms of penance in Christian life summed up in the Bible? (CCC 1434) The many forms of penance in Christian life are summed up in the Bible with the terms:
1. fasting
2. prayer
3. almsgiving.
Fasting, prayer and almsgiving are the three works of Christian mercy.
1431. What is the surest way of penance? (CCC 1435) The surest way of penance is taking up one’s cross each day and following Christ.
1432. Where do daily conversion and penance find their source and nourishment? (CCC 1436) Daily conversion and penance find their source and nourishment in the Holy Eucharist.
1433. How does every sincere act of worship or devotion promote penance? (CCC 1437) Every sincere act of worship or devotion promotes penance by:
1. reviving the spirit of conversion and repentance within us
2. contributing to the forgiveness of our sins.
1434. What are the most important seasons and days of penance in the Church? (CCC 1438) The most important seasons and days of penance in the Church are:
1. Lent
2. each Friday, in memory of the death of the Lord.
1435. In which parable does Christ describe the process of conversion? (CCC 1439) Christ describes the process of conversion in the parable of the prodigal son (Lk 15).
1436. Why is Confession the sacrament of penance and reconciliation? (CCC 1440) Confession is the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, because it entails both:
1. God’s forgiveness, achieved through penance
2. reconciliation with the Church.
1437. Who only forgives sins? (CCC 1441) God only forgives sins.
1438. To whom did Christ entrust the exercise of the power of absolution? (CCC 1442) Christ entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry (bishops and priests).
1439. How did Christ receive the forgiven sinners back into communion? (CCC 1443) Christ received the forgiven sinners back into communion by inviting them at His table.
1440. How did Christ enable the apostles to reconcile sinners with the Church? (CCC 1444) Christ enabled the apostles to reconcile sinners with the Church by giving them the power of binding and loosing (Mt 16).
“Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
1441. What do the words “bind” and “loose” in Mt 16 mean? (CCC 1445) The words “bind” and “loose” in Mt 16 mean excluding from and receiving anew into the communion of the Church.
Reconciliation with the Church is inseparable from reconciliation with God.
1442. Why do the Fathers of the Church call Confession a “second plank”? (CCC 1446) The Fathers of the Church call Confession a “second plank” [of salvation], because it rescues after the shipwreck that is the loss of grace.
1443. What two principal forms has Confession taken in history? (CCC 1447) Confession has taken in history the following two forms:
1. in the first centuries: public penance
2. after the seventh century: secret penance only between priest and penitent.
1444. What is the fundamental structure of Confession? (CCC 1448) The fundamental structure of Confession is:
1. the three acts of the penitent helped by grace (contrition, confession and satisfaction)
2. the action of God through the priest (absolution of sins).
1445. What are the three acts of the penitent that conversion requires? (CCC 1450) The three acts of the penitent that conversion requires are:
1. contrition
2. confession
3. satisfaction.
1446. What are the three parts of contrition? (CCC 1451) The three parts of contrition are:
1. sorrow of the soul
2. detestation for the sin committed
3. resolution not to sin again.
1447. What are the two kinds of contrition? (CCC 1452-1453) The two kinds of contrition are:
1. perfect contrition
2. imperfect contrition.
1448. What is another name for perfect contrition? (CCC 1452) Another name for perfect contrition is contrition of charity.
1449. What is perfect contrition? (CCC 1452) Perfect contrition is a contrition arising from a love by which God is loved above all else.
1450. What are the effects of perfect contrition? (CCC 1452) The effects of perfect contrition are:
1. remission of venial sins
2. remission of mortal sins, if there is a resolution to go to Confession as soon as possible.
1451. How is imperfect contrition also called? (CCC 1453) Imperfect contrition is also called:
1. contrition of fear
2. attrition.
1452. What is imperfect contrition? (CCC 1453) Imperfect contrition is a contrition arising from the consideration of:
1. the ugliness of sin
2. the fear of eternal damnation
3. the other penalties threatening the sinner.
1453. What is the effect of imperfect contrition? (CCC 1453) The effect of imperfect contrition is to dispose the sinner to obtain forgiveness in Confession.
1454. How must Confession be prepared for? (CCC 1454) Confession must be prepared for by an examination of conscience.
1455. What are the advantages of the confession of sins from a human point of view? (CCC 1455) The advantages of the confession of sins from a human point of view are that it:
1. frees psychologically
2. facilitates reconciliation with others
3. helps in taking responsibility for sins
4. opens to God and to the Church.
1456. Which sins need to be confessed in the sacrament of Penance? (CCC 1456) All mortal sins of which the penitent is conscious after a diligent self-examination must be confessed in the sacrament of Penance.
1457. How does St Jerome explain the need of a thorough confession of one’s sins? (CCC 1456) St Jerome explains the need of a through confession of one’s sins by saying: “if the sick person (= sinner) is too ashamed to show his wound to the doctor (= priest), the medicine cannot heal what it does not know.”
1458. When must the faithful begin to confess? (CCC 1457) The faithful must begin to confess, when they reach the age of reason.
1459. How often are the faithful obliged to confess their sins? (CCC 1457) The faithful are obliged to confess their sins at least once a year.
1460. Why is the confession of venial sins recommended? (CCC 1458) The confession of venial sins is recommended, because it helps:
1. to form the conscience
2. to fight against evil tendencies
3. to receive healing from Christ
4. to progress in the spiritual life.
1461. Why is there still a need of satisfaction after absolution in Confession? (CCC 1459) There is still a need of satisfaction after absolution in Confession, because absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused.
1462. Which disorders need to be repaired after sin has been committed? (CCC 1459) The disorders which need to be repaired after sin has been committed are:
1. the material harm caused by sin
2. the injures caused by sin in the sinner
3. the damage caused in the sinner’s relationship with God
4. the damage caused in the sinner’s relationship with his neighbour.
1463. How is the satisfaction imposed by the confessor called? (CCC 1459) The satisfaction imposed by the confessor is called penance.
1464. What can the penance imposed by the confessor be? (CCC 1460) The penance imposed by the confessor can be:
1. prayer
2. offerings
3. works of mercy
4. service of neighbour
5. voluntary self-denial
6. sacrifices
7. the patient acceptance of the cross that we must bear.
1465. Who is the minister of the sacrament of Confession? (CCC 1461) The minister of the sacrament of Confession is the bishop or the priest.
1466. Who is the moderator of the penitential discipline? (CCC 1462) The bishop is the moderator of the penitential discipline.
1467. What is the most severe ecclesiastical penalty that certain grave sins can incur? (CCC 1463) The most severe ecclesiastical penalty that certain grave sins can incur is excommunication.
Excommunication forbids the reception of the sacraments and the exercise of certain ecclesiastical acts.
1468. To what extent do priests have to make themselves available to hear Confession? (CCC 1464) Priests have to make themselves available to hear Confession each time the faithful reasonably ask for it.
1469. Who is the sign and the instrument of God’s merciful love for the sinner? (CCC 1465) The priest is the sign and the instrument of God’s merciful love for the sinner.
1470. Which are the qualities that make a good confessor? (CCC 1466) The qualities that make a good confessor are:
1. having the intention and charity of Christ
2. knowledge of Christian behaviour
3. experience of human affairs
4. sensitivity toward the sinner
5. love of the truth
6. faithfulness to the Magisterium
7. patience
8. prayer and penance for the penitents.
1471. What is the sacramental seal of Confession? (CCC 1467) The sacramental seal of Confession is the obligation of every confessor to keep absolute secrecy regarding the sins that his penitents have confessed to him.
The sacramental seal of Confession admits of no exceptions.
1472. What is the double effect of the sacrament of penance? (CCC 1468) The double effect of the sacrament of penance is:
1. to join the penitent with God in intimate friendship
2. to reconcile him with the Church.
1473. Why does Confession reconcile the penitent with the Church? (CCC 1469) Confession reconciles the penitent with the Church, because it repairs the fraternal communion that was damaged or broken by sin.
1474. Why does Confession, in a certain way, anticipate the Final Judgment? (CCC 1470) Confession anticipates, in a certain way, the Final Judgment, because in this sacrament, the sinner places himself before the merciful judgment of God to which he will also be subjected at the end of his earthly life.
1475. What is an indulgence? (CCC 1471) An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment of sins that have already been forgiven in the sacrament of Confession.
The temporal punishment of sins consists in a satisfactory penance.
1476. Who can gain an indulgence? (CCC 1471) The faithful can gain an indulgence given:
1. due disposition
2. fulfilment of certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church.
1477. What are the two types of indulgences? (CCC 1471) The two types of indulgences are:
1. partial indulgence removing part of the temporal punishment of sin
2. plenary indulgence removing all of the temporal punishment of sin.
1478. For whom can one gain indulgences? (CCC 1471) One can gain indulgences (1) for oneself or (2) apply them to the dead.
1479. What is the eternal punishment of sin? (CCC 1472) The eternal punishment of sin is the everlasting punishment in hell inflicted on the sinner by every grave sin.
1480. What is the temporal punishment of sin? (CCC 1472) The temporal punishment of sin is the satisfactory penance which the sinner is required to do for his sins that have been forgiven in Confession.
1481. Why must satisfactory penance be done for the sins forgiven in Confession? (CCC 1472) Satisfactory penance must be done for the sins forgiven in Confession, because satisfaction:
1. is required by God’s justice and mercy
2. atones to the Church that is insulted by our crimes
3. deters others from sin
4. conforms us to Christ
5. heals the wounds of sin
6. disarms the vengeance of God.
1482. Where must the temporal punishment of sin be purified? (CCC 1472) The temporal punishment of sin must be purified either:
1. here on earth or
2. after death in Purgatory.
1483. What impact does Confession have on eternal and temporal punishment? (CCC 1473) The sacrament of Confession forgives the eternal punishment of sin but does not cancel its temporal punishment.
1484. How can the temporal punishment of sin be purified on earth? (CCC 1473) The temporal punishment of sin can be purified on earth through:
1. obtaining indulgences from the Church
2. various practices of penance
3. good works.
1485. Why do the saints benefit the contrite sinners? (CCC 1475) The saints benefit the contrite sinners because of the link of charity and abundant exchange of all good things between them so that the holiness of one profits others.
1486. What is the Church’s treasury? (CCC 1476) The Church’s treasury is the spiritual goods of the communion of saints and an abundant exchange of all good things among all members of the Church.
1487. What does the Church’s treasury include? (CCC 1476-1477) The Church’s treasury includes:
1. Christ’s infinite merits before God
2. the prayers and good works of Our Lady
3. the prayers and good works of all the saints.
1488. Why is the Church entitled to dispense indulgences? (CCC 1478) The Church is entitled to dispense indulgences by virtue of the power of binding and loosening granted her by Christ.
1489. Why can one apply indulgences to the dead? (CCC 1479) One can apply indulgences to the dead, because the souls in Purgatory are also members of the same Church in which there is an abundant exchange of all good things.
1490. Which are the essential parts in the celebration of the sacrament of Penance? (CCC 1480) The essential parts in the celebration of the sacrament of Penance are:
1. confession of sins
2. exhortation by the confessor
3. imposition of a penance
4. absolution by the priest.
1491. How can Confession take place in the framework of a communal celebration? (CCC 1482) Confession can take place in the framework of a communal celebration through:
1. communal preparation for confession
2. personal confession of sins and individual absolution.
1492. When is recourse to general confession and general absolution licit? (CCC 1483) Recourse to general confession and general absolution is licit in case of grave necessity.
1493. Who is the judge of whether the conditions required for general absolution exist? (CCC 1483) The judge of whether the conditions required for general absolution exist is the diocesan bishop.
1494. When is there a case of grave necessity allowing for general absolution? (CCC 1483) There is a case of grave necessity allowing for general absolution:
1. if there is imminent danger of death without sufficient time or priests for individual confessions
2. if the penitents would be deprived of Communion for a long time due to a lack of confessors.
1495. What is required for a general absolution of sins to be valid? (CCC 1483) For a general absolution of sins to be valid, the faithful must have the intention of individually confessing their grave sins as soon as possible.
1496. Why is individual Confession the only ordinary way to reconciliation with God? (CCC 1484) Individual Confession is the only ordinary way to reconciliation with God, because Christ:
1. addresses every sinner personally
2. is the physician tending each one of the sick.