Sacrament of Reconciliation, The History And Implications Nowadays - Essay Example

Sacrament of Reconciliation Introduction Repentance and forgiveness are recurrent themes of Christianity due to several reasons. God has created humanity and knows the latter’s limitations and fragilities. Therefore the door to salvation is through forgiveness and mercy. This can be achieved only if the sinner has made sincere efforts to seek forgiveness and clemency. The sacrament of reconciliation is embedded in Christian theology because it seeks to reestablish the relationship between God and humanity. This paper will seek to analyze and assess the sacrament of reconciliation. Historical The concept behind the sacrament of reconciliation can be derived from the Old Testament. The Israelites were constantly reprimanded for their transgressions against God through the prophets. The reference about the sacrament of reconciliation can be seen in the history of the Israelites. They were the recipients of mercy and grace due to their covenant with God. Yet at the individual and community level, they would engage in wickedness and evil deeds. Thus there was a need for compromise and exoneration which was the right of the Israelites due to their special status. The New Testament enjoins kindness and mercy for all human beings irrespective of color, caste or creed. Jesus Christ proclaimed the liberation of humanity from sins through repentance and clemency. Faith is a powerful force that enables human beings to abstain from sin and wickedness. Such a state can be acquired only through grace, mercy, and affection. Thus it can be seen that the New Testament modifies the concept of repentance and forgiveness in numerous ways. The early Church devised a system of expiation and atonement that was public in nature. An individual who had perpetrated a sin would have to offer penance through his outwardly actions and behaviors. Such individuals had to perform religious rites and rituals in a systematic manner. They had to engage in worship, charity, and abstain from worldly desires (Coffey, 67). The severity of sins would determine the number of years in which the individuals would complete their penance. The public system of atonement would lead to the ostracism of individuals as they were prevented from participating in Christian rituals. The system was harsh and ruthless since it exerted unnecessary burden on individuals. The system eventually met its demise through the reforms of Irish monks. The new system for expatiation and atonement was implemented at the private level. Further penance had to be completed until a specific time period. The Irish monks devised an effective and efficient system for penance because it embraced every individual. There were many styles that were used until formally the Fourth Lateran Council (1215) (Coffey, p.45) enjoined the methods of confession. The council of Florence declared that the sacrament consists of remorse, affirmation, and fulfillment. The priest proclaims words of forgiveness which releases individuals from their transgressions. The Sacrament has become an integral element of Christian belief and theology as enshrined in the Second Vatican Council. It seeks to focus on compromise so that an individual can lead a righteous and virtuous life. The Sacrament offers individuals the chance to redeem themselves by affirming positive beliefs and values. Theological The sacrament of reconciliation holds deep and comprehensive meaning for Christians because it is an essential element of faith and atonement. A major principle is Sacramentu tantum that is synonymous with the symbols of reconciliation and expiation. It refers to the set of rites and ceremonies that have become an integral element of the sacrament. The priest speaks out words that explicitly forgive and pardon the individual who has perpetrated a grave sin. It marks the symbolic return of the individual with the Church which in the greater context means the restoration of communion with God (Coffey, 72). This establishes the relationship between the believers and God in a proper manner. The sacrament is a stark reminder that human beings will err in their actions yet the doors of repentance are never closed. With that it is also important to mention the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In the sacrament of reconciliation only God forgives sins by virtue of His divine authority He (Jesus) gives this power to men to exercise in His name (CCC #1441). Repentance is a recurrent theme of the Gospel because it is the key to salvation and deliverance. It is a reflection of God’s compassion and sympathy that must be present in human beings. The wicked and impious individual who abstains and repents from sins is considered to be awarded a greater status in the eyes of God. Love and affection are the central tenets of Christianity but this can be achieved only by turning towards God. Individuals that perpetrate sins will plead for clemency from God which is a reflection of humility and modesty. Repentance is the key to deliverance because the absence of it would lead to disaster and calamity. Pastoral Mankind is not perfect due to the temptations and desires to engage in sinful activities. This means that humanity has an intrinsic and inherent need for God. The sacrament of reconciliation helps to induce proper behaviors and actions. It enhances the relationship with God by transforming our lives according to the tenets of Christianity. Individuals might engage in sins and transgressions but the Church will always greet them. The Church is empowered to act as representatives of God and Jesus Christ. They have been given the ability to accept sinners and cleanse them of their sins. The priest helps to absolve the sinner through outwardly and inwardly actions and behaviors. They engage in prayers so that God in his almighty grace will forgive the sinner and cleanse his soul from evil deeds and activities. The Lord also gives them authority to reconcile sinners to the Church (CCC #1444). Liturgical Jesus Christ’s body and blood helped to eradicate the sins of humanity. The sacrament of reconciliation is a tribute to God for that event. God will never desert humanity due to his infinite grace, compassion, and mercy. Human beings will continue to seek blessings and guidance from God. The sacrament of reconciliation is observed in the normal church setting. Canonical The bishops and priests are the ministers of the sacrament of reconciliation. They have been given this divine right to forgive and pardon the sinners. Members of the Church hierarchy need to seek authorization from the higher officials about implementing the sacrament of reconciliation. The Canons from 965-986 provide a set of guidelines for the church official that will engage in the sacrament of reconciliation. Canon 983 specifically states that the sinner must complete the penance in its true form and spirit. Any sinner must explicitly repent for transgressions and demonstrate commitment towards the true faith (Catholic Church, 361). This means that the individual will be accepted into Christian life through the normal rites and ceremonies. The individual must seek to live a righteous and virtuous life in order to seek clemency and forgiveness. The Roman Catholic Church also has a number of indulgences which can be performed by the sinner. The purpose is to ensure that practical efforts are taken to eradicate sins from the human mind and body. Practical Perspectives The sacrament of reconciliation seeks to create a society that learns from its mistakes. It creates a powerful platform for humans that have committed excesses and sins. Such individuals learn that they actions have been wicked. The door to repentance is upon the conditions of God. The sacrament of reconciliation also opens the door for sincere repentance and forgiveness. It is a symbolic action that has deep repercussions in the hearts and minds of human beings. Its practical perspective is therefore related to the creation of a just and humane society. It enables the spread of Christian values, norms, and beliefs. It establishes a virtuous society in which temptations and desires are eradicated. It helps to implement the commandments of God which are related to love, affection, mercy, and compassion. It opens the door to ensure that human beings will love each other through righteous actions and deeds (Coffey, 72). Another practical perspective of the sacrament is that it helps to release the anxiety, stress, and depression of human beings. Modern society has enabled rapid technological and economic progress but has failed to satisfy the spiritual requirements of humanity. This creates a spiritual gap that can be fulfilled only by proper rites and rituals. The sacrament of reconciliations plays a critical role in this part by providing comfort and relief to troubled individuals. It helps in acting as deterrence to sinful activities that can threaten the stability of human society. The sacrament of reconciliation promotes forgiveness and atonement so that a collaborative environment can be created. It ensures the establishment of society that adheres to the tenets and commandments of God. Conclusion The sacrament of reconciliation marks the central themes of Christianity that are atonement and forgiveness. In the symbolic sense it refers to the pardoning of sins by the priest. However its real meaning is to establish the communion with God. It helps the sinner to return to God in a systematic and logical manner. The sacrament of reconciliations helps to create an environment that adheres to the commands and beliefs of God. It offers psychological comfort and relief to individuals. Works Cited David M. Coffey. LEX ORANDI: The Sacrament of Reconciliation. (Collegeville MN: Liturgical Press, 2001). Catechism of the Catholic Church Catholic Church. Code of Canon Law. Canon Law Society of America. (Washington, DC: Vatican, 1983) Read More