PENANCE: A Way of Looking Within

* You entered a dimly lit confessional "box" in a church, knelt behind a screen separating you from the priest and recited, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [a week, a month, etc.] since my last confession." After you gave a laundry list of sins, the priest recited the formula for absolution, had you say an "Act of Contrition," and told you to say other prayers afterwards as penance in order to show sorrow for your sins.

* The second experience is quite different. You walk into a "Reconciliation Room," a bright, open room that has replaced confessionals. You sit in a chair -- face-to-face with a priest if you choose or behind a simple screen -- and talk about your sins. The priest, rather than just listening, may ask why you struggle with a particular sin and suggest ways to change. Your penance can range from saying prayers to showing kindness to others or doing volunteer work.

Forgiveness

Reconciliation traces its history to Jesus. When He cured a paralyzed man, He added, "Your sins are forgiven," a phrase He used on many occasions. Later, He gave the Apostles the power to forgive sins "or hold them bound."

Early Christians confessed publicly to the community, covered themselves with ashes and wore sackcloth to symbolize their separation. They weren't reconciled until a ceremony on Holy Thursday. The idea of private confession is usually traced to Ireland, England and Wales, where the head of a monastery would hear confessions and dispense the sacraments.

Discomfort

Many of those surveyed wondered why Reconciliation is necessary at all. "I confess directly to God," one person stated.

"I don't think the Church wants to hinder anyone from going directly to God for forgiveness," Father Chiaramonte answered. But having a priest hear sins "opens the possibility to a person sharing with another where they're coming from. There's an assurance that you are forgiven. Humbly speaking out your sins can be very healing."

Father Lininger noted that Reconciliation is valuable because it gives Catholics a perspective besides their own. For example, if someone blames their sins on another person, a priest could challenge them to change that attitude.

Lack of understanding

"People are ill-informed," Father Chiaramonte said, noting that divorce alone does not exclude Catholics from the sacraments.

He is also concerned about those who don't receive Reconciliation because they fear punishment: "Confession was established to assure people of the unconditional love of God. Confession is not to shun people; it's to open your arms and say, `Come home again. The Lord loves you despite your sins.'"

Serious sin

"I don't really consider myself a serious sinner," a woman wrote, joking: "Until I walk into a confessional and say, `I shot my husband with an Uzi,' I won't have sinned too badly. Am I going to hell?"

Father Lininger advises her to "challenge yourself to deeper realities: `Why is it I fought with my husband?'"

Father Chiaramonte added that "we don't look at the dimensions of what sin could be: how we could hurt, harm or alienate others and ourselves from God." In this way, frequent reception of Reconciliation helps people grow.

When and where?

Father Lininger explained that the shortage of priests makes it difficult to schedule several hours when a priest will wait in case people come for the sacrament.

Father Chiaramonte added, "If a person wants counsel and real interaction with a priest, [an appointment] would be more appropriate. Priests don't want to feed scrupulosity, where a person sees everything as sinful, but the priests I know would spend time with a penitent that would be beneficial."

Father Lininger cautioned that Reconciliation "is not counseling. It involves discussion, but [it's not] a 15-minute counseling session." He advised using a spiritual director to delve more deeply into one's spiritual life.

Key moments

Father Chiaramonte spoke with pride of his work with Project Rachel, which helps women reconcile after abortion.

"For me, as a priest, [hearing those Confessions] have been some of the most beautiful experiences -- feeling bonded with the person, recognizing the hurt and pain they've gone through, and their wanting to be reconciled with God again," he said.

However, Father Lininger admitted that Reconciliation will probably never be called "comfortable" because "it's difficult to take responsibility for the wrong choices I've made in life. The post-Vatican II Church says, `We want to trust the responsibility for your faith to you.'"

(07-06-00) [[In-content Ad]]