Reconciliation
The sacrament of Reconciliation, sometimes called Confession or Penance, is about the mercy of Jesus Christ. Confessing our sins reconciles us to God and restores us to his grace and intimate friendship. Confession breaks the power of shame and hurt of sin, restores and revitalizes our relationships within the community of faith in the life of our Church.
Opportunities to receive this sacrament is on Saturdays from 3:15-3:45 pm., at St. Mary Portage or you may Contact Us to schedule a private appointment with the pastor.
Special Reconciliation times and Penance services during Advent and Lent will be published in the bulletin.
Opportunities to receive this sacrament is on Saturdays from 3:15-3:45 pm., at St. Mary Portage or you may Contact Us to schedule a private appointment with the pastor.
Special Reconciliation times and Penance services during Advent and Lent will be published in the bulletin.
First Reconciliation for ChildrenTo receive First Reconciliation, your child needs to be enrolled in faith formation or school classes AND Sacramental Preparation programs. First Reconciliation preparation generally begins in second grade.
For Portage, contact the Parish Office at 608-742-6998. For Briggsville, contact Sr. Anita Henning at 608-981-2282 or email [email protected]. |
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Preparing Children for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Most people make their First Reconciliation when they are children. This can be an especially difficult process for many children, as they might need some guidance from older figures. If you have a child who is getting ready to make their First Reconciliation, you might want to read Preparing Children for Reconciliation. This helpful resource provides a guide for parents who might have to assist their children in preparation for this beautiful Sacrament.
Information about Penance and ReconciliationFor more information about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please visit the following sources.
Catechism of the Catholic Church - The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Document from the Vatican) What is the Sacrament of Confession? |
Common Questions about Reconciliation
Why should I go to confession?
If you haven’t been to Confession in a while, the Catholic Church wants to welcome you back, and invite you to participate in this beautiful sacrament of healing. Take a step in faith. You’ll be surprised about how free you feel after taking part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. So many Catholics describe incredible feelings of peace, joy, relief, and love that they never expected. Jesus is calling you to experience His mercy in this way too.
what are some benefits of going to confession?
1. Confession helps us to better “know thyself.”
St. Augustine and countless other saints and doctors of the Church talk about the importance of knowing ourselves well. Through coming to know ourselves better, we realized how fallen we are, and how badly we need God’s help and grace to get through life. Frequent Confession helps remind us to rely on God to help rid us of our sins.
2. Confession helps us overcome vice.
The grace we receive from the Sacrament of Confession helps us combat our faults and failings and break our habits of vice much more easily and expediently than we could otherwise do without the sacramental grace.
3. Confession brings us peace.
Guilt from the sins we commit can make us feel all mixed up inside and cause us to lose our peace and joy. When we hear God’s forgiving words to us from the lips of the priest in Confession, a burden is lifted off our shoulders and we can again feel the peace of heart and soul that comes from being in a good relationship with God.
4. Confession helps us become more saintly, more like Jesus.
Jesus was perfectly humble, perfectly generous, perfectly patient, perfectly loving—perfectly everything! Don’t you wish you could be as humble, generous, patient, and loving as Jesus? Saints throughout history have felt that way too, and they have frequented the Sacrament of Reconciliation to help transform them into people who are more like Christ. Little images of Christ—that’s what saints are!
5. Confession makes our will stronger.
Every time we experience the Sacrament of Confession, God strengthens our will and our self-control to be able to resist the temptations that confront us in our lives. We become more resolute to follow God’s will and not our own whims.
Of course, the list of benefits of the Sacrament of Confession goes on and on! But you have to go to reap the benefits! Going to Confession regularly will truly change your life. What’s keeping you from Reconciliation?
The words of absolution in the Confessional are truly beautiful: “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus is waiting to forgive you—all you have to do is ask! Don’t miss out any longer on the healing power of Confession.
St. Augustine and countless other saints and doctors of the Church talk about the importance of knowing ourselves well. Through coming to know ourselves better, we realized how fallen we are, and how badly we need God’s help and grace to get through life. Frequent Confession helps remind us to rely on God to help rid us of our sins.
2. Confession helps us overcome vice.
The grace we receive from the Sacrament of Confession helps us combat our faults and failings and break our habits of vice much more easily and expediently than we could otherwise do without the sacramental grace.
3. Confession brings us peace.
Guilt from the sins we commit can make us feel all mixed up inside and cause us to lose our peace and joy. When we hear God’s forgiving words to us from the lips of the priest in Confession, a burden is lifted off our shoulders and we can again feel the peace of heart and soul that comes from being in a good relationship with God.
4. Confession helps us become more saintly, more like Jesus.
Jesus was perfectly humble, perfectly generous, perfectly patient, perfectly loving—perfectly everything! Don’t you wish you could be as humble, generous, patient, and loving as Jesus? Saints throughout history have felt that way too, and they have frequented the Sacrament of Reconciliation to help transform them into people who are more like Christ. Little images of Christ—that’s what saints are!
5. Confession makes our will stronger.
Every time we experience the Sacrament of Confession, God strengthens our will and our self-control to be able to resist the temptations that confront us in our lives. We become more resolute to follow God’s will and not our own whims.
Of course, the list of benefits of the Sacrament of Confession goes on and on! But you have to go to reap the benefits! Going to Confession regularly will truly change your life. What’s keeping you from Reconciliation?
The words of absolution in the Confessional are truly beautiful: “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus is waiting to forgive you—all you have to do is ask! Don’t miss out any longer on the healing power of Confession.
what are the different names for the sacrament and the effects of it?
Here, the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains the Sacrament of Reconciliation, its various names and the graces that flow from the sacrament:
“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 labors for their conversion (CCC 1422).
“It is called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus’ call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father from whom one has strayed by sin.”
“It is called the sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner’s personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.”
“It is called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. In a profound sense it is also a ‘confession’ – acknowledgment and praise – of the holiness of God and of his mercy toward sinful man.”
“It is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest’s sacramental absolution God grants the penitent pardon and peace.”
“It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles: ‘Be reconciled to God.’ He who lives by God’s merciful love is ready to respond to the Lord’s call: ‘Go; first be reconciled to your brother’” (CCC 1423).
“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 labors for their conversion (CCC 1422).
“It is called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus’ call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father from whom one has strayed by sin.”
“It is called the sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner’s personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.”
“It is called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. In a profound sense it is also a ‘confession’ – acknowledgment and praise – of the holiness of God and of his mercy toward sinful man.”
“It is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest’s sacramental absolution God grants the penitent pardon and peace.”
“It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles: ‘Be reconciled to God.’ He who lives by God’s merciful love is ready to respond to the Lord’s call: ‘Go; first be reconciled to your brother’” (CCC 1423).
How do i make a good confession?
So you’ve decided you want to go to Confession. But how exactly do you make a good Confession?The basic requirement for a good confession is to have the intention of returning to God with your whole heart, like the “prodigal son,” and to acknowledge your sins with true sorrow before the priest.
Modern society has lost a sense of sin. As Catholic followers of Christ, we must make an effort to recognize sin in our daily actions, words and omissions.
The Gospels show us the importance of the forgiveness of our sins. The lives of the saints prove that a person who grows in holiness has a stronger sense of sin, sorrow for sins and a need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. No wonder the saints are filled with joy! They have realized the key to handing over their burdens to Christ through the Sacrament of Confession, so they can be free to serve Him with love and energy.
Modern society has lost a sense of sin. As Catholic followers of Christ, we must make an effort to recognize sin in our daily actions, words and omissions.
The Gospels show us the importance of the forgiveness of our sins. The lives of the saints prove that a person who grows in holiness has a stronger sense of sin, sorrow for sins and a need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. No wonder the saints are filled with joy! They have realized the key to handing over their burdens to Christ through the Sacrament of Confession, so they can be free to serve Him with love and energy.
Why i should confess to a priest?
Reconciliation: The Steps to a Good Confession
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Examination of conscience - Adults
You can use the following document to reflect on your life. Read through the list of questions and consider how you might answer each of them.
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Examination of conscience - married couples
This document is especially helpful for married couples who are seeking the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Read through all of the questions and think about how you might answer them.
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Examination of conscience - Teenagers
Being a teenager can be tricky enough, let alone being a teenager who is making the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Read through this document to get a better idea about how to approach Reconciliation through the eyes of a teen.
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Examination of conscience - children
Most people attending Reconciliation for the first time are children. It can be difficult to get children to think critically about their actions, so reading the Examination of Conscience for Children will help guide any child who may need a bit of assistance.
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Examination of Conscience - children (using the Lord's prayer)
This document helps children preparing for their First Reconciliation by using a familiar prayer to help guide them through their examination of self. Following each line, there is a series of questions that will your child navigate the difficult task of preparing to receive the Sacrament.
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2. Greeting - The Priest may welcome you to the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a short greeting, blessing, or reading of the Scripture. No need to worry about this step. The Priest uses the greeting to welcome you and make you feel comfortable before beginning.
3. The Sign of the Cross - As is traditional with any prayer or Sacrament, we join together in the Sign of the Cross. The recognition of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit reminds us of the greater forgiveness that is to come from God. Following the Sign of the Cross, you begin the Confession with "Forgive me Father, for I have sinned." Then state how long it has been since your last Confession. For many, this is the most difficult step because it is hard for us to recognize our failures.
4. Confession - This is the point where you confess all of your sins to the Priest. Confessing all of our sins can be tricky. If you're not sure that you should confess something, go ahead and do it--God will forgive it. At the conclusion of the confession, you should say, "I am sorry for these and all of my sins." Breathe--the hardest part is over.
5. Penance - The Priest will speak with you about how to continue forward. Most of the time, it will be suggestions on how to live a more Christ-like life. Sometimes the Priest may suggest saying a special prayer or doing an act of charity. Whatever it may be, the Priest has your best interest at heart.
6. Act of Contrition - After the Priest has given you your path forward, you should pray an Act of Contrition as a way of resolving your sins. The Act of Contrition is as follows:
"My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy." Other Acts of Contrition can be found here. 7. Absolution - The Priest will extend his hands over you and absolve you of your sins. At the conclusion of the absolution, you should speak a resounding "Amen" in acceptance of God as your savior.
8. Praise - At the conclusion of your confession, the Priest will exclaim the praises of God through a statement. He could say "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good" to which your response would be "His mercy endures forever!"
9. Dismissal - The Priest will then conclude the Sacrament of Reconciliation by dismissing the recipient. This may sound something like "Go in peace" to which you would say "Thanks be to God."
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