Pope Francis hears a Confession in Brazil in July 2013 (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)
Posted on 02/28/2015 10:44:02 AM PST by NYer
Pontiff urges faithful to receive the Sacrament of Penance in Lent
Pope Francis has offered some quick tips to help Catholics prepare for the Sacrament of Penance.
After a brief explanation of why people should go to Confession – “because we are all sinners” – the Pope listed 30 questions to reflect on as part of making an examination of conscience and being able to “confess well”.
The guide is part of a 28-page booklet in Italian released by the Vatican publishing house. Pope Francis had 50,000 free copies distributed to people attending his Angelus address on February 22, the first Sunday of Lent.
Entitled Safeguard Your Heart, the booklet is meant to help the faithful become “courageous” and prepared to battle against evil and choose the good.
The booklet contains quick introductions to Catholic basics: it has the text of the Creed, a list of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. It explains the seven sacraments and includes Pope Francis’s explanation of Lectio Divina, a prayerful way of reading Scripture in order to better hear “what the Lord wants to tell us in his word and to let us be transformed by his Spirit”.
The booklet’s title is based on a line from one of the Pope’s morning Mass homilies in which he said Christians need to guard and protect their hearts, “just as you protect your home – with a lock”.
“How often do bad thoughts, bad intentions, jealousy, envy enter?” he asked. “Who opened the door? How did those things get in?”
The homily on October 10 2014, excerpts from which appear in the booklet, said the best way to guard one’s heart is with the daily practice of an “examination of conscience”, in which one quietly reviews what bad things one has done and what good things one has failed to do for God, one’s neighbour and oneself.
The questions include:
Do I only turn to God when I’m in need?
Do I take attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation?
Do I begin and end the day with prayer?
Am I embarrassed to show that I am a Christian?
Do I rebel against God’s plan?
Am I envious, hot-tempered, biased?
Am I honest and fair with everyone or do I fuel the “throwaway culture”?
In my marital and family relations, do I uphold morality as taught in the Gospels?
Do I honour and respect my parents?
Have I refused newly conceived life? Have I snuffed out the gift of life? Have I helped do so?
Do I respect the environment?
Am I part worldly and part believer?
Do I overdo it with eating, drinking, smoking and amusements?
Am I overly concerned about my physical well-being, my possessions?
How do I use my time? Am I lazy?
Do I want to be served?
Do I dream of revenge, hold grudges?
Am I meek, humble and a builder of peace?
Catholics should go to Confession, the Pope said, because everyone needs forgiveness for their sins, for the ways “we think and act contrary to the Gospel”.
“Whoever says he is without sin is a liar or is blind,” he wrote.
Confession is meant to be a sincere moment of conversion, an occasion to demonstrate trust in God’s willingness to forgive his children and to help them back on the path of following Jesus, Pope Francis wrote.
Ping!
Nice article!
PlaceMark
Bookmarked!
I will be going to my first confession soon. This is a great help. I’ll share this at RCIA this week.
Welcome home!
Great list for understanding one’s self.
Examination of Conscience [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
How To Make a Good Confession (especially if you haven't gone in years)
First Confession Guide for Adults [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Imitation of Christ: 4,7 (103)...Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend [Devotional]
Cardinal Stafford's Homily at Penitential Liturgy With an Examination of Conscience
Catholic Caucus: The Spiritual Combat: Ch 60. CONCERNING THE EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
Importance of Confession During Lent - Making a Good Confession
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 25: How to go to Confession
Mercy and Confession: 10 Tips on How to Confess Well [Catholic Caucus]
Upcoming day of reconciliation announced by Pope (Catholic Caucus)
Bless me, Father: Pope leads by example, goes to confession (with video)
Confession — not a novel but a battle
Catholic Word of the Day: SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION, 03-26-13
St. Padre Pio’s 5 Point Rule of Life
Thinking Inside the Box: An Attitude for Confession
Why Go to Confession? (Part 2) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte
How To Make a Good Confession (especially if you haven't gone in years)
Why Go to Confession? (Part 3) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte
Pulling Sin up by the Roots: The Need for Mortification
Reasons for Confession [Sacrament of Reconciliation]
Cardinal Stafford's Homily at Penitential Liturgy With an Examination of Conscience
The Sacrament of Confession is a wonderful gift. Over the years, I have found it difficult and unpleasant to review my sins and dredge my memory for all of them. But there’s nothing like the feeling of relief and joy after you have finished confessing and done your repentance, and can receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist with a cleaner heart.
Regrettably, few priests talk about confession since Vatican II. I guess they were afraid of offending people or something. But the basic rules are that you should not receive Communion if you have a mortal sin hanging over you. And you should attend confession AT LEAST once a year, during the long Easter Season—that is, sometime between Ash Wednesday and Ascension Day. A Pope in Council set down that rule in the Middle Ages, and as far as I know it has never been reversed.
Going to Confession may seem scary, but once it’s done it makes you feel much better and happier!
a sigh of relief.
Dear Pope,
1 John 1:9
That’s a tip you can use.
See ya.
But then again perhaps not.
KR
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