Feedback. (sounding board).Q: My best experience with the sacrament sacrament [Lat.,=something holy], an outward sign of something sacred. In Christianity, a sacrament is commonly defined as having been instituted by Jesus and consisting of a visible sign of invisible grace. of Reconciliation was ... At a communal penance penance (pĕn`əns), sacrament of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Eastern churches. By it the penitent (the person receiving the sacrament) is absolved of his or her sins by a confessor (the person hearing the confession and conferring the service with general absolution absolution In Christianity, a pronouncement of forgiveness of sins made to a person who has repented. This rite is based on the forgiveness that Jesus extended to sinners during his ministry. . It made me very aware of the communal aspect of my sins. Patricia Lagges Melrose Park, Ill. My parish priest Parish priest may refer to
2. . He is sensitive, warm, caring, and very Christ-like. It's always a good experience with him. Name withheld Salix, Penn. In the field during World War II and Korea. Name withheld Waukegan, Ill. As a young adult confessing my homosexuality and being told, "Now tell me if you've sinned somehow. Being the person God made you is not a sin." Brian Moore Bridgewater, N.J. Face to face with the person I was having a problem with. Name withheld San Diego, Calif. With a group on a five-day silent retreat. We were asked to write down a sin we couldn't let go of, then we dropped it into a small fire. Fran Huston Patterson, Calif. Going together as a family. Seeking forgiveness from those I was most likely to hurt was a time of true reconciliation for me. Sheryl DeCleene Philadelphia, Penn. It is always a good feeling to leave the confessional with a clean slate Noun 1. clean slate - an opportunity to start over without prejudice fresh start, tabula rasa chance, opportunity - a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances; "the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington"; "now is your chance" . That feeling would probably be lost or watered down in a communal service with general absolution. Name withheld Minster, Ohio When I had been away from the sacrament for a few years. I returned, terrified ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. , with a big list and overcome by how out of control my life had become. After I said my part, the priest's first words
First Words is a Canadian hip hop group, consisting of Halifax beatmaker Jorun, DJ STV and emcees Sean One & Above. to me were, "Welcome back." Name withheld Peoria, Ill. When the priest lays his hands on your shoulder and says, "Go in peace." Mary Lou Watkins Covington, La. Q: My worst experience with the sacrament of Reconciliation was ... Trying to talk over a problem I was having with my husband and having the confessor tell me to go home and bake him a pie. Name withheld Appleton, Wis. Getting in line on Saturday afternoons. No warmth or encouragement, just rote rote 1 n. 1. A memorizing process using routine or repetition, often without full attention or comprehension: learn by rote. 2. Mechanical routine. "Three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys Three Hail Marys is a traditional Catholic devotional practice of reciting three Hail Marys as a petition for purity and other virtues. This practice was done by Franciscans and eventually developed into the Angelus prayer. ." It certainly didn't seem sacramental sacramental, in the Roman Catholic Church, aid to devotion that is not a sacrament. Sacramentals are commonly divided into six classes: prayer, anointing, eating, confession, giving, and blessings. . Sally Martino Dayton, Ohio Being refused absolution because the priest did not think I was sufficiently contrite con·trite adj. 1. Feeling regret and sorrow for one's sins or offenses; penitent. 2. Arising from or expressing contrition: contrite words. . Sieglinde McGinnis Morgantown, W.V. Going to the communal penance service with individual absolutions. I feel rushed and just one of the crowd. Barb Parker Fowlerville, Mich. Knowing the priest was listening to a football game in the confessional box. I doubt he paid much attention to what I said and I felt like I shouldn't have bothered. Susan White Littleton, Colo. An old priest who scolded me for using contraception. Name withheld Underwood, N.D. As a confessor, penitents whose understanding of sin, conversion, and grace has not developed beyond a grade-school understanding. Name withheld Danville, Ill. The nearly deaf priest who said in a rather loud voice, "You did what to your wife?" All I confessed was a little inattention in·at·ten·tion n. Lack of attention, notice, or regard. Noun 1. inattention - lack of attention basic cognitive process - cognitive processes involved in obtaining and storing knowledge . Name withheld Langhorne, Penn. No worst, just unmeaningful much of the time. Name withheld St. Joseph, Minn. Q: The sacrament of Reconciliation does or does not play a major role in my life because ... I don't like thinking about my failings, so I avoid the sacrament. Name withheld Colorado Springs, Colo. The church says I cannot receive it (because of an irregular marriage). Name withheld Sterling Heights, Mich. It keeps me honest and humble about my relationship to God, myself, and others. Name withheld Shawano, Wis. I don't think anyone loves going to Reconciliation, but it is one of the sacraments and if you are a practicing Catholic it's all a part of your church obligations. Name withheld Manchester, Mo. I have never been in a confessional. I wouldn't even know what to say. Shannon Leonetti Portland, Ore. I value the practice but also believe that God can and will forgive me my sins outside the confessional when I ask and am repentant re·pen·tant adj. Characterized by or demonstrating repentance; penitent. re·pen  tant·ly adv.Adj. 1. . Maybe I haven't been sufficiently formed, but most times I don't really know what to confess. I haven't been all that bad. Name withheld College Station, Texas I feel communal penance services serve my needs. Mortal sins mortal sin n. Christianity A sin, such as murder or blasphemy, that is so heinous it deprives the soul of sanctifying grace and causes damnation if unpardoned at the time of death. are not a part of my life. Name withheld Lamberton, Minn. It's better and cheaper than going to a doctor. Name withheld Morganton, N.C. General Comments There's no such thing as cheap grace. The only thing that cheapens the experience is the lack of respect for general absolution by those who think their church experience is the only valid church experience. Peg Alexander Muskegon, Mich. I agree with the article. I have experienced the return of several of our own children from the gift of general absolution. Ruth Arnold Stayton, Ore. Again the church "authorities" are more concerned with method than intent. Christ is more forgiving and merciful mer·ci·ful adj. Full of mercy; compassionate: sought merciful treatment for the captives. See Synonyms at humane. mer than the church. Edith M. Burns Lynnfield, Mass. The author insists on terribly outdated stereotypes of "angry" confessors and penitents who are fragile babies. This is tragic and sad--not the loss of general absolution. Father Paul Pilgram, S.J. St. Louis, Mo. Christ gave general absolution to those who approached him. He should be our model. Kathleen Cox Indianapolis, Ind. Facing your imperfections face to face with a priest is a powerful experience. You don't have to wonder if God heard you for sure. You know he is sitting right in front of you in the confessional, in the priest. Darla Sierras Tracy, Calif. The priest does not represent God! The priest represents the Catholic community. I do not need an intermediary speaking to God for me. I have received God's forgiveness long before I go to Reconciliation. Mary Francis Giammona Sacramento, Calif. I think general absolution is a bit on shaky ground Shaky Ground was a TV sitcom which starred Matt Frewer as Bob Moody, a hapless, but supportive and caring father. Robin Riker played his wife and Jennifer Love Hewitt as his daughter. The show aired on FOX for the 1992-1993 season. . A reconciliation service with individual priest/penitent contact and individual absolution is preferable. Bill McGahan North Platte, Neb. The last place I would encourage a young child to be is closed up in a room alone with a priest. Name withheld Woonsocket, R.I. From my church I need less judgment and more rejoicing in God's mercy--and less worry that someone may be "getting away" with something too easily. After all, God alone knows our heart, and it would behoove be·hoove v. be·hooved, be·hoov·ing, be·hooves v.tr. To be necessary or proper for: It behooves you at least to try. v.intr. To be necessary or proper. the church to trust our Lord's generosity and give people the benefit of the doubt. Name withheld Eleva, Wis. There is more than one path to God's healing power. Vatican insistence on only one means of absolution is just one more example of over-control and dismissal of the experiences of the people. Name withheld Saginaw, Texas It has been very disheartening dis·heart·en tr.v. dis·heart·ened, dis·heart·en·ing, dis·heart·ens To shake or destroy the courage or resolution of; dispirit. See Synonyms at discourage. to me, as a woman, to discuss and confess my sins to a man. It is especially jolting at communal services to see all the male priests lined up when the church congregation is two-thirds women. Maureen Flanigan Littleton, Colo. Overworked and aging clergy are running sacramental vending machines vending machine, coin-operated, automatic device for selling goods. Many vending machines are capable of making change, and some of the more sophisticated ones accept paper money or credit cards. for the laity LAITY. Those persons who do not make a part of the clergy. In the United States the division of the people into clergy and laity is not authorized by law, but is, merely conventional. and nothing else. Oh, we could be so much more. Bob Murray Englewood, Fla. I have come to understand forgiveness also through spiritual direction, whether or not the director happens to be a priest. Shelley Douglass Birmingham, Ala. I've met many Christians who have become reconciled with God and reconciled with each other, but cannot become reconciled with the church because of something that happened in Reconciliation. They felt judged, not forgiven. How ironic is that?
Steve J. Meyer
Green Bay, Wis.
AND THE
SURVEY SAYS ...
1. Given the priest shortage, I
think communal penance
services with general
absolution are a necessity in
most U.S. parishes today.
agree 76%
disagree 17%
other 7%
2. I believe ifs worse for the
church to ...
(85%) Deny people an
experience of God's
love and forgiveness
by banning general
absolution.
(7%) Give people "cheap
grace" by granting
absolution when they
haven't confessed their
sins to a priest.
(8%) Other.
3. If general absolution were
offered at my parish, I would
be more likely to participate
in it than in individual
Confession.
agree 72%
disagree 20%
other 8%
4. My approach to Confession
is ...
(44%) I go during Lent
and/or Advent,
whether I really need
to or not.
(19%) I only go when
something is
bothering my
conscience.
(17%) I prefer to make
peace with God on
my own.
(6%) Counting up sins
and making a list for
regular visits to the
confessional.
(14%) Other.
These results are based on survey
responses from 253 U.S. CATHOLIC
readers and Web site visitors.
Call for U.S. CATHOLIC Award Nominees Each year U.S. CATHOLIC honors outstanding people who have worked to further the cause of women in the church. We were proud to honor the Benedictine Sisters of Erie as the 2002 U.S. CATHOLIC Award winner. We welcome your suggestions for the 2003 recipient. Send us the name of the person or group you think should be recognized for pioneering new ways the church can live more inclusively, and include a brief explanation of your nomination. Please send by January 31, 2003 to: U.S. CATHOLIC Award, 205 W. Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60606 or e-mail: mausc@claretianpubs.org By FATHER WILLIAM STENZEL, a priest of the Archdiocese arch·di·o·cese n. The district under an archbishop's jurisdiction. arch  di·oc of Chicago
and pastor of St. Francis Xavier Francis Xa·vi·er , SaintSee Saint Francis Xavier. Parish in LaGrange, Illinois. |
|
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion