The Sacrament of Penance

Penance is the sacrament which takes away sins committed after baptism. A sacrament is something done, in accordance with the institution of Christ, to signify and to conferholiness. Penance is something done by the confessing sinner andthe absolving priest, in accordance with Christ’s institution,to signify and to confer grace or holiness. Therefore, penance is truly a sacrament.

The matter of the sacrament of penance is: (a)remotely: the sins of the penitent; (b) proximately: these sinsrepented and confessed with a will to make satisfaction. Thus, we say that the matter of penance consists in the “acts of thepenitent,” that is, contrition, confession, satisfaction.

The form of the sacrament of penance consists in the effective words of absolution pronounced by the priest: “I absolve thee …”

Penance is not conferred or administered by the imposing of hands, a ceremony which indicates the imparting of abundant grace and power, as in confirmation and holy order. Penance is instituted for the removal of sins from the soul. No imposition of hands is required.

For those who have committed serious sin after baptism,penance is necessary for salvation. {-When penancecannot be received, perfect charity, which is perfect contrition,produces its effect. The act of perfect charity embraces the full will to do all that our Lord would have one do for the removal of sins; hence, such an act involves, at least in an implied way, the will and intention of receiving the sacrament of penance. Thus,penance is still necessary to salvation, and is to be received, atleast in intention, or “in vow,” as the phrase is, by those guilty of mortal sin after baptism.-}

St. Jerome calls this sacrament, “A second plank after shipwreck.” It is the means of regaining the integritybestowed by baptism and afterwards lost by mortal sin. Thus,penance is compared to a plank, or raft, or lifeboat, by which aman finds safety and survival after his ship has gone down.

Penance has its power and effectiveness from Christ suffering, dying, rising again. Scripture says (Luke 24:46, 47):“It behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead the third day; and that penance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations.”

A person ought always to have a true internal sorrow for his past offences against God even after these have been forgiven. In this sense, penance should be continuous all through life. But the external acts imposed by the absolving priest as satisfaction are exercised for a time only.

We cannot be engaged in acts of penance, either internal or external, all the time. But we should always have the habitual disposition of penance; this is manifested in lasting regret for having offended God, and in watchfulness to avoidsinning again.

Penance is a sacrament that can be received again and again. It is always possible for man the wayfarer (that is, man making his journey through life here on earth), to lose charity;this sacrament is his divinely instituted means of recovering it.{-This sacrament is also a powerful spiritual tonic,and should be received often even by those who have not lapsed into mortal sin. The matter for “a confession of devotion” is venial sin, or sins of the past life already forgiven.-}