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God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son,
has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins;
through the Ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.
(Prayer of Absolution, Rite of Penance)
Because of human weakness, the new life in Christ, which we receive in the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist), is often threatened by sin. God constantly reaches out to us to reconcile ourselves to him. Through the gifts of the Church, Jesus, our divine physician, has given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the forgiveness of sins (from United States Catechism for Adults).“Peace be with you!” With these words, the Risen Lord greeted his frightened Apostles in the Upper Room on the day of his Resurrection. They were troubled, anxious, and fearful – much like each one of us at some point in our lives. Christ repeated the words, “Peace be with you.” But then he added, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (John 20:19-23).
What an extraordinary gift! The Risen Lord was proclaiming that all the suffering he had just endured was in order to make available the gifts of salvation and forgiveness. He wanted the Apostles to receive these gifts. He wanted them to become apostles of this forgiveness to others.In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also called Confession, we meet the Lord, who wants to grant forgiveness and the grace to live a renewed life in him. In this sacrament, he prepares us to receive him free from serious sin, with a lively faith, earnest hope, and sacrificial love in the Eucharist. (from God’s Gift of Forgiveness: A Pastoral Exhortation on the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, USCCB).
Only God can forgive our sins. But Jesus willed that the Church should be his instrument of forgiveness on earth. Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. The Sacrament of Penance is God’s gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In confession, we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God. “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts of the Apostles 17:28).
Confession liberates us from sins that trouble our hearts and makes it possible to be reconciled to God and others. We are asked to look into our souls and, with an honest and unblinking gaze, identify our sins. This opens our minds and hearts to God, moves us toward communion with the Church, and offers us a new future. In confession, by naming our sins before the priest, who represents Christ, we face our failings more honestly and accept responsibility for our sins. It is also in confession that a priest and penitent can work together to find the direction needed for the penitent to grow spiritually and to avoid sin in the future (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1455, §1456). When we have examined our consciences and have taken responsibility for our sins, we then confess them to the priest (from United States Catechism for Adults).
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Times for Confessions
At Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish,
the Sacrament of Reconciliation
is available at the following times:MONDAYS: 6:30-7:30PMSaint Elizabeth of Hungary Church
SATURDAYS: 10:30-11:30AM
Saint Thomas à Becket Church
BY APPOINTMENT
Call the Parish Center at:
412-755-2046
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Links To Help With the Sacrament
- God’s Gift of Forgiveness: A Pastoral Exhortation on the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
- Guide to Confession - The Light is on for you.
- A Guide for Confession for Adults - The Light is on for you
- A Guide for Confession for Children - The Light is on for you
- A Short Guide for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- Another Guide for the Examination of Conscience for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
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