151. Forgiveness of sin

Forgiveness of sin

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 151

Ave Maria series

151  What possibilities are there for the forgiveness of sins in the Church?

Fundamentally the forgiveness of sins occurs in the sacrament of Baptism.  After that the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance, confession) is necessary for the forgiveness of serious sins.  For less serious sins, confession is recommended.  But reading Sacred Scripture, prayer, fasting, and the performance of good works also have the effect of forgiving sins.  [976-980, 984-987]  226-239

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrant …..151

“I would be sore afraid, if it were not for secret confession.”  Martin Luther (1483-1546)

"I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"

976 The Apostle's Creed associates faith in the forgiveness of sins not only with faith in the Holy Spirit, but also with faith in the Church and in the communion of saints. It was when he gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles that the risen Christ conferred on them his own divine power to forgive sins: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."(John 20:22-23)⁵²⁰ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

(Part Two of the catechism will deal explicitly with the forgiveness of sins through Baptism, the sacrament of Penance, and the other sacraments, especially the Eucharist. Here it will suffice to suggest some basic facts briefly.) --CCC

ONE BAPTISM FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

977 Our Lord tied the forgiveness of sins to faith and Baptism: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved."(Mark 16:15-16)⁵²¹ Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, so that "we too might walk in newness of life."(Romans 6:4; compare Rom 4:25)⁵²² –CCC

978 "When we made our first profession of faith while receiving the holy Baptism that cleansed us, the forgiveness we received then was so full and complete that there remained in us absolutely nothing left to efface, neither original sin nor offenses committed by our own will, nor was there left any penalty to suffer in order to expiate them. . . . Yet the grace of Baptism delivers no one from all the weakness of nature. On the contrary, we must still combat the movements of concupiscence that never cease leading us into evil "(Roman Catechism I, 11,3)⁵²³ –CCC

979 In this battle against our inclination towards evil, who could be brave and watchful enough to escape every wound of sin? "If the Church has the power to forgive sins, then Baptism cannot be her only means of using the keys of the Kingdom of heaven received from Jesus Christ. The Church must be able to forgive all penitents their offenses, even if they should sin until the last moment of their lives."(Roman Catechism I, 11,4)⁵²⁴ –CCC

980 It is through the sacrament of Penance that the baptized can be reconciled with God and with the Church: –CCC

Penance has rightly been called by the holy Fathers "a laborious kind of baptism." This sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation for those who have fallen after Baptism, just as Baptism is necessary for salvation for those who have not yet been reborn.(Council Of Trent (1551): Danzinger-Schönmetzer 1672; compare St. Gregory Of Nazianzus, Oratio 39,17:Patrologia Graeca 36,356)⁵²⁵ –CCC

IN BRIEF

984 The Creed links "the forgiveness of sins" with its profession of faith in the Holy Spirit, for the risen Christ entrusted to the apostles the power to forgive sins when he gave them the Holy Spirit.—CCC

985 Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of the forgiveness of sins: it unites us to Christ, who died and rose, and gives us the Holy Spirit. —CCC

986 By Christ's will, the Church possesses the power to forgive the sins of the baptized and exercises it through bishops and priests normally in the sacrament of Penance. --CCC

987 "In the forgiveness of sins, both priests and sacraments are instruments which our Lord Jesus Christ, the only author and liberal giver of salvation, wills to use in order to efface our sins and give us the grace of justification" (Roman Catechism, I, 11, 6). –CCC

JT Parables Return