Examen: Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Examen: Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation An Introduction to the Sacrament with a Guide for the Examination of Conscience Compiled by Father Michael J. G. Pahls, Ph.D. c

What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation? So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). Christ has entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to his church. Because of this, the examination of conscience, confession of sin, and absolution (or assurance of forgiveness ) plays an important and regular part in the rites of Holy Communion and in offices of daily prayer. By these acts, we experience forgiveness, healing, and the renewal of our relationship with God as part of our communion with him. The scriptures make recognition, however, that some sins are particularly serious and of greater consequence than others. 1 John 5:16-17 tells us that while in some sense all wrongdoing is sin and a violation of God s moral order, some sins are so serious that they are called mortal or grave (πρὸς θάνατον or unto death ). These sins so disrupt the life of God within us that they place us outside a state of baptismal grace. Because they separate us from God and from the people of God, Christ calls us to confess them to one another and pray for one another so that we may be healed (Cf. James 5:16). St. Paul tells us similarly that those who have received the requisite spiritual authorization should restore those who confess their sins in a spirit of gentleness, bearing the burdens of others and so fulfilling the law of Christ (Cf. Galatians 6:1-2). Let s be honest, when we scrutinize our actions and inactions with appropriate seriousness, regarding their spiritual consequence to ourselves and to others, it is easy to fall into despair and hard to find freedom from feelings of guilt and regret. In these moments we need to be reminded of God s unfathomable love for us. We need to hear from the lips of another that we are forgiven and accepted by God and restored to vital fellowship with God s people. The Sacrament of Reconciliation in The Book of Common Prayer Our Book of Common Prayer provides for the private, sacramental confession of sin and with absolution in its order for The Reconciliation of a Penitent. (pp.447-452) This liturgy has several spiritual benefits: Most of us have gaps in the formation of our conscience. We sometimes excuse genuinely sinful behavior too easily and, at other times experience needless guilt over thoughts, words, and deeds that are not sinful. Regular private confession provides for a proper and thorough examination of conscience in consultation

with a priest who has been trained in the care of souls. In counsel together, priest and penitent consider God s Word and clarify what is sin and what is not. In private confession the priest is a compassionate and understanding friend who is a tangible presence of Christ in forgiveness and encouragement. The power and authority of absolution reside in the apostolic priesthood by virtue of our Lord s express declaration: If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. (John 20:23) Beyond the naming of sin and the declaration of forgiveness, there is the benefit of counsel and spiritual direction in the context of private confession. When confessing one s sins, the priest is also a representative of the whole church and provides the added assurance of the community s forgiveness as well as God s. Properly Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation Any time is appropriate for making one s confession, but the seasons of Advent and Lent are especially appropriate in view of celebrating the great feasts of Christmas and Easter. By tradition and general rule, Christians are expected to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation at least once a year. Although it is common in Anglican circles to say, All may, none must, and some should avail themselves to sacramental reconciliation, the unfortunate result is that none do. And as is the case when we neglect our physical health for prolonged periods, failing to keep our appointed annual check-up and ignoring a doctor s counsel, our spiritual health suffers when we neglect the regular examination of our conscience and confession of our sin under the guidance of a priest. In the end it becomes impossible to live freely in Christ, unencumbered by sin, guilt, and spiritual dysfunction. We must remember that the sacrament of reconciliation is celebrated like all the other sacraments of the church. It is a recognition that our repentance results from the kindness and love of God and is an expression of his life within us. Repentance in this sense consists of three interrelated steps that we manifest in the celebration. Contrition or sorrow for sins. This results from seeing our sins in light of the cross and resurrection in light of the price of sin and the purposes for which God created and redeemed us.. We may not have an emotion of sorrow, but when we see our sins by the light of Christ s gift of himself for us and our salvation, we will regret committing them. Confession of all known sin. While memory and conscience are imperfect so that we cannot be expected to recall each and every sin that we have committed, prayerfully and carefully examining our consciences is important. This pamphlet provides a traditional guide for this kind of examination. Many people find it helpful to write down their sins so that they can recall them when celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Satisfaction and Amendment of Life. We must actively intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways. This intention is shown by our acceptance of penances imposed by the priest in confession. Penance here is not salvation by works or bailing ourselves out of spiritual jail as though the work of Christ was somehow insufficient for us. Rather, penance recognizes the role of habit in the commission of sin. Our penance is intended as restitution where we have sinned against others and it promotes the replacement of sinful desires and habits with new, spiritually-beneficial desires and habits. A Guide for the General Examination of Conscience Step One: Remember God s Presence Recall that you are present to God and that he is present to you. God is always speaking whether we are aware of it or not, and he is always at work, fulfilling his purposes in and through us. No matter where you are, whether at home or away, in good times or bad, in sickness or good health, gathered together with others or completely alone, you are a creature in the midst of God s creation and you are the object of his special love. Take time to quiet yourself, then, and become aware of God s presence. The Creator who brought you being is concerned for you. The Spirit of God, sent by Jesus himself, will remind you that you are gifted to help bring creation and redemption to its full realization in the world. Step Two: Express Thanksgiving Spend a moment looking over your day with gratitude for this day s gifts. Be specific and let special moments and pleasures spring to mind. Recall the smell of your morning coffee or a good meal, the laugh of a child, the experience of something good or beautiful in nature, the smile brought forth by a kind word, the truth in a lesson that you learned, or something artistically satisfying. Take stock of what you gave and received in these experiences. Give thanks to God for those favors received. Also look at the gifts and talents that allow you to participate meaningfully in creation and with others. Recall a moment of unusual strength in times of difficulty, your ability to hope in a moment of weakness, your intelligence and health, your family and friends, your ability to experience joy, humor and faith. God has blessed you with these gifts and talents. By using them faithfully, you reflect his image and experience his abundant life. As you move through the details of your day, give thanks to God for his presence in the big and small things of your life. Step Three: Invite the Illumination of the Holy Spirit We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in our baptism and Jesus promised that the same Spirit would guide us into all truth (Cf. John 16:13). The Spirit illuminates us so that we see the development of our Christian vocation and the unfolding of our life story.

The Spirit brings freedom to look upon ourselves for good and for ill without condemnation and without complacency so that we are open to growth. Ask the Spirit to help you learn and grow as you reflect so that your knowledge of self and of God are deepened. Use the following prayer or let it serve as a guide in formulating a prayer with your own words. O Holy Spirit, source of all light, wisdom, knowledge and understanding, enlighten me and help me to know my sins. Show me the evil I have done and the good I have neglected. Grant me heartfelt sorrow over my offenses, knowing that I have wounded the heart of my loving Father. Help me to humbly acknowledge my sins that we may be washed clean in the renewal of baptismal grace. I ask this through my only Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Step Four: Prayerfully Examine Your Conscience Examine yourselves, Saint Paul urges, to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? (2 Corinthians 13:5). Christ is nearer to us than we are to ourselves. As you pray, Christ will help you know his presence and concern. As you regularly and prayerfully explore the mystery of yourself in the midst of your actions, you will grow more transparent to yourself and you will become more aware of the promptings of the Holy Spirit, inviting you to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. Allow God to speak, to challenge, to encourage, and to instruct you. By this you will come to truly know that Christ is with you and in you. The Great Commandment of Christ is that we Love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind and that we love our neighbor as ourselves. The Ten Commandments lend greater specificity to this and have traditionally been used as a guide for Christian self-examination. As you consider these commandments and the principles they hold forth, think through the context of your own actions and search out the internal movements of your heart and your interaction with the choices before you. Ask what you were involved in and who you were with, and review the hopes and hesitations that led you to behave as you did. Many situations will show that your heart was divided wavering between helping and disregarding, ridiculing and encouraging, listening and ignoring, condemning and forgiving, speaking and silence, neglecting or showing appreciation. Remember, this is not a time to dwell on your shortcomings; rather, it is a grace-filled inquiry, with God s help, into how you have responded to his gifts. Thus, it is an opportunity for greater growth and depth in your relationship with God. Notice where you acted freely choosing a particular course of action from the possibilities before you. See too where you were swept along without freedom. What reactions helped or hindered you? See where Christ entered your decisions and where you might have resisted that influence. The First Commandment I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides me.

Do I love, fear, and honor God with all my heart? Do I value any person, place, or thing more than God? Am I willing to sacrifice everything in order to obey God? Have I trusted in God alone as the ultimate source of every good thing? Have I performed my duties toward God reluctantly or grudgingly? Have I neglected daily prayer? Have I received the Eucharist in a state of sin or unforgiveness or without the necessary preparation? Have I seriously doubted a central tenet of faith (centrality is usually understood as a doctrine of the Nicene Creed)? Have I committed sacrilege by treating a member of the clergy or a holy place or thing with disrespect? The Second Commandment You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain. Have I invoked the name of God (or Jesus, the Holy Spirit, etc.) carelessly or irreverently or with anger? Have I used God s name as a cover for my own dishonestly or lack of integrity? Have I done my best to fulfill the promises and resolutions I have made to God? Have I made promises to God carelessly, without due consideration of whether I am genuinely ready, willing, and able to keep my promises? Have I invoked the name of a saint or a holy person carelessly or irreverently or with anger? Have I perjured myself or lied under oath? Have I broken any public or private vows or made such vows without due consideration of whether I am genuinely ready, willing, and able to keep them? The Third Commandment Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Have I absented myself from the Sunday Eucharist (or Morning Prayer in the absence of a priest or Eucharistic minister) without just or reasonable cause? Have I absented myself from the Eucharist on a holy day of obligation without just or reasonable cause? Have I conducted myself inappropriately at Mass or failed to participate fully, actively, and consciously? Have I performed any work or business activity that would inhibit the worship due to God, the joy proper to the Lord s Day, or the appropriate relaxation of mind and the body, on a Sunday or a holy day of obligation? Have I failed to generously furthered the ministry of the church by giving of my time, talent, and treasure as I am able?

The Fourth Commandment Honor your father and your mother. For parents: Am I loving and caring for my children after the example of Christ? Have I neglected to nurture my children in the fear and discipline of Christ? Am I faithful in praying with and for my children? Am I living at peace with members of my family, practicing forgiveness and reconciliation as Christ has commanded? Have I set a bad example in faith, life, or doctrine? Have I neglected to watch over my children, to monitor the companions, reading, technology, and entertainments that they are occupied with? Have I failed to see my child has properly shared in the ministry of the Church and the sacraments? Am I appropriately involved in the life of my adult children and grandchildren? For children: Have I been disobedient or disrespectful toward my parents? Am I faithful in praying with and for the members of my family? Am I living at peace with members of my family, practicing forgiveness and reconciliation as Christ has commanded? Have I neglected to help my parents or siblings when my help was needed? Have I been respectful when I was corrected by my parents? Do I manifest an inordinate desire for independence? For adults with parents: Have I supported my parents in times of need to the extent that I am able? Have I ensured that my parents are adequately cared for in terms of food, clothing and shelter? Am I faithful in praying with and for the members of my family? Am I living at peace with members of my family, practicing forgiveness and reconciliation as Christ has commanded? Have I spoken to my parents respectfully and been tolerant of their shortcomings? Have I sought their wise counsel and listened to their advice patiently and humbly, with an eye toward learning from their experience? Have I made an effort to visit my parents and allowed them time to visit with their grandchildren?

The Fifth Commandment You shall not kill. Have I murdered anyone or knowingly contributed to the death of anyone? Have I consented to or actively taken part in an abortion? Have I knowingly encouraged or participated in an unjust war or conflict among others? Have I failed to otherwise treat others justly, with reverence for their inviolable dignity as bearers of the image and likeness of God? Have I knowingly or unjustly injured any person physically, emotionally, financially, vocationally, or otherwise? Have I taken any pleasure in another person s pain or otherwise capitalized on their injury to my unjust advantage? Have I been unjustly angry or lost my temper? Have I been envious or jealous of others? Have I been reckless or otherwise incautious with regard to my own or another person s safety? Have I been or provided an occasion of sin for others by my careless, faithless, or inappropriate words or deeds? Have I neglected my own physical and mental health by persistent action or inaction? Have I overindulged in or abused food, alcohol, and/or drugs? Have I desired revenge or harbored enmity, hatred, or ill feelings toward someone who offended me? Am I living at peace with others, practicing forgiveness and reconciliation as Christ has commanded? The Sixth and Ninth Commandments You shall not commit adultery and You shall not covet your neighbor s spouse. Have I committed adultery or fornication with another person? Have I willfully entertained or ruminated over impure sexual thoughts? Have I consented to evil desires against the virtues of chastity and purity, even though I may not have carried them out? Have I engaged in impure actions or conversations? Did I look for sexual gratification in pornography or in entertainment or media with immoral content? Have I knowingly failed to avoid situations and circumstances where sexual sin was likely to occur? Have I failed to dress modesty and decently? Have I provoked sins of impurity or immodesty in others?

For married people: Have I, without just reason, withheld sexual intercourse or been less-than fully present to my spouse during intercourse? Have I failed to act in other ways with love and concern for my spouse s sexual health and emotional well-being? Have I failed to care for myself out of regard for my spouse s legitimate needs and desires? Have I nurtured insecurities in my spouse or otherwise acted in ways that inhibit mutuality, respect, intimacy, and trust? The Seventh and Tenth Commandments You shall not steal and You shall not covet your neighbor s goods. Have I stolen from anyone or otherwise deprived them of what they are justly due? Have I defrauded anyone by deception or coercion in business contracts or transactions? Where I have stolen, have I asked forgiveness and made appropriate restitution? Have I done or caused damage to another person s property without asking forgiveness and/or making restitution? Have I unnecessarily spent beyond my means? Am I generous in helping others financially when I am able? Have I been excessively envious of another person s goods or otherwise let the desire to match their attainments control my own sense of worth or well-being? Have I neglected to pay my debts? Have I been lazy or let the love of comfort distract me from diligent work or study? Have I allowed the desire for wealth or acquisitiveness drive me to overwork? Have I been greedy, excessively materialistic, or otherwise let a culture of consumption control my appetites, desires, and my view of life? The Eighth Commandment You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Have I lied by promulgating untruths or by withholding the truth? Have I repaired any damage that may have resulted as a consequence of my lying? Have I volunteered harmful truths about others unjustly or when it was otherwise unnecessary? Have I unjustly or rashly accused others? Have I been unnecessarily suspicious, mistrusting, or prepared to believe the worst about other people? Have I engaged in or entertained dissention, gossip, backbiting, or tale telling?

Have I unnecessarily failed to keep a confidence or revealed a secret without due cause? Step Five: Pray through those things that you have discovered in your selfexamination Pray before you conclude your examination. Share your thoughts with God regarding what you have done and what you have left undone. Consider your actions, attitudes, feelings and interactions before God. Perhaps, during this time, you may feel led to begin seeking forgiveness, asking for direction, expressing gratitude, etc. As you do, look upon yourself honestly but with compassion. See your need for God and acknowledge the moment as a manifestation of God s love and concern for you. Give thanks for grace, for the presence of God illuminating your way, and especially praise God for growth in grace and for the times you have responded in faith and obedience. Resolve with Jesus to move forward in the faith, hope, and love that he promises to provide. Having honestly and prayerfully made a full examination of your conscience, you now are ready to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation faithfully. 2013 Michael J. G. Pahls Trinity in the Fields Anglican Church