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JUBILEE TEACHING

Penance: sacrament of healing

JUBILEE TEACHING FOR FEBRUARY 24, 2008 | THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Penance, along with the sacrament of anointing of the sick, is the sacrament of healing that was present from the earliest times of the church. St. Paul wrote, “Those who approach the sacrament of penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him and are, at the same time, reconciled with the church, which they have wounded” (from the Catechism of the Catholic Church).

Penance is also known by the following names:

• The sacrament of conversion, because it is a turning point for one who has strayed from God through sin;

• The sacrament of confession, since it involves disclosing one’s sins to a priest;

• The sacrament of forgiveness, since the priest’s absolution, which is part of the sacrament, confers pardon and peace;

• The sacrament of reconciliation, because through God’s love the sinner is brought back to union with the Father.

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JUBILEE TEACHING

Penance: sacrament of healing

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