INTRODUCTION |
|
CHAPTER 1: WHY HAVE SO MANY CATHOLICS STOPPED |
1 |
Early Memories |
1 |
Historical Research on the Sacrament of Penance |
3 |
General Dissatisfaction |
3 |
No Longer Meaningful |
4 |
The New Rite |
4 |
Loss of a Sense of Sin |
5 |
Sense of Sin |
6 |
To Sin Is to Miss the Mark |
8 |
Legalistic Approach and Magical Tendencies |
8 |
Unhealthy Elements |
9 |
A New Rite Not So New |
10 |
These three ways or Rites are |
10 |
The Centrality of Private Absolution |
11 |
Mortal and Venial Sins |
11 |
A Blurring of Distinctions |
12 |
Dawning of a New Awareness |
12 |
CHAPTER 2: HUMAN SINFULNESS, REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION |
15 |
The Gold of the Holy Spirit |
15 |
Restless Searchings of the Human Heart |
16 |
Human Sinfulness |
17 |
The Dynamics of Sin |
18 |
Sin and Repentance |
18 |
The Ritual of Repentance |
19 |
Confession |
20 |
Judaism |
20 |
Claiming One’s Sinfulness |
21 |
Remembrance of Sins of the Past |
22 |
The Experience of Personal Sins |
22 |
The Sanctity of the People of God |
23 |
Faith of the Patriarchs and Prophets |
24 |
Two Ways |
24 |
A New Enlightenment |
25 |
CHAPTER 3: JESUS: THE LIVING SACRAMENT OF GOD’ MERCYFUL RECONCILIATION |
27 |
Jesus, living and Active |
27 |
Jesus, The Healing light |
27 |
Message of Reconciliation |
28 |
The Poor Have the Gospel Preached to Them |
29 |
Metanoia |
29 |
Jesus Speaks of God’s Forgiving Mercy |
30 |
Jesus Speaks of God’s Forgiving Love |
31 |
Jesus Teaches Mercy and Reconciliation |
31 |
Jesus Spoke in Parables |
32 |
The Prodigal Father |
33 |
A Rejoicing Father Who Forgives Sinners |
34 |
AWaiting God |
35 |
Jesus Acts as Reconciler of the Fath |
36 |
Fullness of Mercy and Reconciliation on the Cross |
36 |
Death and Resurrection |
38 |
The Glory of the Cross, Our Reconciling Hope |
38 |
Paradoxes in Christianity |
39 |
Christ’s Church: Another Sacrament of Reconciliation |
40 |
Shared Authority |
41 |
Jesus Risen Is Still Present Through Shared Authority |
41 |
Tradition and Traditions |
43 |
Conclusion |
43 |
CHAPTER 4: THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION IN THE APOSTOLIC AND PATRISTIC CHURCHES |
45 |
The Evolution of a Sacrament |
45 |
Jesus Ministered God’s Reconciliation |
46 |
Shared Power in Forgiving Sins |
46 |
The Church Community as Sacrament of Reconciliation |
48 |
The Separation and Correction of Grave Sinners |
49 |
The Power of Excommunication |
49 |
Confession of Sins |
50 |
Submission to Leaders of the Church |
51 |
The Shepherd of Hermas |
53 |
Elements of a Penitential Rite Appear |
54 |
Apostasy and Martyrdom |
57 |
Gradual Reform |
58 |
CHAPTER 5: DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE CONFESSION |
61 |
The Mediterranean Form of Reconciliation |
61 |
Development of the Celtic Form of Reconciliation |
62 |
A Monastic Church |
62 |
Spiritual Direction in the Desert |
63 |
Eastern Churches and Monastic Influences |
64 |
Celtic Form of Reconciliation |
64 |
Commutation of Penances |
65 |
Penance, a Catechetical Tool |
66 |
Disadvantages of the Celtic Form of Confession |
67 |
Good Friday Rites |
67 |
Tensions and Clashes Between the Two Forms |
68 |
Reforms of the Fourth Lateran Council |
69 |
Importance of Priestly Absolution |
70 |
The Formula of Absolution |
61 |
The Effects of the Council of Trent on Confession |
72 |
The Confession of Venial Sins |
73 |
From Trent to Vatican II |
75 |
CHAPTER 6: NEW RITES FOR RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION |
75 |
The Emergence of New Rituals |
76 |
Vatican II Mandates |
76 |
Ecclesial Aspects of the Sacrament Rediscovered |
78 |
Ordo Penitentiae |
78 |
New Formulas of Absolution |
80 |
Declarative Formula of Absolution |
80 |
Rite I: Reconciliation of Individual Penitents |
80 |
Rite II: Reconciliation of Several Penitents with |
83 |
Difficulties Created by Rite II |
84 |
Rite III: Reconciliation of Penitents with General Absolution |
85 |
Celebration of Rite III |
85 |
Summary and Conclusions |
86 |
CHAPTER 7: COMMUNAL SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION |
89 |
A State of General Confusion |
89 |
Lack of Implementation |
90 |
Norms Issued by the Vatican |
90 |
Present State of the Sacrament |
91 |
Different Needs Demand Different Rituals |
92 |
Non-Sacramental Means of Reconciliation |
93 |
Healing of Memories |
94 |
Examination of Conscience |
94 |
Communal Penance Services for Children |
95 |
Problems Associated with Both Forms |
97 |
CHAPTER 8: THE CELEBRATION OF COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICES |
97 |
True Repentance and the Holy Spirit |
99 |
History of Communal Penance Services |
10 |
The Church’s Role in Reconciliation |
101 |
A Suggested Form of Communal Reconciliation |
102 |
Format of the Celebration |
102 |
Explanation |
103 |
Examen According to the Eight Beatitudes |
104 |
Penitential Litany |
104 |
The Liturgy of the Word |
107 |
Reverse Creation |
110 |
The Liturgy of the Eucharist |
112 |
CHAPTER 9: THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION AMONG EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS TODAY |
113 |
Orthodox Practice |
113 |
Infrequent Reception of the Eucharist |
114 |
The Minister of the Sacrament |
114 |
Integrity of One’s Confession |
115 |
Different Forms of Celebration Within the Community |
116 |
Communal Reconciliation Service and General Absolution |
116 |
Community Forgiveness |
119 |
Conclusion |
120 |