| 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 |