303. What are the acts of the penitent? (part 3 continuation)
(Comp
303 repetition) They are: a careful examination of conscience;
contrition (or repentance), which is perfect when it is motivated by love of
God and imperfect if it rests on other motives and which includes the
determination not to sin again; confession, which consists in the telling of
one’s sins to the priest; and satisfaction or the carrying out of certain acts
of penance which the confessor imposes upon the penitent to repair the damage
caused by sin.
“In brief”
(CCC 1491) The sacrament of Penance is a whole consisting in
three actions of the penitent and the priest's absolution. The penitent's acts
are repentance, confession or disclosure of sins to the priest, and the
intention to make reparation and do works of reparation. (CCC 1492) Repentance
(also called contrition) must be inspired by motives that arise from faith. If
repentance arises from love of charity for God, it is called
"perfect" contrition; if it is founded on other motives, it is called
"imperfect."
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1459) Many sins wrong our neighbor. One must do what is
possible in order to repair the harm (e.g., return stolen goods, restore the
reputation of someone slandered, pay compensation for injuries). Simple justice
requires as much. But sin also injures and weakens the sinner himself, as well
as his relationships with God and neighbor. Absolution takes away sin, but it
does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused (Cf. Council of Trent (1551):
DS 1712). Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual
health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must "make
satisfaction for" or "expiate" his sins. This satisfaction is
also called "penance."
On reflection
(CCC 1460) The penance
the confessor imposes must take into account the penitent's personal situation
and must seek his spiritual good. It must correspond as far as possible with
the gravity and nature of the sins committed. It can consist of prayer, an
offering, works of mercy, service of neighbor, voluntary self-denial,
sacrifices, and above all the patient acceptance of the cross we must bear.
Such penances help configure us to Christ, who alone expiated our sins once for
all. They allow us to become co-heirs with the risen Christ, "provided we
suffer with him" (Rom 8:17; Rom 3:25; 1 Jn 2:1-2; cf. Council of Trent
(1551): DS 1690). The satisfaction that we make for our sins, however, is not
so much ours as though it were not done through Jesus Christ. We who can do
nothing ourselves, as if just by ourselves, can do all things with the
cooperation of "him who strengthens" us. Thus man has nothing of
which to boast, but all our boasting is in Christ . . . in whom we make
satisfaction by bringing forth "fruits that befit repentance." These
fruits have their efficacy from him, by him they are offered to the Father, and
through him they are accepted by the Father (Council of Trent (1551): DS 1691;
cf. Phil 4:13; 1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 10:17; Gal 6:14; Lk 3:8). [END]
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