Post by homeschooldad on Oct 19, 2022 13:17:28 GMT
Is this vest-pocket, "top of mind" knowledge for Catholics in general today? If not, why not?
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From the TAN Books e-mail subscriber list:
(emphasis mine)
Examination of Conscience
Our mission at TAN is to help you become a saint. Through this new email series, we not only want to help you dig deeper into the commandments and create a good, in-depth examination to draw yourself closer to Christ, but we also want to remind you of the importance of regular confession as well as the important elements of the sacrament. We hope that this blesses you and draws you into deeper communion with Mother Church.
The Different Types of Contrition
Contrition is the most important element of Confession. Without it, Confession cannot take place. Contrition, or sorrow for our sins, is requisite to receiving God's mercy, which is immediately offered to those who sincerely desire it. If we are not sorrowful for our sin, then there is no forgiveness of it, simply because we are showing God we don't want it. True contrition must be:
All these qualities are necessary for contrition. However, we do not always have them in their fullness; in this case, we have imperfect contrition. With imperfect contrition, we are still absolved of sins in the sacrament of Confession. However, perfect contrition, in which all these qualities are present in their fullness, is what we as Christians should desire. This is a grace from God which we must ask for. In the abstract, perfect contrition does not even require the sacrament of Confession, but in all normal circumstances, we must still go to Confession, since only God knows if contrition is perfect.
Note also that nothing above is meant to imply that contrition is principally an emotion or feeling; these things usually come with true contrition, but they are not what makes up real contrition. Contrition is fundamentally an act of the will and a firm intention.
The Third Commandment
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath.
Have I missed Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation through my own fault, whether by intention or negligence?
Have I come late to Mass or left early through my own fault?
Have I been distracted in Church intentionally?
Have I participated in unnecessary work on the Sabbath or caused others to do so?
Have I desecrated the Sabbath by excessive drinking or other sinful amusements?
Reflection
It goes without saying that many in our society today treat Sunday as another day of the week, working, shopping, and doing catch-up on chores or homework. Many Catholics also fail to go to Mass on Sundays, not realizing this is grave matter. But keeping the Day of the Lord holy is about more than an obligation to abstain from work and to worship God at Mass. In the Gospels, there are many passages in which Christ performed cures, which the Pharisees counted as unlawful work. The Lord was showing us that the exhortation to keep the Sabbath holy is not about legalisms but about being free from worldly cares so that we may dedicate our thoughts and actions to God. There is nothing more appropriate, in this regard, than doing good works (like curing) on the Lord's Day, along with prayer and contemplation. In our own circumstances, we should consider the ways in which on Sunday we can balance prayer at the liturgy (i.e. the Mass), private prayer, and family time and recreation to give the greatest glory to God in all joy.
Prayer
Dear God, help me to sanctify all my days, but especially the day on which You resurrected. For on the seventh day of Creation, You rested from work and so asked Your children to do in the Old Law. But it was on the eighth day, the day of eternity, that You rose from the grave, trampling death by death and bringing grace for the healing of sins. Grant me to reverence Your holy day joyfully and with a spirit such as You demonstrated in Your Gospels.
Tuum Adoremus Nomen; Thy Name We Adore.
Amen.
************
From the TAN Books e-mail subscriber list:
(emphasis mine)
Examination of Conscience
Our mission at TAN is to help you become a saint. Through this new email series, we not only want to help you dig deeper into the commandments and create a good, in-depth examination to draw yourself closer to Christ, but we also want to remind you of the importance of regular confession as well as the important elements of the sacrament. We hope that this blesses you and draws you into deeper communion with Mother Church.
The Different Types of Contrition
Contrition is the most important element of Confession. Without it, Confession cannot take place. Contrition, or sorrow for our sins, is requisite to receiving God's mercy, which is immediately offered to those who sincerely desire it. If we are not sorrowful for our sin, then there is no forgiveness of it, simply because we are showing God we don't want it. True contrition must be:
- Interior, constituting displeasure with our own sin and resolution never to sin again. This must be sincere and not merely an affectation or formality.
- Supernatural, meaning the sorrow is based on the infinite goodness of God and an awareness that Christ suffered for those sins. In other words, it is not prompted by a fear of people's opinions, loss of privileges, etc.
- Universal, signifying a complete resolution to avoid all sins in the future, not just some sins or the sins confessed.
- Sovereign, meaning we recognize sin as the worst possible thing and will not to return to it for any reason.
All these qualities are necessary for contrition. However, we do not always have them in their fullness; in this case, we have imperfect contrition. With imperfect contrition, we are still absolved of sins in the sacrament of Confession. However, perfect contrition, in which all these qualities are present in their fullness, is what we as Christians should desire. This is a grace from God which we must ask for. In the abstract, perfect contrition does not even require the sacrament of Confession, but in all normal circumstances, we must still go to Confession, since only God knows if contrition is perfect.
Note also that nothing above is meant to imply that contrition is principally an emotion or feeling; these things usually come with true contrition, but they are not what makes up real contrition. Contrition is fundamentally an act of the will and a firm intention.
The Third Commandment
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath.
Have I missed Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation through my own fault, whether by intention or negligence?
Have I come late to Mass or left early through my own fault?
Have I been distracted in Church intentionally?
Have I participated in unnecessary work on the Sabbath or caused others to do so?
Have I desecrated the Sabbath by excessive drinking or other sinful amusements?
Reflection
It goes without saying that many in our society today treat Sunday as another day of the week, working, shopping, and doing catch-up on chores or homework. Many Catholics also fail to go to Mass on Sundays, not realizing this is grave matter. But keeping the Day of the Lord holy is about more than an obligation to abstain from work and to worship God at Mass. In the Gospels, there are many passages in which Christ performed cures, which the Pharisees counted as unlawful work. The Lord was showing us that the exhortation to keep the Sabbath holy is not about legalisms but about being free from worldly cares so that we may dedicate our thoughts and actions to God. There is nothing more appropriate, in this regard, than doing good works (like curing) on the Lord's Day, along with prayer and contemplation. In our own circumstances, we should consider the ways in which on Sunday we can balance prayer at the liturgy (i.e. the Mass), private prayer, and family time and recreation to give the greatest glory to God in all joy.
Prayer
Dear God, help me to sanctify all my days, but especially the day on which You resurrected. For on the seventh day of Creation, You rested from work and so asked Your children to do in the Old Law. But it was on the eighth day, the day of eternity, that You rose from the grave, trampling death by death and bringing grace for the healing of sins. Grant me to reverence Your holy day joyfully and with a spirit such as You demonstrated in Your Gospels.
Tuum Adoremus Nomen; Thy Name We Adore.
Amen.