First Penance & First Holy Communion

First Holy Penance (Confession)

Canon 987 of the Code of Canon Law states: "To receive the salvific remedy of the Sacrament of Penance, a member of the Christian faithful must be disposed in such a way that, rejecting sins committed and having a purpose of amendment, the person is turned back to  God."  Canon 988§1 continues: "A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after Baptism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of conscience."  § 2 states: "It is recommended to the Christian faithful that they also confess venial sins."  Canon 989 recommends that after the "age of discretion" that one is obliged to confess their sins at least once a year. Canon 990 speaks about interpreters in the confessional and Canon 991 states that you may go to confession to any "legimately approved confessor" of your choice "even if they are from another rite."  

Many people have asked me why we should go to a priest for confession and confess directly to God.  My answer is that our Catholic Church is such a wonderful Church full of signs and symbols.  At baptism, we see, hear and feel that symbols of water, oil and light.  At Holy Communion, the bread and wine which we see and taste, actually become the Holy Body and Precious Blood of Christ.  When we are married, we have the symbols of the rings, the expression of our intent to marry in the words of consent given by the couple and received by the celebrant.  When a priest or bishop is ordained, he is anointed with the holy Christm of the Church. So it makes sense that in the Sacrament of Confession that we need to hear and see in person that our sins have been forgiven. In the person of the priest (not in his name, but in the Name of God Himself and in the Name of the Church) through the words of absolution, the penitent is assured through these words that their sins have been completely forgiven.  Also and more importantly, it is the will of Jesus Himself that we should confess our sins as He gives the power, the authority to his Apostles when He says: "Those who sins you forgive are forgiven" (John 20:23).