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"Jesus'
call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before Him, does
not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and ashes," fasting
and mortification, but at the CONVERSION OF THE HEART, INTERIOR
CONVERSION. Without this, such penances remain sterile and false; however,
interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works
of penance. Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole
life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a
turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have
committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change
one's life, with hope in God's mercy and trust in the help of His
grace." - from the Catechism of the
Catholic Church; 1430-31. |
A note on Reconciliation (Confession)
Taken
from "Christ, The Life of the Soul" - Book Two: The
Sacrament and the Virtue of Penance:
"Never forget, then: every
time you receive this sacrament [confession] worthily, with devotion, even
if there are only venial sins to confess, the blood of Christ flows in
abundance upon your soul, so as to vivify it, make it strong against
temptation, render it generous in the struggle against attachment to sin;
and so as to destroy in it the roots and the effects of sin. The
soul finds in this sacrament a special grace for uprooting vices and
purifying itself more and more; for regaining the life of grace or
increasing that life within itself." Blessed
Columba Marmion [contributed via IIPG] |
‘But now, now – it is the Lord who speaks – come
back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your
hearts be broken, not your garments torn, turn to the Lord your God again,
for he is all tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in
graciousness, and ready to relent.'
(from 1st reading of Ash Wednesday - in full see Joel
2:12 - 18)
Acts
of Contrition - Prayers of Repentance
An
Act of Contrition is a prayer that expresses to God the sorrow one feels
and willingness to change and to avoid sin in the future. It may be
memorised or spontaneous and is prayed regularly in a healthy Catholic
spirituality. No
one knows the hour at which Jesus will call them to account for their earthly
life. We do well to ask His forgiveness for our faults every evening, so
that if He should call us in the night we will have done all we could to
be prepared. In addition we should ask Jesus to forgive us anytime we
have committed a serious sin. An Act of Contrition is no substitute for
sacramental Confession.
The Medjugorje visionaries testify that Our Lady
recommends monthly confession.
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O
my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest
all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of
hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are
all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the
help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend
my life. Amen.
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O
my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest
all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all
because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of
all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin
no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.
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O
my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins and detest them
above all things because they deserve thy dreadful punishments,
because they have crucified my loving Saviour Jesus Christ and
most of all because they offend Thy infinite goodness and I firmly
resolve with the help of Thy grace, never to offend thee again and
carefully to avoid the occasions of sin. Amen.
variation:
- O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins, and
detest them above all things, because they have crucified my loving
Saviour Jesus Christ, and, most of all, because they offend your
infinite goodness; and I firmly resolve, by the help of your grace,
never to offend you again, and carefully to avoid the occasions of
sin. Amen.
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O
my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest
all my sins, known and unknown, not only because I dread the loss
of heaven and dread the pains of hell, and not only because Thou
art my Creator, my Redeemer and my Sanctifier, but most of all
because my sins have offended Thee, my God, Who art all good in
Thyself and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with
the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to
amend my life. Amen
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My
God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do
wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I
should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to
do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my
God, have mercy.
<:))))<><
O
my God, I am sorry for my sins because I have offended you. I know
I should love you above all things. Help me to do penance, to do
better, and to avoid anything that might lead me to sin. Amen.
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Forgive
me my sins, O Lord, forgive me my sins;
the sins of my youth, the sins of my age, the sins of my soul, the
sins of my body; my idle sins, my serious voluntary sins; the sins
I know, the sins I do not know; the sins I have concealed for so
long, and which are now hidden from my memory.
I am truly sorry for every sin, mortal and venial,
for all the sins of my childhood up to the present hour.
I know my sins have wounded Thy tender heart,
O My Saviour, let me be freed from the bonds of evil through the
most bitter Passion of My Redeemer. Amen.
O My Jesus, forget and forgive what I have been. Amen.
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O
my God, I am truly sorry for having sinned, because you are
infinitely good and sin displeases you. I am firmly resolved, with
the help of your grace, never more to offend you, and I will
carefully avoid the near occasions of sin. Rev.F.X.Lasance,
My Prayer Book (1908).
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'O
my Jesus, forgive my sins, save me from the fires of hell. Lead
all souls to Heaven especially those in most need of thy mercy.' ("The Fatima
prayer" said at end of each decade of the Most Holy Rosary of
the Blessed Virgin Mary)
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<:))))<><
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Homily
by Fr. Frank Harris 9am Mass
(8:07 mins)
['The Healing Sacrament of Reconciliation'.
Forgiveness & Restoration. Sin consists of every thought, word
and deed which is not in conformity with the will of God.] Given
on Laetare Sunday - 18th March 2012 - 4th Sunday of Lent.
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"When
you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you. When
you look at the Sacred Host you understand how much Jesus loves you now...."
Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
page last updated: 5th April 2012 v 1. 05 ~
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A Confession
A priest was being honoured at his retirement dinner
after 25 years in the parish. A leading local politician, who was also
a member of the congregation, was chosen to make the presentation and
give a little speech at the dinner. He was delayed so the priest
decided to say his own few words while they waited.
'I got my first impression of the parish from the
first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a
terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told
me he had stolen a television set and, when stopped by the police, had
almost murdered the officer. He had stolen money from his parents,
embezzled from his place of business, had an affair with his boss's
wife, taken illegal drugs. I was appalled. But as the days went on I
knew that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to
a fine parish full of good and loving people.'
Just as the priest finished his talk the politician
arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately began to make
the presentation and give his speech.
'I'll never forget the first day our parish priest
arrived, 'said the politician.' In fact, I had the honour of being the
first one to go to him in confession.'
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