Module 6 Flashcards
What is a Sacrament?
A sacrament is a ritual which showcases a visible sign of the invisible presence or work of God and his GRACE.
What is a Religious Practice?
Religious practices are a RECOGNISED way of doing something religious. They refer to a broad range of experiences that relate to many aspects of religious life.
Eg. way of prayer or a style of religious worship, a religious way of doing something or how a place or time of the year is used.
Why is Penance a Religious Practice?
There are many different ways to ask forgiveness from God, as it is an act every Christina must do to grow in their Christian life and journey.
A sacrament such as penance is directly seen as a religious practice for Catholics as it is specifically performed and acted accordingly only in the Catholic Church, and therefore is a recognised way of asking for forgiveness in the Catholic Church.
What is a Religious Ritual?
a SOLEMN CEREMONY or celebration within a religion where the COMMUNITY is allowed PARTICIPATE (not observe) as it is a STYLE OF EXPRESSION OF FAITH, which uses SIGNS, SYMBOLS and RITES.
Rituals are also COMMUNAL CELEBRATIONS that express a SENSE of BELONGING to a COMMUNITY and call for participation, not observation.
They use SYMBOLIC ACTIONS, Such as MOVEMENT, GESTURES and WORDS to express and promote what is important about faith.
USES RELIGIOUS SIGNS and SYMBOLS.
Rituals may also be an important part of the practice.
Why is Penance a Religious Ritual?
It is a solemn ceremony and religious practice celebrated in the Catholic Church. It is composed of special prayers and rites whihc allows the community to participate and express the faith.
Ritualistic actions, prayers and symbols are used repetitively and respectfully to create an atmosphere of devotion and connectedness with God.
Eg. Priest represents/symbolises the presence of God.
What is the SACRAMENT of Confession?
The Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church.
Faithful individual is absolved from their sins committed after Baptism directly from God by using the priest as a vessel of communication.
The purpose of the Sacrament of Penance is to make visible and present God’s mercy and forgiveness.
This sacrament ensures the faithful are reconciled with the Christian community and with God himself.
What is the Seal of confession?
The absolute duty of priests not to disclose anything that they learn from penitents during the course of the Sacrament of Penance.
What are the main features of Reconciliation (steps)
The four main elements which make up the sacrament of reconciliation are essential for performing this sacrament to absolve sins properly and respectfully.
- CONTRITION - SORROW FOR SINS.
- requires SINCERE EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE this means to RESPONSIBLY and HONESTLY REFLECTING ON their PAST ACTIONS, THOUGHTS and WORDS.
- To do this, a person must ask themselves questions based on the 10 Commandments, to see if they have sinned.
* PREPARES the individual to enter the sacrament and address their ‘being sorry’ emotions during confession. - CONFESSION - INDIVIDUAL is OWNING up honestly about the SINS they COMMITTED and ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY for sin. It involves STATING ALL the MORTAL AND VENIAL SINS TO the PRIEST.
- SATISFACTION - is DOING WHAT IS POSSIBLE TO BE OF OFFENCE. - There are TWO PARTS of satisfaction which are PENANCE AND PRAYER of sorrow (ACT OF CONTRITION).
- Penance is when the priest states the satisfaction to be made (this could be returning stolen goods, paying compensation for damage done, a prayer).
- A prayer of sorrow can be a prayer in the person’s own words, or a formal prayer. - ABSOLUTION - FORGIVENESS is GIVEN BY JESUS THROUGH the PRIEST.
- PRIESTS have the SAME SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO FORGIVE SINS just as JESUS did. (Apostolic succession feature)
What is the EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE?
Only in recognising our failings can our hearts be converted to God so that we can receive his forgiveness and allow his grace to heal us and our relationships.
Examination of conscience refers to - a review of one’s past thoughts, words, actions, and omissions for the purpose of ascertaining their conformity with, or deviation from, the moral law.
Therefore it helps explain and ensure the individual understands what their weakness are in their personality and what caused them to commit particular immoral deeds and move further away from God.
It further helps the individual to be ‘ready’ to confess their sins to the priest and ensures all deliberate sins are asked for forgiveness of.
How does this sacrament help a person in their Christian life to be more like Jesus?
Jesus never sinned, so he was absolutely perfect in every way.
Humans on the other hand sin and commit immoral acts acts the divine law as we endure human weakness as a consequence of original sin. Thus humans are imperfect.
When we go to the sacrament of confession we seek forgiveness for the wrong goings we have done which make humans have the imperfections we have.
The Sacrament of Penance allows us to receive forgiveness of sins and be reconciled with God, self, the Church family, and the human family—restoring our broken communion. Through Penance, we return to right relationships.
Freed from the chain of sin - amends the damaged relationship between the individual relationship between god and the church.
When we are free of sin and spiritually close to God, we become more like Jesus and his perfectness.
How and why does one religious ritual or practice relate to people’s lives?
Sins harm our relationships with God and damages our communion with the church.
Conversion of the heart is the beginning of our journey back to God - liturgically in the Catholic Church this occurs through penance.
- Penance reconciles the damaged relationship between us and God.
- it is an experience of God’s boundless mercy and provides the gift of grace to live a blessed life with a nourished conscience and soul.
- brings us closer to god to continue our journey of faith and live a blessed life from god’s nourishing gifts. - It frees people from their sins and challenges them to be liberated from guilt.
- psychologically healthy and helpful for the individual - challenges us to show the same kind of compassion and forgiveness to others which amends personal relationships and allows the opportunity for more successful realationhsips, social and life and the goodness of others in your life.
Eg success in lifestyle, relationships and careers - Reconciles our communion with the church.
We are all part of one body of Christ = the church.
- if one part is damaged then the body is no good.
By repairing the damaged part the rest of the body can fulfil and complete its mission.
- re-welcomes us into the goodness and nourishment community, which helps Christians grow in their faith journey. - Change in Heart from the grace and motivation from the sacrament, can influence a person to have changes in personality and lifestyle - positive opportunities and healthy lifetime experiences.
- Understands weakness in personality and how to not overcome situations of immoral actions.
