The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation During Lent

The liturgical season of Lent “precedes and prepares” for the great solemnity of Easter. It is “a time to hear the Word of God, to convert, to prepare for and remember Baptism, to be reconciled with God and one’s neighbour, and to have more frequent recourse to the ‘arms of Christian penance’: prayer, fasting and good works” (Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, 2001, n. 124; cf. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18).

For those who infrequently receive the sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist, it is important to recall the Church’s long-standing tradition linking the precept of confessing grave sins with the reception of Holy Communion, at least once during Lent or, preferably, during Easter Time (cf. Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, n. 124).

The Institution of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, commonly known as Confession, was instituted by Christ Himself on the evening of Easter Sunday:

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” (John 20:19-23, RSV-1CE).

Why did Christ Institute a Sacrament of Penance after Baptism?

As the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2005) explains:

“Since the new life of grace received in Baptism does not abolish the weakness of human nature nor the inclination to sin (that is, concupiscence), Christ instituted this sacrament for the conversion of the baptized who have been separated from him by sin” (Compendium, n. 297).

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation consists of two essential elements:

The Acts of the Penitent – The individual repents through the grace of the Holy Spirit.
The Absolution of the Priest – Acting in the name of Christ, the priest grants forgiveness and determines the way to make satisfaction (cf. Compendium, n. 302).

“All grave sins not yet confessed, which a careful examination of conscience brings to mind, must be brought to the Sacrament of Penance. The confession of serious sins is the only ordinary way to obtain forgiveness. Each of the faithful who has reached the age of discretion is bound to confess his or her mortal sins at least once a year and always before receiving Holy Communion” (Compendium, nn. 304-305).

While not strictly required, the confession of venial sins is highly encouraged:

“The confession of venial sins is strongly recommended by the Church, even if this is not strictly necessary, because it helps us to form a correct conscience and to fight against evil tendencies. It allows us to be healed by Christ and to progress in the life of the Spirit” (Compendium, n. 306).

The Importance of Confession During Lent

“Lent is the principal time of penance both for individual Christians and for the whole Church. It is therefore desirable to prepare the Christian community for a fuller sharing in the Paschal Mystery by penitential celebrations during Lent” (Rite of Penance, Appendix II, n. 5).

To facilitate this, provisions should be made for easier access to the Sacrament of Penance, particularly when the faithful gather for processions or devotions. The celebration of this sacrament should be conducted with due solemnity, especially in the form of the Second Rite of Reconciliation (cf. Bishop Peter J. Elliott, Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year, 2002, n. 115).

The second chapter of The Order of Penance (2023) from The Roman Ritual contains the Order for Reconciling Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution. This rite is used for communal penance services, often celebrated in parishes during Advent and Lent.

“The faithful should be urged to take a greater and more fruitful share in the Lenten liturgy and penitential services. They should be advised particularly to approach the Sacrament of Penance during Lent, in accordance with the law and traditions of the Church, so that they may share in the joys of Easter Sunday with purity of heart. It is very appropriate for the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be celebrated during Lent in a more solemn form, as described in the Rite of Penance” (Ceremonial of Bishops, 1989, n. 251).

Thus, as we prepare to celebrate the great solemnity of Easter Sunday on 20 April 2025, let us seek the grace of true reconciliation so that we may approach the Paschal feast “with purity of heart”.